FarmWife Answers

Kork starts off the fun this week with: What is your take on Organic for Baby? Inkling I know how you feel...and I'm curious how Farmie feels about going organic and green, being in the middle of the Midwest as she is.

Oddly enough, being in the Midwest (surrounded by farm land & all things good in nature) organic is not a word you hear often around here. Yeah, you can get Gerber Organics at Wal-Mart and a few select fruits & veggies that are certified organic in the produce section, but it's rather limited. Honestly I haven't given organic a great deal of thought. Maybe if it were more readily available or didn't cost twice what "regular" food does around here, I'd have considered it closer....and maybe if Kraft Mac & Cheese were organic....no, really, I think if you have the resources Organic is good. Just be careful what you decide to invest in. There are many things that being organic doesn't really change. And things that may say organic, but aren't really. Research.

And in a similar thread, Zann asks: Why is it that organic milk in the smaller containers lasts for...like forever.. but the larger jugs only last the same amount of time as regular milk? What is so special about those smaller cartons?

Um...Can't say I knew this was an issue. I used to buy Lactaid milk (during a time I believed I was lactose intolerant...turns out it's more of a sugar-in-great-amounts intolerance) and it was "ultra pasteurized." That milk would keep for weeks if unopened. Turns out, it's the same with Organic milk. According to Scientific America, UHT (ultra high temp. pasteurization) is used on organic milk because often times it must travel farther than regular milk to get to consumers. You may want to check the larger containers to see if they're marked ultra pasteurized, or if they're done the old fashioned way. (Incidentally ultra pasteurizing can also cause a sweeter taste in the milk which is why it's not done to all types of milk.)

Oddly enough, this is an article I found while Googling Organic Milk. It's an older article, but then this one showed up as well. It sounds like the rules for Organic milk are rather vague & easily avoided and there is no actual difference between organic and non-organic milk in make-up. It's all about the cows, not the milk.

An unnamed reader asks: Why does sticking your finger in coke fizz cause it to dissipate quicker?

My uneducated guess would be that your finger gives resistance to the tiny bubbles & breaks their surface tension quicker than if they're left alone. According to Self Serve Science, the oil in your skin may make the difference. But they also suggest pouring into a slightly wet glass. The dust & detergent that builds up on the surface of a glass act as a surface for bubble formation. If the glass is newly rinsed, this shouldn't be a factor.

Inkling starts us off with a pregnancy question: Why was chai tea okay to drink when I wasn't pregnant, and I loved it, and why does it cause me in this glorious beginning of the third trimester to feel like puking is imminent? Is there some weird chemical or spice that is contraindicated in pregnancy or something?

I have to say, I doubt it has anything to do with spices or chemicals. I think what you are experiencing is a food aversion. Plain & simple. With B.B. I couldn't stand the sight of Chinese food. With my other three pregnancies, I could have eaten it every day. With B.B. (in the second trimester) almost any liquid made me sick at my stomach. I could eat with no problem. I could drink if I was eating. But I could not sit down with a glass of anything & just drink it. It's a wonder I wasn't perpetually dehydrated.

Her second question is one I'd really rather not answer for fear of terrifying the poor girl. But, she asked and I'm obligated. That whole pubic bone softening thing that causes one to feel as if her bone down there is separating in two with each step is kind of painful. How long does it last? Why is it so painful? And does it cause pain when it's getting back to its normal state post-delivery?

Good news first: I don't remember pain post-delivery as the bones are shifting back. But then, it may have been over shadowed by the pain that comes naturally with post-delivery.

And now for the crappy news: Uh, it's going to last until Grasshopper gets here if you're like me. With BabyGirl the pain began when I was 39 weeks along. I delivered her at 41 weeks, so I only had 2 weeks of agony with each step. With #1 Son it began at about 36 weeks. With B.B. at 32. With Bitsy I think it began around the moment of conception.

It's actually the ligaments loosening up to allow the pelvic bone to spread so Grasshopper's (hopefully bullet shaped) head will have room to descend. As to why it's so painful, I think it's an individual thing. Since it hurt like the devil for me, and you are also in pain, I'd guess we can blame it on Grandma and Grandpa M&M's genetic make-up.

I can tell you, laying down makes it worse. If you have a recliner, try sleeping in it instead of your bed. If not, invest in pillows. Lots & lots of pillows. At least 2 under your head (because it's going to start happening in your rib cage soon & that will make it painful to breath if you're laying on your left side with only one pillow under your noggin), and a big fat one between your knees. That will help support your hips & lessen the pain.

She also asks: Where did "shake your booty" arise from anyway? Didn't booty once mean a type of loot? So when did it start referring to the nether regions of a woman's backside?

While I can't seem to find out exactly how the change came about, I did find information that states booty has been slang for buttocks since the 1920's. It's possible that it's a shortened form of bottom. The "Shake your booty" thing you can credit to KC and the Sunshine Band's 1976 #1 Hit song.

So that's it for this week's episode of Ask FarmWife. Maybe by next week I'll have made a button I'm happy with. We'll see.

Zannli goes to the hospital.

A quick update from the land of Zann...who never ever blogs anymore. :) Actually she does blog, but somewhere else & it's a bit private.

At any rate, in case you are wondering, unless she went into labor in the night last night, she was to be at the hospital for a 6 am induction. Since it's now 9 am her time, things may be in full swing. So please pray for my friend Zann, her hubby, and the little girl they're about to meet for the first time!

She's promised that her hubby will post details on her private blog. I promise to let you all in once I know something.

Phoenix (as she says)

Something rather interesting is going on with my new friend Mrs.X. I really think it's worth looking into. I'm a bit flabbergasted at the moment.

It all started here a few weeks back.

Good news was followed closely by totally understandable panic.

And finally there was flat out bad news.

Through it all I have prayed for peace for Mrs.X and her Sweetie. I have hoped that the Dr.Uterus was wrong. That there had been some horrible mistake.

Then today....

Contemplations

As I sit & pray for my friend Mrs.X, I'm forced to contemplate my life. She wants so desperately to have a baby. I was once in her shoes. But while she is traveling the road of hormones, injections, IVF, insemination, and the like, I simply cried for 2 years & peed on many, many sticks. We were about to dip our toes into the water of fertility treatments when I broke down & knew I couldn't deal with that route (at least not at that time in my life). I know how blessed we were to get pregnant with no help. I do not take that for granted.

Mrs.X wrote this morning of guarding her heart until you know for certain it is safe to give it in full. At my 6 week check up after BabyGirl's birth my doctor remarked that motherhood agreed with me. "I'm not sure what it is, but you seem so much more relaxed & sure of yourself than you have the past 9 months." I told him that deep down I was never sure everything would be turn out well. Until I held BabyGirl in my arms, heard her cry, felt her fingers curl around mine, smelled her hair, counted her toes, I was worried that she would suddenly be snatched from us.

It wasn't a constant worry. I didn't spend my entire pregnancy fretting, but the thought of miscarriage or prematurity or stillbirth was never fully buried in my mind. We went out & bought a crib before the end of my first trimester. MIL was not happy about it. She lost a baby later in pregnancy & didn't want us to get our hopes up. For me, buying the crib was a leap of faith. I remember telling Inkling that it was hard, but I had to believe we would be bringing this baby home to sleep in it.

We really had no reason to think things wouldn't go well. It was an uneventful pregnancy. There were no complications. But something about the 2 years & 3 months it took to get pregnant had scarred me. It took BabyGirl's birth to rid me of those scars.

I was so shocked to find we were expecting #1 Son. After the length of time it had taken us to get pregnant with BabyGirl, I often thought she would be it. When she was 15 months old & I was unexpectedly pregnant again, I was gobsmacked (just for you Sara). I had settled in my mind that BabyGirl would probably be an only child.

Obviously, I was wrong.

I'm not really sure where I was going with this post. Just thoughts milling about that I needed to put down. I'm praying Mrs.X & her Sweetie can open their hearts soon.

little bits of my life

My wedding ring is too tight. I haven't worn it in months as it started to make my finger peel. I thought it was trapping water, but it shouldn't have. I tried it on tonight & almost couldn't get it off.

So I broke out a ring Husband bought for me on 4th Ave. in Nashville when we were dating. It's Alice in Wonderland characters holding hands. I love it. Maybe we'll get new rings for our 10th anniversary.

Come to think of it, I've held on to some of the baby weight this time. With my other kids I think I was back down to pre-pregnancy weight by this time even though I still couldn't wear my clothes because my hips spread (the human body is WEIRD). As of now, I'm about 13 pounds heavier than I was pre-Bitsy. I wonder if I'll keep it? That really wouldn't be a bad thing.

And yes, that is me. Bubba took that pic with my camera about 2 1/2 years ago (I think). We were in TN visiting. That's the back yard of QM's winter palace with Husband and Princess looking for golf balls along the fence row behind me. This is as close as a face as I'll get here. Man, my hair has grown a lot since then!

The Final Countdown....for real this time.

Here we are. The last day as a family of 5. That is an unusual thought. I've never had more than 24 hours prep time before a delivery....even when I was scheduled to be induced, it was a "come back tonight" situation. Can't say I slept well last night. I'm pretty sure I won't tonight either.

Before I get into this, I have to apologize for not updating about STM & Angel Baby. STM posted last week & I forgot to mention it. She is cancer free (PTL). Angel Baby is home & doing well on her anti-seizure meds. She's also nursing well. I haven't heard about the biopsy results yet, so keep praying about that. Things are going better for them.

MIL just stopped by to get the last minute instructions about the kids. She'll be here about 3:15 tomorrow morning so we can head out at 3:30. I've made lists & lists & lists, but still thing I'm forgetting something. Daddy just emailed me & said he'd be here by 4 unless his boss chains him to his desk (I think Boss Man & I will have words if he tries anything....Bring it on, buddy. You don't want to mess with my dad today). He & QM will head to the hospital at 5 tomorrow morning so they can be there when Bitsy makes her Grand Entrance. Once we're all settled & we know all is well, QM's coming home to relieve MIL so they can head to the hospital.

I've left specific instructions that the kids are not to come until Wednesday. When I had B.B. I was so heavily medicated & in so much pain I couldn't respond to the kids at all. It terrified them. This time (since I know what to expect) they aren't coming the first day. I feel much better knowing they won't be there to see me doped out of my gourd.

And Daddy has been given the task of emailing a picture of Bitsy to her Uncle Little BIL just as soon as possible. Little BIL is having a tough time.

This morning (after waking up just before 7 & watching the middle of Ghost Rider), I Murphy's Oil Soaped my glider rocker & scrubbed the hearth & fireplace surround. The fish bowl was scrubbed last night. Husband rearranged the furniture for me last night to fit the play-pen in the living room again & he put the swing together Saturday. Oh, and he fixed my vacuum that hasn't had proper suction in 2 months....I may have to run it again tonight. It's just icky what's coming out of the carpet.

Yesterday Husband and I restocked my nursing bra supply (not a fun trip...not a particularly good day....they don't even make the bras I like anymore....stinking maternity shop....stinking bra manufacturers....don't mess with hormonal women like that!!! It's dangerous. I nearly cried in the changing room...ugh), they're washed & hanging up to dry. Paci's are sterilized & ready to go into the suit case. Film & phone card are packed. Wait, I probably ought to get out my cameras...duh!

I can do this. I can do this. I can survive the next 24 hours & not forget anything of vast importance & not panic about the care of my children. I can do this.

I really hope I can do this.

Adventures in Maternity Leave

First of all, a GIGANTIC CONGRATULATIONS to Nana/Cate's Cath & P2 on their wedding. I cannot wait to see pictures & hear about the details. But as I know Nan's going to need some time to recover, I'll just have to be patient.

Secondly, I really thought we were going to make a trip to the hospital last night. In the course of about an hour I had at least 7 decent contractions. Not painful, but fairly strong. I decided a shower was in my best interest, so I hopped in. By the time I was done, the contractions had if not stopped, at least they were much farther apart & more irregular. C'est La Vie.

Today QM is going to watch the little ones while Husband and I go on the Great Nursing Bra Hunt. It really shouldn't be much of a hunt (please, Lord) as I know exactly what I want & where to get them, but the drive alone makes it an adventure. After that's done, I'm taking Husband to see where we have to go Tuesday morning since the hospital is in the same town as the mall....that way if I'm asleep on the trip there (yeah, right) he'll make it with no problems. He's not had a chance to go to the hospital as it's so far away (today I'm not thrilled with living in the boonies...but what can you do?).

I've been in the process of making lists for QM & MIL to refer to while they're taking care of the kids....and Husband when he's in charge. It always makes me a little nervous since I really spend no time away from the kids. I haven't spent a night away from them since B.B. was born (except when BabyGirl stayed home & the boys and I went to Did's wedding). I know they'll be fine & I have great faith in my mom (as she'll be handling them most of the time), but it's still a little unnerving to leave them to anyone else's care for long periods of time. I'm just not used to the idea.

When I was little I spent a great deal of time with Busha & Bucka. It wasn't unusual to find me spending the weekend at their house from the time I was weaned. They lived about 2 1/2 hours north of us, and Mama would call to have them meet her half way. I'd spend Thursday through Sunday & then Mama would come up after me. This was a common occurrence. Since my folks live more than 5 hours away, it's not something we've ever had the chance to do with my kids. MIL & FIL have their hands full with SIL, so that's out of the question. It's something I wish my kids could experience & I think it would make times like this a little easier on me as well.

We'll get through it. In fact, I'll be on so much medication, I won't care if they're being baby sat by wolves & circus performers. Ahhhh....the wonderful world of IV painkillers. Bring them on, Baby!

Why my son should be a grief counselor.

I woke up at 4:45 this morning. Ugh. This could be a long day. It's not even 6 yet...ok, so I have 2 minutes left, but that's not the point.

Today is my last ultra-sound & Dr. appt. before Bitsy's arrival. We've had no problems with this pregnancy, but I still dread ultra-sounds. Husband is going with me. If we get done in time, it's off on the hunt for new nursing bras. The kiddo's are staying with Uncle E's girls & then QM is going to pick them up at lunch time.

It's so nice to have an extra set of hands around...especially at dinner & bath time. QM can sit with the kids & make up games while I shower in peace. She's wrangled small wet bodies in and out of the tub. Told #1 Son (true) stories about his great-great-great grandfather*. Tromped all over the yard and admired numerous kittens, weeds, and other treasures. Enforced rules when I was too beat to deal. And run everyone out of the living room when I crashed in the recliner.

*#1 Son & his Grammy were sitting out on the picnic table last night discussing family history. She was telling him all about her great-grandpa Cat (he died when I was about 18 months old or so). #1 Son was fascinated. They came in so he could take his bath & he informed me that "Grammy's gonna' talk to me in the bath tub." She sat in the bathroom & told him more. Uncle Gick called just before #1 Son hopped in the tub to tell us their pool was being filled. #1 Son has been waiting for this event since January (not kidding) & needed to talk to Gick. #1 Son kept telling U.Gick that Grammy was telling him about his great (insert indeterminate # of great's depending on #1 Son's mood) grandpa. Grammy told #1 Son he was also U.Gick's great-grandpa. Then Uncle Gick told #1 Son the pool was up & got the following in response:
"But your Grandpa Cat is dead."
"Yes, but your great-grandpa Cat is dead."
"My great (again...insert many great's) grandpa Cat is dead."
Finally U.Gick just thanked him for letting him know & the conversation ended.
Uncle Gick told me he was glad #1 Son told him or he'd have never known grandpa passed away (nearly 30 years ago).

The Final Countdown & creepy things on our lane.

If you want to skip a pain fueled pregnancy rant, skip to the pink at the bottom. It has nothing to do with hormones, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, or the like.

One week from right now, I should be in the recovery room having just delivered Bitsy. I cannot believe we're this close...and sometimes I cannot believe we still have a full week to go! Some days it feels like just a few weeks ago HT was born & I was in Tennessee to see him. That's when I found out for sure that we were going to be blessed with Farm Hand #4. If you want to read about that, go back to here....it's the beginning of this trip. Then there are the times (like most of the day) when I feel like I've been pregnant forever!!

Queen Mother is here to help out with the kids, so I don't have to worry about being left alone with them in the evenings. My suitcase is packed. The crib is made. The clothes are ready. I'm preregistered at the hospital. I know which door to use when we get there. I'm making a list of "B.B. Speak" for QM to refer to while I'm gone. I've started filling out what I can in Bitsy's baby book. There is really nothing left to do....except put up the playpen....unless I decide to shampoo the carpet, but I promised Art I wouldn't.

Now I feel like I'm in the midst of "hurry up and wait." Everything is ready. I have nothing left to do but the day to day cleaning. Isn't that enough? I guess I've lived with the undercurrent of panic so long, that now that it's gone I don't know what to do with myself. Really, I should have learned to knit. I could've made 10 pairs of socks this week!

There are times I find myself standing in at the island in the kitchen willing my water to break. I know in the long run I'd rather wait for my scheduled c-section....I don't want to make an hour and a half drive while I'm in labor....but I want to get this over with. Not to mention I tested positive for Group B Strep & it would be better for Bitsy if my water doesn't break. I want to move on from my pregnancy obsession to the new baby obsession that comes next.

I'm tired of living in this odd kind of limbo. The last time I really felt this way was when I was expecting BabyGirl. For some reason I don't remember being quite this on edge when expecting the boys. Maybe it's a girl thing. All I know is that I need a new hobby, but I don't have the energy or stamina to take anything up. Seriously, what am I going to do? Jog? Spin? Write haiku? Guess I'll have to stick with reading obsessively. I'm almost done with The Jane Austen Book Club (not on my side bar yet). Then I can move on to the other 4 books Art brought me. I'd go for a walk, but I don't like walking on gravel when I'm having balance problems. Ugh!

Oh, wait!!! I had an adventure yesterday on the way to the mail box! I got almost to the end of our lane (we have a fairly long driveway & we call it a lane...most country driveways around here are called lanes) when I noticed one of our young tom cats circling something. As I got closer I thought the something was either a dead bird (the cats have been killing birds that are getting into the goat feed) or a dead rodent. It wasn't until I was nearly on top of the lump on the ground that I realized it was a bat (dying I thought)! Great...bats carry rabies...the cat won't stay away from it....my kids won't stay away from the cats....not to mention I'm terrified of bats, rats, mice, & anything like.So I did what any self respecting City Gal does & I screamed for my FarmBoy husband. I shooed the cat away (as much as you can shoo a cat), and headed to the mail box.

When I came back, I stopped a safe distance from the bat to get a better look. That's when I realized it wasn't just a dying bat....it wasn't dying at all. It was nursing 3 pups. Laying on her back at the edge of my driveway, wings spread, nursing her young. No, in my pregnant state this did not appeal to my maternal instincts. It freaked me out even more. When the bat was just dying I was OK with it...now it was multiplying. Ewww! Gwoss! as B.B. would say. I hollered for Husband again & he, being the defender of the estate, brought his shovel & disposed of mama & her brood. I still have the heebie-jeebies.

Pregnancy Rant?

Why bother to bake the cookies when eating a handful of chocolate chips will suffice? This morning I'm glad I didn't bake them after all...we all may remember what happened last time (if not, I ate myself ill). I'm ill enough without them.

Why can't I sleep past 6 am? And why is my stomach in such a constant uproar? Don't answer those....they're only rhetorical. They're caused by the same thing that makes me waddle like a duck...Ragged, you hit the nail on the head with your "if it walks like a duck" thing.

My toe nails are painted. My suitcase is packed. I'm ready. Who really cares if the clothes aren't all out & the cradle sheets have yet to be washed? That's why QM & Art will be here tonight. I do need to make at least 1 trip to Wal-Mart first though...OK, so how about later this afternoon? Huh, Bitsy, what do you think?

And to be completely honest, this thing with STM & Angel Baby has me completely freaked out. I am absolutely terrified for them...and because I'm pregnant (& that in turn makes everything all about me), I'm terrified for Bitsy. Not that there's any reason to be, but never accuse a prego of rational thought. We are not capable...at least not this late in the game. My thinking goes: if something bad can happen to STM's perfect baby, something bad can happen to mine. And this causes a lack of sleep...and extra worry...and don't try to reason me out of it. It's an exercise in futility.

Please pray for STM...for Angel Baby...and then for me & Bitsy. They so need answers. And I'd really rather the answer not be what they are possibly facing.

Maybe in a few weeks I can start posting about something other than pregnancy....until then, you'll just have to deal with it. Husband does. QM does. Art does. But then, none of them can just skip reading my blog for a few weeks.

Ok, I'll admit it....

Maybe I am nesting after all. I kept waiting for the strange desire to weed the entire front yard in 90 degree weather to kick in. Or the need to alphabetize all my DVD's, videos, and CD's at 4 in the morning to rear it's ugly head...or I could have tried to scrap book the last 10 years of our lives at 11 pm on Monday the 25th...but no, I needed to wash car seats. NOW. Maybe I'm a practical nester. I've never really nested before.

All the car seats needed washed. This was brought to my attention as I looked at Bitsy's seat and realized it had 2 years worth of dust collected in it. This is not a fun task, but a necessary one & one I know must be done before Bitsy arrives. I'll never be able to wrangle them all out of the van (and back in) post-surgery. I was going to save the task for this weekend, but realized if I take apart all the car seats, I can't take my children anywhere. We don't have anywhere to go today or tomorrow, so this is the perfect time to do it. Now I think I deserve a Masters degree in engineering for deconstructing them and a Doctorate if I can reassemble them without destroying something.

And the CDC (Center for Disease Control) may want to analyze the half pound of animal crackers I found under B.B.'s seat cover. I think the child was growing a new strain of E.Coli in his cup holder. Ice cream drippings, the afore mentioned animal crackers, goldfish crumbs, Smarties, Dora Stickers from the doctor's office, unidentifiable icky stuff....it was all there. Thank the Lord for Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. I thought about posting a picture, but decided I'd like my readership (all 4 of you) to return sometime.

Well, at least I'm not the only one nesting around here...and I'm not taking the task so literally.

New Specs & stinky bugs

New glasses. I love them. BabyGirl thinks they "look weird on my face." Husband hasn't said much....except, "Guess they really stand out, don't they?" B.B. & #1 Son think they're lovely & I'm lovely in them. Those are my sweet boys. BTW, the pair on the left of your screen is the old pair, the lovely red ones on the right are the new ones (I know I said they were more pink than red, but I was wrong...sorry).

I got a package in the mail from Needlefingers this week. In it were these fabulous socks!! And itty-bitty ones that match for Miss Bitsy. I adore them. She made matching socks for me & BabyGirl when she was born. I cannot wait to take another picture and include Bitsy's socks & her tiny feet.

Went to the doctor this morning. He was happy with everything. I have an ultrasound next Wednesday morning to check position, fluid levels, and development. After that I'll have my last check-up before the big day. Sometimes I have a hard time believing this is almost over. Other times I think it won't be over soon enough. Oh, and come time for Bitsy's arrival, you'll have to check in with QM as she'll be posting for me.

Yesterday I took the kids to visit with Bucka & Busha. I figured there won't be much time for that after Bitsy is born & Busha has her knee replaced. While we were there we decided to head to Uncle Gick & Unkie Di's to check out their new patio. Last time I saw it, the concrete forms were still up. It 's beautiful...but the best part was when the kids discovered their outhouse. It's always been there, but has gone unnoticed until yesterday. #1 Son had to pee 4 times in just under an hour...BabyGirl had to go twice. The first time she came out and said, "I can't find the toilet, so I'll just go in the house." She didn't realize the bench with a toilet seat on it was the toilet. The second time she figured it all out...and her brother dropped the latch on the outside of the door on her. I'm not sure she ever knew she was locked in. They loved it!

When we came home, the lightning bugs were swarming around the yard. I broke out the bug nets & bug box & let them hunt lightning bugs until the bats came swooping down in the yard. I don't handle bats any better than I handle rats & mice. Ick. In all I think they caught 15 lightning bugs. It occurred to me that we don't really hunt for any other kind of bug...and lightning bugs really stink.

Epiphany

I have come to an important conclusion. I am done being pregnant. I am finished. I want this to be over. I may not be fully ready for Bitsy's arrival, but I am fully ready for her to make her grand exit...entrance...whatever you want to call it.

Here's what's left to be done:
~I need to buy new nursing bras. After 3 kids (& the last one being nursed for 17 months) they are all shot. I need to go to Effin'bill & pick up new ones. That's going to have to wait until next week, but it is a necessity...and I think I ought to be fitted this time. Not sure the last set were really the right size.
~I need to finish packing my suit case for the hospital. It's mostly ready. I need to throw in a few more things, but that shouldn't take long.
~There are more clothes for Bitsy that need to be sorted & washed. That should happen this weekend.
~I need to dig out the pacifiers & sterilize them in case this baby actually uses them (so far #1 Son is the only one who really packed one around).
~I need to wash the kids "I'm the Big ____" t-shirts so they can wear them to the hospital to meet their new sister.

I have decided that none of this stuff is important enough to delay labor. Now that I am officially 37 weeks along, this can happen at anytime. And I'm OK with that.

Wake me when it's over

Today I am more than slightly cracked. I'm seriously broken. I went to gather eggs today and found one that hadn't properly formed. The shell was paper thin & from the looks of it, not entirely hardened before it was laid. I put it in the bowl I was carrying & took it out to feed to the cats. When I picked it up from the bowl, the slightest pressure was enough to make it explode & send egg yolk flying across the path where the cats were waiting to devour it. That's how I feel today. The slightest pressure & I may explode sending my innards across the room.

Last night I discovered that there is no point in even climbing into my own bed. I crawled into bed at 11 and couldn't get comfortable. I eventually fell asleep despite the pain I was in. I woke up at 12:50 & decided to head to the recliner for the rest of the night...it was all I could do to heft myself out of bed & shuffle into the living room. With B.B. I had to use my Great-grandma's walker to get to the bathroom in the night. I haven't had to resort to that yet & thought I was doing better until last night. That's when I realized that the only reason I haven't had to use the walker is because I've spent most of my time sleeping in the recliner. If I slept in bed, I'd be in pain constantly.

BabyGirl was the first one up this morning, so I turned on Higglytown Heroes for her & tried to drift back off to sleep. The boys were both up within 30 minutes & she started fighting with them...about nothing. They weren't even talking to her & she was yelling at them & picking fights.

Husband and I have bickered & fought most of today. He got up on the wrong side of the bed & has driven me crazy...not that I had far to go. He finally left for work & for the first time in quite a while, I was relieved. Usually I don't want him to go. Today it was for the best.

#1 Son has griped & whined about everything today. Every time he's told to do or not to do something he says, "Why?!" or "How do you know?" or simply yells that he's going to kill me or kick me or pinch me(a new development that is not going over well as you can imagine). Because of this, he's spent a good deal of time confined to his room today.

Oh, and did I mention he decided to write on the side of my van with a rock sometime in the past 2 days? And not just a little scribble...more like 2 circular shapes the size of the bottom of soda cans. Yeah, I'm not happy about this...not at all.

Warning: TMI ahead. My bowls are in an uproar today. Constipation has set in (not usual for late pregnancy for me), and that's never a good thing. TMI complete.

I'm exhausted. I'm grumpy. None of my pants fit...except the underbelly maternity pants & I've worn all them lately. If anyone hits, pinches, pushes, kicks, bites, or yells at anyone else I may lock them all in the dungeon...anyone want to dig me a dungeon? Bitsy is rolling & kicking & it's not the gentle heart warming flutters of early pregnancy. It's more like when the alien busted out through Sigourney Weaver'a stomach.

Painful. Uncomfortable. Unpleasant. Remember when I vowed to enjoy my last pregnancy? Yeah, well, I'm over it. Way over it. I'm ready for Bitsy to leave her warm little cocoon & join us in the "real world" (not that I live under the delusion that I'll get anymore rest or really feel any better after abdominal surgery...but it'll be a change from how I feel now...and there'll be better drugs...and nurses...and 3 days with room service).

I've changed back into my PJ's and want to crash for the night...too bad it's only 4:12 pm. I did plan on getting Bitsy's clothes out of the closet & washing them today. I can't put them away until Art comes with the chest of drawers, but at least they'll be clean & I can pack my suit case for the hospital...since I can technically make that trip anytime after Monday. Maybe I'll get to it tomorrow. Maybe I'll check myself into a sanitarium (do they still have those?). Maybe I'll just lay in the recliner & let my kids destroy the house. I wonder when Uncle E's girls get home...maybe I'll ship the kids off to them for the evening.

Husband & BabyGirl did get me an African Violet when we were at the store today. It's pretty. I hope I don't kill it. That was sweet. It's too bad I haven't really been in the frame of mind to enjoy it.

Getting Ready

I forgot one thing yesterday when writing about my precious girl. She (this girly, girl of mine) loves the smell of Rural King (the local farm supply store...you know, tires, lawn mowers, rubber boots, plumbing supplies, feed, oil, horse tack), her daddy's old Ford pick-up, gas stations, and the utility closet where we keep the boots, dog food, tool box, milk replacer for the calves, and other garage type things (since we don't have a garage yet).

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from the hospital where Bitsy will make her grand appearance. They like to set up an appointment to give you a tour of their facilities & get all your paperwork done. Since we live almost and hour and a half from the hospital they made arrangements for us to register by phone instead. So I got a call to set up an appointment for them to call me. Go figure. At any rate, today at 10 am they're going to call me to pre-register.

I asked Doc last week what time I'd have to be at the hospital for my C-section. He said since my surgery is scheduled for 7 am, they'd want me there 2 hours early...and since we live an hour and a half away I figure that means we're leaving here at about 3:30 in the morning. Yippee. Well, I guess it's better than the 4 hours early I had to be there with B.B. That was not fun...to lay on a gurney with a fetal monitor strapped to my midsection, a blood pressure cuff on, and an catheter in for nearly 4 hours...oh, and I just happened to go into labor waiting for my C-section. Good Grief!

I'm pretty sure Art, Syd, and QM are planning on trekking up here Father's Day weekend to bring me a chest of drawers for Bitsy. Art says she's going to sort baby clothes, scrub bathrooms, and do anything that needs to be done around here while I take it easy & Syd entertains my children. Secretly (sort of) Art is hoping Bitsy will make her appearance that weekend. She and Did came up to see me a week before BabyGirl was born & I was so hoping I'd have had the baby before they arrived...but no such luck. I'm not holding my breath this time either. I'm just looking forward to laughing until I go into labor since that's what Art & I do best.

Oh, and BabyGirl LOVES her diaper bag. It's full of baby supplies & has been packed around the house for the past 24 hours (and made a trip to the OB's yesterday). I'm so glad.

Way to go!

A few months ago Husband bought B.B. a new potty chair. It's a Winnie-the-Pooh potty chair that talks. Silly us, we assumed that meant Pooh would congratulate you on a job well done. Instead a small child says, "All Done!" or "Good Job!" when you 'flush' the pot. The only thing Winnie-the-Pooh about it is a picture molded into the plastic on the back rest. B.B. isn't too impressed with it, but #1 Son loves to use it as a step stool.

For some reason it's begun sounding off at random times through out the day. So now I'm getting occasional positive affirmations from a plastic potty chair hiding in the corner of my living room. It's nice to be appreciated.

Just so you know, at 3:39 in the afternoon, I am still in my night shirt. Yes, I am half way to my goal of not dressing today. I have accomplished other things, but dressing wasn't on my list for today.

I baked BabyGirl's birthday cake (which B.B. has already taken a small chunk out of. It isn't iced yet so I hope I can camouflage the damage enough to make a little girl happy). I washed some dishes, made chicken cornbread casserole for dinner, wrapped birthday presents, bathed 3 very dirty kids who'd been to help their dad with his chores, and gathered up a massive amount of art supplies.

For BabyGirl's second Christmas, Inkling gave her an Art Kit complete with coloring books, finger paints, tempera paints, water colors, crayons, sidewalk chalk (I think), and other goodies. Some of the supplies have been used up, but some of them are still here. Today I realized that their other supplies are taking over my kitchen cabinets. They had markers (lots & lots of markers), crayons (lots & lots of crayons), play-dough (very little of it since I cannot abide the smell), scissors, colored pencils, glue sticks, googly eyes, and other goodies stashed everywhere. Today I hunted them all down, got rid of what was un-needed or used up, packed up what fits in the Art Kit, and cleaned out one cabinet just for paper & crayons that they can get to.

In the midst of all this I discovered my children have 52 coloring books. 52 (and that's after my throwing out a few that were trashed or had never been shown the slightest bit of interest)!! That's 17.3 books per kid (not including Bitsy). And do you know what they most like to color? Plain computer paper. MIL loves to give them coloring books & does so regularly. They get used for a week or so, then stashed away some where. Now I've dug them all out and put them where they can be found. Maybe they'll start coloring with them since the heat is setting in & we'll be stuck indoors for a while once Bitsy's here.

And just so you know, yesterday I dug out all the hooded baby towels, washrags (gotta' add those to my shopping list...after 3 babies, my wash rags are looking a little icky...and no one wants to be bathed with an icky wash rag), burp rags, and some blankets for Bitsy. I washed them, QM, Princess & I folded them, and they are awaiting their baby...and the smell of Dreft has entered my life again! Sigh... This would be a good time for the potty chair to tell me I've done a great job.

My Son the Monkey

B.B. has morphed into some kind of hyperactive, dare devil, primate. He will not stay out of the fridge, the pantry, or the freezers. He eats 2 bites of whatever I fix for him & leaves the rest laying in random places around the house. He keeps dumping out toy boxes & dragging things out of their proper places. He has moved his sister's toy kitchen & emptied the shelves. He's single handedly destroyed the entire house. I am about to loose my mind! All I do is yell and pull him off counter tops (which he can now climb up on without the use of a chair or step stool...and have I ever mentioned that B.B. is short? Like 25% of height for age) and run him out of places he isn't allowed to be. Anyone want to buy a previously owned 2 year old? Oh, wait, he may be dozing off as I type...oh please, Lord...just a short nap...15-20 minutes...that would be wonderful!!

Last night I was having Braxton Hicks contractions...maybe that's because I was watching John & Kate Plus 8. That show is enough to send a woman who isn't pregnant into labor! Can you imagine...6 year old twins & 2 year old Sextuplets! Yikes! At anyrate...the contractions weren't strong, but I had quite a few and fairly close together. So I headed for bed & stretched out on my left side & promptly fell asleep. When I woke up in the night, they had stopped.

He's asleep! Waa-hoo!

WARNING: TMI ahead!!!This morning I had to go see Doc for my end of pregnancy cultures. I mentioned the contractions and he decided to do a pelvic exam just in case. Doc said my cervix was still closed & high, so there was nothing to worry about. END of TMI. He also said I needed to stay out of the heat & stay hydrated as that can cause early contractions. Not an easy task as it is currently 89 outside.

I stopped and picked up Bitsy's ring charm for my necklace today. I'll try to get a picture of it to post later. It's really sweet. I also stopped by The Attic (my favorite baby boutique in the town we used to live in). They have the most precious farm print dresses and rompers...I so wanted to get them for the kids, but they're pretty 'high end' & they didn't carry #1 Son's size. Oh well. I could always break out my sewing machine.

After I got home & gave the kids their baths (they were all outside when I got here), I started to make lunch...and the power went out. MIL called the power company & they had no idea our power was out. You'd have thought the kids were going to go crazy! It was back on about an hour later, but since it was so breezy outside, we opened the windows. So far we haven't turned the AC back on. I'm debating, but it's really not bad as long as the breeze keeps up.

Tomorrow I have to take the kids to see Dr.Shah, the ENT, to get their tubes checked. Busha is going with us. I was telling the kids this today when B.B. popped up and said, "Mommy, Dr. Shah is dead." What? "Yeah, he got shot." I don't think so, Bubba. "Yeah, by dem bad guys." Really? Bad guys shot Dr. Shah? "Yeah, robot bad guys shot him. He's dead." So I guess we don't have to go after all. I wonder how B.B. found out?

Just a Few more hours...

Husband must return to the rat race today. I am not thrilled with the prospect. Usually after a long weekend, I've had enough of him & am ready for him to go back to work (I know this sounds horrible, but he tends to invade my territory and upset our routines when he's home). This weekend he spent much more time not only at home, but engaged with the kids (read: kept them out of my hair for long periods of time). He took them to the playground while I shopped, then we all went for a bit yesterday. He took them out side & on four wheeler rides. He walked them to Big BIL's house. He ran them around the yard. He helped them catch baby goats to pet. He turned them loose in the calves' pen. He listened to BabyGirl read. He disciplined. He wrangled. He helped.

Not to say we didn't have our moments, but in all it was a good weekend. He even got to run off on his four wheeler all by himself and take a "long trip" a few times. Now I'm wishing he could stay home the rest of the week...but then, we were lucky as he had Friday off as well so it was an extra long weekend. At the moment we're "quietly" watching videos so he can sleep in.

Speaking of videos...yesterday morning I let BabyGirl pick one out to watch. For Christmas I got her The Little Princess & The Secret Garden in a set. Yesterday must have been the first time she sat down and watched all of The Little Princess. She's seen it before, but must not have paid attention, or must have missed big parts of it. At the end, Sarah's father doesn't recognize her (amnesia) and she is being drug off to jail by the police at the insistence of the evil Miss Menchant. Suddenly Sarah breaks through the fog of her father's amnesia and he recognizes her at the last possible moment. I was waiting for the 'hurrah' from my daughter (who was about 6 inches from the TV), when instead I heard a huge sob. She turned to Husband and me and wept uncontrollably. "That's so sad! Her Daddy didn't know her!" I felt so bad for her. In the end she was happy & loved the movie, but it was very emotional.

Yesterday it occurred to me that I am now as far along in my pregnancy as Princess was when she had HT. That's scary as I am nothing resembling ready for this baby to come. Art called last night and told me not to think about Princess & HT...she also told me she and QM are plotting to send Art & Syd up here with a chest of drawers for Bitsy (or someone...I haven't figured that out yet) and willing hands to help prepare for her arrival. QM will be here Father's Day for her family reunion and Art is planning on trekking up with her. I am so relived as I was beginning to think I'd be dressing Bitsy solely in diapers for the first few weeks (due to my lack of initiative in sorting baby clothes). Maybe she'll get to wear something cute after all.

A few more bits...

Baby talk. Dogs barking. Monkeys screeching. High pitched wails. Off key whistling. All are sounds my daughter is currently delighting in. All are sounds that make my skin crawl. I don't mind the sing-song voice most adults use when talking to infants (unless they're using the same voices to talk to my kids now...Heads up...none of them are infants or imbeciles...Sorry, mini-rant). I do mind the "goo-goo, gaa-gaa, ma-ma, da-da, me wan' pway wiff ooh" baby talk that young children are prone to engage in. It makes me nuts. If you must talk that way or screech like a baboon or bark in a decibel higher than most humans can hear, please do so in the privacy of your bed room. Please. If not for my mental well being, then do it for your own safety.

And now is when I profusely apologize to my mother for doing the same thing to her 26 years ago. I now know why you insisted that babies did not talk like that. Ever.

If I don't stop eating chocolate chip cookies, I'm going to be sick. It may be too late.

I want to go see Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End....by my self. I don't really want to drive into town. With gas at $3.45 a gallon, I'm too cheap to drive the 17 miles into town without a long list of reasons to be there. Don't see it happening.

If B.B. watches Shrek 2 one more time, I may turn into an Ogre.

I've run out of Jane Austen books to read. I can't bring myself to read a modern murder mystery...so I'm not reading anything at the moment. Except Blogs. I'm getting antsy.

Happy Anniversary to Inkling and Henry David!

I'm getting new glasses in about 3 weeks. They say they're burgundy, but I think pink might be a better name for the color. I love them. I'm pretty sure Husband will hate them. BabyGirl will adore them.

I need a pedicure, but I can't breath & reach my feet at the same time.

Most of my stretch marks are stretched to their fullest...I'm afraid I'll have them clear up to my arm pits by the time Bitsy gets here...Cocoa butter or not.

I think I'm going to try and take a nap. 'Try' being the key word. Oh, and I'm spending 2/3 of the night sleeping in the recliner.

Happy Early Birthday to me....Sort of.

When BabyGirl was tiny, there was a commercial for Wal-Mart jewelery at Christmas time. A woman was telling about her husband buying her a birthstone ring for Christmas & when she pointed out that it was beautiful, but it wasn't her birthstone he answered, "Of course not. It's the baby's." That commercial made mecry every time I saw it.

At Christmas we had gifts piled under the tree but none were for me. I thought it was a little strange as Husband isn't big on holidays, but has never not gotten me a gift for Christmas. QM & Daddy were there and we were all opening our gifts & very much enjoying watching BabyGirl try to eat sparkly tissue paper while wearing a fuzzy feathered winter hat her Grammy gave her.

Suddenly Husband crawled up under the tree & came out with a small box. I was a little confused until he handed it to me and I realized it was only the right size for one thing: Jewelery. I opened the paper to see the logo of a small family owned jewelers stamped on the box & inside was a beautiful gold, box chain necklace with a small ring on it. The ring looks just like a tiny woman's ring with a birthstone set in it...BabyGirl's birthstone. I cried.

When #1 Son was about 6 months old, we went back to the jewelers and got the ring with his birthstone in it (Husband joked that he was waiting until we decided if #1 Son was a 'keeper' or not). It looks like a miniature man's ring. When B.B. was about 3 months old we got his ring.

Last night I left Husband a note asking if he was going to the doctor's with me today. Instead of his usual Yes or No he wrote. "Yes, have the boys ready to go when BabyGirl goes to school. We'll drop her off and leave from there (30 minutes earlier than needed). Wear your necklace & we will get Bitsy's charm."

It is my birthday present & was going to be a day early, but when we got there we found out they have to order a pearl to mount in the charm. Now I have to wait until my next doctor's appointment in two weeks. Oh well...such is life. But this time I'll have the charm before the baby's here. I'm excited.

*********

If you like, you can read my brief pregnancy rant...if not, stop reading now.

I realize that at 120 pounds, I do not look like most women who are 8 months pregnant, but PLEASE do not say to me, "Oh, you finally are starting to look pregnant. But then you never really look pregant..." It just irritates me.