It's our last full day at the beach. We have a charter planned to "sight see" from a boat. Mom wants to see the dolphins and is very excited.

We are up and out early. We stop at a little bakery and get muffins. We get to the dock early and wait for our captain. She pulls in soon and we board and prepare for a good time. We head out into the ocean first, looking at the old pier that is in bankruptcy and the people of Oak Island are fighting to save. Then to the shrimp boats and looking for the dolphins. Then we find them!! Vanessa, our boat captain is awesome! She keeps us right by them. We are so close that we could reach out and touch them if we were prepared. It seems like we are out thereforever. It is so amazing!

We head to the back water to see a light house that not many people know about. The weather is rolling in and the waves are getting rough. We are soaking wet by the time we get to the light house... but we are having a great time, laughing and screaming... cutting up like kids. I love to see Mom that way. She's having a wonderful time and I feel so fortunate to share that with her.

Our charter ends about 20 minutes later than expected. Like I said, Vanessa was great. We subsequently recommended her to everyone we spoke to. We had lunch at a place that she recommended, which was really good, a little deli. However, it didn't like me back. FUN! The second thing that really said I could be pregnant (the first was two, really intense, really fast cramps on Friday). Well, that's not true, the first was the horrific heartburn I have had since just a few days after IUI. Anyway!!

We left from there, picked up the cart and rode around some. Got a flat tire, got another cart, immediately took it back because we could walk faster! Got the tire fixed on the first one!! Rode around for a while and decided we were over the golf cart. We took it back and left for Southport to do a little shopping. We went in nearly every shop on the strip. I would highly recommend "The Irish Mermaid". The lady there was great. There was another "Lavada's"? I think.... she was also great. Wanted to shop with us. We had dinner at another place that Vanessa had recommended.... it wasn't what I wanted. It was too greasy and just the smell hurt my tummy.

We were really worn out from the day & headed to the house to do some things in preparation for leaving on Wednesday. We decided to take the food we had to Vanessa, knowing that she knew lots of people on the island and probably knew someone who needed it. We chatted with her a while and then back to the house to shower and finish packing.

Mom talked to Dad & Aunt Jan.. I think at least... I helped her pack. I hate to leave, but I can't wait for the next leg of this trip! Again I talk to Tancy just before sleep. I miss her...

Love to all!

It's Monday morning & time for Tancy and Carol to leave us. I am sad that Tancy is leaving and tickled shitless that Carol is. I had hoped that Tancy would go with us to the airport and then we could have lunch before she went home... but that would really be a long day for her, with alot to do when she gets home, so she leaves to go home when we leave for the airport (which is early).

We get Carol to the airport 20 minutes earlier than the suggested 2 hours. Oh well. She thanks me. I tell her my best advice is get a therapist, a social worker who talks... not a psychiatrist who will medicate (until she stops self medicating real medication wont do her any good). I tell her if she can't be honest not to even do it because it wont help. Hasta Lavista!

We leave and both breathe a sigh of relief... feeling a tad guilty for feeling that way... but knowing we were well within reason for feeling that way! From there we start planning our day, what to do?! First we need to head back to the house to straighten up a little bit... Carol was going to be the one to cook while we were there. Outside of one breakfast, I did all the cooking... which I don't mind at all, ya'll know I love to cook. But that was to be her gift to Mom.

No one had picked up in days and it was driving us both crazy. Then we decided to get a golf cart to ride around in for a day. We went out to this place at the end of the island to look for shells. It's gorgeous there and Mom hadn't been. She loved it! I was thrilled. We had a great time looking for shells, walking and just taking it all in. I love my Mom and I love spending this time with her... these moments, these memories! Life is good.

We decide to have dinner at the same restaurant again... it IS on our way back to the house. Its yummy, again! We digest the past few days, allowing ourselves a little time to bitch, complain and just decompress from it all. There are things Mom needs to let go of & things I need to talk to her about. I am a little concerned about this "friendship". Fortunately we are both on the same page. I breathe a sigh of relief.

We head back to the house. I plug in the cart and we get everything done that we need to get done. Mom talks to Dad on the phone while I get a shower. We are in bed fairly early... it's been a long day it seems. I talk to Tancy before going to sleep. I miss her.

Love to all!

Everyone is up around the same time, feeling better than the day before (maybe not Carol). We have coffee, play with Scout on the beach, take pictures, just enjoy the morning.

I am a little irritated, today is the last full day with Tancy, but its also the last full day with Carol. I want her to go away... I want Tancy to have time with Mom. Since we don't all split up well, it ends up being me & Tancy and Mom & Carol when we do split up. Carols either up Moms ass or on the phone, either way I am so close to telling her about herself.

Mom & Carol ride the coupe around and we meet them at the rental place for them to drop it off and go to see the light houses. We go to the one on the island first and then decide to go to Bald Head to see that light house. Mom forgot her money at the beach house, but Carol says she's got the ferry money, no worries. We think Bald Head is beautiful, but the people are snooty and stuck up. Carol is getting pissier by the minute. I don't know if it is because she's spending her money, if it's because she hasn't been on the phone... or what.... and I honestly don't care. I am increasingly irritated by her for this... it is starting to bother Mom and that is more than enough for me to be over her.

Tancy has decided that she wants to take Mom to a restaurant on the island that we had gone to last time we were there. While we sit and wait for the restaurant to open Carol is what?? ON THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We go in, order and are sitting and chatting, her phone rings again & she goes outside to talk on the phone. She's gone so long I am debating whether or not to tip the waiter to go tell her how rude it is to be outside on the phone while you are having dinner with people. I decide that probably isn't a good idea... but really want to do it. Mom is even making remarks.

Dinner is yummy!!!! We are all stuffed. We (Tancy, Mom & Me) taste off of each others plates. Carol doesn't participate in this. Whatever! The waiter is alot of fun ad it really is just a great evening. The sunset is gorgeous. What more could we possibly ask for?!

We go to the beach house and watch "The Banger Sisters". It is a movie that Mom likes alot... and had picked for Carol to watch, hoping she would pick up on a few things in the movie. Carol is so wrapped up in herself that I doubt she got it.

After the movie we all head for bed. It's been a full day, a good day... we saw some beautiful sights and had alot of laughs. Tomorrow will be a full day!

Love to all!

I don't know what time we got up... but Carol had been up since 3. Upon rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I notice she's showered, is now wearing pajamas and has stripped her bed. Hmm... She says that she didn't wet the bed, that she must have peed on herself while she was throwing up... but I am here to tell you that her britches were bone dry when the EMT's put her in bed. Haha. Now, her junk might have hurt from the seam of said britches being in places it shouldn't have been because they packed her by her britches... but they were dry when they put her in bed.

Mom drags herself out of bed. I know she's not feeling too good. Today she would probably tell you that she was feeling like hell that morning. We tried to get her to drink water, have some toast. Carol felt like a million bucks because she puked up everything & the EMT's made her drink water. Mom on the other hand didn't puke, didn't drink water... so she's dehydrated and feeling like crap.

The day is a slow one. We just hang out. Give the ladies a bit of shit about the night before... though we both go pretty easy on Carol considering how irritated we both were with her. We try to give Mom the time she needs and whatever she needs to feel better. We take Scout out to play fetch in the waves, she loves it!! We take a walk on the beach, it seems to help her feel better. By lunch it's time to go get the scoot coupe. The fresh air also appears to help her some.

The rest of the day is fairly non eventful... Mom & Carol ride around in the coupe for a while, Tancy and I take it out around sunset. Its really another early night... for different reasons this night than the night before. I am over Carol, she's been on the phone the entire freakin time she's been there & I don't appreciate that... we are there to celebrate Mom's birthday, not sneak away to talk to people we otherwise couldn't talk to! I am ready for her to go.

I make shrimp & corn soup for dinner. Everyone eats, but there's a ton left. We watch "August Rush", a movie Mom really wanted Tancy to see. Then we all head for bed.

Another day!

Love to all!

Ahhh, it's great to wake up at the beach. Wonderful sounds & smells early in the morning. Ther's just a palpable energy radiating off of the salt water too. You can't help but feel lighter, calmer, happier.

It's Friday, yay, that means that Tancy will be here as soon as she gets done with her test & gets everything situated. I am excited to share the celebration, the beach and Mom with Tancy. That's the first thing I think about when I open my eyes. Tancy has such a love of the ocean and she loves Mom and Mom loves Tancy. I enjoy watching the two of them together. It's great that they enjoy each others company and time together. That's a wonderful thing!

So Mom is already up, she's been for a walk on the beach and had coffee. I feel bad that I wasn't up with her, but she said she enjoyed her time on the beach alone. If memory serves, Carol isn't up yet. We get the coffee going and Carol is shortly behind. She makes breakfast, surprise pie I think she called it. Its a pie crust, sausage (cooked), eggs and cheese.. I think... She and Mom take a walk while that is in the oven and I get a shower.

They eat breakfast and I enjoy my coffee. I talk to Tancy before too long, she's done with her test, passed of course. She has to take Hemmi to Mandy's after she gets packed and then she'll be on the road. I can't wait.

The three of us have some conversation about this and that... general, generic... nothing major. Then the conversation turns a little more serious. Before I know it I have been asked to tell "my story" about my marriage, what went wrong, what happened during those 4 years, etc. Carol has some personal stuff going on and apparently my history relates. So I tell it, condensed, cleaned up, but with all the important details. Mom is in and out. I think parts of it are very hard for her to hear. She really doesn't want to know it all... I can't blame her. There are tears, mostly from Carol, some from Mom... none from me.

After all of this I come to realize some things about Carol. None of which I want to share. Suffice it to say that she has some things that she needs to work out... and probably will need therapy to get through it! I am already growing concerned about her motives for being there... and have noticed that she spends alot of time on the phone, which I don't like.

We now need to make a trip to the dollar store - a journal for Carol, find some fresh shrimp and another trip to the ABC store for cosmopolitan ingredients and recipe. We do this without event and the ladies are excited about having Cosmos. Carol apparently likes them. I went in to the ABC store with them this time & the same lady was there... this time a little more friendly. And it's back to the house we go. We have a sandwich for lunch, walk on the beach... OH! I almost forgot, we made reservations for a Scoot Coupe for Saturday. Should be fun.

Not long after we return from our walk on the beach I make their cosmo's and put the mix in the freezer so it's good and cold for them when they are ready. Tancy's on her way, though further out than I had hoped. We walk on the beach some more and decide that we need to go get shot glasses. Mom and I head out to get them just after Tancy gets there. She wants to take Scout out for walk, so its the perfect opportunity. The guy at the "Beverage Barn" gives Mom a complimentary bottle of champagne for her birthday!!

We return and I start cooking dinner. Boiled shrimp and potatoes. Mom wants to eat the shrimp like lobster, with butter. I, of course, oblige her in cooking it the way she wants it! It is, of course, yummy. We have just enough to fill us all up. Mom and Carol, prior to dinner, decide to have a taste of the two different kinds of vodka to compare them. They didn't have a whole shot in their "tasting", probably not even half a shot. They have cosmos with dinner. Starting with a half of a wine glass each. By the end of dinner they are almost through their glasses and Tancy refills them to half way. We decide to move to the living room... this should be fun!!

Mom basically stands and turns around and she's in her seat. Not too bad. Carol has to walk across the room, about like walking across my living room. She walks with her feet on the floor & her hands on any solid surface. Hilarious!! We sit there and discuss with Mom why you don't watch movies when you are drunk... they are drunk. It's funny. Mom is funny. Before long her eyes shut & they don't open again!! She's still talking, she's still awake but "I can't open my eyes" is what she says. She's rocking in her chair and is chatty.

Carol has to go to the bathroom. She comes back, sits down and says "Uh oh" and heads back to the bathroom... and it starts! It's probably 7:30 at this point. Way too early for this to be starting already. She doesn't come back out. Mom keeps asking about her, but is still unable to open her eyes. She's holding Tancy's hand and telling her she loves her. It's funny.

Carols head is IN the toilet. She's going howler monkey on me, screaming into the toilet... she doesn't have anything left to puke and is just heaving. I try to get her in bed, but she wants a pillow. Fine. In the meantime we work on getting Mom in bed. She's completely limp, though still awake and talking. Funny stuff. She wants to be on the couch, we try that... she almost falls flat on her face because she wants us to let her go so she can do it herself. She then decides that bed is the best and we make our way down the hall. We get her upper half on the bed and she tells us to: wait, wait, wait, wait... even after we have halted. LOL.

Tancy tells me she would be more comfortable if I would stay with Mom. Since she hasn't puked she just wants one of us to keep an eye on her. But Carol just wont let that happen. Tancy tries to check on her, but she just calls for me. Mom is finally on the bed and I want Carol to shut up so Mom will sleep. So I get up and go in the bathroom where Carols head is still emersed in the toilet. Her legs are wrapped completly around the toilet and her arms are folded on the toilet seat. She's cold, get her a blanket. I do, but explain that she's hugging, literally, a porcelain toilet and she's going to be cold. She needs to get in bed. Here comes the howler monkey again! I am really getting enough of this routine. If she was a friend of mine it would be a completely different scenario! I hear Mom in her room and go check on her... she's layed on her back, one arm pinned behind her and laughing. She tried to take her bra off and is now "Stuck"! I have to laugh at her. I lean her up against me, unhook her bra, pull it off her shoulders and tell her she will have to take it the rest of the way off. She pulls it off & in stripper fashion slings it across the room! Now this is how you get drunk & crash!! I have a sick pride in Mom at this moment.

Now if Carol would just shut the #@!* up! We try again to get her to bed, this time by each grabbing an arm and lifting. But she forces a heave again and we leave her be. She's talking about being scared and needing help. No shit! You are scared because not only is your head IN a toilet bowl, its a toilet in a rental property!! Eewwwww. You need help, but it isn't the kind of help we can give you. We try to explain to her that she just needs to go to bed. Tancy's patience is just about out. Then Carol says the words that sent it off on a different course... "I can't breathe". Now, she's breathing fine... she's still going howler monkey on me... she's talking... she's fine.... but her sickness has made its way to the surface, she's paniced and spinning out of control. After explaining to her what will happen if we call 911, several times, asking her repeatedly if that is what she wants... I finally decide to go ahead call. I know she doesn't need it, but she thinks she does. I am not going to take the chance that she really is having trouble breathing either!

First the EMT's get there, two. They ask the same questions Tancy's asked her... get the same answers. First they are in emergency mode. Quickly they begin to realize it isn't an emergency at all. Next a female detective arrives. She immediately picks up on the fact that they shouldn't be there. I show them what they've had to drink, how much and now everyone knows that it isn't anywhere near an emergency... but they have a job to do... and they do it. Now a young, very green, uniformed officer arrives. The detective tells him nothings going on, but hell it's only 8:30 or so and the fun hasn't even started for a Friday night yet. We are standing around talking to them, laughing and cutting up. NOW two fire fighters come in the upstairs door!!! My god, how many people are coming?! Mom is passed out... We talk to them about the situation, they ask if Carol has taken anything... I don't think so. I think she just has alot of "stuff" going on and it's all bubbling up to the surface. They ask if we want them (The EMT's) to put her in her bed. We say yes please! They pack her by her shorts. Now I know this is mean, but it was funny as shit!! The fire fighters have left but the other four stay and chat for a bit... again, it's early! They were all very nice and thought it funny that the "adults" were drunk and being taken care of by the "kids"!!

I joke about not being able to wait to tell Carol that they had her clothes cut off and she was naked in the street... the detective jokingly says they can cut up some clothes! The rookey doesn't seem pleased about this joke. Oh well. Everyone leaves and we try to settle down for sleep ourselves. Carol hollars for me... I see red. She's cold, cover her up.....GET IN BED, COVER UP and GO TO SLEEP! I get back in bed and hear her again. I decide to ignore her... and vow that if I have to get up again it will not be pretty!!! She settles down and passes out, thankfully.

What a night. Mom's a champ, that's all I can say! She partied like a rock star!!

Love to all!

Thursday morning we got up with Tancy, had coffee and enjoyed a little time with Tancy. I hadn't even packed yet, so once Tancy left, I got on that. We had a few things to do here at the house and ended up leaving a little later than I intended.

The morning was going great, we were laughing and cutting up, excited about being at the beach! We left the house about 20 minutes late... not terrible, but late. Once we were on 85 we were listening to the iPod and talking and singing and laughing. We hit a little bit of traffic & Mom says "Oh! You know what we should have done?! We should have written on the car. Beach or bust! I would love to do that." We drove on for a little bit more and I saw my opportunity. I veered off the interstate and told Mom we needed to make a quick detour that it would only take a minute. We had been talking about the possibility of picking up our other passenger in Charlotte and I knew her mind was occupied else where. I stopped at Wal-Mart and told her to wait in the car. I power walked it to the back of the store to the automotive section where I could get what I needed. With lightening speed I paid and was back out to the car. I opened the back door, took the "window chalk" out of the bag and held it in her window. You should have heard her! She screamed and laughed and was excited like someone just winning the lottery!

We promptly began decorating. She laughed the whole time. It was great. A woman parked near us saw what we were doing & said "Who evers car that is wont be happy with ya'll." I smiled and answered "Its my car and we are decorating it for my Mom's 50th Birthday. This is my Mom." We got lots of looks, smiles, nods and even comments. It was alot of fun and she loved it.

So by now we have decided to try to pick up our passenger in Charlotte, Carol. We are very excited that we are smart enough to do this. We get to the airport. She's paged. She gets off the connecting flight & calls. She's excited too. After a short wait, we get the news, if she doesn't make her connecting flight they wont let her get on her return flight. WTF?! Now, I understand security risks, etc. But this seems ridiculous to me. What if there were an urgent need to get to her in Charlotte?! Anyway, now we still have to drive to Wilmington & we will be 2 hours later than her getting there. We belabor the point for a minute & then decide it isn't worth getting worked up over... that we are going to enjoy the road trip.

We arrive at the Wilmington airport and pick Carol up without any problems. Then it is off to the beach! Yay! Now it really gets exciting. We stop in to get the keys, the house isn't ready yet. So we decide to get lunch, nothing is open because it is after normal lunch hours and we end up at Pizza Hut. Rosie, our waitress is johnny on the spot.

We have a good meal and cut up and get Rosie cutting up with us. It's Carol's job to let people know it's Moms 50th birthday and ask what she gets for free. So she asks Rosie. Without missing a beat Rosie says "Me!". Carol is in shock, I laugh & so does Mom. Mom then asks what she would do with her and Rosie says "Take me home, we could go shopping." Now the thing you have to know about Rosie is that she looks older than Mom, which she says she's younger... she's a littler taller than 5' and probably weighs about 75 pounds soaking wet. She is skin and bones... honestly. So Rosie signals me that she'll be right back with a surprise. When she comes back she has a cherry pizza that she's decorated. Mom MUST have a picture with Rosie since, of course, she can't take her home! Mom said she felt scrawnier than she even looked.

We left there and got some fresh produce, then we were off to get the keys & go to the house. I think at first we were all a bit disappointed in the house (we walked in at ground level, nothing impressive there!). But when we got upstairs and saw the view we were tickled pink! Standing in the kitchen you could see the beach, we were very close! Just down the steps and we were on the beach! We decided to go for a walk. It was wonderful. The weather was perfect and we were there to celebrate a milestone in Mom's life that she never expected to make. Life is truly good.

After a very long walk on the beach we decided we should probably go get some groceries. As soon as we park the car there people reading the windows. It's great. Mom is glowing, happy and content. We shop... it's... well, different. Carol isn't exactly "like us" and where Mom and I just find our rhythm, Carol seems to be struggling to just go with the flow. We get all we intend to get for then & head out. When we get to the car there are two women sitting in their vehicle who quickly tell Mom how wonderful it is! That they wish they had done that for their 50th!! Mom tells them to do it for 51. It's a nice exchange and we are off to the ABC store for booze!

I sit in the car while Mom & Carol go to get alcohol. I need a minute to call Tancy & I think maybe Carol needs a minute with Mom to find her comfort level. The lady behind the counter is sour and apparently doesn't appreciate Mom's excitement over her birthday. Oh well. To the beach house we go & we are ready to not be in the car!!

I start fixing dinner. We settled on Shrimp Salad, like Paw-Paw Leo used to make. Carol starts making margaritas. Dinner is done & we eat in silence excepts for the humming about how delicious it is. And boy was it delicious!! The ladies have a drink and we chill out. It ends up being a fairly early night, I'd say about 10:00, it's been a long day and we are excited to sleep so we can wake up at the beach!!

Love to all!

P.S. I am not spell checking... in case you hadn't noticed.

Ok kids. So I have alot of catching up to do. The way I am going to do this is a blog for each day... long or short, one for each day. Should be easier to digest that way.

So! 10/1 I talked about some already. I worked around the house until Tancy got home. Then we waited on time to go get Mom. We were both excited to get her at the airport. Tancy went in and got her while I waited with the car.... I can't see paying to park for 5 minutes and they wont let you "sit" to pick up a passenger anymore. Tancy brought her out and hugs started!!

We got her stuff in the car & her too!! LOL. And headed out for dinner. After some debate we picked Outback. We all got steak, plus we had the grilled shrimp appetizer (which I LOVE). Mom had a Margarita, which she called "perfect". She also had an amoretta sour which apparently tasted like pledge! She also tried, but did not drink, a sour apple-tini... which Tancy did drink! Dinner was great, yummy and both ladies seemed to enjoy their drinks, even if they didn't taste all that great.

From there we came home. We were all pretty tired. I can't remember for sure, but I don't even think we sat up and visited at all. I think we came home, got our baths & went to bed.

And the fun begins!!

Love to all!

This week is all about settling into pregnancy - getting used to the idea that there is a tiny being, called an embryo, growing inside of you, as well as adjusting to the pregnancy-related symptoms that begin to crop around this time

What is going on with your baby during week 5?

The little one is now 1.25 millimeters long (0.05 in), roughly the size of an apple seed. By the end of this week, the beginnings of all your baby's major organ systems will be in place. Although miniscule, your baby's body is complex at this stage.

I will be home tomorrow evening. Planning on a quiet evening relaxing with my honey. I'll try to blog this weekend, but I probably wont be able to till Monday. Got alot to catch up on!!! And LOTS of pictures to post. It's been a wild and crazy two weeks. I have had a ball!!!!!

Love to all!

Ok, so I told you this is all that is on my brain. This is what our baby looks like today.

Hello all! I hope this finds you all well. I only have time for a quick blog. I can't sleep, so I thought I would take just a minute.

We had a great time at the beach, I'll have to fill you in on all that later...
We still have so much to fit in before Mom goes home... I am not sure how we will make it all happen, but I know I just have to make it happen for Mom. You only turn 50 once, right?!

So, we took a home pregnancy test today.... POSITIVE!! I am still in shock. So excited, I can't even process it all. Yesterday was the day to test, but we were at the beach & I wanted to wait to be home with Tancy... plus it worked out perfectly to take the test ON Mom's birthday... Happy Birthday Nana J! Grand baby number 2 is on the way!!

That is bombarding my thoughts right now... we are going to have a baby! There's so much more to blog about, but you will all have to be patient with me. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, Reach for their blood test, my primary care for some blood work (unrelated) and a couple of errands. Then we take Mom to see the place we have made an offer on (accepted last Thursday). After that is dinner with the girls to celebrate Mom's birthday & us being pregnant.

Right now I am not sure what Friday holds... I am sure it will be interesting though. We've not had a dull moment since Mom landed in Charlotte nearly a week ago now!

For now that's all. I am impressed that I have formed so many complete thoughts!! We are truly blessed, life is good!

Love to all!
Me