James' 1st Photo Shoot

We had our first 'family of 4' photo shoot in early December (Joshua was 18 months old and James was 12 days old) with Clay and Jeannine of Custom Concept Photography. It was actually a lot of fun and they got some great shots. Here are some of my favorites of James.

Check out Joshua's blog for pictures of the 2 boys together.

Family Photos

Adjustments

Today was the St Nicholas party at our church. We packed up both kids and headed out (getting there only about an hour late). :P

Joshua was really good, as he has been lately. Although, I didn't see him very much as he was hanging out with the older kids and stealing candy off the gingerbread houses. James slept through most of the party but kept waking up starving and then falling asleep almost as soon as he started nursing. It was not fun because I had to feed him alone in the washrooom as all the other rooms were being used, the car was too cold, and he's not yet good enough to nurse in public. :P

We stayed at the party for a few hours, visiting with friends, and then decided to go visit Joe's family on the way home. By that time Joshua and I were exhausted but we stayed there for about 2 hours before I had to get home and take a nap.

This evening Joshua is being HORRIBLE! Despite a 3 hour nap he is running around the house, getting into everything and refusing to listen to his Daddy or me. I don't know what to do!! He has been so good since we brought James home and now today it's like he has run out of patience and tolerance. As I type this he is trying to get at the key
b
oa
r
d .
and screaming.

*grrr*

(That was typed with some help from Joshua).

His Mommy is running out of patience too.

It's a Boy!

James David Michael Parson was born at 7:22 am on Tuesday, November 28. He weighed 8 lbs 8oz and was just under 20 inches long (4 oz. and 2.5'' less than Joshua!).

I was not expecting to go into labour for at least another week because I had convinced myself the baby would be late so, even when I was having horrible contractions, I thought they were false or pre-labour. The contractions started at 4pm Sunday and by 3am we had to go to the hospital for medication for the pain. At that point I was only 2 cms (out of 10) so they gave me morphine and sent me home, saying it could be another few days. By 6am I had Joe call the hospital and ask what else I could do because I could not cope and the morphine was not working. They said to have a bath which definitely did not work! We drove back to the hospital and got there at 630 am. When they checked me I was almost 10 cms and ready to push. I was shocked and screaming for an epidural but there was no time. We waited the 15 minutes it took the doctor to get there from home and then 12 minutes of pushing and he was out (large head and all). ;)

It was extremely painful but I'm definitely in better shape post-birth than I was with Joshua.

Joe has the next 2 weeks off and we are home and adjusting to our new family so if anyone wants to stop over for a visit, please feel free to give us a call!

Some Pregnancy Photos

We had our pregnancy photos taken at Custom Concepts Photography on the long weekend in November. We won't officially get the pictures back until we have the newborn and Christmas family ones taken but here are a few that Clay and Jeannine posted on their blog (http://beta.blogger.com/profile/04846761507711289867). I hope they don't mind that I stole these. ;)

Joshua was only happy and cooperative when he was being given smarties or playing with the hockey equipment ... thus, in the first picture he's holding a hockey stick and in the last one is eating a smartie. His new favorite word and game is "hockey". *L*

39 Week Update

I had my 39 week doctor appointment with Dr. Kornelson today. I have only met him once before, when he was breaking my water and giving me an epidural with Joshua (18 months ago), but he somehow remembered me! He has an amazing bedside manner, I must say!

The baby is measuring at just over 41 weeks, which is apparently the same as Joshua did at this stage. The heart rate is 130 and my weight is UP (a lot).

The doctor took the extra time to feel around my stomach and tell me exactly how the baby is positioned and which direction it is facing, etc ... A nice change!

My appointment was for 130 this afternoon but Dr. K was delivering a baby and would "be back any minute" so I waited around for a long time and finally got in to see him at 4pm. Thank goodness I had left Joshua with his Grandma and Grandpa during the appointment!! Thus, when Dr. K offered to check my cervix and sweep my membranes (which induces labour) I did not even realize my mouth was open until I heard myself say, "That's okay, you are running so far behind and don't really have time to do that today. We can wait until next week". Am I crazy?!? I regretted the words the minute they were out of my mouth but it was too late ... he agreed with me and said he'd see me next week, if not before ... I am such a dumb girl! :P

Thoughts 2

Our visits with Sarah always make me feel better. I now know that I can handle the labour, delivery and new baby any time he or she chooses to arrive. Even if it is sooner rather than later. ;)

Some Thoughts

There is now less than 6 days until my due date and yet it feels so far away! I was more prepared and ready for this new baby 2 weeks ago than I am today. In fact, the closer it gets, the further away it seems. Hopefully my thoughts will change before the day of delivery!

Matushka Sarah is coming over tonight to meet with us and go over birthing plans so maybe that will help me become better prepared and feel more ready ...

38 Week Appointment

I had my 38 week prenatal appointment today with Dr. Driedger. He had 2 women in labour at the hospital (one was already pushing) so he was in a bit of a hurry but he did manage to check all our vitals and tell me the baby is still healthy and growing with a heart rate of 150 bpm. Also, he said they will usually induce 7-10 days after the official due date (usually 7) so I won't still be pregnant at Christmastime, as I feared. :P

One way or another this baby will be on it's way by December 9!! :)

My Little Slug ... Oh, the memories!

It's amazing the things you find when you look back through the computer ... here is a picture of Joshua, taken at 2 weeks old, that only a mother could find cute! *L* (He looks like a slug!)

Yesterday

Yesterday was a good day. Joshua and I watched Joe play hockey with the Goads (our Church's team) and then we came home and had our pregnancy pictures taken (some with Joshua are SO cute!)

I started getting some fairly painful contractions at about 4pm and by the time we were at our photo appointment at 7pm, I could barely walk or breathe through them. Joe and I came back home, had dinner and headed to the hospital at 9pm just to be checked out since by then the contractions were (again) 3-4 minutes apart. Of course, I had my last contraction as I was checking in at emergency and then we got to sit on the non-stress test machine for 30 minutes watching the baby move, with no contractions in sight. *grrr*

This baby just wants to torment me! ;)

So, now everything is back to normal and I'm counting on carrying this baby for at least another 2 weeks ... then (hopefully) I won't get my hopes up for no reason, again.

What a Night!

Last night was horrible! I had incredibly painful contractions that started in my lower abdomen and spread all over and into my back all night long. I was able to fall asleep with them at around 11 but then Joshua woke up for a bottle at 230 (as has become his custom over the past 3 nights) and I was having such painful contractions every 5-6 minutes that I couldn't go back to sleep.

Poor Joe! I tossed and turned and complained for over an hour before I decided to get up and have a bath. The contractions continued for the next few hours while I had a shower, walked around the house, drank water, ate some cereal and laid on the couch. I didn't want to wake Joe up and head to the hospital because I was paranoid they'd send me home and he has a church hockey game to play in today that I didn't want him to miss ... it sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!

Finally, at about 530 I decided that I knew how far apart the contractions were (every 3-4 minutes by this time) but not how long each one lasted so I got out a stop watch and started to time them. I figured I would time 4 and then call the hospital to see that to do. They were 50 to 60 seconds in duration but I had only 4 more contractions and then they stopped! All that incredible pain for nothing! *Grrr*

At least I was able to go back to sleep until Joshua woke up at 10. :)

37 Week Visit

I had my 37 week appointment with Dr. Driedger yesterday and everything is good. The baby's heart rate really jumps around and was 140 bpm this week. It's been as low as 130 and as high as 170. Hmmm ...

Hopefully we have less than 3 weeks to go! :)

A Visit with Mat. Sarah

I had my first official visit with Matushka Sarah yesterday regarding my pregnancy and labour and delivery. Joshua was tired because it was around his nap time so he was grumpy and whiney but her son Simon tried to keep him occupied so it worked out okay. We discussed my expectations for labour (I don't even know what they are) and what medications I'd like to rely on (I'm definitely keeping my options open). Surprising enough, she helped me the most with breastfeeding tips. Mat Sarah went through similar issues with her first that I went through with Joshua and was able to overcome them and nurse her next 2 children with minimal problems. It made me feel a lot better and more confident in my ability to nourish this child. *L*

I am definitely ready to have this baby (with the help of Joe and Matushka). ;)

Some mistakes are GREAT!

My sister Cindy is four months pregnant and had her ultrasound last week which showed she is having a girl in March. But due to some complications she had to have an amnio last Friday and it turns out that not only is the baby healthy but it's actually a boy!

Cindy and Mike really wanted a boy and truthfully seemed a little disappointed after the ultrasound so I am extremely happy and excited to hear their news! I can't wait to meet you, baby Michael Marcotte! :)

Almost Done the Kitchen and Living Room!

Obviously we still need to install the chair rail, some trim and all the baseboards but if the baby chose to come now, at least it's liveable! :)

Before the Renovations

36 Weeks

I am huge, tired, uncomfortable, and SICK of being pregnant.

A Doula

Joe and I hired a Doula today, to help in our labour and delivery. Matushka Sarah is the wife of one of the priests at our church (Father Justin) and is also a mother of 3 children (her youngest is less than 2 months old). I had never thought of hiring a Doula or, in fact, having anyone in the room besides Joe but after my experiences with the nurses when having Joshua, and hearing the birth stories of women who have used a Doula (specifically, Amy with Matushka Sarah), I couldn't say no.

Many people have asked me what a Doula does in the delievery room so here is an excerpt from Matushka Sarah's blog ...

The Purpose and Value of Labour Support

For most women, giving birth is a pivotal and life changing experience. It can affect, for better or for worse, how the mother feels about her baby, how well they bond, and even the mother’s relationships with her partner and other children. The medical community is recognizing how much the mother’s state of mind can affect the efficiency of labour and is returning to a more natural environment and labour practices, as well as continuing to provide all the miracles and safety of modern medicine. This helps birthing mothers to feel more relaxed, reassured, and in control of their birthing experience.

A doula provides emotional and physical support as well as information to the birthing mother and her partner before and during labour. Having that kind of support usually means a substantial advantage toward achieving better birthing experiences. A doula’s goal is to help the family, through this support, to have as satisfying a birth as possible, regardless of whether they want a natural labour, a painless one, or a c-section. In some cases this means helping them adjust to a labour that does not go as they hoped due to medical emergencies.

A doula provides the mother and her partner with information so they understand what is taking place, which allays fears and enables them to work with the mother’s body and the medical professionals. This information provides them with more choices and more confidence in making decisions regarding those choices. A doula can provide the couple with useful questions and productive ways of approaching concerns with their care providers, facilitating a smooth interaction with hospital staff, if that is an issue.

A doula takes care of the mother emotionally and psychologically during labour by assuring her she is doing well, making her feel cared for, important, and miraculous. She can, in many ways, labour right along with her, conducting and directing her energy and pain. She can assure and direct the partner, giving him confidence in his ability to be helpful which in turn is comforting for the mother to have a calm and confident partner.

A doula can provide physical comfort to help cope with pain, as well as suggestions for positions and techniques that can encourage efficient labour. She can direct the partner in ways he can physically support the birthing mother, which enables him to be an even better support than he might have been without the doula present.

Women who have had a doula usually express much more satisfaction with their labours, even if they’ve had interventions they did not anticipate. They more readily speak of their labours as a wonderful and memorable moment in their lives, a special, intimate, and joyful experience with their partner. Many find healing and closure for previous disappointing labours. The partners express immense gratitude for the doula and sometimes surprise at how much difference the doula’s support has made.

Statistics in studies carried out by medical professionals such Kennel and Klaus (as detailed in the DONA Position Paper and Klaus, “Maternal Assistance and Support in Labor”) demonstrate that having a doula-supported labour significantly decreases the length of labour, the incidence of medical complication, and the amount of medication and medical intervention needed during labour, including c-sections, epidural anesthesia, and forceps or vacuum delivery. Doula support also improves the effectiveness of medication when it is used. Studies also show improved postpartum outcomes in areas such as healing, bonding, and breastfeeding.

The doula’s responsibility during labour is strictly one of support. She does not make any medical decisions, perform clinical tasks, offer second opinions or medical advice, or speak on behalf of the mother. She does not push her own goals on the labouring woman, but supports the labouring woman’s desires for her birth. The doula’s role is a unique and important one that does not take the place of the partner, the nurses or the health-care provider. In fact, the doula’s support of the mother helps all of these individuals to fulfill their own roles and responsibilities during labour in the best possible way.

*SHUDDER*

I have mentioned to Joe on more than one occasion that if he ever decided to grow a mustache I'd have to leave him ... the other day he came out of the bathroom, after a shave, looking like this. My bags are packed! :P

Another Joe Update

Joe saw his doctor today and the numbness in his hands and neck is due to a degenerative condition in his spine which is compressing the vertebrae and pinching the nerves. There is nothing that can be done for him. The pain in his back is caused by arthritis ... at the age of 26! He is not taking the news very well and I'm worried about him.

Joe Update

Joe has still been experiencing the numbness in his neck and hands so I decided to call his doctor again yesterday for an update. It had been 3 weeks since his x-rays and we hadn't heard anything so I assumed nothing was found on them but wanted to know what the next step would be.

When I called, the receptionist told me they don't call if everything is normal (I know) and then, when I said I needed to know what was happening next, she suggested she'd just check out the x-ray. It turns out his doctor was away when they came back and another doctor looked at them. They show a narrowing of the spine (whatever that means) and she booked an appointment for Joe to go in to see his doctor "as soon as possible".

My problem with this office is that now they not only misdiagnosed his bicep tear for 3 MONTHS last year but they also did not follow up on a matter that seems to be important, judging by the receptionist's demeanor on the phone. I need to find him a new doctor!!

House Renovations

I haven't been posting lately because Joe and I have been so busy with the house renovations. Since last Friday we have ripped up all the carpet in the living room, hallway and office and installed laminate floors. We also painted these rooms and ordered the new linoleum for the kitchen. I started painting the kitchen as well but figured it's probably better to wait until after we've pulled off the base boards to go any further. The new floors and walls look amazing. It'll look better once we get the trim and base boards back up but I'm happy with the work we accomplished in the last week. Joe says that when we do the upstairs we're hiring someone to install the floors for us, though *L*. He really did an amazing job for someone who has never done renovations before. I am SO proud of him! We've hired professionals to do the linoleum in the kitchen. It seems cheaper in the long run than having Joe take more time off work and attempt another new project. Hopefully we will be almost done the renovations by the time the baby arrives! :)

33 Week Appointment

I had my 33 week doctor appointment this morning and everything is going great. My blood pressure and weight gain were normal and the baby's heartbeat is 155. It was by far the quickest appointment I've ever had at their office ... 5 minutes total. The baby's head is down but is still quite high which, this far from my due date, I think is a good thing. :)

33 Weeks

I am 33 weeks pregnant and feeling *BLAH*. The baby is getting bigger and putting so much pressure on my pelvis that I can sometimes hardly walk. 7 more weeks to go?!? How is that possible? My quick shopping trip to Superstore today turned into 2 hours of slowly shuffling my way up and down the aisles *L*. It was definitely a good thing that my Mom and Rick were watching Joshua! :)

I have also developed what I can only assume is third trimester morning sickness (has anyone heard of this before?) ... we even had to leave church last Sunday because I couldn't make it through to the end. I guess it's true what they say, every pregnancy is different! (Even though up until now it's been fairly similar to Joshua, even in the way the baby moves and where it kicks me the most.

Joe's Dad thinks thie baby is a girl because apparently Athina was sick with Becky in the last trimester but not so with 3 of the 4 boys. Hmmm ... I still think it's probably a boy but we'll have to wait and see ...

On the plus side, I am enjoying my time with Joshua so much lately. Sometimes I need to lay down in the middle of the day so I lay on the couch and he climbs all over me ... playing and laughing. And he is back to playing nicely by himself for a few hours each day. For the past two months he has been sick and has needed constant attention. It got so exhausting! But he is back to his loveable, independent little self. I LOVE THIS LITTLE BOY SO MUCH! It actually makes me sad to think that I'll be losing my one-on-one play and cuddle time with the little monkey so soon. But I guess he'll be getting a new sibling to play with so I can't be too sad for us.

The house renovations were stalled for a while but Joe and I bought some new laminate flooring today for out living room, hallway and office. We now have less than 7 weeks to install it and neither of us know what we're doing. *EEK* We also need to get the walls painted and replace the linoleum in the kitchen (just because it's ugly). When you come over in 6 months and we're all still living on exposed concrete, you'll know why! *L*

Joe's Health

Joe has been having some trouble with his hands since last January. They are tingly and numb a lot of the time. He has an appointment with a neurologist but they are booking 9 months in advance (thus, his appointment is not until the end of January). We were hoping the problem was a pinched nerve (though we have absolutely no medical information to back that claim) because it might be fairly easy to correct (again, I don't know if pinched nerves are, in fact, easy to fix). Yesterday, though, some tingling and numbness started at the base of his neck and by last night it was spreading down to the middle of his back. I am really scared of what this could be ...

He sees his doctor this afternoon but neither of us have a lot of faith in his doctor after the misdiagnosis on his arm last year.

Please pray for him.

31 Week Doctor Visit

I had my 31 week appointment with Dr. Shaw today (one of my obstetricians). She is so nice!

She answered a few questions that I had. Apparently, if I have more than 4 contractions in an hour again I have to go to the hospital because at this stage in my pregnancy they would be concerned about premature delivery (I've been having fairly painful contractions every day for almost 2 weeks). Otherwise, she's happy with my weight gain and the baby's development.

The baby's heart rate was only 130 beats per minute this time, usually it's been around 150. Joshua's was always between 150 and 170. Hmmm ... could it be a girl?!?

Also, when she was measuring the fundal height (the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the baby) she looked shocked and kept checking her chart and then re-measuring my belly. It turns out I'm measuring a few weeks bigger than I should be (I'm measuring just over 34 weeks at 31 weeks). Then I asked her what I measured with Joshua and it turns out we were the same. She said, again, that Joe and I just make big babies. *L*

So, our little guy/girl is actually closer to 5 lbs. (No wonder I feel so huge!) :)

31 Weeks Today!

Well, I don't know about you but I've never seen a 3.5 lb, 18'' long Barbie doll! :P

The Baby at 30 weeks ...

This is not our exact baby ... in case you didn't notice, it's a drawing! :P

Baby Stats

Baby #2 is now over 16 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds. We have less than 11 weeks to go until we meet him or her!! (Hopefully, anyway!) ;)

Christmas Gift Dilemma

Joe and I never know what to get his parents, brothers and sister for Christmas (or birthdays either, for that matter!). I find it really easy to shop for my sister and parents but his family is an enigma to me. Last year we got them tickets to a Giants hockey game and we all went together and while it went over alright, it was not the amazing gift we all want to give to our families at Christmastime, you know?

So, this year we are throwing around the idea of buying them a swimming pool. Joe thinks this is a good plan but I'm worried that giving one gift to 7 people (who will all definitely live at home for at least another 3 years) is kind of weird ... Plus, what if not everyone wants to have a pool? His sister and one brother would love it, I'm sure; but there are 4 kids, ranging in age from 19 to 25 and I don't know if this gift might be a little too young for them. And will his Mom like it as much as his Dad?!? Oh, the dilemma ...

Apparently they talked about getting a pool a few years ago but for some reason never got one. Hmmm ... what should we do? The pool would be similar to this one but it is a little bit better in that is has steel sides, not plastic.

(I realize no one knows them very well, and certainly not better than Joe and I, but any advice would be very much appreciated).

New Baby Cook!

Congratulations to one of my best friends, Cheryl, and her husband, Corey, on the birth of their first child, Devon Riley James Cook, on August 30 at 6:31 pm! The little guy weighed in at 5 lbs 15 oz and has A LOT of dark hair (under the hat). Cheryl and I have been best friends for 15 years and I could not be more excited for her! He is such a tiny little guy. :)

Baby Weight

I just found out that by this point in my pregnancy (beginning of the third trimester) I should have gained about 17-24 lbs. I am actually just back to the weight I was when we found out we were pregnant in March. (I lost a lot of weight in the first 4 months of pregnancy).

I know, you're not supposed to worry about gaining weight when you're pregnant as it's a natural occurrence and is necessary for the healthy growth and development of the fetus but I was overweight in March! I gained a whopping 50 lbs with Joshua and it did not entirely come off in those first 9 months following his birth (before I became pregnant with #2). So, to me, this lack of weight gain is a wonderful thing! (I am still at a more-than-healthy weight, believe me!)

In fact, my doctor told me at my last appointment that if I continue like this and have 3 more kids, I can be 110 lbs by the time we're done! (I realize that at almost 5'11'' that's just not possible ... but a girl can dream, can't she?!?) ;)

Another Hospital Visit

Grrr ... I was back in the hospital on Wednesday afternoon with another migraine headache. They kept me in maternity triage for 5 hours monitoring the baby and giving me pain medication, even though I told them that the baby was fine, it was just my head that hurt! :P

It has only been 3 weeks since my last migraine and already another one?!? (My second one ever). I hope this baby comes early (like, safely at 36 weeks) because I can't handle much more of this!

In better news, the baby seems to be healthy and growing quickly! (It is very active already -- similar to how Joshua was in utero -- where I can't even go a few hours without it waking me up with a good, solid kick!) ;)

Double Strollers

Does anyone have any advice on double strollers? Since Joshua and the new baby will be about 18 months apart I have been researching and pricing double strollers, but it seems they are not only very expensive but also come with mixed reviews.

We're leaning towards getting the Graco Duo-Glide Metropolitan stroller and car seat as there seem to be more good reviews than bad about this particular brand and model but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or opinions on this matter?!?

Please help!!

What a Day

I spent the afternoon at my friend Cheryl's house, planning her baby shower, with my sister Stephanie, for this Saturday. They did the baking before I got there and then we planned the decorations and started on the party favours. After a few hours, Joshua was ready to come home so we left Cheryl's house and he quickly ran off down the street, after my sister. I finally caught him to put him in the car but he was fairly upset at being in captivity and kept whining incessantly. So, as I was belting Joshua into his car seat, I handed him my car keys to calm him down. They worked so well that I figured, why not let him hang onto them as I got in the front seat and then grab them once we were ready to take off. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that he had hit the keyless entry remote on the keys and all the doors were locked.

Thus started 30 minutes of Joshua and I crying in unison as he was trapped in the HOT car and I waited on the outside for the tow truck driver to arrive, feeling like the worst mother in the world. It was by far the fastest BCAA call I have ever experienced as they were there in no time and were very quick in getting the doors unlocked, however, I am still traumatized by the experience. Joshua seemed to be over it as soon as I put him in the bath and got him clean and dry. Now, though, I feel like a horrible and neglectful mother ... what kind of person locks their baby in the car?!? It is definitely time to get a spare key made up! (One that Joe doesn't take with him to work in Aldergrove).

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, HERE WE COME!

And we're almost off! :)

Our last girls' road trip starts tomorrow! Stephanie, Jen and I will leave Wednesday morning for 3 days in the USA. Thursday night we will atend the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Soul II Soul 2 Tour at Key Arena in Seattle and, other than that, we will mainly sight-see and shop. :)

Jen moves to Manitoba in September to attend a Christian University so this is supposed to be our 'farewell tour'. :P

We started our roadtrips in 2001 with a trip to George, WA for a Tim McGraw concert at the Gorge, a week-long trip to the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, and a week camping in Osoyoos. 2002 brought the beginning of our annual trips (with Deanne) to stay at a hostel in Kelowna. Those trips ended when, in 2005, Jen made a trip of her own to Nicaragua to volunteer in an orphanage for the summer. Last year, Steph and I had to keep the tradition alive by taking a trip to stay in Osoyoos for a few days with 3 month old Joshua -- that was definitely different than our trips with the girls! ;)

So, this year will probably be our last for a while ... unless Jen can get away when she comes home in the summers and I can escape the growing family for a few days next year! *crosses fingers*

Yesterday

Yesterday was an interesting day.

Joe and I had plans for a dinner/football game date night but, once he finished work, it turned into a 'rush to the game and get there just as it started' kind of date. It was still very nice, though. The BC Lions won against the Edmonton Eskimos, 34-17. We then came home (where my parents and Steph had already put Joshua to bed in his own room ... I love this set-up!).

I was starting to get a small headache as we got home but that's a normal pregnancy thing for me so I just ignored it. Then, however, at about 2 am I awoke with the worst headache I have ever had and couldn't get comfortable, was too dizzy to walk and kept vomitting from the pain. I took countless pills of tylenol before I realized I couldn't keep them down long enough for them to work and so decided to call the BC Nurse's Help Line for assistance.

When I explained what was happening to the nurse on duty last night she demanded that I call 911 immediately. This completely freaked me out since she told me I couldn't even have Joe drive me to the hospital but needed to be taken by an ambulance on a stretcher. So, I called 911 and made the decision to have Joe drive me anyway mainly because I didn't want to get a bill for an ambulance ride when he was home and, thanks again to Steph and my parents living nearby, able to leave Joshua sleeping in order to take me to the hospital. The rest of my story is pretty disgusting from here on out so I will just say that my headache was a migraine (I have a complete new respect for people who suffer from migraines ... I always just thought they were really bad headaches), which caused almost constant vomitting and then the vomitting caused contractions. By early this morning I had been admitted to the maternity ward at MSA Hospital and repeatedly pumped full of copious amounts of Morphine, Gravol and another anti-nauseau medications that I can't pronounce. :P

I am now discharged and home with the lingering remains of a headache (as the Morphine is wearing off), getting ready to have some friends over for a barbecue. I probably should have cancelled and stayed in bed but then what kind of a friend would I be?!? ;)

The moral of my story ... don't ever get a migraine (as if you could help it)!!

Baby Updates

I had my first appointment with the Obstetrician today and had forgotten how annoying these appointments can be. *L* (Not the appointments themselves, just trying to get in to see a doctor who delivers several babies each week).

I set my alarm early so I could be up and at the office for my morning appointment and then got the call just as I was heading out the door that Dr. Shaw was at the hospital delivering a baby. So, my appointment was resceduled for a later time. (This was not actually that annoying and wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't already set my alarm and gotten ready!) ;)

The appointment went well. I had only gained 2 pounds instead of the 4 I thought and the doctor is happy with the baby's growth and development to date. She made a comment about the size of the baby already and told me if I wanted to have smaller babies I would definitely have to choose from a different gene pool, though. *L*

My due date has been changed to November 30 (based on the last ultrasound) which makes me really happy ... the end of November doesn't seem as far away as the beginning of December did! :P

My only concern is that the baby's heartbeat was irregular. Dr. Shaw couldn't even find it using the doppler (despite the fact I am over 23 weeks along) and had to use the ultrasound machine to locate it. When she finally found the heartbeat it was only at 60 bpm. The average baby's rate ranges from 120 to 170. When she poked the baby and made it move the heart rate rose to 150 bpm but she said we'll have to keep an eye on it. Dr. Shaw gave me a name for this developmental condition but I can't remember it and so can't even go on the internet and learn more about it. :(

Has anyone heard of this before? Any ideas? Apparently it can happen when the baby's nervous system is developing ...

Otherwise, things are going great. I will go for some blood tests in a few weeks to check for gestational diabetes and also to check my iron levels. They want to rule out anemia since I have been so run down and exhausted lately. (I have been anemic several times in the past but this exhaustion could also be a result of having a VERY active 14 month old boy at home!) ;)

That's what's happening in my pregnancy today ...

Fun with Friends

Joshua and I had so much fun yesterday hanging out with Klaudia and Nolan Sheepwash. We met them at the Walnut Grove Community Centre for a playgroup they hold there for children up to 6 years of age. Joshua was a little unsure at first but then started to really enjoy watching the other children and eating the snacks provided (they even provide Starbucks coffee and snacks for the Mama's ... plus, some to take home!). Nolan had no such worries and was playing by himself as soon as we opened the door to go in. :)

We then continued on to the swimming pool which they have in the same building. It was nice to take Joshua swimming again (especially since the Abbotsford pools are closed during the city strike). Joshua especially loved the swimming and grinned and giggled the whole 2 hours we were in there. My only complaint is that my little man in not at all afraid of the water! He has become a little daredevil and likes to walk off ledges and the edge of seats in the pool so that I have to run over and save him. He dropped off into the 4-plus foot deep water at least 15 times and then would sputter and giggle as I pulled him out. It was exhausting for me! Joe and I definitely have to start shopping for a life jacket for the boy. I've been able to find ones for under 30 lbs but Joshua is too heavy to fit them and I can't find the next size up anywhere. :(

We had such a good time that we've decided to make our Tuesday morning trips a routine (at least until Nick, Klaudia and Nolan move to Montreal at the end of the summer) :(

Baby Update

I saw my doctor this morning for the last time until after the baby arrives (I'll start seeing my obstetrician in 3 weeks). He says the baby looks great and my ultrasound confirms my due date of December 2. Also, I've only gained one pound in over 6 weeks and I was wearing way heavier clothes than last time. YAY!! This puts me at only 8 pounds more than this stage with Joshua, and I was a whopping 30 lbs heavier when I got pregnant with this second one than with him!! They say nursing is a great way to lose the weight after a baby but 9 months of nursing cannot compare to 5 months of being pregnant!! ;)

Also, when we had the ultrasound on Monday, Joe thinks he saw a penis. So, this could be another boy. We're going to wait until the birth to find out for sure though.

Things here are going great. Joshua was a perfect little boy at the appointment this morning. He just sat on his own chair and played with his little firetruck and ate mini marshmallows. I was very proud to be his Mama and got a lot of compliments of how well behaved my little man is! (If only they could see him at home when he doesn't get what he wants ... talk about ATTITUDE!)

Joe's arm is allowed to go to 20 degrees now so he's back at physio and doing his stretches again. His physiotherapist told him the arm only has a small window of time to stretch and then it's set forever so he's now worried that his doctor can't get him in until the end of August to check the bicep and allow him more range of motion. I don't blame him, though, he's supposed to be seen every 4-6 weeks by the surgeon and it'll be over 2 months by the time the doctor gets back from his vacation. Summer is not a good time for surgery or rehabilitation! (Steph is going through the same thing with the surgeon and her shoulder.)

This afternoon Joshua will get his 12 month immunizations. I completely forgot to book them around his birthday so luckily they could fit my almost 14 month old boy in this week! He's usually pretty good about it, if just a bit whiney, but we'll stay around the house today and tomorrow just to be sure.

That's all that is new in our world. The vacation was great but it's always nice to be home! :)

Change of Plans

We have been back from St. John the Forerunner Monastery in Goldendale, WA for a few days now. The trip down was long! We kept thinking we were almost there after we passed Seattle but we actually had another 4.5 hours to go. Joshua was a great little traveller and only whined a few times when he got bored but I was not so good at entertaining him in the hot car (yes, it was hot despite the air conditioner!). Plus, our car engine likes to get very hot on long trips. Joe thinks it's just the thermostat that needs replacing but by the time we got to Yakima it was red-lining on hot.

Our actual stay at the monastery was very nice. Joe's Mom gave us her room and slept in her car. I wasn't comfortable with taking it from her but with Joshua we didn't have much of a choice! I loved how laid-back the monastery was. It was nothing like St. Anthony's in Arizona (Mom explained that this is because the monks need a more strict monastery than the nuns do ... apparently men have a harder time with the monastic lifestyle). We got to the monastery at 630 pm on Thursday and left at 630 pm on Friday. It was definitely a long drive for just a 24 hour visit but I was getting sick by Friday evening and was worried it might get worse by Saturday. Plus, it was nice to drive home in the evening when Joshua would actually sleep in the car for a while. He would not go to sleep on the trip down there!

We were able to visit with Father Paisios only twice for a short while each because he was busy the first day and a half hearing (constant) confessions and then the Bishop arrived so he helped show him around. I am happy to report that Joe's uncle is not actually as intimidating as I first thought. When we travelled down to Arizona in December of 2003 it was to receive his blessing to get married and I think he seemed so intimidating just because I was worried he would say no! :P

The trip to Goldendale has sparked Joe, Steph and I to buy plane tickets to Edmonton for next week. *L* I am definitely not doing the equivalent of another 4 of those long car rides with Joshua, despite how good he actually was! So, we fly out on Thursday of this week and fly back into Abbotsford on the following Friday. It's a fairly expensive trip with the airfare and car rental once we land but it'll be nice to see that part of the family again.

Yesterday we attended Rylan's Baptism at my Grandmother's Lutheran church in Matsqui Village. It was a nice service and he looked so cute in his Baptismal outfit! Congratulations Rylan!! :)

Anyway, enough of the twenty page blogging. I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine (and for your sakes, the air conditioning too!) ;)

Travel Plans

Well, the next two weeks sure filled up in a hurry. Joe and I decided this morning to go down to Goldendale, Washington tomorrow morning and stay for a few days. Joe's Uncle, Father Paisios, is visiting a monastery there, up from his monastery in Arizona. He has not yet met Joshua and I've only met Father Paisios once before so this should be a nice visit. I do, for some reason though, find him a little intimidating! We'll be staying at the monastery in a room to ourselves (which is weird since our last visit to Arizona found us segregated at worship and meal times, let alone bed times ... I'm just very happy for the constant help with Joshua!) Joe's Mom and Grandma will be heading down too so we will definitely have more than enough help with the little boy.

Thus, we will leave tomorrow morning after our home-cooked breakfast at Papa and Oma's house (YUM!) and drive the 4? 5? or 6? hours to Goldendale .... I honestly have no idea how long the drive will be. (Fun with the little moose, I'm sure).

We will be back by Monday and then leave for Edmonton on Wednesday (with Stephanie) to visit our sisters and brother and attend an anniversary party for Uncle Alan and Aunt Ruth. We'll be driving and probably spending a night in Valemount on the way there and probably on the way back too. I'm not looking forward to the many hours of car travel ahead of us! Joshua hasn't been on a long car ride since he was 3 months old and slept most of the way so we'll see how this goes ... I'll keep you posted! ;)

Not a lot is going on ...

Well, for once in a long while I am happy to report that life is fairly normal right now! :)

Joe, of course, is still off work due to his bicep tear and Joshua and I are fully accustomed to having his Daddy around to play with (Joshua) and help with the house (Mommy).

Mom and Rick are away for about 10 days so we're finding out what it's actually like to not have built in babysitters and while we are having a great time constantly hanging out with the boy, we're also realizing how much easier it is to do simple things like vacuuming when he's upstairs visiting his Grandpa and Grandma Styles.

Joe, Stephanie, Joshua and I are also planning a trip to Edmonton for the end of this month. We weren't sure if it was possible since Joe's off work and we haven't yet been approved for Medical EI but we've decided to just go and make it work when we get back (that might be a mistake, I know). Luckily, my sister Sherri and her husband are almost done building their dream home in Edmonton and it will be ready about a week before we land on their doorstep! :)

The little Parson fetus is growing as I'm now almost 17 weeks pregnant. This means he/she can hear sounds from outside the uterus and is a whopping 5'' long. I can't wait to look pregnant instead of just fat! :P

What a Week!

Wow, it has been one crazy week! It all started with our sick Joshua at the hospital on the weekend. Then, we had a birthday celebration as a family on Tuesday for the little man. He wasn't yet 100% so we spent the day at home and then went to Castle Fun Park in the evening. He just clung to Joe and I like a little monkey and would not go on any of the rides so we soon left and came home.

Wednesday, Joe had an appointment to have his splint removed at MSA Hospital with his surgeon. I was feeling so sick and throwing up almost constantly but my Mom dropped me off at the hospital so I could be with Joe while he waited. This, however, was not the best thought out idea as I just spent the whole time vomitting in the washroom (and accidentally hitting the call button ... that's an embarrasing story!) Thus, I finally left Joe with his surgeon and stumbled over to the Emergency Room to see if it was okay that I was getting so dehydrated. The next thing I knew I was committed for the night and being poked by about 10 different needles as I was so dehydrated they couldn't find my veins *shudder*. I spent Wednesday night in the ER and was moved to Pediatrics on Thursday to "get more sleep". They told me I was going home and then ended up keeping me for another night in a room with a snoring woman and 2 young girls on suicide watch. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! The girls were properly medicated and restrained and went down for the night alright but the woman was so noisy that they finally had to move me to a room with a sick baby. It was so sad! Luckily, crying is not as annoying as snoring so I was able to get more sleep the second night.

Now, I'm home cleaning and preparing food for the 55 guests I invited over on Sunday for the barbecue, despite being told to stay in bed and consume only liquids for 2 more days. *EEK*

The good news in that I'm no longer contagious and the whole experience has made me realize how incredibly fortunate we are to be able to spend every night at home with our healthy families! :)

Updates

Well, my life has completely changed overnight. Joe had his surgery in Chilliwack yesterday (I didn't call you Amy, because I had forgotten your number at home and didn't really want to leave the hospital ... I was pretty worried!) We got there at 7am and Joe was prepped for surgery (IV, really nice hospital gowns, etc...) They told me the actual surgery would take about two and a half hours so I waited, and waited, and waited ... 5 hours later I was starting to freak out, standing at the nurse's station with no nurse in sight when he was wheeled around the corner. I almost cried! :P

The surgery went well but they did have to take some of his hamstring tendon to repair his bicep tendon. Dr. Wickham explained that Joe actually had no tendon left in his arm so they had to take a piece from his leg that's about as long as his upper arm *ouch*. There's about an 85% chance that the surgery was successful so we are definitely praying about it!

Joe is on Tylenol 3's and they are not working well enough to allow him to sleep or to even
move around the house. He can't walk and his arm is in a cast from his shoulder to his fingers ... it looks horrible! (It makes me wish they had thought to operate on his opposite arm and leg, so he could at least use a crutch!)

I am thus taking care of Joshua and Joe as well as this little baby in my belly that is making me really sick! I'm glad I can do this for my family but I'm just getting so burned out already. :(

Plus, Stephanie is having shoulder surgery as I type this ... we'll have another invalid around here very soon (like, by about 6pm)!

In response to Myn's last comment, we're hoping to be at church this Sunday, if all goes well for Joe over the next 2 days. We didn't go last week because I thought Joshua was getting a cold and didn't want to give it to all the new church babies. As it turns out, I think it may just be allergies (at less than a year, poor kid ... he has no hope!)

Now for some better news, this pregnancy seems to be going well. I feel huge already but I know I'll only get bigger over the next 6 months. I'm almost 11 weeks pregnant and can't wait for the nausea to go away! I've looked back and there's absolutely no way I'm further along than I thought (as my doctor suggested) because I had a pregnancy test at the doctor's the week before I think I got pregnant and it was negative, thus there must be another explanation for measuring so big (16 weeks according to fundal height).

I hope all is well for everyone! :)

My Life ...

I had a doctor's appointment today to have the normal early pregnancy tests run and Dr. Heffner thinks I'm measuring way too big. I'm positive of my dates but he feels I'm about 5 weeks more pregnant than I should be ... hmmm ...

That would make me 3 1/2 months along! YAY! (or pregnant with twins, which I DO NOT want! -- I don't want Joshua to be the ignored big brother of twins).

So, I get an ultrasound in 3 weeks. I'm very excited ... I LOVE ultrasounds (except for the whole drink so much water you think you'll explode and then they press on your bladder thing).

Also, Joe goes in for his bicep reconstruction surgery in 6 days. I am so worried for him. I know that I've had major surgery in the past but that was me, so I didn't have to wait in the waiting room worrying like I definitely will this time.

On May 11 I'll drive him into Chilliwack and wait, worrying, until they tell me he's woken up and everything went normal. Then it's 4 months of no-work and lots of physiotherapy for him. This is definitely going to put a strain on our finances!

We just found out that Stephanie's shoulder surgery has been bumped up so she'll be in for surgery with the same surgeon (Dr. Wickham) the day after Joe's surgery (May 12). Then we'll have 2 recuperating invalids in the house. :P

I jsut got my last 2 grades back for school and I got an A- and an A+. I'm not sure what dropped that first mark but I guess I should be happy, I will graduate on the Dean's List with a 3.74 GPA with my Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in just over one month! :D

Anyway, that's my life for now ...

Birthday Stuff

Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday to me (and Stephanie),
Happy birthday to me.

For someone who has a birthday today, I sure am grumpy. :(

It seems that pregnancy does that to me and even though I know it, I can't change it...

Sorry to anyone I may have yelled at or offended in the last 2 months, or the next seven. I really am sorry!

Cute Story

This is a cute - if somewhat unfortunate - story.
(It's supposed to be true ... David Letterman did a monologue on it)

BLACK ROBBERS

On a recent weekend in Atlantic City, a woman won a bucketful of quarters at a slot machine. She took a break from the slots for dinner with her husband in the hotel dining room. But first she wanted to stash the quarters in her room.

"I'll be right back and we'll go to eat," she told her husband and carried the coin-laden bucket to the elevator.

As she was about to walk into the elevator she noticed two men already aboard. Both were black. One of them was tall...very tall...an intimidating figure. The woman froze.

Her first thought was: These two are going to rob me.

Her next thought was: Don't be a bigot, they look like perfectly nice gentlemen. But racial stereotypes are powerful, and fear immobilized her. She stood and stared at the two men. She felt anxious, flustered and ashamed. She hoped they didn't read her mind but gosh, they had to know what she was thinking!!! Her hesitation about joining them in the elevator was all too obvious now. Her face was flushed. She couldn't just stand there, so with a mighty effort of will she picked up one foot and stepped forward and followed with the other foot and was on the elevator.

Avoiding eye contact, she turned around stiffly and faced the elevator doors as they closed. A second passed, and the another second, and then another. Her fear increased! The elevator didn't move. Panic consumed her. My God, she thought, I'm trapped and about to be robbed! Her heart plummeted. Perspiration poured from every pore.

Then one of the men said, "Hit the floor."

Instinct told her to do what they told her. The bucket of quarters flew upwards as she threw out her arms and collapsed on the elevator floor. A shower of coins rained down on her. Take my money and spare me, she prayed. More seconds passed.

She heard one of the men say politely, "Ma'am, if you'll just tell us what floor you're going to, we'll push the button." The one who said it had a little trouble getting the words out. He was trying to hold in a belly laugh.

The woman lifted her head and looked up at the two men. They reached down to help her up. Confused, she struggled to her feet.

"When I told my friend here to hit the floor," said the average sized one, "I meant that he should hit the elevator button for our floor. I didn't mean for you to hit the floor, ma'am." He spoke genially. He bit his lip. It was obvious he was having a hard time not laughing.

The woman thought: My God, what a spectacle I've made of myself. She was humiliated to speak. She wanted to blurt out an apology, but words failed her. How do you apologize to two perfectly respectable gentlemen for behaving as though they were going to rob you? She didn't know what to say. The three of them gathered up the strewn quarters and refilled her bucket.

When the elevator arrived at her floor they insisted on walking her to her room. She seemed a little unsteady on her feet, and they were afraid she might not make it down the corridor. At her door they bid her a good evening. As she slipped into her room she could hear them roaring with laughter as they walked back to the elevator. The woman brushed herself off. She pulled herself together and went downstairs for dinner with her husband.

The next morning flowers were delivered to her room - a dozen roses. Attached to EACH rose was a crisp one hundred dollar bill.

The card said:

"Thanks for the best laugh we've had in years."

It was signed;

Eddie Murphy
Michael Jordan

Sign and Sing

Joshua had his first Sign and Sing class this morning and he loved it! It's a class for babies 6 months to 3 years of age where we play and sing songs while we teach them sign language (and learn ourselves, too!).

It was great! I highly recommend it to any new Mom. Even if he learns nothing, it's a chance to get him out socializing with other children his own age. And I've learned some new games to play and songs to sing with him.

Heather and Rylan are in the class too, but we didn't get a chance to hang out this week ... maybe next week?

A woman in the class organizes a walking club so I think I might just join the Abbotsford Yummy Mommys Walking Club. It sounds like a good way to get some exercise while hanging out with Josh!

All in all, it's a great experience! (Now I'm off to buy Joshua a dog toy that Miss Darcie recommends) :P

Baby 2 is on his way!

Okay, so now that I've told most people about our news I can share it on my blog. Joshua is going to be a big brother ... we're having another baby. The news was unexpected and a little shocking but we were planning to get pregnant sometime after July so I guess it's just a bit earlier than planned (like, 6 months early)! :P

The baby is due either December 2 (my guess) or November 30 (the walk-in-clinic doctor's guess). I see my family doctor tomorrow so we should have a better idea once I talk to him.

Joe and I think it's a boy! We're determined not to find out the sex until the baby is born but I just have this feeling ... more little blue things are in our near future! ;)

News

We got some good, if somewhat surprising, news today. I'll tell you all about it as soon as we talk!! :P

Papa's Birthday

Yesterday was a really great day. I had to attend a guest lecturer for my Philosophy and Children class which was scheduled on the Saturday morning (I HATED giving up my Saturday) but it was okay. Nothing spectacular but she had some interesting view points. Then, it was Papa's 86th birthday party at the house. I loved seeing all the relatives and got some good visits in with the cousins. It's so nice to have cousins like Brydon, Rob and Heather. We don't see each other very often but they are a lot of fun to hang out with when we do! (Heather and I will get to see each other more starting April 8 when our boys take Sign and Sing together!) :)

Now, off to church and maybe lunch with my Dad. What I really need is a day to just sleep in and relax ... ;)

Although I guess I shouldn't complain ... there are only 3 weeks left of school!!!

That time of the semester

I am so tired and sad all the time right now (when I'm not angry at people from school who don't carry their own weight!). I know it's just that time of the semester when everything hits and it's probably caused by stress and a lack of sleep but I am so ready to feel better! There is a light at the end of the tunnel though ... classes are over in 24 days! WOOHOO! I've been considering applying for a temporary position at BC Assessments for the summer. They are hiring for a 4 month position running from May 1 until September 1. My summer vacation plans would be ruined and I'd miss Joshua like crazy but at least I'd get back into the workforce before we decide to have another baby. Hmmm ... it's worth a shot!

Hit and Run

I guess I never posted on here about the hit and run last Sunday. Someone hit Joe's car, as it was parked on the street outside our house, and then took off. They left their passenger mirror but we had no way of tracking them so ICBC and the police told us we were out of luck and had to pay the damages ourselves.

Luckily, the little boy next door came forward today and said he saw the car that hit the Corsica. (It's the little boy I've been known to yell at in the past for playing hockey near my car ... now I feel horrible!). He saw a light green Honda Civic drive into Joe's car and take off down the street, being pursued by a police car. I guess the officer didn't realize that the car hit us ... that's all I can think of (or you'd think the police officer would have stopped and told us what happened!)! Or maybe the police car wasn't in pursuite but was just leisurely driving along, looking for criminal activity??! LOOK ... criminal activity ... a hit and run!! The little boy must have then seen the car later, in front of a house a few streets over so he came forward and let us know what he saw and where the car was.

Joe, Joshua and I went for a walk this morning and sure enough, there's a light green Civic matching the description and missing a passenger side mirror. So, we got the license plate number and the address and called ICBC to re-report the accident and went down to the police station to file a hit-and-run claim (they'll talk to us now that we have a witness). The Civic was there when we went for our walk but was gone when we left for the police station. It was back on the drive home. It turns out the Civic's insurance ran out on the 16th so, while we're still safe cause the accident was on the 12th, the people took the Civic out today with no insurance (that was noted on the police report as well).

The nice woman at the front desk of the police station told us, after we had waited for 30 mintues for an officer, that they were really busy and so she could just have someone stop by our house when they got a chance. She must have seen Joe complaining like a little child and saying he wanted to go home! *L*

So, now we wait for the officer to show up ...

I'm worried there's not enough substantive evidence to prove it was the car on Emerald ... or that they will get their mirror fixed before the police or ICBC look into it. I wish we hadn't thrown their passenger mirror away last week!! :(

Aircare

Joe and I had totally fogotten that my car insurance expires on Monday the 20th. So, today I got to take the car through aircare. What a scary experience! Not that the actual aircare is scary but I have never had a car that passed on the first attempt! *L*

Luckily, the Civic passed and I am now aircare-free for 2 years. YAY!

Research shows that aircare is not effective for reducing emissions so I wonder, why do we keep a program that doesn't work?!? I guess it all comes down to money -- and the ineffective aircare is definitely great at generating revenue for the government. :(

An Update

So, my dentist appointment went well. My experiences of Dr. Ryan Venier are very different than other people I know. He was very nice and the filling didn't hurt at all (it's getting a little painful now that the freezing is coming out but that's normal, right?) I have another appointment for Thursday when he will push something into another tooth to see if it's a cavity or just the geography of my tooth. That does not sound comfortable! Apparently, if it's a cavity, the pointy little thing will slide right in *shudder*. For a girl who has never had a cavity before, this whole experience is a little scary!

Joe saw his second specialist today, the one who has "pioneered" bicep reconstruction in Abu Dabi. The receptionist who told me that was way off! He has never operated on this type of injury beyond the two week window. He is a pectoral specialist; that is the surgery he pioneered up to 12-18 months after the fact. But, maybe that knowledge can be transferred to Joe's bicep? Dr. Wickham will look into the surgery and see Joe in 2 weeks, once he's researched the injury and options.

Other than that, it's a week of school and asignments ... only 1 month and 2 days until I'm done my degree! :)

New Dentist 2

As it turns out, my new dentist is a hack (despite being cute, who would have thought?) What do I do now? I have an appointment to have two fillings on Monday morning and apparently a friend of mine went in and he drilled out one tooth and filled the one next to it?!? How does that happen?

New Dentist

I got a new dentist today and he is CUTE! *L* I called Lyndsay after I left the appointment and told her about the new dentist and right away she guessed his name. Apparently all of Abbotsford knows when a cute doctor or dentist starts a practice. Don't worry about Joe, though ... he saw him first! :P

Bored

I'm sitting at school (the University College of the Fraser Valley) in the School of Criminal Justice and I am bored! My Crim 450 Policy Analysis class ended early so we could work on group projects and presentations and my group is done while Steph's is not ... *grrr* I carpool to save the dollar to park so I guess I can deal with this (I'm not actually mad, I'd just rather be at home, eating popcorn and watching Days of Our Lives) *L* Instead, I'll go home and work on some projects.

It doesn't help that I'm not really supposed to be on these computers ... they are for criminology research purposes ... but I'm too lazy to walk to a student lab.

I really hope she's done soon, and that she'll come look for me in here. Bhavy left early because her group didn't need to meet (despite the fact they present next week) otherwise I could be hanging out with her. Wow ... I am boring when I'm bored and have nothing good to say. ;)

On another note, this morning Joshua started crawling on his hands and knees instead of just scooting on his belly like a little soldier ... and he bit me! What a little monster! Plus, when I try to discipline him (tell him it's wrong) he looks at me and grins. Joe and I are going to have problems with him! Neither of us can get mad at him for long! :P

Joseph's Arm

We got good news this morning! As some of you know, Joe tore his left bicep off completely last November during a Rugby game. His doctor, unfortunately, is somewhat of a hack and didn't recognize the signs so told Joe that it would heal. 2 months later, he was attending physiotherapy for the injury when the physiotherapist suggeted that it looked torn off, not just ripped. Through many calls to the doctor (from both us and the physiotherapist), Joe got an appointment with a specialist. The doctor called me, making excuses and saying that it didn't present itself like a tear, but oh well!

He saw the specialist (Dr. Musto) last Tuesday. Then, Dr. Musto needed to consult with other surgeons since the general idea is that these injuries are inoperable if they are not repaired within a week to two weeks of the injury. Long story short, the surgeon has scheduled Joe to see a pioneer in the field of bicep reconstruction! He is just back from a sabbatical in Abu Dabi where he spent years perfecting a surgery on biceps, which can be done up to 18 months after the fact!! YAY! Apparently Abu Dabi has many weight lifters who tend to strain themselves under heavy loads. Good news for Joe!! So, next week he with see the new specialist and, hopefully, we'll get some more good news! It's a little stressful since he could be off for months recuperating, but it is necessary and I'm sure I could do without the extra money, as long as Josh and I get to hang out with his Daddy! :)

Chocolate Cheesecake

Hey, can anyone please tell me how the chocolate cheesecake was at church today? I want to make another one but it was a new recipe and I want some feedback before I risk it. (I hate new recipes!)

Thanks! ;)

Concert time!

I just got tickets to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on their Soul2Soul II tour this summer! YAY! Jen, Steph and I are going to make a few days of it and stay in Seattle to check out the sights. I am so excited! We were going to go to Kelowna (since Joshua will be old enough to stay home without me by August) but now we can try something new! (although not entirely new, since the three of us went on a road trip in 2001 to see Tim McGraw at the Gorge in George, Washington). I have missed our girls' concert trips. We haven't been on one since we went to Merritt in 2001 (where I met Joe). This will be my third time seeing Tim in concert but I've never seen Faith and definitely never both of them at once! :)
Plus, we'll get in some good shopping on the way back home! Hello 48 hour Customs exemption! *fills shopping cart and empties wallet* ;)

Life is good

Joshua is such a joy! Every day I look at him and wonder what I did to deserve such a baby! Joe and I were so scared when we found out we were accidentally pregnant (he was an accident, not a mistake) ;)
Now, I wonder what my life was like before him. I wake up each morning to the sound of him, babbling away as he stands in his crib. I heat up his bottle and bring him into my bedroom to eat it. We play around for a while on the bed, wrestling and giggling, and then get up for the day. I am so full of love for him! It almost worries me, how can I possibly feel this way for another baby? Will our next children be somehow deprived of love because he's so special? Crazy, I know ... but I worry about it!
I also feel guilty that I get to stay home with Josh all day. I know, I'm tte Mommy and that is still typically her right and choice. But, what did Joe do to deserve leaving the house every day to go to work? He comes home sometimes and looks physically sad that he had to be away from us all day. Life is not fair (but I'll still enjoy my Mommy benefits!)

My blog?!?

I have my own blog! Not one that I share with Joe or Joshua, but my own!! Oh wait, but who's going to read this one? And what do I have to say that is independent of my husband or my son? *sigh* SO melodramatic! :P

Really, once I became a Mommy, my life became about my son! (and my husband). No more work ... less "me" time ... at least I still have school but it's boring and difficult! *L* All things considered though, I really can't wait until school is finished (In April) and I can stay at home and be strictly a wife and a mother. Am I a throw-back to the 1950's? Maybe! *L* But that's what I want to do with my life, more than anything! And at least I have a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, in case this family thing doesn't work out for me! *wink wink*