Sunday Sickness and Snapshot

I'm sick today.  Puking my guts out again sick.  When will it end?  We were at my parents enjoying the Sunday evening, and I ran to the bathroom and lost my dinner.  I know my Dad was thinking What a waste of perfectly good tri-tip steak.  Yeah, well it tasted whole lot better going down, let me tell you.  So I'm back home and in bed for the rest of the night.... my stomach is empty and I'm hungry. So freaking hungry.  So I'm braving some cheddar cheese.  Did you know that cheese has a TON of salt in it?  Like a teaspoon per slice.  I could taste it when I was starving and dehydrated, and it was NaCl  (there's some chemistry for you) overload so I wouldn't touch it.  Dehydrated body+ lots of salt=bad.  I'm sure craving it right now, though.

Of course, I'm secretly hoping this is an early sign of labor.  I have read nausea can be a signal, and if you add any to what I've already got- yeah, it will send me over that precarious edge, to worship the porcelain gods.  I'm not having any significant contractions, though.  :(  But I do keep hoping.

I am so. ready. to. be. done.

The cheese is gone.  I'm cautiously moving on to chocolate chunk cookie dough.  Wish me luck.

This was a great day we spent at Pelican Bay in June.

Let's call these today's Sunday Snapshot.

I LOVE living by Utah Lake.  The sight of it just brings me peace.  There's nothing like sitting in our front room, watching the sun rise over it.  It's a different color every day- it goes from blue to gray to aquamarine to white, as it freezes completely over in the winter. 
 
After I have this baby and feel good again, I'll take some really awesome pictures of it to post on here.  It 's just too lovely not to share.

Life's Alphabet Soup

It's a miracle, I won something!

This never happens.  The blog world must be bringing me some badly needed good luck.

I entered a contest over at my friend LAURIE'S BLOG, and I won a delightful book called Life's Alphabet Soup by Terri Ferran- signed and sent to me by the author herself.  It was easy to read, fun and witty account of a mother's experiences in raising 6 kids while working, and then how the family and their lifestyle changed after she quit her job to stay home.

So, thank you Laurie, and Terri- I enjoyed it immensely, and recommend it highly!

Sunday Snapshot

London enjoys a Sunday evening at the park.

July 2010

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music." -Angela Monet

 

 

 Do you think God will judge us for loving our kids too much?

Anticipation

Waiting and ..waiting.  I keep getting contractions 5 -10 minutes apart, for an hour or two....and then, they just go away.  Quit teasing me!

I started packing the hospital bag yesterday, and I was trying to decide on this shirt for Jack:

What do you think? Will it fit him? It's hard to tell.   

London decided to put her photography skills to work on the matching toy:

Nathaniel turned 8 yesterday, too.  He got spoiled by his Grandmas- big time- and got to open his DS from us (again). 

London got him Castle Legos.  It's fun that my kids are finally at an age where they can pick out what they want to get people for birthdays.  It's one less decision for me to make.  I'm a minimalist.

We ended the day by going to the drive-in again where we saw Despicable Me and the A-Team.  I loved both movies- and you'll be proud to know I didn't cry during either one :)

And now, if you'll excuse me, my kitchen is a smelly disaster and I need to go get it under control.

 Anyone want to come and help?  No?  Oh, well.  Maybe doing it myself will put me into labor.  That would be nice.

Pregnancy and Chemistry (it's not what you think)

I had a baby doctor appointment yesterday...I am past the mark where they will stop labor if it begins, so, hallelujah! When this little guy comes, he comes!  I'm hoping to hold out for at least another week or 2 tho- my first was a preemie- born at 35 weeks-  and I don't want to do that again.  He didn't nurse well, and I wound up getting chronic mastitis until I finally gave it up and moved him to formula.  Nope, I'd rather be big and hot....(yeah, I'm so freakin' hot, let me tell you) for a couple more weeks than do that again.

And so, this is the last stretch of my last pregnancy.  After this I. Am. Done.  Like signed the form for sterilization yesterday done.  And it's bittersweet. I wish I could have more kids, but unfortunately I have this terrible pregnancy disorder called "extreme hyperemesis". The truth is, if I ever had to do this again, I would be devastated. I'm nauseous every waking moment for 9 months.  It never goes away until I have the baby. I had a standing prescription for IVs at the local e.r. all winter, and by spring I was throwing up blood (having damaged my insides) and having teeth literally crumble in my mouth from all the acid.  It's baaaaad, bad stuff this hyperemesis.  I can't do it again.  I can't believe I did it 3 times!  And, I tell myself that if God wanted me to have more children, he would have given me easier pregnancies; so I just need to be grateful for what I've got, and move on.

 Never.....

 again!


Moving on...I want to go back to school and get a degree in nursing.  Am I crazy? Yes.  But you already knew that.  But I'm nervous.  Will I be able to balance family with schooling?  Can we afford it?  What if I'm so out of it I can't pass my classes?


There are really 2 things I fear the most- biology and chemistry.  Those two are the scary classes; they freak me out.  I took chemistry in high school.  It was the only class I ever cheated in, and I would have failed if I hadn't. All I remember from it is something vague about a periodic table and how the boys who sat behind me kept bringing scraps from lunch to grow in their desk.  Some of that mold was unearthly.  


Anyway, I'm facing my fears.  I've found these videos by Khan Academy on You Tube and they make chemistry- well- almost easy.  And so far it's just basic (uh-huh, that's where geniuses like me need to start) but I really understand it.  I spent the afternoon learning about Stoichiometry, and I understand it.  I'm in awe.  If you ever have kids who need tutoring in chemistry, go to You Tube and look this guy up, he's so easy to understand.  If you miss some thing, you can go back, if you need a minute to write notes, you can pause it- and it's broken up into short 10-15 minute segments.   

Stoichiometry. Awesome. 

I'm a pregnant nerd.

(Late) Sunday Snapshot

Nathaniel becomes initiated into the world of pyrotechnics.

July 4th, 2009

(He spent today at the Wild Animal Kingdom in San Diego with his cousins.  Wish I felt good enough to be there....miss you, buddy).

I Miss My Boy. Already.

Nathaniel is on his way to California with my parents today.

They are going to San Diego for Michael's baptism.  Michael is Nathaniel's very favorite cousin- the fun never stops when they are together.

Nathaniel and Michael kickin' it at Disneyland.

I miss him already.  He will be gone until next Thursday- almost a week.  This will be the longest we have ever been apart, and he's almost 8!  In fact we let him have his birthday present early for the trip.  And, can I just say, if any of your kids are asking for a DS like Nathaniel, eBay is the way to go.  We bought him a brand new DS Lite from Hong Kong- it was loaded with 60 'E' (suitable for everyone) games- for $108 including shipping.  And the games are awesome- 3 different Mario Bros, Lego Star Wars, Lego Indiana Jones, Bolt, Wall.e, Classic Atari, Pokemon, etc, etc.  He is in little boy game playing heaven. 

He gave us 'permission' to go the library without him this week.  I'm so glad he has a love for books.  Right now we are reading 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane' at bedtime.  Nathaniel and London both beg for "just one more chapter" whenever we reach the end of the previous one.  I love that. 

Am I way too attached to my kids?  I just love them so much- and they grow up so very quickly, I hate to miss any moment of their lives.  

Nathaniel has determined he is going to live with us forever.  I'm cool with that.  We have a walk-out basement; we just need to put a kitchen down there if we ever get around to finishing it.  

London gets to be the only child this week. It may be awhile before this happens again, so we'll be making the most of it.

The only person she has to share the computer with is...me. We'll be going from blogging to Barbie.com and Starfall.  After violin practice and chores are done, of course.  Because I'm also the kind of Mom who loves her kids enough to make them do hard work and learn new things.

  They'll love me back for it someday, right?