I had another doctors appointment today. I am so glad I didn't have to serve on the jury case (see previous blog) because I didn't want to cancel my appointment and reschedule, that would push back my other two appointments. The appointment Nurse Nazi would just tell me again "OH you can't do that it's just way too important." Well tell the City of Rochester to back off then! Nurse Nazi was not happy when I told her last week that I refuse to schedule a doctor's appointment on Brecklen's birthday.
Nurse Nazi: Well, there's nothing your doctor has available the rest of the week.
Me: Can't you schedule it next Monday with her ?(it would be like 9 days in between appointments)
Nurse Nazi: Oh No! (acting like I had just sentenced my unborn child to immediate death) You can't do that! That's WAY too long between appointments!
Me: Well, then just make the appointment with someone else then?
Nurse Nazi makes a random appointment and I just call in and rescheduled it when I wanted it, so everything just worked out.
Nurse Nazi I'm so sorry I couldn't put my entire life on hold. Between Jury duty these two weeks and weekly doctor's appointments I have pretty much cleared my schedule. Breck had swim lessons that I didn't want to miss (because I had already cancelled due to Jury duty service), and a birthday, how dare he! Thanks for making me feel like a crappy mom.
It really makes my pregnancy fly when I have to go in every week. Before I know it the baby will be here in like... 5 appointments. It's official. I am scheduled to be induced on September 12th. As long as everything continues to look good, i.e. baby is continuing to gain weight, and has enough amniotic fluid and so on. It's nice to know when she's coming. Now I can finally tell my mother-in-law and mother when to take off work. It's still weird to think she will be here before I know it. I have had 8 months so far to prepare, but I don't feel ready yet. I think I will probably be starting my weird "nesting" soon now that I have a deadline, or just the reality of knowing that she is actually coming. I am starting to get a little excited to meet her. She's a funny girl. She is so shy on the ultrasounds. She likes to hide her face, probably due to the fact that these annoying ultrasound techs dig into my belly so hard she's trying to ward them off. It will be interesting to see if she always has her hands over her face when she's born. I remember when we had ultrasounds with Hannah and one of the tech's made a comment that it would be interesting to know if she still sleeps with her hands tucked under her face when she's born. Yup, she does. Hannah has always liked to sleep on her side with her hands tucked under she head.
It's amazing how sweet and innocent they look while they sleep. No screaming or saying "I don't like you" as she does on a daily basis. Yeah, I can see that our power struggle has just begun. Hannah has already started to run to her room and slam the door. Very hilarious from a barely two year old. Brecklen has never told me he doesn't like me or slam his door. Ever. Wow, I think girls just know these things. It's born into them, or atleast Hannah, to be a Diva from birth. This is why we asked the tech if it was definitely a girl when we found out the sex. Love Hannah to death, but the thought of two of her is possibly overwhelming. Two strong personalities clashing together growing up. I see lots of fights in the future. But then I also see two sweet girls growing up being best friends and sharing (hopefully) everything. Hannah can be so sweet and loving with Brecklen and I know they will both be wonderful big siblings.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Jury duty
Today I got called in for my first day of jury duty. I was a little excited, but more annoyed by the fact that I had to find someone to take care of my kids all day. Thanks to an eager teen, Andy Miller, who has made my life easier. He is "on call" for the next two weeks, as am I. So everyday I call at 4:30pm to see if I have to go in the next day. Although really I call at like 3, see if there's a new message, if not I call a little later, and so on until after 4:30pm. I am a little obsessed with calling. I practically know the number by heart. I think it's because I want to get the dread of knowing over with for the day, and if I have to go in I think by calling in it's going to magically "change" and tell me that it was all a mistake and I don't need to be there.
As I was walking across the street to fulfill my public duty (and trying not to get hit by cars) I see a cop hop out of her car, wipe the powdered doughnut off her face (just kidding), and pull out her notepad to write some poor sap a parking ticket just because his meter ran out. Nice. Our government must need his $14.50 pretty bad because I found out that our stellar pay of $20/day is being docked to $10/day next week due to budget cuts in the state. What a nice way to say thank you to all those hard working people who are missing work and most likely won't get paid their regular salary that day.
When we first arrived they showed a cheesy movie reminding us all about our fantastic judicial system and how people were really glad they had served their public duty as a juror. Good for them and the 150,000 people that Minnesota "serves" every year. I am not one of those "happy people." Unfortunately I think I have a bad attitude about this whole thing. I have been thinking about all the wrong things I could say that would get me out of serving on a trial. I am pretty sure that I wasn't the only one. After the entertaining movie was over we just had to wait. We had no idea how long we would be waiting. Everyone just sat there in total silence. I got hungry about an hour into waiting. I didn't want to eat in the room with everyone staring as I opened my noisy bag of granola and scarf down my snack in awkward silence so I stepped outside to talk with the guy in charge of our group. I tried to pry as to how long we would be sitting here. Sometimes they let people go home if 3 pm rolls around. Yeah, what a nice thought. You hurry to get somewhere, and then you wait all day. Awesome. We didn't have to wait too long, after about two hours of waiting we were sent to the courtroom.
We sat in the courtroom and waited forever for the Judge. Judge Weiners. No comment neccessary, except that it was hard to keep a straight face when we all had to rise as the Judge came into the room. Maybe someday I will grow up, and that won't be so funny, but probably not. Hearing his name out loud was even funnier, and yes it is pronounced like how you would imagine. Everyone is so serious in the courtroom, it's like going to church on Sunday when your bishop greets you with a solemn "Hello Sister Murphy, it's nice to see you today." Except that no one is smiling in the courtroom, and there are no children whining, particularly mine. So maybe the waiting wasn't so bad....
I was selected to sit in the juror box along with 10 others. We were asked all sorts of questions. The lawyers were so careful with their questions, and so particular about their words. I thought that was the most interesting thing. They wanted to know if I stayed home with the kids and what Aric did for a living, and lots of other random questions just trying to get to know us. If we were in a union, had issues or disputes with neighbors, owned a firearm, had small children, owned a dog, didn't drink alcohol. The only person who raised her hand along with me on the alcohol question was a recovering alcoholic. They asked me if it was because I was pregnant, I said no, because of my religion. I am pretty sure that got me thrown off the jury for being a prude because they kept the recovering alcoholic. The case was about a disagreement on land, not if I owned a dog, or drinking. Fine with me. That jury has to report for trial tomorrow too, and I don't. But I still have to call in for the rest of the 2 week term to see if I need to come in again.
I will be so glad to finally get this jury thing over with. I was supposed to do it in February, but I was gone on vacation, so then it was pushed back to June, and then I was sick, so third times a charm. I have been dreading this for many months knowing I was going to have to serve sometime.
As I was walking across the street to fulfill my public duty (and trying not to get hit by cars) I see a cop hop out of her car, wipe the powdered doughnut off her face (just kidding), and pull out her notepad to write some poor sap a parking ticket just because his meter ran out. Nice. Our government must need his $14.50 pretty bad because I found out that our stellar pay of $20/day is being docked to $10/day next week due to budget cuts in the state. What a nice way to say thank you to all those hard working people who are missing work and most likely won't get paid their regular salary that day.
Today I show up on time, thank goodness, because they were starting to get mad that some people had not arrived by 9:05am, and those people never actually showed up at all. I wonder what happens to them? Does some cop come to their house and arrest them for skipping their public service? They probably have to serve a double sentence of jury duty, Which might be worse than getting arrested.
When we first arrived they showed a cheesy movie reminding us all about our fantastic judicial system and how people were really glad they had served their public duty as a juror. Good for them and the 150,000 people that Minnesota "serves" every year. I am not one of those "happy people." Unfortunately I think I have a bad attitude about this whole thing. I have been thinking about all the wrong things I could say that would get me out of serving on a trial. I am pretty sure that I wasn't the only one. After the entertaining movie was over we just had to wait. We had no idea how long we would be waiting. Everyone just sat there in total silence. I got hungry about an hour into waiting. I didn't want to eat in the room with everyone staring as I opened my noisy bag of granola and scarf down my snack in awkward silence so I stepped outside to talk with the guy in charge of our group. I tried to pry as to how long we would be sitting here. Sometimes they let people go home if 3 pm rolls around. Yeah, what a nice thought. You hurry to get somewhere, and then you wait all day. Awesome. We didn't have to wait too long, after about two hours of waiting we were sent to the courtroom.
We sat in the courtroom and waited forever for the Judge. Judge Weiners. No comment neccessary, except that it was hard to keep a straight face when we all had to rise as the Judge came into the room. Maybe someday I will grow up, and that won't be so funny, but probably not. Hearing his name out loud was even funnier, and yes it is pronounced like how you would imagine. Everyone is so serious in the courtroom, it's like going to church on Sunday when your bishop greets you with a solemn "Hello Sister Murphy, it's nice to see you today." Except that no one is smiling in the courtroom, and there are no children whining, particularly mine. So maybe the waiting wasn't so bad....
I was selected to sit in the juror box along with 10 others. We were asked all sorts of questions. The lawyers were so careful with their questions, and so particular about their words. I thought that was the most interesting thing. They wanted to know if I stayed home with the kids and what Aric did for a living, and lots of other random questions just trying to get to know us. If we were in a union, had issues or disputes with neighbors, owned a firearm, had small children, owned a dog, didn't drink alcohol. The only person who raised her hand along with me on the alcohol question was a recovering alcoholic. They asked me if it was because I was pregnant, I said no, because of my religion. I am pretty sure that got me thrown off the jury for being a prude because they kept the recovering alcoholic. The case was about a disagreement on land, not if I owned a dog, or drinking. Fine with me. That jury has to report for trial tomorrow too, and I don't. But I still have to call in for the rest of the 2 week term to see if I need to come in again.
I will be so glad to finally get this jury thing over with. I was supposed to do it in February, but I was gone on vacation, so then it was pushed back to June, and then I was sick, so third times a charm. I have been dreading this for many months knowing I was going to have to serve sometime.
Quote of the Day
"Texters hurt as they walk, ride —
even cook"
ER docs warn of serious injuries, deaths from text-message mishaps
ER docs warn of serious injuries, deaths from text-message mishaps
Well I thought this was too funny to pass up. I found this article on MSNBC and just thought I would share the highlights of the article, with my commentary. I always wondered if I would give my teen a cell phone. That depends if they can walk and text at the same time. Or how about just not walk and text at the same time.
Gonzales, a 19-year-old sophomore at San Diego State University, admits she’s stumbled more than once while sending texts on the street. “I’ve definitely tripped over things sometimes like the little cracks in the ground,” she said. “I have to remember to look up.” (That may be a good idea Gonzales.)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has no national estimate on how common texting-related injuries are (really?). But since 2005, the agency has received at least seven reports of serious texting mishaps, including a 15-year-old girl who fell off her horse while texting, suffering head and back injuries (A Horse! Not the smartest tool in the shed are we), and a 13-year-old girl who suffered belly, leg and arm burns after texting her boyfriend while cooking noodles. (Ok so that's sad, but ramen noodles only take 3 minutes, can't you wait?)
Other reports include a 39-year-old man who suffered a head injury after crashing his bicycle into a tree while texting (shouldn't you know better, how embarrassing for you) and a 16-year-old boy who suffered a concussion because he was texting while walking and banged into a telephone pole. (I hope your girlfriend didn't find out, because I would dump you if I was her!)
There were even reports of people being hit by cars and dying. You died for your cell phone?? That is way too sad. All I can say is that I feel sorry for these people that had to go to the ER because of these accidents. I bet THAT was embarrassing! I can hear Aric now in the ER with the patient. "Exactly how did you break your mandible again? Oh. You crashed into a tree on your bike while texting? Hum. "
Friday, July 25, 2008
Where the heck have we been this month?
I can't believe my last post was practically a month ago. So much has happened since then. I guess I didn't want to post for a little while because I felt like I've been Debbie downer. It is so depressing when people ask me how I'm doing. Do I say "well, actually... ". With my friends I just tell them, but even then I feel like I am seriously the most depressing person to be around right now. In the past twelve weeks I have seen my OB doc practically weekly and have had 7 ultrasounds. I would have posted the pictures, but these techs need to take better pictures!
Since I've been ill, which by the way I'm all better now for those still wondering, my pregnancy has gotten a bit more complicated. At 28 weeks baby dropped in the weight percentile, from 8% to 3% in 6 days. The docs were pretty alarmed so they gave me a series of steroid shots to develop the babies lungs, just in case I needed to deliver quickly, and soon. Aric and I tried not to be too concerned, up until the point they talked about delivery and yada, yada, yada... which is pretty much what it sounded like to me.
So baby is labelled "growth restricted" and small for date. They essentially don't know why she's small, so they are being cautious in case the placenta is not working well. I had another Ultrasound today at 32 weeks, and she is measuring 3 weeks behind. So she is measuring as a 29 week baby would. Aric and I are not as worried as we were a month ago, I'm still pregnant and she is gaining weight. I have to go in every week to check baby's health, which is such a pain because I feel like I have asked a million favors already, but all my friends have been great. The good thing is that we get to see her weekly, and know how she's doing. She will most likely be a preemie, but hopefully she won't have to be in the NICU which is my biggest fear. She's at 3 lbs right now, and still has alot of time to grow, so I'm probably worrying for nothing. My doctor most likely will induce me 1-2 weeks early because typically with growth restricted babies they do better on the outside of the womb if baby isn't growing well enough.We discussed around Sept. 12th, but didn't schedule anything yet. I will let you know when I find out. It's a little weird talking about induction when I am not quite ready mentally to have this baby. It still feels so far away. I guess I better get ready. I am a little nervous to have three kids. I only have two hands! See I told you I'm Debbie Downer. But really I have a feeling she'll be just fine, just small.
On a funnier note, when I went to pick up Brecklen and Hannah at my friends house I started chatting with Ann and Brecklen booked it to the car to wait for us. Usually I have to peel him away. When I got to the car Brecklen said "Where's the baby?" I told him I didn't have the baby yet, he's going to have to wait a little while for that. I think it's because I told him that today I have an appointment for the baby or something like that. I guess I'll have to explain better next time. He seemed a little dissapointed. Atleast he's ready to have another little sister.
By the way we just got back from our vacation in Colorado at the beginning of this week, so whenever I get around to putting my house together after the post-vacation mess and mounds of laundry that still needs to be put away, I will post pictures.
Since I've been ill, which by the way I'm all better now for those still wondering, my pregnancy has gotten a bit more complicated. At 28 weeks baby dropped in the weight percentile, from 8% to 3% in 6 days. The docs were pretty alarmed so they gave me a series of steroid shots to develop the babies lungs, just in case I needed to deliver quickly, and soon. Aric and I tried not to be too concerned, up until the point they talked about delivery and yada, yada, yada... which is pretty much what it sounded like to me.
So baby is labelled "growth restricted" and small for date. They essentially don't know why she's small, so they are being cautious in case the placenta is not working well. I had another Ultrasound today at 32 weeks, and she is measuring 3 weeks behind. So she is measuring as a 29 week baby would. Aric and I are not as worried as we were a month ago, I'm still pregnant and she is gaining weight. I have to go in every week to check baby's health, which is such a pain because I feel like I have asked a million favors already, but all my friends have been great. The good thing is that we get to see her weekly, and know how she's doing. She will most likely be a preemie, but hopefully she won't have to be in the NICU which is my biggest fear. She's at 3 lbs right now, and still has alot of time to grow, so I'm probably worrying for nothing. My doctor most likely will induce me 1-2 weeks early because typically with growth restricted babies they do better on the outside of the womb if baby isn't growing well enough.We discussed around Sept. 12th, but didn't schedule anything yet. I will let you know when I find out. It's a little weird talking about induction when I am not quite ready mentally to have this baby. It still feels so far away. I guess I better get ready. I am a little nervous to have three kids. I only have two hands! See I told you I'm Debbie Downer. But really I have a feeling she'll be just fine, just small.
On a funnier note, when I went to pick up Brecklen and Hannah at my friends house I started chatting with Ann and Brecklen booked it to the car to wait for us. Usually I have to peel him away. When I got to the car Brecklen said "Where's the baby?" I told him I didn't have the baby yet, he's going to have to wait a little while for that. I think it's because I told him that today I have an appointment for the baby or something like that. I guess I'll have to explain better next time. He seemed a little dissapointed. Atleast he's ready to have another little sister.
By the way we just got back from our vacation in Colorado at the beginning of this week, so whenever I get around to putting my house together after the post-vacation mess and mounds of laundry that still needs to be put away, I will post pictures.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
How will the baby come out?
I was putting Brecklen to bed a few days ago and we got into a conversation about the baby. He wanted to know the specifics of how the baby actually gets around in my tummy. I told him it's like a balloon filled with water. He seemed to like the visual image and started laughing. He got a big smile on his face as he was trying to put all the pieces together. He asked if the baby floats around and bounces off the walls. Pretty much. So when he got that part figured out, then his next question was.....
Brecklen: Mom, how is the baby going to come out of your tummy?
Me: (Panic) They just take it out. (I point to my huge stomach, trying to figure out what I'm going to say next)
Breck: (gives me a questioned look because I didn't answer him)
Me: Well, they make an incision on mommy's tummy and take it out.
(He seemed happy with that. And I was so glad, because I really didn't want to tell him how it will really happen, and technically babies are born that way).
Breck: Will it hurt?
Me: No, not really. (Yes, lots!!!)
Breck: Will they put a big band-aid on it? (He was starting to get a little emotional).
Me: Yes, a big one (I wish that was all it took).
I was surprised that he was getting worried about all of this. He thought he was going to be there and would see me in pain during delivery. I told him he wasn't going to be there, he would be with his friends. He seemed relieved at that.
Me: Do you have any names you like?
Breck: Yes, Wonder Girl. But I'm not sure if I like it or not.
(of course our family would not be complete without another superhero).
We discussed some more names. Although didn't come up with one.
Breck: I know how I came here.
Me: How's that?
Breck: I fell from Heaven through two clouds. (Couldn't have said it better myself).
Me: (Chuckling because that is so clever and very specific) TWO clouds? Yup. That's right.
Breck: He rubs his nose on my tummy, and kisses it. (He likes to do this alot, it's so cute).
I am so impressed that we got through this whole conversation about babies, and it went great. I am so glad we skipped over the birds and the bees stuff. I think his explanation was so much better any how. He ceases to amaze me with his creativity and imagination. It was actually a really fun conversation because I could just see his mind processing all this information and he was just ecstatic to learn it all.
Brecklen: Mom, how is the baby going to come out of your tummy?
Me: (Panic) They just take it out. (I point to my huge stomach, trying to figure out what I'm going to say next)
Breck: (gives me a questioned look because I didn't answer him)
Me: Well, they make an incision on mommy's tummy and take it out.
(He seemed happy with that. And I was so glad, because I really didn't want to tell him how it will really happen, and technically babies are born that way).
Breck: Will it hurt?
Me: No, not really. (Yes, lots!!!)
Breck: Will they put a big band-aid on it? (He was starting to get a little emotional).
Me: Yes, a big one (I wish that was all it took).
I was surprised that he was getting worried about all of this. He thought he was going to be there and would see me in pain during delivery. I told him he wasn't going to be there, he would be with his friends. He seemed relieved at that.
Me: Do you have any names you like?
Breck: Yes, Wonder Girl. But I'm not sure if I like it or not.
(of course our family would not be complete without another superhero).
We discussed some more names. Although didn't come up with one.
Breck: I know how I came here.
Me: How's that?
Breck: I fell from Heaven through two clouds. (Couldn't have said it better myself).
Me: (Chuckling because that is so clever and very specific) TWO clouds? Yup. That's right.
Breck: He rubs his nose on my tummy, and kisses it. (He likes to do this alot, it's so cute).
I am so impressed that we got through this whole conversation about babies, and it went great. I am so glad we skipped over the birds and the bees stuff. I think his explanation was so much better any how. He ceases to amaze me with his creativity and imagination. It was actually a really fun conversation because I could just see his mind processing all this information and he was just ecstatic to learn it all.
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