Day 8

Well, 3 days down, 7 more to go. 7 sounds like a lot more than 9 did when I last wrote. I am such a weenie! I gotta say, bed rest is just not for me. It makes me angry and lazy and lots of other adjectives I don't like.

Or maybe that's pregnancy? Gosh, hard to tell at this point.

We had a doctor appointment this morning and I would be making a mistake if I didn't ask for all of your prayers in my approach with my doctor over the next 5 weeks (or less!). Lesson learned: when you don't have a good introduction and vibe from prenatal appt #1, go ahead and count your losses and try someone else. Sticking it out to try and be ... Well I don't even know what I was trying to be ... Just not the best idea. If he rubbed you the wrong way that first time, it's just not worth it to try and make up for it over 32 more weeks. 

My doctor came with LOTS of rave reviews for doctors and friends, so I assumed that first meeting was just a fluke. Apparently he and I just go together like oil and water, and I'm afraid that in my moment of sheet agony and pain I will finally blurt out the things I've held in this whole time. So pray I don't do that :)

He did tell me that I can stop taking my medication next Wednesday. Does that mean my bed rest can end that day too and I can resume work 2 days sooner? Now I'm getting hopeful that maybe I really only have 5 more lonely days at home.

I know what you're all thinking (and a lot of you are saying) : enjoy the peace now, for soon you won't have a moment to yourself. Yeah yeah, I know I know. It's just not my greatest strength.

Guess it's time I practice being still and knowing He is God. 

Day 10

Counting down, today is day 10 of bed rest. Yep - that's right - bed rest again. And I should clarify - day 10 is only counting work days, cause those are the worst days. Only 10 this time - not too bad and I'm sure it'll be over before I know it!

Ah, bed rest again. Here we are. On Friday I woke up having fairly regular and somewhat painful contractions. I tried convincing myself I didn't need to call the doctor, but I think that's because I was pretty sure I knew what was happening and I didn't want to face it. 

We went to the doctor and I have to say, I probably liked him more than I have at any other appointment. I haven't been crazy about him but all along I've said 'he comes with rave reviews and was described as the best in my area by 2 doctors in San Jose, so even if I don't like him I know I can trust that when I need him to do a great job he will' -- and I think he has. One day when I needed to see him on a day his office was closed he met me there to be sure everything was ok, and made plenty of time to talk to me on his day off. Then Friday he was the perfect blend of calm, thorough, and clear. 

He did a swab to detect the likelihood of labor within 2 weeks. It tests for a protein which I believe comes at the onset of labor. He said if it came back negative there's a 99% chance that my contractions would not lead to labor within 2 weeks. 2 weeks was a magic number because that would get me to 37 which is full term. So all we needed was a negative.

An hour later we found out it was positive. Bummer.

Positive doesn't guarantee labor is imminent, but it is 'very reliable' (he didn't give me the statistic on that one). So he told me to go to the hospital and they'd track Charles on fetal monitors while administering medicine to calm the muscles and slow it down. It took longer to slow them down than he or the nurse anticipated but eventually they got it down to 2 an hour, and the 2 were very minimal. So I was then instructed to go home on 'partial bed rest'. 

I have medicine to take every 4 hours (same as with William) and I am to be as restful as possible. I told him I'd be goin to church and he didn't argue, but beyond that he said I shouldn't go anywhere unless necessary. I can move around the house if needed, and don't have to be laying all day long, but I need to be as still and calm as possible. 

Wanna know what's torture? Having 10 days all alone in a house that I'm not even allowed to clean! Can you imagine the cleaning and organizing that could happen over the next 2 weeks??? The options are endless. Closets, pantries, cupboards, bedrooms -- I'm almost salivating. Instead it's just torture.

So, as I lay here at 4:30 watching Ellen (the absolute best part of bed rest!!!) I am closing down day 10 of my 10 day countdown. 1 down, 9 more to go. I can do this!!!

Oh - and does anyone think the monster truck show qualifies as necessary? Anyone at all?

What a wonderful William weekend

William and I had a very special  trip to Denver last weekend. It was intended to be a girls weekend for me - a delayed 29th birthday present from last july - but the army has dictated my schedule and broken plans 4 times now. We thought we finally had a weekend picked out, only to find out Austin had to go to the range (translation: play army) 

So - I could either cancel yet again and potentially never go, or I could take William. At the time of the news I was so upset, but it really ended up being one of the best things for both of us.

Friday we headed up to San Jose early in the morning for some chick fil a before our flight.

Why? Well, because 

We had a quick breakfast, found our parking lot and rode the airport bus over to the airport. William behaved like an angel the entire time which was perfect because I was just about maxed out on energy use with the bags and such. Our flight was only 2 hours which was a nice break from our usual 6+ hours of travel to Texas. We didn't even get to finish our movie!

When we landed in Denver I had a lot of bittersweet emotions. I love Denver. Can't deny it. I loved just about everything about our 6 years there and I honestly don't know if I will ever miss a place like I miss Denver. I even got emotional when we passed "the gas station I never had" 

We always wanted a gas station by our neighborhood, and I was so sad when I saw they had built one. (Ok. Maybe we'll chalk that one up to hormones. regardless, it was hard)

I was quite the little tourist on our ride down to castle rock. Taking pictures of gas stations, mountains, and William's birth place.

William determined he loves Colorado and wants to move there. I'm not sure if he's prone to love the mountains, was feeding off the love and energy I had by being back, or if it was just Ms Dusti's backyard - but I kind of think it was the latter. They have a huge backyard with chickens, a basketball court, playground, and plenty of construction vehicles and toys for a boy. He would have been happy staying back there the whole weekend!

Saturday we planned to go to the zoo. However, we failed to plan for crowds and i nearly had an anxiety attack just in the parking lot. So, the aquarium was the runner up and it turned out to be great. It's no Monterey Bay Aquarium, but what do you expect from a land locked state? :)

They also have a train, so you can't lose when you're with a little boy. (Although I was concerned I'd never be able to climb out!)

That night we slept at ms Jodi's house which William loved. Another big backyard AND a giant jacuzzi tub. He has only asked for one about 10 times since then, so I think it was a hit.

Sunday he and I took a drive up to the mountains. He was insistent on seeing snow, but unfortunately we drove about 30 minutes into the mountains and found none. We did find a tunnel and a river, and I agreed to take him to the bass pro shop to make up for the lack of snow, so he was happy.

He doesn't remember, but one of his faaaaaaavorite things to do with oh gosh was to go see the 'fish in wawee'. Time flies, but some things never change.

The rest of Sunday I spent shopping while he played in ms Dusti's amazing backyard again (despite 40 degree temps) and we had dinner with some amazing friends. 

Monday morning William woke me up saying two things:

Hey bed hog!

I miss dada

So, our trip was perfectly timed as my Colorado loving bear was ready to go home. He proudly clung to dada doll the entire day in the airports and on the plane, and took every opportunity to show it to anyone who looked our way.

We had a great time and I think it was a much needed trip for him. And for me. It wasn't what I had wanted, but it was more than I could have ever asked for.  

Until next time Denver, I'll be seeing you in my dreams.

Our camping excursion

Last year we traveled down to Disneyland after tax season ended and decided it was the perfect time for a much needed family vacation. So before tax season got too busy this year we decided to plan another trip. We thought about Disneyland again but William had been asking to go fishing and camping a lot, so we decided to do that instead. And, as much as I looooove Disney, camping ended up much better for me this year. I can't imagine walking around the park for 3 days straight!!!

After my day to myself on the 16th we headed down to 'lake' San Antonio on the 17th. We had plans to stay for 2 nights and come home Saturday in time for Easter Sunday. 

The draught has really dried up the lake and it was pretty sad to see the markings of where the water levels had been before. But it was still beautiful and we loved that we were the only people around our site.

Austin and William went fishing first thing while I got camp ate up and food settled. And rested ;)

I'm pretty sure the boat entrance to the lake is supposed to be where this cable is! Sad :(

William was primarily excited for 2 things: fishing and s'mores. So we went back to the fishing area twice a day, sometimes a third time. We didn't catch anything but he didn't care. He thought it was a blast!

He liked sitting by the fire and toasting marshmallows. It was a little frustrating because he liked for the marshmallows to catch on fire, but he only like s'mores with perfectly golden marshmallows. So someone ate a lot of burnt marshmallows. (Someone is not me)

Our site was right by a playground which was awesome. Anytime we were cooking he was able to climb and play and we could still watch him.

We learned that a homeless family was living nearby at the site by the showers. They had 2 kids, a second grader and kindergartner, and the kids loved playing with William. It was really sad for us to see and we were reminded what a fortunate child William is. The 5 year old girl commented multiple times how she wished they had a tent like ours because she's tired of sleeping in their car. :( we shared some food with them and William shared juice boxes a lot, but the parents very clearly didn't want help or handouts and didn't quite seem to either accept their current place in life or see anything wrong. So, we did our best to respect their authority as the parents and didn't give too much to the kids. (Just enough)

Overall we had a great time. The weather was absolutely gorgeous - even though I had to reacquaint myself with temperatures above 75 degrees :) and the most important mission was accomplished: mission relaxation.

Isn't the bark worse than the bite?

So I had my hospital tour last night. Didn't quuuuuuuite go as I'd imagined it in my head.

When I booked the tour I almost felt silly - who needs a hospital tour for a second pregnancy? Well, a military wife does for sure because I didn't even know how to find the front entrance to the hospital. So it was a good thing I hadn't put that off until labor.

Beyond needing navigation directions I thought I'd kind of be a veteran on the tour. Instead I found some glaring and disturbing differences between me and the 4 tiny barely pregnant (yet 7 months pregnant) women walking the halls hand in hand with their husbands.

Wanna know the main ones? Sure ya do.

#1 I haven't flashed my left hand more since I acquired my engagement ring in 2006. I needed the other tour participants to know that while I was the only person there flying solo, I did in. Fact have a partner in this journey called pregnancy. Why wasn't my partner there? Well, kids can't go on hospital tours. For the life of me I can't imagine why! But that's the rule, so Austin had to stay home with William while I learned my way around the hospital all by my lonesome. 

Well, my lonesome and the 4 petite women I already mentioned. Which leads me to #2

#2 it's not a lie when people tell you that you're bigger in your second pregnancy. I found out that all of the other newbie moms were also due in June except it looked to me like they were due in July,'or even August, while I could be due next week. Would you believe one of these...women...had on non-maternity blue jeans AND a belt? At 7 months pregnant!!! Really lady, no one likes a bragger.

#3 apparently first time moms are much more educated than second time moms. Or maybe I just live under a rock? As the nurse took apart the labor and delivery bed and I fought the urge to have the most frightened face in the room, I suddenly heard these young guns asking questions with words and phrases of which I've never heard. Last time I checked a squat bar was something in a gym and something I very much look forward to reacquainting myself with this summer. In a delivery room???? Uh???? I'm missing something. And ropes? And tied up sheets? What are we here for again????

#4 and quite possibly the biggest: either I have the worst poker face in the world or I was by far the most scared woman in the room. The only one who has actually given birth, I was more squirmish than a kindergartner one hour before Christmas break. Everyone else? Nice a relaxed, sitting back, enjoying the talks of exercise balls and back labor and pushing and bodily fluids and other items I'll leave out. Not me, I wanted to run for the doors and go screaming down the streets.

Apparently being a veteran means nothing. And apparently knowledge isn't power cause I know what labor is like and I was far more frightened than anyone else in the room. Suddenly June 17 seems way, way too soon.

Timothy Thursday

We are just about out the door for our camping trip. William is SO excited to go sleep in the tent, have campfires and go fishing. He's been asking for months to go and when Austin bought him a tackle box last week his face beamed with pride.

So before we go I'll just give you a quick little story about the perspective of a child.

Tax season wasn't easy - no a tax season was hard for William. I'm not sure why this year was harder than other busy times, but I'd guess its a combination of feeding of my heightened stress and knowing a baby is coming. Either way, it was a struggle especially toward the end. Austin and I worked a lot with him and his teachers to make things as exciting and stable as possible and kept using our camping trip and other things as focal points for him to think of when he was struggling. I also told him that I'd take him to a special breakfast on Wednesday before school to celebrate the end of tax season.

In my mind, a special breakfast meant going to a sit down restaurant. Being served by a waitress. Unlimited (decaf) coffee, pancakes, eggs, maybe some sausage -- the works. 

But for William? A special breakfast just meant going to breakfast with mommy because clearly the location isn't what made it special. He picked einsteins.

So, before my relaxing day off, complete with shopping, a massage, lunch with Austin and a little crafting, William and I had breakfast at einsteins. 

He loved it, and that's what mattered.

A Prince's Suite

Princess Kate of ... Ok I don't know where she is from or what she is 'of' - Wellington? Cambridge? Who knows. Anyway, she's busy making over their palace and their royal apartment. Or something. I think I saw a headline on people. Ok my story is losing strength.

Princess Kate is making over their living quarters and designing Prince George's living quarters. Meanwhile, halfway around the globe, Prince Charles is having his suite designed as well.

Suite may be a stretch, but we'll go with it. It's almost a suite. It's a room with a closet...and it has a bed (crib) and a couch. So it's kind of like a suite right?

We haven't been busy worker bees like we were with William but hey - I've been a crazy insane worker bee with tax season and we have still been busy bees with William, so I'd say the fact that Charles has a mini-suite in the making at all is quite successful. If it were a third child (ahem...like me...) it'd be lucky to have a place to lay its head. :)

So - some updates for ya.

Austin refinished our/his/cici's old nightstands. Candace told me she bought them sometime around 1984, so they're about as old as me. She passed them on to Austin when they moved in with his step dad, and Austin took them when he moved into his first non-barracks place. We had them in our Denver house up until the last year or so and then we moved them to our guest room where they've resided ever since. They were constructed very well and the quality is great, so it was hard to ever imagine getting rid of them, they style just wasn't quite right for us. (Me) 

When I first pitched the idea to Austin I heard some grumbles so I thought I'd drop it. Next thing I knew he bought some sand paper and pitched some ideas right back at me! A few marital lessons along the way (amazing what you can learn by refinishing furniture) and hours of Austin's love poured in, we have a finished product!

Here they are in the first few stages of construction. It's hard to tell but he actually used his router to make the edging different than it used to be - has a softer feel to it, I like it a lot! Nice subtlety.

We found out halfway through the project that the top drawer was fitted for 3 inch handles and the bottom 2 was fitted for4 inch handles. This made hardware shopping challenging because there are very few matching handles of different sizes at local hardware stores. We finally found some we liked, then found out they really were fitted for custom handles...2 7/8 inch handles and 3 3/4 inch handles. Soooo back to the store we went to get wood filer and single knobs.

In the end - I like them much better with knobs as opposed to drawer pulls!

Today after one of the most stressful days of tax season I found some release in sorting through and organizing some of Charles's stuff. Not done at all but I like how the nightstands are working out - we need new lamp shades and I have an idea of what will actually belong on this one ultimately, but for now I'm enjoying the view of the cute gift basket and my sweet baby bear!

When Prince Charles's suite is complete, what do you think the odds are that Austin will go for my pitch to make this his next project?

And I think we've established what prop we will be using for Charles's monthly photos...

Horsie (big horsie not yellow horsie whose head moves on its own in a freaky way) came from a sweet sweet friend at Charles's baby shower. Shower you ask? Why yes - and I promise to write more on that. Someday.