Wow, I have been a busy little bee since about 7:00. I got dressed and started putting everything where it goes, you know, the dishes, the remotes, the phones, the mail, the trash, the shoes... I could go on and on, there was lots out of place, but you get the idea.

Once I got the top layer straightened up I started to dig in a bit. I decided that the globes on the lights needed to be washed. But first I needed to do some dishes. So I unloaded the last load, reloaded with dirty dishes and set it to run. While that was going I set about taking down all the globes that could be washed in the dishwasher. Once I had collected them all I went back and wiped down all the light fixtures that couldn't be removed to be washed (lamp shades, bare bulbs in the bathroom, globes off the coal oil lamps, I even sucked a mess of dead moths of out the tall floor lamp in the living room - yuck!). That was a task, but I am using the dry cloths for the swiffer (that we never use) and boy do they work well!! I also wiped down the light fixture above the kitchen table and cleaned the fan blades in the living room and our bedroom. By the time I got done cleaning all the lights the dishwasher was done. I unloaded it and put those dishes away and loaded it up with the globes and turned it on.

Time to move on to the next project. I wanted to get the pantry straightened up and there was puppy stuff in the white chest by the back door I wanted to find a new home for. So as I went I gathered up the stuff that Tancy needs to take out to the shed, I emptied the chest and took all the puppy stuff into the pantry. I sat myself down on the floor in the pantry and set about organizing all the puppy stuff. Gnaw-gnaw's are in a small tote on the bottom shelf. All their medicine is in a tin next to that. Their heart worm and flea & tick medicine is in a ziploc with their names and birth dates on it. All the "treats" are in the cookie jar for them... we will be using those soon. Also I managed to rearrange the stuff under the bottom shelf to accomidate a bigger tote and transferred their food from the smaller one that barely holds a bag to the bigger tote that will hold a whole bag, their scoops and bowls. Yay me! I also reworked some stuff to just look tidier in general. I moved the picture box from the living room into the pantry for now. It's just taking up space and we don't have the time to work on that right now. I also took the tall trash can in there and put it in the hall bath's tub with some bleach and hot water... I am going to use it in Lillie's room and it was FUNKY!

Now its time to start on the kitchen, I'll keep it as brief as possible because there's ALOT!
Wiped down the tops of the cabinets
Dusted the nick knacks that sit on the tops of the cabinets
Wiped down the inside shelves of the top cabinets
Wiped down the cabinet doors
Removed any items in cabinets that didn't belong
Put said items where they did belong
(This completes the top cabinets)
Wiped out drawers
Added non-slide stuff  to the drawers
Rearranged drawers
Wiped out bottom cabinets shelves
Wiped bottom cabinets doors
Reorganized bottom cabinets
(This completes all the cabinets and drawers)
Wiped off the counter tops
Cleaned everything that sits on the counter tops
Cleaned the underneath of the top cabinets (Surprisingly nasty)
Cleaned microwave (inside and out)
Cleaned the oven
Wiped down dishwasher
Wiped down top and outside of the refridgerator
Cleaned out fridge (removed old food) - still need to wipe down the inside
Cleaned the stove
Set coffee pot for in the morning - Figuring I will be moving slow
Wiped down baseboards in the kitchen
Swept the kitchen floor
Dusted kitchen table & chairs
Dusted corner hutch
Cleaned kitchen window
Cleaned doors off the dining area that lead out onto the deck

In the process of all the work in the kitchen I managed to have a tomato sandwich for lunch, and the remainder of the tomato itself. I also put all the sparkling clean globes back where they came from. Then I loaded the few dishes from my lunch in the dishwasher.

That completes what I have accomplished so far. My break time is over... I am on to clean the hall bath... I am presently pretty happy that its a small bathroom! LOL.

Hope everyone's day is going well. I've heard that some of my posts are exhausting, I am thinking this one qualifies for sure. (It's currently 3:00)

Love to all!

Good morning all. I hope this finds everyone doing well; healthy & happy. It is officially the weekend and for as many of you as I have talked to there are that many different plans for the weekend. No matter what you are doing, I hope you have a great weekend.

Yesterday I stuck to my guns and didn't do one damn thing that was productive once I got home. I sat on the couch and talked to people on Facebook, watched shows that I had DVR'd that Tancy doesn't care to watch, looked around at one thing and another on the world wide web, I did balance the check book and go through the mail... but I don't count that because I was able to do that from the comfort of the couch. I talked to Mom once or twice. I miss them and it was good to just chat about absolutely nothing. Had me wishing I was there with them.

I talked to our friend Sandy on the phone around 5:30 - 6:00 for about a half hour or so. She had to run and said she'd call back later. About 6:00 or so I put the left over chicken fried steak in the oven on low to heat through so it would be crispy again. I heated the mashed potatoes closer to 6:30. Tancy called at 6:30 on her way home, we talked on the phone her whole drive home, I got her caught up on the doctors appointment and gave her the update on our friends Dad who is in the hospital. When she walked in the door I had her plate fixed for dinner and we sat down and ate. At about 7:30 Sandy called back and Tancy talked to her, its been a while since those two got to talk on the phone. At about a quarter till 8:00 I headed to the back to get my bath. I wanted to go to sleep early. I don't remember what time it was when Tancy got off the phone and got her bath. I was already in the bed doing my kick counts and having more Braxton Hicks. I think I had the most yesterday that I have had so far. Some were fairly intense. It took about 35 minutes to get 10 counts, longer than normal, but as I learned yesterday, that's the new normal now that she's working on getting into position for her exit. I think I was asleep by 10:00. I was tired.

I woke up at 12:15 for a potty run and THE WORST heartburn I have had in a while. I fumbled to find my antacids in my night stand, took a hand full and had some water. I propped myself up on all the pillows and fell asleep basically sitting upright in bed. I woke up a little after two for another potty run and was able to lay down when I got back in bed. I never heard Tancy's alarm go off, either time. As a matter of fact, I am not sure what woke me up... I just know I opened my eyes and the bathroom door was open and I could see her standing in the doorway. It was 5:00. I asked her to help me out of bed. My belly has been so sore that it's been a bit tougher getting out of bed by myself. Maybe if the bed were lower and I could use my legs... but all I've really got to use to get myself up and out of bed is my stomach and arms... Anyway, she helped me up and I made my way into the kitchen to make the coffee. I was already feeling bad for being behind and not having it done already. Not sure why, but that's just the way it is. If she's working and taking care of me, of us, I figure I can make her coffee in the mornings she has to go to work. By the time I was actually fixing our cups, she was in the living room. Normally I have a bit more time. I didn't make her sandwich this morning, she said that was ok and filled her lunch box with snacks, or that's what she told me she did... Before long it was time for her to go and I grabbed the computer.

Lillie is moving around good this morning, I can feel her more in the center of my belly. I had been feeling her primarily on my right side. So I guess she is changing position in there. The rain is suppose to start here, today, around 1:00 and go through the start of the week. Ugh. I will be cleaning house and I don't know what I would prefer, for it to be raining so I'm not tempted to be outside, or for it to be sunny so I can open the blinds and maybe even the windows. Oh well, doesn't matter, I'm getting rain like it or not. Haha! I'll start my house work in the opposite order of my normal routine today. I'll scrub down the kitchen first, since it is one of the main common areas and a bigger task. If I finish it today I'll move to the hall bathroom and scrub it down. After that will be our bathroom. Once those three rooms are done I'll go back to my normal order, our bedroom, back bedroom, Lillie's room, Living room. I'd like to get the fan blades wiped down, the walls in the hall way done (the dogs bump them and leave dirty marks and I guess we must touch them too), I also really want to wipe down baseboards... but I don't know if I can manage all that. We will just have to do a little at a time and see how it goes. Nothing is overly dirty, this is just my last push with the house work before Lillie is born, so I want to make it count. Mandy is suppose to come help me tomorrow, but she wont make it over till Steve leaves out, so I am not sure how much time that will give us. So I am going to try to knock out as much as I can between now and then, at least the stuff that I can do on my own with little discomfort.

I hope Aunt Judy and Daniele made it to Casie's safely. I am so excited for them. I hope they have a great time! I know they were all looking forward to the visit. I also hope their weather is better than ours is going to be! It's always nicer to have good weather when you have company!

Alright kids, I need to make my "To Do" list so I can keep track of all I want to get done, and what I've gotten done. Then I need to get some real clothes on and get to work! It just occurred to me last night, I have 3.5 weeks left till my due date!! As of Tuesday, as far as the doctors are concerned, I could go any time and they wouldn't automatically have to worry about the baby (anytime prior to 37 weeks they require the baby to go to the NICU). Guess I should really get that hospital bag packed huh?! Haha! Maybe I'll do that when everyone is here... gotta put the baby's bag together too. Ok, ok. I've got to get off here. Everyone, have a great day!

Love to all!

Wow, what a day already! I thought I would blog before my brain kicks out the information I got at the doctors office.

So I got there a bit early and I got to go back almost right away. This is typical, I sign in, leave my "sample", just get sat down in the waiting room and they call me back. I get in the room, I am delighted that there will be no "exam" and wait for the midwife... I get to see her today... also relieved I don't have to see the doctor that I don't like. Well, my excitement shortly faded to pissed off. I waited 10 minutes and had to pee again, but of course, nothing to do about it because I am waiting on her. I waited another 10 minutes and was pissed off, glad they had already taken my blood pressure (112/74) because buddy it was risin' fast! I waited another 10 minutes and was just about to grab my stuff and go to the bathroom regardless. I was looking at the clock when she came in. I didn't even attempt to hide that I had been waiting too long and wasn't happy about it.

She seemed immediately aware, but didn't offer up any apologies for being behind. I told her I had a few questions for her, but to give me a second that I had them at the front of my mind when I got in the room. But that they were a little scatter because I'd been in there a while. She didn't remark at all. I pulled myself together and first asked her if there was a way to tell what the babies position was without an ultrasound. Yesterday, I swear, to put your hands on the sides of my belly felt like she was turned side ways. She said yes and smiled, indicating she would check me when she measured my belly and listened to her heart.

I told her about the issues I had last night with the lessened amount of activity. She said that her activity is going to lessen as she moves down. It will be more "regular" when she's in a spot, but when she moves again, it will lessen again. That with the first baby they tend to start moving a few weeks before the due date, with subsequent pregnancies, they tend to wait till the last moment. So she's turning, centering and moving down. She didn't really have to turn much... but her head was over by my right hip, so she did have to center a bit. And she's high so she's got to drop ALOT! So, my gauge at this point is if I don't feel her move 10 times in 4 hours to call them and let them know... they'll assess the situation from there and I'll either go in or go to the hospital.

My last question was weight, the scale (a different one than I have been one for the last several visits) showed a 3 pound gain since Monday. OMG! I could have shit myself (and honestly, that might have changed my weight... haha!). I know that isn't possible. I hardly ate yesterday and I have been good about sweets and junk, etc. Not to mention all the work we have been doing, I am certain I am burning more calories than I am taking in on any given day. So, she said next time to have them weigh me on the scale they've been weighing me on instead of the one I weighed on today.

So, from there she pushes around on my belly feeling for her body and where she's at. Apparently, according to what she was doing, where her hands were and what she said, Lillie is in the middle now instead of on the side where she was. Yay! Ok, so that probably explains the lesser amount of activity from her. She then measures my belly, still measuring big, but at this point they don't even flinch on that one. It's just the way it is. Next she listens to her heart beat. It's in the 120's. Now, 2 weeks ago it was in the 140's and last week it was in the 130's. I ask her if that is normal, that it has decreased over the last few weeks. She tells me yes, as the baby gets bigger her heart rate will not be as fast, also, depending on if she's resting or awake and moving around will affect her heart rate (obviously). But her numbers are good and where they should be. She looks at my chart, I tested negative for Strep B, so that is great!

All summed up, we are right where we should be. We are both doing well, moving right along and progressing nicely. All good news. I was twisted last night for nothing, which isn't a shocker. LOL. My next appointment is next Friday. I headed out to check out and immediately stopped at the ladies room. I had been guzzling water all morning so my eye balls were floating... and being made to wait 20 minutes past my appointment time, in the room where I had to sit and wait didn't help.

I left there and went to Wal-Mart. We needed a few things. I got in and out pretty quickly. Even managed to find both mine and Tancy's Dad's father's day cards. Sweet! I left there with a snack and headed home. I decided that I am not doing much of anything today. I have had two nights with very little sleep and last night was full of anxiety, stress and tears. I figure I need and deserve a day to just chill out a bit. I have tomorrow and Sunday for heavy cleaning plus Monday - Wednesday to do a little here and there. I've got time. If I do it all today I'll just have to do it again closer to Thursday. So, that settles it for me! When I got home I made myself a tomato sandwich, yum, not the best tomato ever, but still a tomato sandwich. I also had some peanuts for protein. Outside of that, I am parked on the couch, feet up, shoes off, relaxing. Tancy wants left overs for dinner (you know it was good because she NEVER wants left overs!) so I don't even have to worry about cooking tonight either! Yay me!

Ok, so I just had my second round with good old Braxton in about 5 minutes... wow. Takes my breath away when it hits. They are definitely getting more intense. Maybe with the more intense and lately more frequent Braxton Hicks we are making progress. I need the little huzzy to move down out of my lungs, that's for sure. Oh, here comes another one... clusters... nice.

Well, I don't have much else. I just wanted to post with an update on my visit and what I learned about my little freak out last night. I hope you are all getting close to time to start your weekends. I am going to sign off of here and see what else I can find to look at online.

OH! One last thing, my friend who's Dad is in ICU is doing better. They are still trying to figure out what infection he has. He does not have pnuemonia though. Hopefully they will move him to a private room soon. Please keep sending your thoughts and prayers out to them.

Love to all!

Good morning all. It's Friday morning (or for some of you lucky folks its already the weekend) and 5:30. Tancy just left for work and I am going to catch you all up on things from my last blog post and then it's time to get in the shower and get ready for my doctors appointment today.

I think after my last post I headed back outside and washed down the front porch, steps, sidewalk, etc. I might have blogged about that though... not sure. Either way, that's what happened next in my mind. I came in for a break, couldn't find anything else to do outside, and found an email from Tancy. She was on RN watch and was on the computer. It was good to hear from her, I was lonesome for her. We emailed back and forth a couple of times, it was nice, we haven't had that opportunity since she's been working out there. After talking a bit we decided on Chicken Fried Steak for dinner. Sounded yummy to me. I decided to make home made mashed potatoes to go with... and when I thought about it, I still had a box of Apple Crisp topping to make one of her favorite desserts. We both needed to wrap up the emailing and directly after shutting down the computer I changed my shirt and headed out to the store to get what I needed for dinner.

Now, let me say, at this point, I have truly enjoyed almost everything about being pregnant. I had my moments in the beginning, with the hernia, and obviously I've had less than thrilling moments throughout; sciatic, hand numbness, constipation, nausea, general aches and pains and feeling huge isn't always fun either. However, those have honestly paled in comparison to the good stuff, feeling her move for the first time, looking pregnant, feeling great emotionally and even basic human interaction (both with family and friends and even with complete strangers). But there is something that makes me belly laugh about being someplace, having this huge belly, no matter what you are dressed like, and people smile that genuine smile at you for waddling and being in your own way and others. Cause you know, if I were this round not pregnant, dressed well or otherwise, people would not smile at me the same way. I have said before, people are even more kind... especially men. It's strange to me in many ways and really nice... too bad people can't all be that nice to everyone.

Anyway, I went to the store, grabbed what I needed and headed back home. I unloaded everything and decided to check in on Mom. It was about 4:00 at that point and I wasn't sure what time she might leave work or if she drove in or rode with Pops. She was still at work but not for too much longer, we chatted while I got the apples peeled and sliced for apple crisp. It was time for her to head out and once she got on her way, she called me back from the car. I enjoyed our conversation tremendously, I usually do. And as I said in a prior post, I have been missing my family something terrible lately. We had a great conversation, covered our usual gambit of topics and had a few laughs. Before we got off the phone I had gotten the apple crisp ready for the oven, my potatoes for mashin' ready to boil and my chicken fried steak soaking in my milk/egg/seasoning mixture. We got off the phone when she got home and I sat down for a minute to let my leg rest.

Which is something else that is strange to me. I can be outside, working, like I was most of yesterday morning and my leg doesn't bother me. But let me stand still for 5 - 10 minutes and it is ridiculous how uncomfortable it becomes. What is up with that?! No wonder I can't stay still!! I had seen on facebook where a friend of ours Dad is in ICU so I started trying to get in touch with her. I was unable to get her on the phone, so I left a message to let her know we are here if she needs anything. I got a call back from her partner before long telling me what was going on with him. Please, everyone, say a prayer, keep them in your thoughts, whatever it is that you do in times like these. I don't have an update, but as of last night they were working on the issues they know he has (low blood count, fluid on his lungs and an unknown infection) and searching for the answers they didn't have (why he had fluid on his lungs and what the infection is). I will try to check in with them later this morning. But please keep them in your thoughts.

I started working on dinner, getting the chicken fried steak going, put the potatoes on to boil and the apple crisp in the oven. I thought I had it timed just right to be piping hot for when Tancy hit the door, but she was a bit later than I expected. It was all still warm, but not as hot as I would have liked. She called at 6:30 on her way, I had just finished everything off expecting her home between 6:30 - 6:45. She got home just at 7:00. We ate pretty well as soon as she hit the door. We caught up on the day and what all we had coming up. I think we both missed each other. I picked up the kitchen, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and turned it on. She fixed us some apple crisp and we had dessert. I showed her where I had moved the bird feeders to and what I had done yesterday. We then headed out to the garden to water the plants. The mosquitos were terrible! I was very surprised. I ended up headed inside once I watered my plants on the deck... it was just too much. After that she took out the trash, I put the bedding in the dryer and we headed to the back both exhausted from too little sleep last night and working soo hard yesterday.

We got in bed at about 8:30 I guess. I laid there and realized I hadn't done my kick count and suddenly felt panicked. I had felt her move throughout the day, but her activity level wasn't what it normally was.... even for being busy, usually the second I sit down she cuts up. I felt that hot wave of fear hit me and tried to control it. I told Tancy and tried to get Lillie to move. I shook my belly, poked it (which Lillie does NOT like) and had Tancy try as well. I was having Braxton Hicks however that were pretty intense at moments. I didn't get much movement from Lillie. So, I tried to slow my thoughts and remember what they told us in class... Get snack and then lay down. So I got up to get some juice, full of sugar, should do the trick. But I didn't have any. Shit! I went into the pantry and got a thing of canned fruit and drank the juice in it before eating the fruit (I never drink the juice). I don't think, initially, Tancy realized that I was truly worried until I told her that if I didn't have a kick count by 9:30 I was calling the doctor. I ate my snack and then laid down almost flat, Lillie usually will move up a storm when I lay like this. She did move, but the movements weren't as strong or as close together, especially after something so sugary. I ended up with my kick count (took 13 minutes instead of my normal 3) but that didn't seem to ease my mind. I laid in bed and cried not sure what to do. I decided that I should get in the tub, try to calm down, that it was a good possibility that if I was tense she would move less. So I tried that out. It was hard to just relax, even in the tub. Tancy came in and checked on me, tried to ease my mind... I know she felt like she couldn't say anything right... it wasn't that, I just didn't know what to do with myself. I had a moment of levity, that I desperately needed, when I felt something like peeing, but not exactly. I had been in the bathroom with a candle lit, no lights on, so I asked Tancy to turn on the light for me. I needed to see if the water looked different or anything (I am not meaning to be graphic, just lightening the story). Everything looked "ok", though I don't know what the hell I was looking for. Now Tancy was worried, what did it feel like (she's thinking maybe my water broke) I told her like peeing, but I didn't have to pee and I didn't try to pee or anything like that. It was a bit more like a gush of fluid. I tell her that maybe Lillie just pushed on my bladder... and I giggled... how can you unintentionally pee yourself in the tub without realizing that's what happened and not find humor in that?! So, needless to say that ended any "soaking" I might have done. However, this did shake me out of that fear mode I was in before. I got in bed, again went back to what they told us in class... If you don't get 10 kicks in 2 hours you should call your doctor. So I started the time at the last kick from my kick count, I got another snack (realizing that I had truly only had dinner to eat all day) and a bottle of water (I also had not had enough water all day). I had a whole bottle of water and a small snack of peanuts (I'd had sugar, but needed some protein). I then got comfy in bed and tried to just relax. It took a bit longer than normal, but I got 10 kicks within that 2 hours so I gave myself a pep talk and tried to sleep.

I didn't sleep well, but I did sleep. I was up often making potty runs, that whole bottle of water before sleep was a fabulous idea!! Who am I kidding?! I didn't get up any more than I normally do. I was hot most of the night and just slept in fits. Makes for a long night. When Tancy's alarm clock went off I felt like I had just settled in for the night. I finally drug my sorry ass out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make coffee, run through the morning routine with the pups and make Tancy a sandwich for lunch. Got all that done and sat down on the couch to catch the morning news... same routine, different day.

So far this morning all I have had is my coffee, but that's about to change. I am going to find something good to eat for me and Lillie here in just a minute and have a big glass of water (or probably one of our water bottles full). I have had a little clarity this morning and this is what I think happened yesterday: I had a bit of cottage cheese around 11:00 and some crackers with dip around 3:30, that's all I had to eat all day long. I had a cup of coffee yesterday morning and then a 20 oz. coke that I nursed all day, and that's all I had to drink. So I didn't have nearly enough of anything. Most importantly I didn't have enough water. When we ate dinner I had one of the smaller steaks, a decent helping of potatoes and a bottle of water... but when that's all I had all day... it isn't much. So, today I intend to do better, eat more real food and drink water. My doctors appointment is at 9:10, so before long I will be getting ready for that. I will talk to the doctor about yesterday, just for good measure and ask what the guidelines are for concern with regard to her activity.

Today I think I will take it a little easier. I don't think that my physical activity has been harmful to her in any way, but I just feel the need to slow it down today. So I am going to listen to what my body is telling me there and slow it down. There's nothing that needs to be done today. Tancy wants left overs from last night for dinner tonight, so I don't even have to worry about dinner. I do have to go by Wal-Mart today to get a few items and then I'll come home and chill out. I'll also keep water with me and make sure to eat today. I didn't mean not to eat yesterday, I just didn't get hungry, so I didn't think about it. Can't do that again though, just being that worried isn't good for me.

Ok kids. I need to sign off of here, get a bite for breakfast and then get in the shower. I am doing well today and little Miss Lillie has been moving good this morning, so no worries. I hope that you all have a fantastic day today and a wonderful holiday weekend! I am sending all of you my love and positive energy, send some back my way if you get half a chance, I could use the replenishing.

Love to all!

So it's 1:00 here now and I am sitting on the couch, once again. I have been busy though, it isn't like I have been here the whole time.

I got moving shortly after daylight. I got the laundry cranked up again. I headed outside before it got too hot and cleaned up the carport, swept and then took the hose to all the dirt and cob webs that needed to come down. I washed the landing down at the carport door and even managed to wash up the sweet tea that we spilled yesterday. I washed all the soil away that ended up all over the drive way and sidewalk while we worked on flowers yesterday. I moved the bird feeder that was over the front flower bed, the feed has millet in it and that grows this really huge grain looking stalk. Can't have that, Tancy worked too hard to get rid of all the weeds in there. So I moved that one out on to a tree on the other side of the drive way. I hung the third basket up on the front porch after moving the wind chime where the feeder was. Tancy has to put up the correct eye bolts for me, I tried but don't have enough lead in my pencil (yes, I know I don't have a pencil, but I heard that all my life and it still rings true) to do it myself. Once I got all that done, I filled all of the bird feeders with seed, they were ALL empty!

I came inside for a bit, out of breath and feeling a bit tired. I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher. I called Maw-Maw, I had been missing her and I know I don't call her nearly enough. I ended up reading her my letter to Lillie, I knew she would enjoy it and that it would mean something to her. She now wants me to send her a copy to keep. I will type it up and send it to her some time in the next couple of days. I enjoyed talking to her, told her about all I had been doing, she tickles me... if I am doing it, there's no reason I shouldn't. If I say I didn't do it because I don't think I should, she agrees. I can't imagine what being pregnant was like for her, there was lots of physical, manual labor to be done, pregnant or not. Then she had all of them without any pain meds... three of them at home!! Jeeze! When I think about being uncomfortable I think about how it was 50+ years ago and figure I've got it pretty damn good... central air, no fields to tend, no clothes that have to be scrubbed on a wash board and a wonderful little thing called an epidural! Haha.

I talked to Pops after I talked to Maw-Maw. It's good to talk to him when I can, he doesn't often have time while he's at work, so I was surprised to get him on the phone. We didn't talk long, I asked him about the doors leaking and what it might be. He said there was a foam kinda thing (my words, not his) that went around the door between it and the frame that might need replaced. We just chatted a bit, he had things going on and I didn't want to keep him. Just having a few minutes to talk was good enough for me. I miss him a bunch.

I called Casie after I talked to Pops. I almost never talk to her on the phone. I usually don't call her at work because there are days when she's usually slammed and I don't know if she can talk much or not. Getting in touch with her outside of work is pretty tough too. So I did get her, our conversation was mostly me asking her questions and her giving me "Brent" answers... meaning one word indicating she's busy, side tracked or just not interested. LOL. I figured I should let her get back to it, so we didn't really talk too long, but it was good to hear her voice. I have been missing her, I tell her all the time, but somehow we don't seem to make any more time for each other. That breaks my heart. At one point we were so close... now I honestly can feel very disconnected and don't know much about what's going on with her, outside of the surface level stuff. That's not to say its anyone's fault, I don't want her reading this and thinking I am saying its all her fault (cause I'm not Case), we both contribute to that. I do miss her terribly. I feel tears burning my eyes just thinking about my sister and how much I miss her.

Once I got off the phone I grabbed something to eat, cottage cheese, and was going to get back to work and then the phone rang. It was a friend of ours calling to see about coming by to get some of the wood we just cut up. I told her I was always home. LOL. She'll probably come by on Saturday to get it. I have no plans, so that works out just fine. We chatted for a bit about work, home, babies, money, friends, etc. It was a good conversation. I think I am feeling a bit isolated today, disconnected or something. Talking to those who are important to me is always great, but today it has meant the world to talk to my family especially. I guess it's being pregnant and the hormones. I miss everyone so much more right now than I ever remember missing them. Don't get me wrong, I always miss them, but it can be really hard lately.

So while I was on the phone I stripped the back bed. I took out the trash in our bathroom. I collected our rugs to wash and put them on after moving the throw blankets into the dryer. I picked up our bedroom a bit and cleared some of the stuff off of the kitchen table. I must admit that my emotions have gotten to me a bit today and I just don't feel like doing much. I decided that fresh air was a good thing for me and headed back outside. I washed off the front porch, moved the plants around and washed off the whole porch, I washed down the siding which gets dusty under there since no rain rinses it off. I washed the windows down. I washed off the porch steps and the side walk leading to the steps as well. I washed down any spider webs I saw and pretty much anything that looked like it needed a good rinse. I came back inside at that point and wandered around the house looking for something to do, not because there's a shortage but because I don't want to do much.

I thought about packing my hospital bag, but for what ever reason that hasn't seemed to be a big thing for me to get done at this point. I hope I get motivated to do it soon after the shower... if not I'm liable to be packing it while I am in labor! Haha. Wouldn't that be something, Ms. OCD, anal retentive packing her hospital bag whilst running out the door to get to the hospital?! Now that makes me laugh!

And I am telling you, I have felt so big lately, I don't care about "dressing" to go to the grocery store. I throw on one of my old t-shirts with paint and stains all over it and a pair of shorts (lucky for me all of my "regular" clothes still fit) and just go. I waddle myself up in the Food Lion, grab a buggy and get what I need. I know I look like a ragamuffin, but I don't care. Hell, I can't catch a good breath half the time, I am not overly concerned with being cute on an every day level. Now, if we are going somewhere, I do put on the maternity stuff and look presentable. Otherwise, to hell with it. LOL. That must mean I am getting close to being "ready". Haha.

So I need to get things ready to get dinner going soon. I am just waiting on Tancy to tell me if she prefers pork chops or chicken fried steak. Then I'll know I either have to go to the store or to the freezer. I don't have a preference, but I told her I need Italian one night soon, maybe Monday night. I have been craving it baked ziti!! That's probably my new favorite, just tomato sauce, not meat sauce... yummmy! I need a good ziti recipe, anyone??

Alright kids. I need to wrap this up. No telling what else I will do today. Seems like as soon as I decide to just chill out for the rest of the day I am up and doing 10 things... so there's just no way to know what will happen between now and bedtime. I love you all, very much. Have a great rest of the day!

Good morning all. Wow. I can't believe I haven't blogged since Sunday... but then again, Tancy's been off of work and we have been busy little bees.

Sunday was fairly uneventful so that was good. I felt decent, no real discomfort but no great energy level either. I managed to make Tancy lunch when she got up, I really enjoy being able to do that for her when she works nights. It's so important too because she rarely has time, in a 12 hour shift, to eat once she gets there. Then again, there are the nights where they are slow and cook, eat, etc. Those seem to be fewer and farther between lately for them, they are soooo under manned. Anyway, she ate and then got ready for work. I sent an email (and left voice mail) to the lady that gave the puppy training class we took for Scout. We want to make sure we are doing what we should be doing to ready the dogs, and ourselves for life with baby and pups. We got caught up on the night before, like we usually do and before either of us knew it, it was time for her to go. I stayed at home, watched some TV, surfed the web and got in bed around 9:00 I guess. I didn't sleep well at all. Not sure why, but it was that light, restless sleep. I think it was around 3:00 before I even started to doze. I hate nights like that.

So Monday morning Tancy got in around 6:30, I got up and sent the puppies out to her so they could potty. I could hear her making something to eat, so I drug my sorry butt into the kitchen to see what she was doing. She was starving, hadn't had time to eat dinner that night. I told her what time we had to leave for the doctors appointment and she said she would just stay up, so I stayed up with her, though I would have loved to crawl into bed. So she made us a pot of coffee and we chatted till time for me to get ready for my appointment. We got there right on time and went back fairly quickly. We got to see our favorite doctor in the group. My blood pressure was good, 118/80. I didn't gain any weight. Her heart rate was good, 135 I believe. They did my Strep B swab and I got a pelvic exam. I don't mean to be crude, but I swear she was checking my tonsils!! My cervix is that high. No change, still high and not dilated or softening. No surprise. We talked about the Braxton Hicks, breathlessness, nausea, etc. All is normal, as I suspected and what we want to be happening. The clusters of Braxton Hicks help to encourage her to move down and into place and ready my uterus for the "real deal". We told our doctor that we really want her to deliver for us, so we schedule our week 39 appointment with her (that's the first Friday in June). So, she signed off on my kick count and we were on our way.
We left the doctors office and got a bite for lunch, it was about noon and Tancy was starving. We had canceled her physical therapy appointment, she just didn't think she could make it, I am sure she was right. So the game plan was lunch on the go and then home for a nap before the class with our pediatrician. That's just what we did too. Neither of us slept long, about an hour and a half. I woke up with headache, but caffeine quickly remedied that problem.
The dog trainer (or more accurately people trainer) called and we set a time and date for her to come out and give us an assessment on the puppies, give us pointers and just make sure we are on a good path. We really liked her when we took her class and are happy that she'll be able to come out and see how things are going. We also have a few issues, unrelated to baby, that we'd like her input on, so it all works out. I talked to Mom for a bit, who had stayed home from work not feeling too well, and then it was time to get ready for our class. Wow, the day was so full already it seemed and now we had a 2 hour class. We left out a bit too early as it turned out, but it all worked out well. We were the first, and only, ones there for the class. So we won the door prize by default, a bag full of baby goodies!! There was food too and it was pretty good. We ended up with a 2 hour one on one about baby care, appointments, common issues with newborns, vaccinations, etc. It was great. If we weren't sure about him being our pediatrician before we certainly were after the class was over. He's also able to help with breastfeeding should I need assistance, and, because he's family practice, address post-partum care with me as well. That's handy, taking the baby in for a check-up and having the opportunity to talk to him about my concerns without needing a separate appointment.
We left there feeling really good about our decision to have him care for Lillie. We also got to meet his three children, cute! There's something to be said about choosing doctors who you feel that comfort with. Anyway. We left there and got dinner. We've been trying to do better about not eating out, and we've done a good job. But at this point it was 8:15 and we were both too hungry to think about coming home and cooking something. So we had japanese hibachi for dinner. It was pretty good. From there we headed home and got directly into pajamas. The day had been very long and exhausting for both of us. It was all worth it, but we were ready to sink into bed and veg out. I think we watched some TV and were probably up too late anyway, but I think we both slept alright.

Tuesday morning I had to get up earlier than I would have liked. I had a dentist appointment, just a cleaning, that was at 9:00. Ugh. I left Tancy in the bed and headed out. The cleaning went well, the girl who does it at our dentist office is thorough and gentle. No real changes from the last time I was there, but good to get in another cleaning before the baby gets here. They want me to get a night guard, both for my TMJ and because I am apparently grinding my teeth at night to the point of sharpening one of my lower "eye" teeth. But the guard costs $275 after insurance and I just can't see spending that. So, we will see. When I got home Tancy was up, hadn't been for long though. She talked to her Mom & Dad and then we were on our way to Mandy's.
Tancy was going to work on the Durango and get it back up and running. Mandy was going to cook dinner for us that night. Tylor was also coming over to help Tancy. We got there around noon I guess. Tancy started to work pretty quickly and I decided to cut the grass for Mandy. Wow, the wind was terrible and I can't even tell you how much grass I breathed in, had in my ears, down my shirt, in my hair, etc. I itched all over! But I got the grass cut and enjoyed doing it, so I wont bitch too much. By the time I got done with that Tancy had done about all she was going to do on her on so we both took a break. Lauren called to let us know she was going to Wal-Mart and then would be home. Tylor arrived before too long. I started cutting up the onions and tomatoes once Lauren got there. Mandy called on her way home soon as well. The evening was moving right along. By the time Mandy got home it was 5:30 or 6:00 and the truck was done, they just were waiting on the keys to crank it and see how it ran. It ran well! Mandy and I started on dinner, greasy tacos. Now, for those of you who don't know about greasy tacos, they are a real treat. First you fry corn tortillas and fold them in the shape of tacos. Then you stuff them with shredded spam and cheese. You fry them a second time to melt the cheese and once they are all done you add your favorite taco toppings and eat. Greasy tacos is a very appropriate name! I can't eat them, tears my stomach up. I eat ground meat, I actually had a taco salad this particular night. But these tacos are a Dean family favorite. So everyone ate and visited. Tylor left shortly after dinner. Lauren left a little while later to take the kids home (she'd brought some of the little girls she sometimes baby sits for over to spend some time with Hemmi, part of his training). We left around 9:00? Got home, fed the dogs, I got a shower, Tancy got a bath. I took some medicine for my allergies and we both we sacked out by 10:30 I guess. I slept like a rock. I woke up at 4:30 with a full bladder and again at 8:30.

The puppies finally got us up at 9:45, good thing too, Tancy had physical therapy at 11:00! I felt groggy from the medicine I had taken to allow me to breath and subsequently sleep. I hung out on the couch. I finally got motivated to put on some clothes, start the laundry and balance the check book. I got some bills paid too! Yay me! By the time Tancy called on her way home I had a game plan. We needed to finish up the front of the house which meant working in the flower bed... that was going to be a real bugger. I had some hanging baskets I wanted to put some flowers in and put up also. So, I first ordered the dogs new beds, yes plural. One for our bedroom, the one that is in there has seen much better days... and another for the living room. We will start teaching them that their "bed" is their space, hoping to keep them of the couch and love seat as much. Part of this is their "training" and part of it is because I am over all the hair that ends up on the couch and subsequently on our clothes. I love our dogs and I enjoy having them in the house, but I don't enjoy all the hair. The "bed" thing will also allow them their own space to go to if they are feeling stressed or don't want to be bothered. This works out well for everyone. Once that was done we lit out to first get Tancy some new bras and then to Lowe's. We made short order of the first errand and were soon on our way! We got to Lowe's and got the first items on our list fairly quickly: preen, grass & weed killer, weed eater string, and a hand tiller. But then we started looking for the flowers for the flower bed and hanging baskets. That took us a while. We had picked out flowers last time and couldn't find them this time. So we had to start all over. We finally found the original ones and decided against them, luckily there was one by them that we really liked, so that wrapped itself up nicely. Next the flowers for the hanging baskets. Wow, that took way too long. I needed something that wouldn't get too tall, something that would trail or be vine like, something that would flower and be ok with a fair amount of sun. Of course color was ALSO an issue. After walking the flower selection I don't know how many times we finally found the one we wanted and were out of there. I was having Braxton Hicks and having trouble with that so I was glad to be getting out to the car where I could sit down.
We got back home and Tancy started working on clearing out the flower bed. It was full of grass (unintentional and seemingly the only place we can grow grass) and my bulbs. I cut the back yard and then the front yard. Riding mowers are wonderful things! The yard looked great! I then started helping her by cutting the bulbs back and silently hoping we weren't killing them. I love my gladiola's. Before we knew it, it was time to leave for our hair cuts (just after 4:00), we had worked right up until time and she would just have to be ok with us being dirty and smelly. There was no way around that with so much to do. We got there a bit early and she was working on someone else, but before long she was ready to start on me. Hair washed, eye brows waxed and moving on over to the chair to get my hair cut. I opted to have a bit more cut off than I had been, I had just a little bit of the yuck color left on the ends from where I stopped coloring my hair and I was ready for it to be gone. My hair cut took no time at all and then she was on to Tancy. I went to one of the other "stations" and blew my hair dry myself, no point in her fixing it, we were headed home to finish our yard work. But truth be told, I always dry my own hair. Tancy got her hair washed, eye brows waxed and on over to the chair. Tancy's hair cut always takes longer, she's got so much freakin' hair!! Cut it, thin it, check it, cut and/or thin some more... jeeze. But soon Tancy was done. We headed next door to get a bite to eat, not doing so good with not eating out, but we were busy girls and starving too! I got a burger, Tancy got a bar-b-que sandwich. We ate and headed back home.
Once we got home I grabbed the shovel to dig a hole near one of my bird feeders to plant the bulbs... I wanted to get them back in the ground in hopes of not killing them. I don't think they will come back up this year, but I hope to keep them alive. Wow, that was alot of work. Our ground is pretty hard in places and rocky every where else. I finally got past the rocks and the roots and had a pretty good sized, u shaped, hole. I put some of the bulbs in... have a ton left and have to figure out what to do with them... and worked just as hard to get the dirt back in the hole. We have alot of clay, so it packs itself down pretty good. I finally got that done and went to help Tancy who had been planting the flowers (ground cover with pretty red flowers) in the flower bed. I was already pretty worn out and was having trouble being so low to the ground and having to bend even more. I wasn't alot of help, but I did the best I could. Once the flower bed was done we had a few flowers left so Tancy put them in with the butterfly bushes. I watered the flowers on the back deck and packed my Lily out to the front, Hemmi ate all the f'n flowers off of it, little bastard. Tancy watered the newly planted flowers while I was doing that. We sat for a minute on the back deck, I had to catch my breath before I could think about getting in the shower. I felt like I had run a marathon uphill!
Soon we headed in and got showers... we were both WAY too grubby to get baths. It always amazes me how truly wonderful a good shower feels when you are that grimey. You are almost too tired to get one, but too filthy not to... you don't have any more energy after the shower, but you feel human again. It's great. Tancy grabbed the clothes out of the dryer for me and I put her uniform shirts and blue jeans in the dryer. We headed to the back. I had cookies and milk (I was hungry believe it or not) and she folded clothes for me... such a good woman. I folded socks once I finished my cookies and milk and she started putting it all away. Normally this isn't how it goes, so I was incredibly thankful to her for doing it, I was wiped out. I took some tylenol and some benadryl to help with the sneezing, itching, general allergy misery. We watched some TV, including the newest installation of the UFC house, awesome. Tancy had trouble going to sleep for some reason. I was tired and started to fall asleep, but to be honest didn't sleep much or very well. I was up often going to the bathroom. I was already sore, my back, belly, hands, legs... everything that I had used while cutting grass, digging the hole and planting flowers was revolting against me. Not to mention that getting out of bed is increasingly more difficult. I told Tancy if Lillie didn't come before night shift started again I was going to have to have someone come stay with me to get me out of bed in the middle of the night to pee, or I was going to have to get some "piddle pads" from pet smart to put in the bed in case of accidents! LOL.

The clock went off at 4:30, Tancy hit snooze till 4:45, I laid there awake and unhappy about it (I had already given myself permission to sleep in). I finally got up and let the puppies out. The coffee was already made, yay me, and made Tancy a sandwich to take. After getting our coffee cups fixed I sat down on the couch and here I remain. I have a long to do list just for today, some work in the house, some more work outside... though I don't know how much I will accomplish from a labor perspective. My body is not real pleased with me today. I'll probably just take it easy and do things inside that don't require alot of physical exertion. Finish the laundry, get the dishes done, strip the back bed and remake it, dust, etc. That kind of stuff.

I have something going  most days from today through next Sunday, it goes like this:
Tomorrow - OB appointment
Saturday - work on getting the house ready for all our company
Sunday - work on getting the house ready for all our company (This will take more than one day b/c I can't get it all done in one any more.) Hemmi turns 3 years old.
Monday - Tancy has off and I am sure there will be a list of things that I need her help with in the house before company arrives.
Tuesday - take the dogs to get them groomed. Hopefully have dinner with Gary.
Wednesday - grocery shopping
Thursday - Mom and Larisa arrive and we have an afternoon at the spa
Friday - OB appointment for me, Physical Therapy for Tancy, everyone at the house visiting and working on Lillie's room.
Saturday - Jeanette and Luca get in, the baby shower, everyone at the house visiting (Tancy's folks probably wont make it in in time on Friday to visit).
Sunday - everyone leaves, just spread out, so the day will be spent running people to the airport more than likely. (Not looking forward to everyone leaving so soon.) Britt & Ryan's 1 year wedding anniversary - Congrats!!

Once the baby shower is over little Miss Lillie can get here as whenever she likes. I will probably start to get anxious about it at that point. Right now, I am good with her not being here yet.... but I will more than likely be "ready" once the shower is done. Don't ask me how that makes sense... it is what it is.

Alright kids. It is daylight out and I think I am going to get up off the couch and get moving. I might be able to get a few things done today if I don't stay stuck to the couch. I hope you all have a great day today. For some the weekend starts at quitting time today, I hope you enjoy your extended weekend. For others, it starts tomorrow... still a long weekend. Aunt Judy & Daniele will be headed to Georgia tomorrow, I am wishing them a safe trip. I hope that they all have a great time. I know Casie is looking forward to it! I am sure I'll blog again before the weekend is up, hell, I'll probably blog again before the day is up! Haha! So, be good kids! Smile! Makes 'em wonder what you're up to!

Love to all!

Hello all. I hope this finds you all doing well. Soaking up the last bits of the weekend time, trying not to think about work... that's what I used to do anyway.

Let's see, the last time I blogged was Friday, right? I haven't had a whole bunch of excitement since then, but I will catch you up anyway. Friday night I got some sleep, but I had alot of trouble with my left hip... feels like it came out of socket and the tissue is inflamed and possibly a ligament is torn or something like that. I can't describe it, but it is completely different than my sciatic issues on my right side. So I slept in fits... and when I wasn't sleeping, I could have thrown a fit. LOL. Tancy got home and we went through our usual "hey baby", "how was your night", and quick catch up. I didn't think I'd ever go back to sleep once she was asleep. I finally did and slept nearly solidly till 10:30. That was probably the most sleep I got all night, about 2 hours. I always sleep better when she's home, I know... I can't help it. I am sure that'll change over time, but for now its the facts jack!

So I got up at 10:30 and made coffee, normal morning routine. Then parked it on the couch. Honestly my hip is what woke me up, hurting something terrible and I just couldn't take it. I can only guess that those ligaments are loosening up in preparation for the "big day", everything I've read and even in talking to the doctors, these things happen and you want them to!! I had my coffee and talked to Mom on the phone and then Mandy. I decided that I needed to run a couple of errands before Tancy got up, so I went to the back to get ready. It was about 12:30 at this point. I guess the blow drier woke her up. I felt terrible. She usually doesn't wake up from that, blends with the white noise. Anyway, I finished getting ready and headed out to gas up the truck and get a few staples from the store.
When I got out of the truck at Wal-Mart to get a few odds and ends another discomfort was added to my list for the day. I was having tenderness in my belly low. I had it the night before as well, but it was more intense now. The best I can compare it to is having a belly full of gas (not under your ribs, but low in your belly) that just wont move. Or being terribly constipated. It's tender and feels distended even though its not. Now, I'll answer the question, it isn't gas or constipation, but thats the closest thing I can relate it to for everyone. I white knuckled the buggy all through Wal-Mart, to be standing upright seemed to make that pressure worse. Tancy called when I was half way through getting what I needed and had a horrendous head ache, her typical after the first night of nights, she couldn't go back to sleep. I headed home, got everything unloaded (with Tancy's help) and started cooking lunch. Sloppy Joes!! Yummy. Once I was sitting down the discomfort in my belly wasn't as bad, but my hip was worse. Can't win for losing. LOL.
After eating lunch we caught up on each others nights and then it was time for Tancy to get her bath. She had a good night, I had an uneventful night... basically transforming into a Maw-Maw, sewing my night gowns and having pancakes for dinner. Oh well, what can you do? I am who I am. We caught up on some DVR shows and just hung out. Poor Tancy, her head hurt her so badly and she didn't get nearly enough sleep. Thankfully this is a short run of nights. She got ready for work and at 5:30 we both hit the door. Her to work and me to Mandy's.

Mandy and I were going to have a girls night. We were both looking forward to it. It's been a while since the two of us spent time together just the two of us. I got there and plans had changed. Steve was still home, working on the durango. I spoke, asked how it was going, asked if his trip was put off. He was leaving, just not till 9:00. Ok, well, we can work around that. Mandy and I sat inside and visited for quite a while. But Steve asked that we come outside and visit so he could have some company, so we did. Even though it wasn't the "girls night" we had planned on, we still had a good visit. Mandy was back to the Mandy that I love and appreciate soo much. Before terribly long we were getting Steve ready to leave out. I think we might have both been pushing him a bit in our excitement for some time together. We got him to the yard and all his stuff loaded in the truck just before 10:00. He's a pokey puppy! We stopped at the dairy queen and got some ice cream and then headed home. I stayed and visited a while with her, but once we both started yawning I decided it was probably time to head home. I'd been struggling with my hip, lower belly and braxton hicks all day and I was really starting to feel exhausted.
By the time I got home it was midnight. I fed the dogs, got a snack and counted kicks, I hadn't stopped long enough all day to count them and I wasn't happy about that. Once she kicked up a storm, and boy did she, I felt better. I even sat my cell phone on my belly and watched what looked like her trying to move it, she was that active! After all that I decided that Tylenol was going to be necessary. I was having trouble finding comfort in the bed and knew that if I didn't get some relief I wouldn't get any sleep. So I took 1 Tylenol PM and 1 regular Tylenol. (2 Tylenol PM are too much for me). By 1:30 I was passed out! I woke up at 2:30, bathroom break. I woke up at 3:00 with the TV tuning itself. I didn't wake up again until 6:45!! Very unusual for me. I turned off the TV (I was that out of it before that I didn't turn it off) and went back to sleep. I woke up when Tancy got home and went back to sleep when she got to bed. We did talk a bit, but I felt completely drugged... Tylenol PM just messes me up! I slept from 7:30 till 11:00! Unheard of!

I got up, ran the usual paces and got online to research bringing home a new baby and the introduction to the puppies. Once I had that done I started this blog. I still feel kinda foggy and sluggish. I don't have any plans for the day, I want to cook lunch for Tancy today. I feel better about sending her off to work if she's had something good to eat... though that doesn't always work out like I plan. It's ugly looking outside and fairly dark as well, so that doesn't help me to get moving or feel any more awake. But there's not much to be done about that. I have no plans for tonight, just hang out and relax. So far, today, my belly isn't hurting like it was yesterday. I haven't had any Braxton Hicks yet. My hip isn't even bothering me at the moment. I am thankful for that!! I'll take it for as long as it lasts and when it doesn't last any more I'll deal with that too.

Tomorrow is another OB check up. I have to bring in my kick count sheet when I go. Then tomorrow evening is the seminar with our planned pediatrician. It will be about breast feeding, bottle feeding, inoculations... alot of things that pertain to a new baby. We are looking forward to it. For tomorrow I don't think we have much else planned. I still haven't packed a hospital bag. What's the time line most people do that? Anyone?? Maybe I'll do that tonight. I have a sneaky suspicion that I probably wont. LOL. I'll probably be packing it the day I go into labor. Haha!

Next weekend I'll be scrubbing the house down to get ready for all our company... and it'll probably be the last good scrubbing I can do before Lillie comes! I can't wait to have everyone here, I am so looking forward to it. I am missing all our family lately. So, bring it on ladies!!

Well, that's all I've got today... I told ya I haven't had much interesting going on. I need to clean up the kitchen and try to shake loose the cob webs in my head. I do hope that Tancy gets to sleep late today, she needs it. Ya'll enjoy your day today. I hope the weather is really nice where you are.

Love to all!

Hello all. It is currently 9:22 on Friday night. Tonight is the first night of the second round of nights, there are three in this shift, then we have three weeks of days before she goes back to nights. So far tonight is going fine...

The last time I blogged was Thursday night, but that was essentially a photo blog. Prior to that my last blog was Thursday morning. Not too much has happened since then to be honest. I went to physical therapy with Tancy yesterday. I think she got her money's worth out of that session! From there we went to an aquarium place in Cherryville, not our normal "fish guy". We liked him though and he had some good information and advice. From there we came home and did a water change on the tank. The nitrates tested right at the level that indicates it is time for a water change. Don't ask me what that is, I don't know. I just know the guy said when their tanks test at that level is when they do a water change and Tancy's going to stick to that standard. We waited till about 7:00 and headed outside. I watered the plants on the deck and Tancy watered the garden. I came inside then and watered all the plants in the house. Then Tancy and I packed ALL of the aloe vera plants (there are about a dozen and they need to be divided out again) and my peace lilys out to the front porch, they need light, but not full sun.. so the front porch is the perfect place. I took the christmas cactus to the back deck and put it on the table under the umbrella. Again, this plant doesn't need full sun, so under the umbrella is a good spot. I am especially protective about this plant. After all that we came inside and caught up on DVR shows and just hanging out. By midnight we were both exhausted and headed to the back. I tried, but midnight was all I could do. We watched some TV and talked, I tried to help her stay awake as long as I possibly could. But 1:00 we were both passed out.

So this morning I am up around 10:00, it was a long night. It gets harder and harder to get up every hour and a half to pee. It gets more and more frustrating to be up so often and to hurt all night long, to not be able to get comfortable, to have the numbness in my arms and hands wake me up, to have the sound of my sinus drip either wake me up or keep me awake, to wake up feeling like I can't breathe, to wake up sweating my ass off.... ok, I've fussed enough about it all. Needless to say, even though I was asleep at 1:00 and slept till 10:00 that does NOT mean I slept 9:00 hours. LOL. I went through my regular morning routine, as always puppies and coffee. I talked to Mom for a bit, that was nice. I miss her bunches and lately she's been so busy at work we don't get to talk like we used to, so I am thankful for times like this morning. After our conversation I called Maw-Maw to wish her a happy birthday. We had a good conversation too. I miss Maw-Maw and wish I got to see her more. I still try to talk her in to coming up here to see us, it'll probably never happen, but ya can't blame me for trying. About the time I was getting off the phone with Maw-Maw, Tancy drug out of bed. It was probably 10:30ish. Up waaaay too early, but nothing I can do about it. Tylor had already called wanting her to come play softball with them. They were short and he really just wants her to play.

So she gets her coffee and gets on the phone to Tylor, tells him we will come watch but she doesn't know about playing (which means she will because just like she could talk him into anything, he can talk her into just about anything... and its softball, she doesn't need her arm twisted!). So we finish watching the show we are watching "Bringing Home Baby", the lesbian version... and the one not giving birth is a total nut case. Wow! It was ALL about her. This made me incredibly thankful that I have the partner that I have. We get dressed and head out to the ball field. Tancy heads for the doug out... of course... and Tylor basically tells her that he knew she would play! They do pretty good actually. Right up until the guy comes up and tells them all that its a private ball field and they don't have permission to be there. The guy (and his wife) who set it up tell him that they do and who they talked to... it basically becomes a pissing contest between this 60+ year old man and these younger guys... it ends with a "Thanks Asshole" and the game breaks up. Oh well. I know Tancy was disappointed but there wasn't anything to be done about it.

We head home and I get lunch going for us. If she can't sleep enough she can at least eat something good before work. She sweeps and mops the floor for me. I talk to Mom again on the phone while I am cooking. Mom and I get off the phone about the time that I am done cooking and Tancy and I eat our pork chops, rice-a-roni and corn. It was pretty delicious if I do say so myself. We both get baths after we eat and just hang out. One of the guys she works with stops by to pick up some tools for laying hard wood flooring. He picks that stuff up and we chat with him for a bit. When he leaves theres like an hour left before Tancy has to leave and it seems to go by in a blink.

I sent Mandy a text to see what they were up to tonight, she calls me when she gets off of work. They have a ton of stuff to do tonight. The durango is not working again, the sink in their bathroom was clogged and now needs repaired after Steve took it apart, I don't even know what all they had to do once she got home from work. We both lamented on finances and recent struggles and agreed to get together tomorrow night one way or the other. So I played around on the computer a bit and then decided to do something more productive... I go to the back and get the gowns I got for the hospital and once I get home, they will be handy for breastfeeding which was the main objective. I get my sewing kit and park it on the couch. I get to sewing, wow, its been a long time since I sewed by hand and I'm not so great at it. I called Pops while I was sewing, just to check in with him. We don't talk on the phone often, and I like to hear his voice occasionally, so I called. He was already tired, he sounded like he was about asleep already. We talked for a bit, not about much of anything and then I let him go so that he could take his tired self to bed! I got all three gowns sewn and am glad to have it done. I put the gowns away (reminding myself I do need to pack that hospital bag soon) and my sewing kit and do just what I told Pops I was going to do.... I make myself pancakes for dinner!! Good, not as good as I had hoped, not sure why... but tasty enough. I am now all out of milk and will have to go get some in the morning probably.

So now I am sitting on the couch, full belly, dogs are sleeping. Scouts on the love seat and Hemmi is on the other end of the couch from me. I think I just heard some thunder, not really sure though. It's looked like rain all day but we managed to avoid it. I don't have any other plans for tonight. I am thinking before too long I'll head to the back and crawl into bed. For the last few days I have been having Braxton Hicks. They don't hurt, but sometimes they make me feel like I can't breathe. I am not sure how or why that would be... but it is. I have been doing my "kick counts" each evening. I usually have counted 10 within just a couple of minutes. I mark it down so that I can take it in for my next visit to the doctor. I am not sure if I have to do it from here on out or not, but I know its common practice for our doctors office. Tonight my lower back is giving me some trouble, that's another thing that's been happening lately as well. I figure all that is just my body getting "warmed up" for the real deal, whenever that happens.

Well kids... I don't know what tonight will hold when it is all said and done, but I have been writing this for about 30 minutes now and that's all I got! So, I hope ya'll are having a good Friday night and also that you enjoy your weekend. Tomorrow is liable to be a quiet day for me. I hope that Tancy gets to sleep well tomorrow. OH! I almost forgot, Brady got to come home from the hospital today. Missy says he's ornery as ever and doing good.

Love to all!

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