Welcome to the World Little Girl!

So, when I went to my doctor's check up on Monday, I certainly never thought I'd be giving birth to a 7 lb. 4 oz. baby girl the next day! Darcy Anne was born at 2:22pm Tuesday and she's a precious little bundle with lots of thick, dark hairs.

We've been at the hospital all week, and its been emotionally exhausting. All in all she's doing well considering she has been born a month early, but it hasn't come without some difficulties to be honest. She has had a hard time with eating & billiruibin levels, etc. So, while things are getting better with each and every feeding, its VERY slow going. Too slow, in fact, to take her home with me when I'm released today. Let me tell ya, this is killing me. The thought of not being with her here, and not having her with us there...this is excrutiating. I love her and want her sweet innocent little self to not have to be alone. Or working so very hard. So what do I do?

The hospital is good enough to let me hang out as much as I need/want. But part of me also knows I should spend some time with Sebastian at home. I just don't know what to do. And maybe I'm only thinking too highly of myself to believe that Darcy actually knows when mama is nearby and does better when I am?

So yes I'm a little achey, but my heart is achey more.

Doin' What's Best...

Last week I went to my regular doctor's visit and told the nurse my blood pressure would probably be up because I'd had such a stressful week. Yep, I was right. Well, just to make sure it wasn't anything more than the stress I'd been experiencing with kidlet and stupid end of the year projects, stressing about the baby's room not even started let alone ready, needing lots of things still for the upcoming addition to the family, hubby's warped (in my opinion) priorities (like painting the garage), etc. the doctor had me come back this week. The week hadn't been nearly as stressful, so I thought no big deal. My blood pressure was higher than before! Really high. Seriously high. So I was send to the hospital for tests.

Overnight. Blood pressure checked every 15 minutes because it wasn't coming down. 24 hour urine protein screening. Baby monitors. And uncomfortable hospital bed. (Why is it that we pay so freakin' much when we're at the hospital, even with insurance, and they can't provide a comfortable bed? I mean you're confined there, the least they could do would be to give you top o'the line Seely Posturpedic Sleep Number sort of thing.) My tests came back ok, but not without the doctor putting me on bed rest.

I did ask for that to be a little more defined. Basically I'm stuck doing the minimal of everything for the next 4-6 weeks. Lots of nothing. I still even have to have the grandparents watch my little bug.

I can sit at the computer (which, thankfully, means I can do some work from home). I can cook (oh, lucky me). He even said driving is stressful, so don't do it. *sigh* I think I'm being forced to catch up on some photo archiving (because I can't really call it scrapbooking in the modern sense), some fluff reading (and I think he'll have to see if the library has the book I've shown here), and perhaps this means I can talk hubby into restarting Netflix? (yeah, that's my positive spin on it)

Everyone knows its bad to let me get too bored. Just wait...you'll be in for a treat.

The REAL World

What happens when 20 seasons go by and The Real World is still on MTV?

Yeah, can you believe this season is The Real World XX? Somehow I think its only appropriate that they are defining it by the roman numerals because it reflects exactly what the show has become...some double X soft core porn programming rather than the sociological experiment it began as.

I admit that on the rare occasion of channel flipping I will sometimes stop on the show for a few minutes (because I can't stomach an entire episode anymore) and lament the "days of yore" when it was actually an really fun & interesting show that really sparked the entire reality TV genre. Remember those first seasons in NY or London when the cast were actually intelligent (or at least fairly so) and had some talent and some goals? Now it seems the casts are nothing but oversexed bums who really have no real goals.

Well I was curious to find out if my impression was actually true, so I did a brief websearch of "where are they now?" Real World cast members. Guess what? It seems that those early cast members have, indeed, gone on to do some pretty impressive things with their lives. They are doctors, Disney executives, movie actors, even a D.A. here in Wisconsin. And the cast members from the more recent years? One was arrested for grand theft auto & prostitution, another several have been in Playboy, and more yet continue to make their "careers" by being on multiple seasons of MTV's Challenge shows, dating other cast members. Yeah, I get that those more recent cast members aren't as old as the beginning season members, but it was a matter of looking at what they did shortly after their stint on the reality show ended.

I think something has most definately changed in the mindset & intellect of young people in 20 years time. The sex, the fights, the illegal activity...its not only become a way of life but entertainment, as well! Or perhaps its because it has become entertainment that its become a way of life?

I wish that people would go back to being real. REAL responsible. REAL ambitious. REAL aware. That's The Real World kids.

Getting Older

I sit here today realizing that not only am I getting older, but so are my kids. It's amazing how quickly they grow & change & become someone different than they were just moments ago. I'd like to say its wonderful & inspiring, and yet at the same time, it's sad & makes me realize they before long they will be grown & gone & living lives without me.

My son is walking. Ok, he still falls down alot, but for the most part, he's doing it! It's amazing & I love seeing the pride on his little face. He's more independent these days and has very definately opinions about things. He nods yes and no. He often prefers papa over mama. And it makes me sad that my little snuggle bug doesn't always want mama to snuggle.
My daughter will be "graduating" 8th grade in 2 weeks. Then she'll be heading off to spend most of the summer with her dad in Michigan, before coming back to start high school in the fall. She is far from a little girl. She is a very independent, very strong-willed teenager only 4 years from her actual high school graduation. Only 4 years until her last summer before college. Only 4 years from adulthood. It makes me yearn for the days when she too would prefer to cuddle with mama over running off with her friends, or boyfriend!

I know, I have yet another child who will cuddle with mama soon. (Only about 8 more weeks!) But she too will grow far too quickly. So in all my hormonal raging emotions, I have to remember to embrace my kids and every moment...so they can keep me young.

The Hill are Alive...

Last week I had my Girls' Getaway Weekend, and it was wonderful!! We all decided it needs to be an annual event!

On Thursday Paula & I headed out to Ohio to hook up with Kim, and from there ventured up to the greater Detroit area to dinner with Misty, Lil' Kate & Niff (as well as her hubby & darling kidlet) . It was a very nice evening catching up. (Tasty potato soup & salads too.) Niff & I have known each other for...ugh...22 years this fall, but haven't seen each other in almost 4. It was waaaay over due. (Thanks Poo!) Her daughter is simply delightful & smart. I wouldn't expect anything less!

Friday morning Kim, Paula & I dined on delicious Lebanese foods for lunch (and purchases more to take with us) before heading toward our destination, Hocking Hills. We stopped briefly at the shrine & basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, OH to light some prayer candles for my mom, our families, and our friend Anna (who had better be pregnant!!) My family always used to make the pilgrimage there every year when I was a kid, but we've never been back since my mother was diagnosed with MS, so it was my special Mother's Day gift to her to do so. Many, many people have been healed by going there, and I can only hope our prayers will do mom some good.

We arrived late to the cabin, which was very secluded & straight out of the EAU game we all used to play. (I expected all sorts of evil to be lurking in the woods, but alas no ghostly experiences for us occurred...despite rumour the basement is haunted.) We did our grocery shopping & settled in shortly before Kassi & Ginny's arrival. Kim, Kassi & I stayed up chatting until around 4am.
Saturday we breakfasted and headed out to Old Man's Cave. Let me tell you, Hocking Hills is nothing but crazy winding, hilly roads! It was too dangerous for us to drive fast, but boy it would have been fun!! Old Man's Cave had many waterfalls, caves, and lots of just amazingly beautiful natural stone carved out in the gorges. Photos can't do it justice. I wish we could have seen even more, but by the time we picnicked and did some souvenier shopping, it was getting late & we need to head back to the cabin. After a nice dinner and a quick dip in the hottub (mmmm) the "tinkers" arrived to give us our spa treatments.
Blue Valley Massage comes to your cabin, and it was well worth it! We had massages, hot chocolate mud wraps, facials & pedicures. Just wonderfully relaxing & wonderful...and I have fabulous bright orange toenails now! We had every intention of making a bonfire & hottub some more, but by the time they were finished with us, we were all so relaxed & lotioned up, we weren't willing to do it. Instead "27 Dresses" was popped into the DVD player, followed by "Juno"...and I fell asleep on the couch. Oh well.

Sunday we had just enough time for a light breakfast & hottubbing before it began to downpour, making it impossible to do any more sightseeing, sadly. So we headed out, had lunch in Columbus, before going our seperate ways. It was far too quick of a weekend, but it was VERY enjoyable & relaxing. We definately need to do it again next year, though.

When I got home my family greeted me with fresh cut tulips, Mother's Day cards, and a glass teapot with 12 more of the flowering teas. (I had gotten 12 for Christmas but didn't have a "proper" teapot for brewing them in.) It was perfect. I was able to spend a little time with my kids & hubby and I appreciated them all the more for having been away.

Yeah...it was good. Very good.

We're the Knights of the Round Table, We Dance whenever we're able...

This weekend ended up being a very fun one!

Saturday the family & I ventured down to Long Grove, IL for their annual Chocolate Fest. The weather was cold, rainy & dreary...and still we had a lovely day! The town was cute, quaint, and old-fashioned. (VERY reminescent of Mackinac Island!) Lots of great shops, fun festivities, and best of all...a British shop where I purchases HP Sauce, Colemans, chip shop curry, meatpies (yes, we did sing selections from Sweeney Todd!), Ribena, Walnut Whips, Smarties, and best of all, my favourite candies in the entire world, Raisin & Biscuit Yorkies! I could have easily spent a fortune, but I was good. Hubby came home with a new hat from the Irish shop that matches the little Bugs. Very cute father & son ensembles! Kidlet was more than happy & satiated with chocolates from all over the world.

Sunday was spent with friends before we all headed off to see "SPAMALOT". Let me tell ya...over the top & silly & exactly what Monty Python on stage should be! I laughed almost until it hurt! See if while its on tour! You won't regret it!

My favourite song "I'm Not Dead Yet!"

One Very Clever or Three Dull Things

I've been dreadfully slack in writing, mostly because I don't feel that my life has been particularly remarkable. True, we've spent the past few weekends down in Chicago, which have been lovely. We're now members of the Chicago Historical Museum, we've seen Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and ate at my favourite English pub. But all in all, life has been a series of day in, day out routine.

This weekend is hubby's birthday and I don't have anything good to give him. I'm hoping we can go out to dinner, perhaps. On Monday I face the birthday I've been dreading for a few years now. Let's just suffice to say it ends in zero. You can figure out the rest.

And so, for lack of anything better to say, here's a meme from Christine, whom I'm very excited to meet once she moves to Madison! Feel free to join in.

What I was doing 10 years ago: I remember it clearly, actually. I was turning another zero birthday & my dear friends had all chipped in to buy me a plane ticket back to England. Though I'm excited about my impending girl's weekend, I can't help but wish Europe was on the agenda instead.

Five things on my To Do list for today...1. I've done most of my work for the day, so what remains? Let's see... 2. pick up my son 3. buy birthday cards for hubby 4. put laundry away 5. make dinner. See, I told you life was dull.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Travel the world. Set up college funds for my kids. Buy new cars for each of us (preferably hybrids). Build a new house hubby would design. Visit my mom.

Some placesI have lived: 1. Flint, MI 2. London, England 3. Adrian, MI 4. Racine, WI

Jobs that I've had: 1. Renaissance Faire Director. 2. Marketing Assistant. 3. Radio DJ 4. Newspaper reporter 5. Stay at home mom

Five people I want to know more about: anyone who wishes to share!!

Feelin' Like the Go-Gos

Sing along with me...."vacation, all I ever wanted, vacation had to get away..."

That's how I'm feeling right now because some great friends & I are planning our Girl's Weekend Getaway for next month and I can hardly wait!

It's been a roller coaster week attempting to get things organized, but now that it's coming together I can say I'm VERY excited about it! We're heading down to the Hocking Hills of Ohio for some beautifully peaceful views, hopefully some stunning treks to see the natural sights (like the waterfall you see here), some relaxing spa treatments, and lots of laughter!

I think that everyone should get away with their girl friends now and again and I haven't done it in years. This is also the "celebration" of my best friend & I turning 40 and we're getting away on Mother's Day weekend...it's all the makings of a GREAT time. (Keeping fingers crossed, the eternal pessimist in me always is nervous things won't play out as wonderfully as they do in my head.)

Happy Easter!

Here's hoping all of you have a joyous & festive Easter! May you're basket be overflowing with chocolates & may Christ's love shine upon you!

We're having a fairly low key day of movies & games here at home after church. Yesterday was the big family dinner, which was nice. In the afternoon we went to see "The Other Boleyn Girl" which was delightfully accurates & a visual feast! Of course Sandy Powell did the costumes & she IS the costume goddess. Finally, a GOOD period piece!

We also saw THE most amazing chocolate bunny at the mall. 65 lbs of solid chocolate! Can you imagine! It was over $500. I joked it would be your Easter Bunny for Life!

Happy Christmas...er....Easter????

It looks like anything BUT Spring outside right now, as we are welcoming the Easter weekend in with a BLIZZARD! Yeah, can you believe it? So much for springy dresses & bonnets, tulips & daffodils. Snow boots & shovelling hardly make for much of a festive Easter weekend.

If you look at the local news weather predictor here, you'll see I live in the 10-12" pink band. Oh bliss. I love the winter, but it was over! *sigh*

Unrelated, it is indeed a pink day as I had my ultrasound this morning confirming that yes, indeed, I am having a girl this time. She is exactly where she should be growth-wise & everything appears normal & healthy. (Yeah!) They say she weighs 1lb. 1oz. Cool. Now onto finalizing those names....... suggestions, anyone??

Ridin' the Highs & the Lows

Yesterday was nothing but a serious emotional roller coaster. What began as a typical day of dropping baby boy off to the grandparents & heading to the museum spiralled into something else entirely. On my way to get him in the afternoon I was taking a route different from what I typically take, because I wanted to stop & get some elastic to finish a cute pair of PJ bottoms I had made for myself to lounge around in. (They are pink with figure skates on them, if you care.)

So, all of a sudden I stop at a light, and the police car behind me flips on his lights. Instantly all I can think is "Oh shit..." He says, "You've done nothing wrong, I just wanted you to know you're brake light is out." "Oh, ok, thanks, I'll get it fixed right away, there's an auto parts store at the next corner, I can see it from here. I just need to pick up my son up the road." No, that wasn't enough, he had to see my license to verify that the car I was driving was my own. Can you not see the baby seat behind me & my crap in the car? *sigh* I grab my coat to pull out my little wallet I keep my things in since there is no place at the museum to safely put a purse. It's not there! What? I frantically start looking for it...nothing. I explain the situation to him. He proceeds to say "I can't let you go unless you can prove you're you. Is there anyone you can call?" uh...I don't know WHERE my license is, so how the hell is someone else supposed to know? He keeps asking me things like whether or not I know my driver's license number by heart? Uh...no, why would I? Would someone else have it? Well, since I don't have it smart guy, anything is possible. Long story short, I am forced to leave the car on the side of the road (2 blocks, literally, from my in-laws house I must point out) and go to the police station.

Two hours later I've had to call my in-laws to pick up my car & then come pick me up, but not after I've been finger printed & photographed! Can you believe it?! Yes, being pregnant & hormonal I cried. Alot.

My in-laws were surprisingly nice about everything, brought dinner down for the family & quickly drove me home since I HAD to be home by 6pm to go with my cool neighbour to a meeting & job interview.

She & her family are, sadly, moving to NE next month leaving her position open. It seems like a really cool job working for the Parks & Rec. I applied & they were interested. Long story short, they offered me the position last night!!I am the new Director for the Caledonia Parks & Rec commission! I'm terribly excited about it & everyone seems very, very nice. Wish me luck!

So my "normal" day went from the lowest of lows to a fabulous high! Emotional rollercoasters are not nearly as fun as Cedar Point, let me tell you.

My Big Boy!

Last week my little Bug turned ONE Year Old! He's so awesome. I mean, really. He's just a very sweet, snuggly, happy baby. He' continually makes me laugh.

We had a little birthday party for him with friends & family, which was simply delightful. I think he had fun, even if he didn't really know what all was going on. I can't wait to see what sort of little gentleman he'll turn into. Right now, he's quite the flirt!

FYI

At my doctor's appointment on Friday I was told they will double check in a month, but right now all indication is that...

We all do Stupid things in the Winter, right?

In a fit of "I'm sick of being sick" I went & had my hairs chopped yesterday. Literally, chopped. It's a short, choppy mess that I'm totally hating with all passion today. It was supposed to be cute & funky. Instead it makes me look old & crazy.

I wonder if I can hide in the house for the next 3 months?

Lapsing into Insanity

Ok, I know I've been terrible at updating. Truth is, I haven't had time. Honestly. When I'm not working I'm with the baby or sleeping. I'm exhausted 24/7. It doesn't help that right now I'm beyond horrifically sick. I shipped the baby off to the grandparents, hubby off to work & kidlet off to school thinking I could sleep all day. Yeah...right. If only I didn't wake up from my nap feeling worse than before. Pain, nausea, body wracking cough, fever...yeah, I'm a pretty sight today, let me tell ya.

What else has been happening?

We went to see "The Lion King" last week (thank you to the in-laws for the amazing Christmas gift!) It was beyond amazing. I really didn't expect to like it that much, I always thought I just wouldn't buy into the costumes & that they would be distracting. Boy was I pleasantly wrong! The technicality of those costumes was the result of a costume genius (Julie Taymor...who I had already appreciated from her movies like "Titus", which I still contend is one of the best films ever). And the quality of the performances was divine. Some of the strongest voices I've EVER heard.

My other happy news is that kidlet will officially be attending the high school she desperately wanted to get into next year. (St. Catherine's) Of everyone who applied, she had one of the top test scores, earning her all sorts of scholarships (thank God! Prayers ARE answered!) I'm very happy & proud of her.

Ok...there's as much update as I can muster today. My hands hurt now (yes, I'm THAT sick). I'll try to get better & be better about staying in touch. OH! and Happy Valentine's Day!

The Original P.U.G.

Ok, so as I've mentioned before, I love pugs. They crack me up like nothing else can.
So I had to share...


So funny!

The weak week

The high of the week was that I started my new job this week. It'll be good, I'm sure. We get a family membership, which is also nice. And a 25% discount at the cafe & Starbucks...which is just terribly tempting on a daily basis.

The low was that a good friend died this week. Sherwin was this great curmugeoney gentleman, who liked the good things, was highly intelligent, and got inside the head of everyone he met. (Yes, he was a psychoanalyst.) He was also funny as hell (in that wonderfully dry sort of way) and he & I always had a great time talking about life, stupidity in the world, and the good things. He loved his wife dearly. I suppose, in some ways, he reminded me of my own father. Sadly, he too passed away the other morning after a massive heart attack earlier in the week. I'm certain he went arguing the entire way...and for this I can smile. Give 'em hell, Sherwin!

Finally a Moment...

I've been busy. I know, lame excuse, but it's true.
So here's the updates on my/our lives...

*Doctor says my due date is July 27th. (Is that a Leo? Anyone know?)

*6 more weeks or so before they can try to tell me boy or girl.

*I'm feeling fine.

*Hubby is working all weekend at the Home Builder's Show in Milwaukee. I haven't seen him in days.

*I had an interview with the Milwaukee Public Museum yesterday. It seemed to go very well. Keep your fingers crossed, thanks.

*We're going to the Wiscosin Dells next weekend. Belated birthday party for the kidlet's 14th. We're taking 2 of her friends & 3 of ours. Unfortunately, I've been told NO waterslides, NO very hot tubs, NO fun. *sigh* Lazy river for hours, I guess. rah.

*Baby boy is sooooo close to walking. He stood unassisted twice this morning and is cruising everywhere.

*I booked my flight for our girl's weekend getaway in May. Pregnant or not, I'm not missing the opportunity.

*OH! FYI...don't believe VISA when they tell you that if their gift cards are stolen you can get them back. It's a great big giant lie. Tried to get kidlet's back after all of her cash & cards were stolen. They were given all the info, the date it was stolen, everything. And even though she had signed the back (as if anyone ever checks), it had been used, leaving only $16 left. After the $10 fee they were going to charge her for having it stolen, they would have given her 6 whole dollars back. Gee, isn't that kind of them? I swear, if I had a way to find out who stole her purse I'd run them down with the car. All her friends were going to the mall to hit the sales today. She stuck here cleaning her room because she has nothing. I'm soooo mad still.

That's it, in a nutshell. I'll try to write a "real" post this week, but I'll definately have some photos next weekend.

May the Bastards Rot in Hell

So, the upset of the holidays...

The kidlet turned 14 a few days before Christmas. She went to Michigan to visit her dad & extended family. Had a great celebration for both birthday and Christmas...and raked in a load, let me tell you...almost $400 in gift cards & another $170 in cash. So, like any teen, immediately hit the after Christmas sales with her dad.


And promptly had her purse stolen by some bastard at Great Lakes Crossing shopping mall.

I hope this bastard grinch who had the nerve to steal someone's purse during the holidays, let alone a kid's purse gets the serious karma coming to him/her! I hope he/she rots in hell. Seriously, I do. How can you do something so pathetic?

Needless to say, the kidlet is still upset about it. Rightfully so, her birthday AND Christmas were just stolen from her!!

I hate people.

To the Future!

Happy New Year!!

I hope your holiday festivities were joyous & filled with lots of laughter!

I was going to write a "year in review" blog, but 2008 is here, my friends, and so its onward into the future! No looking back but to accept the joys, learn from the sorrow, and make the next step.

My 2007 ended with a mixed bag. Christmas was good, but kidlet was away. New Year's Eve was lovely, but a few friends came down with colds & flus at the last moment and had to stay home. I was let go from my job. But I found out I'm pregnant again!! 2008 will prove to be a tough, but hopefully, really good year. I have my girl's getaway weekend to look forward to (even if I can't drink endless supplies of wine now....sigh), a new baby, and job hunting (not something to look forward to, but at least it means new possibilities. Yes, this is me attempting to NOT be a cynic.)

I hope everyone is healthy, or at least happy!