18 and counting

No, I'm not referring to how many days I have left until I give birth.  I wish I had some sort of clue, but still don't.  Had another stress test yesterday and I'm assuming everything was okay since they let me leave.....they don't offer up much info. during these apts.  Next one is this Thurs. 

As far as 18 and counting goes, that is how many McCain/Palin signs we counted on our walk around our neighborhood last night. For one, our subdivision we live in is small, so when I speak of such numbers as 18, that's almost everyone.  Secondly, there isn't even 1 Obama/Biden sign. I'm having to control myself because this really only encourages me to do the obvious, and Andrew won't let me.  I don't think it's a big deal, I just want to show a little love/support!!! As far as him saying I can't do it, I think I should go above and beyond and get one of the extra large signs (one that would basically take up our whole front lawn), and surprise him when he comes home from work today....hehe!  

He said is main reasoning for not letting me do so is that he is undecided ( I swear it's the fighter pilot to fighter pilot BS he can't let go of).  I told him that if he decides to go with the dark side, then he can just add that sign to the yard as well and really confuse the hell out of our neighborhood...and look really white trash!  

Better Day

Surprisingly, I woke up feeling much better this morning! I wasn't expecting that, considering the 2nd day is typically much worse when you don't feel well. I'm still not 100%, but at least it doesn't appear that I'm going to loose a limb anytime soon!

Andrew's favorite float! He is counting the days (and I believe taking leave from work) to attend the annual Wurstfest! It's always a good day when you can share it with the person you love.....Salem and her boyfriend, Knox.

Therefore, we decided to take full advantage of the day by tackling the Comal County Parade and Fair....talk about a day! Salem was an absolute angel, which always makes things run much smoother.

Couldn't get her on it (she is afraid of every ride at the fair), but wanted her picture taken in front of everything! Playing a ping-pong toss game with Yaya and they actually came away winners!

The happy fair-goer with her most prized winning possession!

Tomorrow, the babysitter is coming over so my mom and I can have some time alone to do what we do best....shop and eat! My feet at least need to get me through this weekend!

Tip-toeing

Today has been a day where you just want it to end.  I hate to say it, but it's true.  I woke up this AM not feeling well, but decided it was probably just the seasonal allergies going on.  I continued on with my day (at half speed), only to start feeling worse as the day progressed and was stressing out because I had so much to do.  My mom and I took Salem to gymnastics and immediately had to drive my 1 hour ass-pain stretch to get my freaking "stress test" taken care of.  Let me just tell you, driving there 2-3 times a week with a 2 year old that doesn't entertain herself very well is STRESSFUL enough as it is.  I could literally feel my blood pressure rise just TRYING to get there.  Oh, and for those of you who've never experienced Wilford Hall Medical Center before, you no shit have to allot 30 minutes to just find a damn parking spot there.  My God, I don't know if I can handle this for 2, 5, 8, SHIT....however many weeks I have left.  Not to mention, my girlfriend, lent me her dvd player because ours died on us a few weeks ago.....only to have HERS break on me on the drive there.  

Before I get more into this, the stress test went surprisingly well.  I did ask for a throat culture because I think from all the STRESS this week, I've come down with strep-throat.  Oh yeah, just what I need!  Andrew left this morning to go visit some friends; which is OF COURSE why all this is happening.  Haven't we talked about this a million times?  All hell breaks loose every time the man leaves the household for any length of time.  

I was exhausted by the time we drove into the garage after the long drive home with a child who wouldn't take a nap.  We walked in, only to catch a phone call from my friend (the one who let me borrow the dvd player that is now broken), who was hysterical because her 1 week old daughter was being transported by ambulance downtown S.A. to be admitted into the NICU.  I, without hesitation, took in her son with open arms so their families could do whatever they felt was necessary.  The kids were fine, but with all little ones, nothing is every smooth sailing.  Salem shit in her big girl panties.  That would have been fine had her friend not decided to dive-bomb off her bed and smack his face into the floor.  Remember, my throat hurts and I don't feel like talking as it is, so I basically just left both instances go without a fuss.  Salem either learned her lesson that she doesn't like the feeling of wet poop sitting in her drawers, or she doesn't give two shits and will repeat itself tomorrow.  Her friend either didn't like the feeling of his face bouncing off the ground, or he'll decide it was fun and try it again.  No matter what I said, it really wouldn't have mattered, so I just threw my hands up in the air and thought to myself, "The hell with it!"  Just as I thought I was all free and clear after her friend left, Salem then decided to dirty up her clean pair of panties my going "tink" all over her bedroom floor.  The potty training regressing kills me; she had been dry all day long!  

All of this also wouldn't have been a big deal had I not developed (what I believe is to be) edema in my left foot.  The circulation is so bad, that I can't even walk on my heels.  I tip-toe around like I'm trying to get a good calf workout in.  Not only that, but they immediately swelled up and I have bruising all over them.  I'm going to sleep on it tonight and dream happy thoughts that it will all go away by the AM.  If not, I'll be heading my wadeling ass back to the doctor in hopes of it NOT being a vascular problem. Edema is generally symmetrical is both feet, and that isn't necessarily the case I have going on.  My left foot is way worse off than my right. 

Please hold for an update on all of this tomorrow............   

Different baby, same issues

Here we go again! I had my normal checkup with the doctor last week, only to find that once again, I am measuring small/behind.  So, my nurse practitioner ordered an ultrasound and indeed they, too, calculated that Tavin's growth development is one month behind my actual due date.  Now, this DOES NOT come as a shocker to me...considering that Salem measured 5 weeks behind the entire pregnancy; however, there are more red flags this time around.

Then, today, they switched my care over to the head physician at BAMC because my n.p. didn't feel comfortable seeing me anymore with "issues".  After that, I was told, today, that this particular doctor also thinks I should be seen by someone with more experience with "issues" such as mine, and now ALL my prenatal care will be done at Wilford Hall.  Again, not a shocker, but a HUGE ass pain. So, I gathered up all my crap and was sent directly over there to be seen by the triage doctors in labor and delivery.  Everything is FINE with Tavin and I; he's just measuring on the WAY small side by their scale. They also pushed my due date back by a week to give his measurements a boost in size.  To give you an idea, he was in the 1% for size and by pushing it back by a week, it gets him up in the 10th...still small, but better.  The pushing back of the due date doesn't really do much considering the fact that the talk of induction is already being spoken of.  The reason being is back in July, he was in the 25th percentile and to have a tapering off in growth, is never a good thing.  Chances are, once again, I will not go full-term. Salem was induced at 36 weeks and this looks the same, if not sooner. I was told to have the bags ready and the car seat loaded up.  

I'm not sure what to think of all this.  I'm worried about my baby and my other baby, Salem, if things to take a turn for the worst and Tavin has to be in the hospital for a lengthy period of time.  Wilford Hall is over an hour drive for me, and now that I'm high risk, I already have to drive there 2-3 times a week ( Mon & Thurs. for antepartum testing and doctors apts/ultrasounds every other week).  I sit here pondering if we're going to have a baby 2 weeks from now, or 2 months from now.  

For now, I'm tired, stressed out (trying not to be, but I can't help it), and wishing all of this was just over already.  The good news (yes, there is such a thing to all of this!), is that Tavin's measurements/fluid/blood flow/etc., all looks normal and healthy for the size he is!!!!!!!!!!  He was also moving around like crazy during all of this today, that they couldn't even get accurate readings for some of the testing because he wouldn't sit still...the doctor was actually pleased with that because most babies in his "situation" don't have much movement or will have negative side effects to being so small.  

Other good news is that my mom is flying in from Tucson on Wed. to spend a few days with us!  Having family around call always boost ones spirits!  I'll keep you all posted on the followups and I'm sure everything is going to be A.O.K!!!!! 

Snip...Snip...Clip...Clip!

No, it's not what you're thinking. The doctor didn't take all of Andrew's "friends" (aka a vasectomy....yet!). Instead................

Happy as can be...before it all started!!!!!!!!

My darling angel got her very first hair cut (more of a trim I would have to call it), yesterday afternoon. Let me tell you, it was an emotional roller coaster event. She went through every single mood swing there is possible. Happy one minute, screaming the next, ecstatic over the pink "fairy glitter" the hair dresser sprinkled in her hair, followed by a pissed off Salem over God knows what. If she was older, I would have definitely considered asking her if she was in need of a tampon. One things for sure, she's my little spit fire and I wouldn't trade her for the world! So, I took her to a local place in town that caters to children only. They have a cute, little set up with a playroom for the children who are waiting, a "Princess Party Room" (for all those crazy Hannah Montana fanatics), car chairs for the children to operate/distract their attention away from what's really happening to them, and movies being played for the same reason..GENIUS! Why didn't I come up with this? Oh, I know, because with children, such as mine, all that frilly shit doesn't work on her! She didn't care about all the extras that I had to pay for. Come on, a $17 dollar hair trim for a little one, give me a break! She insisted on sitting in the normal chair and wanted nothing to do with fun cars. She did, however, love the playroom and left the place kicking and screaming because I pulled her out of there after however many minutes (it felt like hours) we were in there. Overall, I would have done it that way for the first time all over again. It was special, they gave me a bag with her hair, and a certificate for her scrapbook. Next time, I'll keep the $17 and do it myself, or take her to Great Clips for $6.

Shout Out

I MUST give a shout out to Andrea for taking the time to walk me through setting up a template from a outside source!  Thank you so much!  I kept having issues with all the other sites, so I just gave up...until she came to my rescue!  Thanks Chicka and hope you all like it (I'm a sucker for argyle prints!)

Art Wall

Over the weekend, I FINALLY accomplished Salem's art wall in her room. I have wanted to do this for MONTHS, and it feels great to finally mark it off my list (and get some of the piles of her artwork up and out of they way.) I know how important it is for a child to see their accomplishments and she just loves it. "Oh mommy, my paintings, my art!", were her exact words! It isn't this lavish, amazing thing, but just something simple that she can reflect on and remember doing.

For the border/frame, I had her watercolor paint on white 3x5 cards over the course of the past few months. All the pieces inside, were mostly done at her art classes she attends once a week. My plan is to rotate them out every few months and then frame my favorites in the house!

"Say-Um"

The little person we have living under our roof can speak full sentences, resight her abc's and randomly pick out which letter is what, knows all her colors (to include gold, silver, teal, etc.), speaks clearly about all her friends,.......... but can't say her own name and always references herself as "baby." Now, don't get me wrong, I know when didn't pick out the easiest name for our child to pronounce; however, other friends of hers have "difficult" names and she has those down to a T. I know in time she'll master her name, but for now when I do hear such words spoken from her mouth, it's "Say-um." Isn't that cute? I think she knows she isn't saying it properly, so she doesn't even bother (that's where the "baby this and baby that" thing comes into play.)

My ? to you is this, did you or do your children have nicknames for themselves? I need to ask my parents how I said my own name at Salem's age. I'm sure I just ran around saying NO with such fierceness and then added a soft L to the end ( "Noooooo-L"). Can't you just hear it? I don't know how else they would have explained it to me.

So, I leave you with a picture of "baby" or "Say-um", which ever you prefer. I'm telling you..... THIS IS a little ME! Just give the girl a pair of your shoes, and she's content as ever! Watch out boys, the girl already has expensive taste. She prefers wearing my $100+ pair of shoes around the house over all others. Hey, that's my girl!

She was walking the catwalk...literally! She would start at the fridge, walk to me, pivet turn, and walk back to do it all again!

The shits are brewing!

I can feel what is to come.  It hasn't happened yet, but I'm awaiting nervously.  Salem is over her illness and back to her fisty self and on top of it all, Andrew returned home with the shits too.  How in the heck did that happen?  The two of them weren't even around each other for DAYS.  Now, I can feel my stomach turnin' and burnin' as I prepare myself for yet another disaster in the Quinn household.  

Then, on top of all that, we're also awaiting the arrival of Ike ,which is now affecting us in the fact that I just received notice that Andrew will most likely be leaving tomorrow (and all weekend) to fly the jets out of here so they won't get damaged by the storm.  I want to crawl in a hole and not return for at least a week.  I don't feel well and how in the hell can I get through this.  Okay, I know I can and will, but I was anxiously looking forward to having my husband around this weekend because he has (and will be gone) every weekend this month with the exception of 1.  It could be worse, but of course it doesn't seem that way at this given moment. My body aches, I'm not sleeping at night, Tavin kicks me all hours of the day (probably because he has the shits too), and Salem has had a horrible past 2 days after being sick.  I haven't been out of the house in almost a week ( with the exception of getting up and going to the gym @430 before Andrew goes to work).  AAHHHHHHHHHHH,  someone sympathize with me here!! 

I'm So In LOVE!

Andrew was out of town this weekend (Friday through this evening), and while he goes on these trips, I like to be productive and get things done. When he's home, I find myself falling behind on things I want to get to (scrapbooking, organizing, Tavin's birth announcements, painting, etc.) because I just want to sit and spend time with him after Salem's out for the night. SOOOOO, I had a list of things I was GOING to get accomplished this weekend and what have I done...NOTHING! I did get the house vacuumed and moped, but that is the extent of it.

Salem came down with a TERRIBLE stomach bug this weekend and I've been attending to her every need 'round the clock. My poor baby is in so much pain and I can't get her to eat anything. Every so often I can talk her into a sip of pedialyte or sprite, but that is it. Everything goes right through her. Does this stuff not ALWAYS happen while the guys are away or what? I could have used a set of extra hands more than you even know. I felt terrible, but I had to drag her out of the house this morning to get her some medicine. Luckily, she went diarrhea right before we left, and again the second we walked back in the house.

So, I say I haven't done anything, but I've actually done more than I can even imagine a person doing with NOOOOOOO sleep in 2 days. I don't even know how the two of us are even functioning. We've done every art activity under the sun to keep her mind occupied and not thinking about the pain she's in or her eyeglasses. Speaking of, she is actually doing tremendously well wearing them and now, I can't imagine her not having them. It's crazy how they can (and do) change the whole appearance/look of an individual.

Getting to the "L" word. Do you every find yourself just falling in love with your loved ones all over again? Of course you always have love for them, but sometimes, doesn't it just want to jump straight out of your chest? Last night when I putting Salem down for bed, she said to me,

"I love you, baby!" We always say I love you to each other, but she's never said it first before; and the fact that she called me "baby", was even sweeter! I just love my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sick baby slept on the couch for 3 hours and never moved out of this position. Notice the gazillion cups full of different mixtures of pedialyte.

Four Eyes

My sweet, sweet, sweeeeeeetttttttttttt Salem, is now wearing eyeglasses for farsightedness. This came as both shocking, and not. I had scheduled her an opthamology apt. due to her left eye crossing in frequently throughout the day; little did I know that the diagnosis would be due to her not being able to see things close up. The scale ranges from 0-6 (+6 being extreme), and Salem is at a +5.50.....yikes! Her prescription in her glasses is only half filled because they thought the full dosage would be an overload on her eyes and cause them not to function properly. Let me just say that Andrew and I cannot even see out of them they way they are now; I can't even imagine what the "real deal" will look like! He also informed us that we'll most likely have to dilate her eyes on a daily basis with the strong prescription to make the brain and muscles function to their fullest. For us, this is completely foreign because both Andrew and I have perfect vision and haven't had to deal with all this before.

We're on are 2nd day, and things seem to be going okay. She likes them; however, she doesn't understand that this is a permanent thing that she has to wear 24/7. Salem considers them more of an accessory that she can match her outfits with.....like a hair bow or hat! At times, she'll get frustrated with them and throw them across or room or even better, I saved them from being flushed down the toilet yesterday afternoon. Good thing we have 2 pairs, bad thing the insurance doesn't cover a single penny of it.

We're also struggling with the fact that most eyeglass stores don't carry frames designed for children her age (most are aimed at 4+); therefore, hers are a tiny bit to large on her face and has to push them up. They didn't recommend getting wire ones due to the thickness of the lens, plus, she didn't like those styles anyways.

So, if our Baby Luvs has to wear glasses, at least she's going to look good doing it!!!!!!!!!

After all the stress I put her through, mommy took her to Payless to have a free for all with her favorite thing..........shoes! She ended up coming home with not just one, but 2 pairs!!!!

Sweet 16/ 3rd Anniversary!

There has been SO much going on around here lately, that I haven't been able to keep up..obviously! Last week Andrew and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary followed by his 32nd birthday the day after! We celebrated by getting Taylor to watch Salem so we could go out to a yummy dinner treated by his parents! Then, we were lame-o and came home immediately after. No movie, ice cream, parking on a make-out hill, NOTHING! Totally boring, old, married couple; that's what we are!

However, I did deliver for his birthday by throwing him a Sweet 16 bash! (16+16=32). Some people I've told didn't get it, so I've had to explain my reasoning. We also love watching the Sweet 16 show on MTV that highlights rich, spoiled ass kids who's parents throw their children million dollar 16th birthday parties. Even if I had all the money in the world, Salem and Tavin would NEVER get such superficial crap in their lives! So, we do love to watch it and make fun of the unrealistic brats and their idiotic parents who have no concept of the real world that surrounds them.

It was a surprise party with 4 of our closest couple friends and their kids (if they have them..2 of the do and 2 don't..yet). I made chinese food from SCRATCH and I will NEVER DO IT AGAIN! I SLAVED over egg rolls and dipping sauce all damn day that I would much rather buy the next time around. I also made homemade chicken fried rice with the help of my friend Heather. Both those items call for WAY toooooo many ingredients and I won't waste my time ever again. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and most of all, my hubby was in fact surprised. I made him a Gator cake for his special day that also turned out not-so-great. It was just "one of those days" when nothing seemed to be working for me and it just so happened to fall on a very special festivity where I needed everything to go just as planned. I should have known better, nothing seems to go as scheduled when you are in desperate need of it to do so.