That one time a year

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Once a year, Eric's company has a Christmas party.  Read: ADULTS ONLY.  Usually there's at least free wine.  It's the one time a year, that we get all dolled up.  I mean, we dolled up on Christmas and Easter, but it's not as serious, because we're usually hiding under choir robes.  But this year, I wanted to look Cute for the Party.  I didn't want to look like a frump goddess on bed rest for the last three weeks.  My hair hadn't been done in 6+ months, and it was atrocious.  I had requested help a couple times, and no one had come through, so I parked Sam in front of the Octonauts, and myself in the bathtub Friday morning.  Eric had brought up the mirror so it was tubside, and I did my own hair.  It took me forever.  I had to rest between sides of my head, like arms down, just stop and breathe.  This inability to breathe crap is for the birds.  I don't know how I'm going to do it for 5 more months.  But I got my hair trimmed, washed, colored, clean, and I was exhausted.  I was so upset, I thought I used up all my energy before even putting on my dress. Then I napped.

Felt better, good enough anyway, to get dressed.  See?  Pantyhose.  I must really love my husband to put pantyhose on for his company party.  But hey, we clean up good!

Though by the time we got up there, it was at the Palladium, this swanky concert hall in Carmel, I was done.  We opted for Valet Parking, and Eric had picked me up a wheelchair, so he could wheel me around, and we used it!  But whoever the architect of that place was, although he met the minimum requirements for handicap accesibility, there was no Easy way to get anywhere.  We had to borrow a bell hop to help us navigate the paths and elevators to find the suite where they were serving Appetizers before the show, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  I hadn't heard of the band, but my sister tells me they are groovy swinging cats. Alas, by the time we got there, and ate, I was done.  I started contracting, and cramping, and they were handing tickets out to go to the show, and I told Eric, I need to go home now.  We didn't even get to stay for the show.  When we go to the car, I had to go to the bathroom, so Eric stopped at a Starbucks for me to use their facilities on the way home.  He got us a couple drinks, for the road theoretically, but we ended up sitting as I was feeling so much better after emptying, that we just sat and drank them and talked in an empty Starbucks, without the crowd of a whole bunch of people we didn't know.  A Nice end to the evening.  

Note:  If  cramping and in pain, try going to the bathroom first! Full colons and full bladders irritate my Irritable Uterus.  Then drink water...and hot apple cider. ;) 

Wordless Wednesday (though technically I took it last Thursday)

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Happy Birthday Honey!

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Wednesday was my Honey Bunny Booboo Sweetie's Birthday.  Happy Birthday Eric!

I was feeling like it was a bit of a letdown for him, he had to work, I couldn't kidnap him, or take him out for some fancy meal.  But I called him midmorning, and said, how about you come home for lunch?  He suggested, picking up some special grub for the occasion.  I told him I was taking Sam to gymnastics, but someone else was bringing him home, in case he wanted to be here shortly after noon, that would be fine.
So I took Sam to gymnastics, but being as I'm trying very hard to not overdo it, it didn't go very well.  In my effort to minimize my activity, I thought it would be smart of me to just bring Princess the dog with us, rather than exhaust myself before even getting Sam into the car, by running upstairs to lock up the dog, then running back downstairs.  It's really hard on me to do both in the span of a couple minutes, it usually sends me swirling.  So, I thought Easier to just take Prinny with us.  I'm only popping in to drop Sam off, until my friends get there, and one had already offered to keep an eye on him.  Only, unbeknownst to me, (my phone was also upstairs, which I didn't think of since I was just "popping" over to drop Sam off, not worth the run upstairs) she was not coming either.  Anyway, we got to the gym, and I was getting Sam out of the car, when he yelled, "I HAVE TO POTTY!"  So to the potty we dashed, where I stood for what seemed like hours, though it was only a couple minutes, but it was still exhausting to stand in one place that long.  Coming out of the bathroom a bit later, I see my dog run by the glass doors, circling the parking lot.  I had apparently left the car door open in my rush to get Sam in to pee.  And one of my other friends in the parking lot was apologizing, as I ran outside to chase her down, saying Prinny was sitting in there so nicely, until I got out of the car.  Alas, it probably didn't take much to push Prinny over the edge.  No one can resist all that little girl and 2 boys gymnastics Cuteness.  I circled the lot and couldn't find her.   Then someone opens the door to the gym, and says, Someone's Dog is in here!  NO.....  Oh yes, and by the time I get in there to find her, Miss J has her by the collar, and she's peed on the floor.  I grab the dog, and drag her outside.  Someone says, she ran in the other door when I was running out to find her.  Oh yes, I'm sure it was a great adventure for Prinny.  I throw her in the car, and start crying, pull it together to go back inside, and when I did, I was greet by Miss J and a bottle of cleaner and paper towels.  Yeah.  She didn't know I was on bedrest, in fact, no one inside did.  And I was too big a hot mess to tell them.  So I got on the floor, cleaned up the mess. And by that time, one of my friends had arrived, and I was near tears.  She knew and she wanted to take care of me, but all I could say was I have to go lay down NOW.  Please bring Sam home.  And I cried all the way home.  I was so embarrased, tired, sore, and terrified.  Just praying nothing happened to the baby.  It didn't even occur to me that it had been a Keystone Cops like Comedy of Errors until I was telling the story to my friend A, who was supposed to meet me, but I hadn't got the memo, she bust out laughing.  At that moment, I thought Yes, it is Funny.  Chasing the stupid dog around the parking lot, and her peeing in the gymnasium, if it hadn't been me, right then, it would have been really funny.  Now I look back on it, it is, but I was so scared for the baby, so worried about more possible bleeding, I couldn't see it as funny, and I just Cried all the home, and for a good bit after.
New Drinking Game Rule:  Drink a glass of water, if you start crying hysterically.
But shortly after I got home, and stopped crying, Eric came home.  He hadn't been able to decide between Godfather's Pizza (a place his fam used to frequent, and he loved their crust, and recently found it's a chain, and they opened one near his work) or The Tamale Place (the most authentic best tamales in town).  So he stopped at Both.  Talk about a Nice birthday lunch!

Then instead of my friend bringing Sam home from gymnastics, Eric decided to go grab him since we'd eaten our fill of super awesome lunch.  While he was gone, a special Elf dropped off his birthday present.  (Impeccable timing!) So that by the time he brought Sam home, there was his Surprise! 

He was really surprised by this Memory Foam mattress that we'd picked out for him.  He's been sleeping in the spare bed, the mattress that I used to sleep on when I was little, some 30 years old, at least.  There's just been no room for me, all my pillows, Sam when he pops in the middle of the night (which he's been doing all but 2 nights in the last 2 months) and Eric too.  It saddens me.  So my elf and I picked out a swanky new mattress, and got a good deal, and surprised him with it.

 Meanwhile my special elf friend had dropped off a gift for Sam too.  She had promised him next time he kept his pants dry (which he'd done on this day, I told her the story of telling me he needed to pee at gymnastics), she'd give him a quarter.  Now he doesn't realize the value of a quarter, he just knows that Miss A gave him a "special coin" for his piggy bank.  You'd think she'd left him a gold coin, the way he was hugging it and holding it.

It was a Good day for my boyz. And I never did start bleeding, (Praise the Lord!) or have anything go wrong from the gymnastics adventure, then again, I spent the rest of the day on the couch. 

Crummy Day Redeemed

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Tuesday was a stressor.  I spent half the day worrying about what I was going to do about Eric and bell choir.  I had asked for help in the evenings, and it hadn't worked out.  Eric is directing the bell choir at church for Christmas performance, and last week, I wanted him to stay home so we could do the tree, Family tree.  Plus I am not fond of being at home at night without him.  The week before last was when I ended up putting the kids to bed alone, Chris and Sam both fought me, and they ended up in time out with me cuddled up in a ball on the floor.  The next day more cramping and bleeding, and I ended up getting checked out at the hospital.  So, I'm not too inclined to handle bedtime with the boys.  

So, getting help didn't work out for the evening,  and I didn't want to pay for a sitter (we're running out of $$) so Eric was planning on just taking the boys with him.  Not the best choice, but better than leaving them with me.  But right before he got home I started bleeding again, this time rather fresh.  I'd bled a bit on Saturday and Monday, but not enough to scare me.  This scared me.  I hadn't done much, aside from getting upset in the morning, I'd had people stop by, and they'd yelled at me to sit, in fact joining me on the couch for talking time.  Still it scared me, and I went zipping to the hospital....and paying for a sitter anyway.

Fast forward 2 hours, and the Baby is (still) Fine.  The staff was not as friendly this time, treating more like I was overreacting than helping.  SERIOUSLY!?  Bleeding when I'm pregnant is not normal.  Nor is this rather annoying contracting pain and exhaustion.  It's my third pregnancy, you'd think I'd know what is Not Normal for my body.  Blessedly, the doctor (once she finally came in) seemed a bit more sympathetic and understanding.  She did an ultrasound, confirmed the tear, duh, and told me to not worry unless I bled enough to fill a pad.  Which I hadn't.  But that was good to know, in fact would have enjoyed that knowledge before.  

Luckily, Eric was wonderful, and understanding.  Even though after all my tizzies about bell choir, he didn't end up going after all.  On the way home, as I was apologizing for my catastrophizing, he said, "Better to Catastrophize than to have Catastrophies." 

Yes.  And on the upside, the day was not entirely bad.  I had two Elvish friends stop by after running errands with me, taking care of me, and Helping.  And it was a beautiful sunset as we drove to the hospital, we got to hear the heartbeat, see our little trickster do his wiggling tricks, and have some quality conversation on our own.  And a great end of the day was that the Turkey Pie that my Stepmom had sent over was done when we came home. ;) 

18 weeks

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It was 60 degrees out on Monday.  Can you believe that?! 60 degrees on the 3rd of December.  So I took advantage and picked out some lightweight maternity clothes I'd recently been given from Kathleen.  She suggested I put them on early, considering my bust will likely bust out later.  So, in spite of it being December, it felt like spring.  Wish it could be. 

 I look pregnant, I feel pregnant, I feel a lot further along than I am.  The symptoms wear me out, I'm crampy, tight, tired, winded just going up the stairs.  Luckily, I have been just Blessed by volunteers that have done some holiday shopping for me, brought over food, and just popped by to keep me company.  You'd think being on bedrest I'd have all kinds of time on my hands, but not really, I'm busy keeping up with all my elves, making lists, and coordinating kid stuff.  And napping.  Napping is #1 priority.  But I have found with a decent night sleep, and a good nap, I get a couple hours of energy in the morning, and late afternoon. Not saying I'm cooking and cleaning, but just enough energy to feel normal for a few minutes.  

Drink Up

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This is my view, from my spot on the couch.  Within reach, I have my computer, my water, chapstick, controllers, phones, bible, and yarn (well that's not within sight but it's just to the side of the couch).  All in sight of our lovely Christmas tree.  Seriously, if one must be on bedrest, at least the view and stash of supplies is nice.  

I find a have to drink a lot of water.  My doctor said REALLY, REST, and Drink a lot of water.  And now that I've been home a few days, and researching Irritable Uteruses, turns out water, however oddly, Helps.  So I was being silly the other day and invented a Drinking Game.  (see I sit her so long, I get a little punchy)

Imagine, in my most Game Show Host voice:

Here they are, for you today, the Irritable Uterus Drinking Game -
Drink a glass of water if you have a contraction that Really Hurts!
Drink a glass of water if you have to lay down!
Drink a glass of water if you have to get up and go to the bathroom!
Drink a glass of water if you have anything to drink that is not water!

Let me know if you think of any other rules I forgot.  It seriously takes a lot of water, one gal online said she was drinking a gallon and a half a day.  I'm not there yet, but it takes a lot, and that's ok, because it helps.  I just fill up my blue cup, (or have the boys do so) all the time.

Matchy Jammies

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My Sweet boys curled up yesterday morning.  They got these matchy Jammies last year, from Disney, before we went to Disney World. They love to wear matching jammies.  It used to be Chris alone that Demanded that Sam wear what he was wearing when they had one on that had a counterpart.  But as Sam has gotten older, he has started to have his say too.  They love to match.  I love to get them holiday matching Jammies every year.  And we're really lucky that this year they still fit!  Though this year it's proving to be a little more difficult, as Chris is Growing.  I know, MADNESS. So they are in two different departments now.  Eric and Chris went shopping yesterday, being elves, on the prowl for matchy shirts and matchy jammies amongst other things.  Got lucky but Sam's is gonna be big.  Oh well. So if we don't find new jammies this year, it'll be OK, because they are still stinky cute in their matchy jammies from last year and next year.  It's the little victories.  I'm doing most of my holiday shopping online, or sending friendly elves on missions for me.  It was rather fun yesterday to send my own little elves out on a mission, and have return mission accomplished!