Send a card to someone...

Max sent me a card from this site. It hurts so much to laugh right now but it was worth the pain. Thanks Bud.

Some Stuff

Chris calls Tanner to suggest they go to yet another movie they seriously would never go to.
Chris: "Hey man, what are you up to? Really? Well that gives us time to catch a movie. El Cantante starts at 9:00... El Cantante... You know, J Lo and Mark Anthony....(much laughter)...yeah I don't know what it means. It means THE something. "
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I hate that Tom Snyder died. I loved his late late show when I was in college. I loved his laugh and how he was my pretend "Uncle". Didn't he have a visiting uncle vibe to you? Sigh.
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I feel weird that I'm not starting school "on time" with everyone else. It's not a sad feeling, just a weird one. Slightly out of control feeling, but not bad. Guess I'm finally learning that my job is not my life. My life is my family.
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Luke is not dealing very well with sharing the spotlight. The toys have stopped showing up in the bassinet and instead, he is avoiding the baby and the topic of the baby. He threw a couch pillow towards little buddy while he was relaxing in a vibrating chair. That resulted in a very upset Mama and an upset Luke sitting in time out with a sore rear end for a while. Bless Luke's heart--he seems so melancholy at times--playing with his Transformer/Power Ranger car and wearing "that" face. I'm trying to share my time with him equally but it's very very hard.
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Nighttime is rough. Last night was a bit better than the previous two. We went to bed at 10 and must have fallen asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. At 10:30 Jake woke up. Then again at 1:00. Then at 4:00. Then at 7:00. The night before he was up at 3 and wanted to stay up to party until 5. Fun fun!
This is where my new, extended wear contacts have come in handy.
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I've had a touch of the baby blues where I've cried and cried over weird stuff and some not so weird stuff, but so far it hasn't been as bad as it was the first time, when I was picturing my funeral--that must have been some kind of "mortality thing" that happened, giving life and thinking of my own death for the first time really...anyway, nothing like that here. For now at least! :) Cross your fingers the dark cloud stays away.
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One thing I am genuinely sad about: my pain pills are diminishing. Dear God they are a beautiful thing. I can totally understand people getting addicted to prescription drugs. Not that I am, but I can see the allure and the "life is beautiful" feeling it gives you. Sweet sweet pills...sweet lovely Percocet.

This has been kind of a disturbing post, huh? Don't worry! :)

Brothers and more pics

Chris and I keep finding little tokens left in Jake's bassinet--a Spiderman toy, a Ninja Turtle, a mini Buzz Lightyear...

I have to keep reminding Luke, "Please don't use the robot hand around your baby brother." (Robot Hand=Toy that Papa purchased for him)

Ready for some more pictures? Go here.

Jake's Birth Story!

I like reading other people's birth stories, so I thought I would write one. Most people don't write about their c-sections (since it is so demonized in birth classes and among other groups) but it's part of my life and it's the way my boys were brought into the world so I'm gonna embrace it. WARNING: Anyone planning to use my blog entry for a political rant against c-sections, you are forewarned--I'll delete it and YOU. I'm tired of the "I'm a better mom than you are" war that so many women love to participate in.

****

Tuesday morning I woke up after a night of tossing and turning and peeing about four or five times an hour. I was excited and nervous and was ready to get the show on the road. Luke stayed with his grandparents the night before so it was just me and Chris as we headed out to the hospital. After a confusing "which way do we go George" situation when we first got there, we finally got where we needed to be around 6:50ish AM and I was put in a lovely gown that exposes just about everything and started getting ready. Had a scary moment when my blood pressure dropped really quickly as they were putting the IV in and stuff. I started sweating like crazy and felt like I was about to throw up or pass out. I interrupted what the nurse was telling me (about what to expect during the surgery) to say, "I feel really weird right now..." They got the fluids started in me and wiped me with cool wet cloths and eventually I felt normal again. Chris said that scared him the most out of everything that happened that day. I looked up at the clock and it was about 8. Almost time for the c-section. They began wheeling me out when Kristy C called on my cell phone and I got to hear her calming voice. That was nice. Thanks girl! She sounded so excited for me I almost cried.

The nurse wheeled me over to recovery, where I'd return after the surgery. We waited there a while and visited with family and friends. The nurse who was taking care of me was named CJ and was an older lady with a good sense of humor and who made me feel at ease. The anesthesiologist reminded me of the receptionist from Empty Nest--that scratchy voice and her overall look. She smelled rather pleasantly of faint cigarettes and perfume. She explained about the spinal block.

My doc was finishing up another birth somewhere else so he was running a tad late. Not too late though; at 8:35 he arrived and asked if I was ready. I was!

****

Chris had already put on his blue scrubs and was looking so handsome. I told him he looked really sexy as I was wheeled away. He said he was gonna go do some "breast exams" as a fake doctor. Haha. He had to wait behind until they had my spinal block done and had everything pretty much ready to go.

****
In the operating room, they had me hold on tightly to CJ and lean into her while the Empty Nest nurse fitted my back with the plastic thingy that helped her locate the right spot for the injection. "You'll feel a sting." Oh yeah I did. I stayed extra still to make sure she got it right and I wouldn't feel anything later. I felt it working before I even got my legs up on the table. CJ swung my legs up almost as they went totally numb and my arms were put on the armrests (no they were not tied down---they weren't last time either). (PS: Here's a video of a c-section if you are interested in watching it. Not for weak stomachs!) They put warm towels over my arms (which smelled very nicely toasted--the towels, not my arms) and that felt nice. The "block everything from view" sheet was put up and music began playing somewhere. Nice! The docs, Dr. G and Dr. B, evidently like to listen to music during surgery. I liked this very much and it put me at ease. I think I remember Rob Thomas's latest and some other current songs playing.

***

Chris came in and took my hand and it started. The docs were discussing what they would be having for lunch, a baseball game, and a local murder trial that was about to start up. I liked that they did this--if I had heard, "I'm now cutting the blah blah blah" part I would have felt sick.

****

The nurse told me, "You are about to feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest. It will only last a minute....elephant weight....now..." I felt it. "That's the baby's shoulders coming out. He had to push hard."

I next heard the doctor say, "Little linebacker...look at that!"

Then we heard him cry and it was awesome. They held him up with all the white goo all over him. Minutes later they brought him back for me and Chris to look at. Chris held him and showed him to me. I was like, "Wow! He doesn't look that much like Luke at all!" I pictured him being like, Luke Part Two. I got tickled because he was like Chris, Part Two! Mini-Chris. Chris 2: Electric Boogaloo.

****

Chris took his clone off to show off to the family and I continued to get worked on--the tubal got done and then it was all finished. The clock showed 9:30 when I was wheeled out. The whole thing took about an hour. It went by fast this time. I remember with Luke's it was shorter but felt longer because I didn't know what to expect and it was so sudden.

*****

Got back to my room after hanging out in the recovery room for about an hour and talked with more friends and family and eventually got to hold little Jake.

More later when time allows! Little man needs to be fed!

Some pics

Some pics to satisfy you til I have time to put them all together in a big ole bundle...

whooooooooo

Hi. We are home. I'm in a delicious drugged up fog. I will post a whole bunch of pics and stuff soon...love y'all.

Jacob Michael Has Arrived

Dear Friends,

Jacob Michael arrived this morning just before 9 am. He weighs 7 pounds, 6 ounces and has a little bit of black hair on his head. God blessed us with a child that is as healthy as can be.

Jen came through great as well. She is resting at the hospital and thrilled about our new arrival. Jen and Jake are scheduled to come home on Friday. Jen wants everyone to know that she has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of well wishes, support, and prayers. I feel the same way.

Luke has welcomed his little brother with open arms. Of course it helped that Jake arrived with a toy with the intentions of garnering support from his older sibling. Luke seems thrilled at having a baby and asked all day if we could go ahead and "take him home now".

Thanks again to everyone that has extended a helping hand or a friendly voice during Jen's pregnancy. We love you all and hope to introduce you to the new addition of our family very soon!

Love,

Chris

Last Pre-Baby Post

Hey. I have left instructions for Chris on how to post a blog/put a pic up/send out email notifications, etc. to update you guys when I'm in the hospital. So check back here late Tuesday or Wednesday for info. Keep us in your thoughts and send a prayer and/or good vibes out tomorrow at 8:30 am.

Got any predictions for weight/length? Luke was 7 pounds, 15 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long.
My prediction: 6 pounds, 15 ounces, 20 inches long.

Over and out,
Jen

Sweet as Cake

Good morning.
Friday night we had movie night--watched The Messengers and Kinsey. A double feature! The Messengers started out with promise, but about...oh, FIVE minutes into it we knew we were in trouble. Implausible. "Oh look kids. Here's the creepy lookin' house I bought sight unseen! Let's live here for awhile and plant sunflower seeds!"So many holes in the story. Dumb decisions....blah blah blah. I guess John Corbett and that other guy---Boston Legal guy---had bills to pay or something. This sucked.
Kinsey...wow. Very interesting and my kind of movie, but not every one's cup of tea. I was surprised he was able to get away with the stuff he got away with at that time. Pretty cool stuff, although I found myself thinking, "Mrs. Kinsey put up with a lot!" (But now that I think about it, she was a free thinker too...and she did say, at one point, "I would like that!" Haha!) It makes me want to read The Inner Circle.
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Sorry if I scared anyone (Karen M!) yesterday--just forgot to post anything. Didn't feel well, napped a lot, etc.
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Don't you hate it when you put something up on Freecycle and then put a TAKEN email out there to let everyone know it's, you know, TAKEN, and you STILL get about ten morons bugging you about it? I used to be nice and email them back with "Sorry, it was taken!" But if they are so slow they can't READ and check their email like a normal person, that's their problem. Grrr!
*****
I would really bomb on The Singing Bee. Chris just said, "Not only would you screw up the lyrics, but you are a truly terrible singer!" Ha. This past week, we were cleaning the house, listening to our new CD set that has all those old 70s/80s songs on them and I was singing along to "Eye in the Sky" by the Alan Parsons Project. "I believe you're lyin'...lookin' at you...I believe you're lyin'..." I sang as I folded laundry.
"What are you singing?" Chris shook his head. He then revealed my error. (Go look at the lyrics.) I've been singing it wrong for, well, forever.
I can screw up modern songs too. Until a month ago, I thought Gwen S. was singing, "Sweet as cake, sweet as cake...whoo hoo...."
Never mind that the song's title is "Sweet Escape."

Luke Update

1. As I told you earlier, Luke has learned how to use the computer mouse and is all about pointing and clicking these days. I had my Myspace page open and he saw Kristy's picture. He climbed up on the chair and said to me, "I click on Prissy." To himself he whispered, "I wuv her." Chris and I thought it was too funny---his first crush. Last time she was visiting, he stroked her arm when he sat next to her on the couch.
2. We had a guy come over to install new attic fans yesterday. When he climbed up in the attic, Luke watched him from down below and pitched a fit that I wouldn't let him go up with him. He threw such a fit that I had to put him in time out, which I never really have to do anymore (except for when he continues to jump on the couch--a neverending battle). His tears streamed down his face. Eventually he said, "It's Spiderman...without his suit on...(sob)..." He thought I was keeping him from hanging out with Spiderman. Poor guy.
3. He woke up telling me about a dream he had about "robots, dinosaurs, and Dylan's tracks." I wonder what that was like!

I don't know about you...

but I see a lot of sit ups in my future. Here's the last preggie belly shot you are getting, people. And yes, I cut my face out because I am SWOLE y'all!

Happy Anniversary Baby, Gotchu On My Minddddd...

Yay for lurve! Four years married, five years together!

Wednesday

First off, I have to share this video. Chris keeps watching it and it's freaking me out. It's like a bad dream. Pickle surprise....
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Second, a big congratulations to my former student Adriane and her man Joseph, who just got married and to Debi and Chris, who had a baby girl, Cassidy, yesterday! Here are the pictures for both events!

*******
Today good ole Jennie got me out of the house. Luke and I met up with her and her son PJ and had a great Chick-fil-a time. Luke just talked and talked about PJ after the outing was over. He just idolizes him and had such a good time playing in the play tunnels at the restaurant. Then we headed over to Books-a-Million where I enjoyed looking over the Harry Potter stuff (even though I've never read any of 'em--shockers!!!). I'll read them to the boys when they are older. Or push them on them when they can read them for themselves.

Oh, as I walked into the restaurant today, I heard a dude say to another dude at a table, "Wow. It's like it's pregnant lady day ."

Ha.

*****
Added late: Hey, who knows where I can get a rug and some pictures for the baby's room (locally, not off the web) and it won't break the bank? We are finishing up (kinda late, huh?) the baby's room.

Tuesday

Today was my last ob gyn visit. He said, "See you next Tuesday!" So this time next week I'll have my youngest son in my arms. Crazy. I'm experiencing all kinds of emotions. Feel overwhelmed at the stuff I need to do to get ready--both here at home and the information I'm getting together for my long term sub (she'll be there until Labor Day). I feel sad because Luke's time as an only child is coming to an end. This is our last week together just me and him. He seems to be clingy lately, or maybe it's me. "I wuv you Mama," he says, as he pats or strokes my hair and we watch cartoons. "I wuv your hair too." I feel weepy due to obvious hormonal surges. I feel terrified, hoping I won't be that tiny percent that dies in childbirth and leaves my children motherless. I keep thinking about that student I had that died from the freaky blood clot two years ago. I feel nervous. I feel excited--what will he look like? Will he look like his older brother? Will he look more like me or more like Chris? What will his personality be like? Will he sleep better? Will I handle the first few weeks better than last time? I feel happy--I will be able to sleep on my stomach again, I won't weigh the same as a linebacker, I can have a top shelf margarita, I can wear some normal clothes again. Overall, I really do feel grateful. As I sat there staring at the scene you see here, I realized how lucky/blessed I am.

I'm still scared though. My whole world is about to change. Again.

Monday

Hello! My feet and lower back are freakin' aching. I am walking like an elephant. Or really, kinda like the adult Webster.

****

Luke, after opening up the Kirkland's decorative chest thing I have in the bathroom, "OOOOHHH. A treasure!" (In an awed voice.) You can imagine the girlie "stuff" I have in the little chest. Cracked me up.

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Last night's Bret Michaels show gave us the willies. Nasty girls on there. "I'm disappointed," Chris said. We also think Bret may be bald under the cowboy hats and bandannas. The Scott Baio show? Seems very very scripted. Still, we will watch both, because the former is a trainwreck and the latter, well, has an interesting premise and we like the timing of it.

*****

I cleaned out the fridge today. Whoo hoo. I noticed that we really, really like mustard. What do you have way too much of in your fridge?

*****

Our Time Life music set arrived today. Chris and I listened to a cd (loving the Electric Light Orchestra song!) while I did some early lesson plans and he cooked chicken and dumplings this evening. Luke played with his Ice Age figurines. He also figured out how to use the mouse on the computer tonight after just one tutoring session from me. He's got the point and click down, man. So funny to us. He looked at flickr pics. "Oooh, a lady! Look, a baby!"

Sunday Roundup

Congrats to Lisa!
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I cleaned the trashcan today. With bleach and hot water. Scrubbed it. Does that qualify for nesting?
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On tv, I'm loving: Snapped (some are more delicious than others), Hey Paula (does she really think this does good things for her image? I mean, really? She drains me emotionally from the TV set. I can't imagine knowing her in real life.) Kathy Griffin: Life on the D List (I just really love her and her show. Always makes me laugh.) We have started watching this year's World Series of Pop Culture for the first time. Love the names of the teams...Chris and I are looking forward to Scott Baio is 45 and Single Show (I do not know why people think he's hot. He has always looked dirty to me) and the Bret Michaels show.
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In kidshows...I am hating Wow Wow Wubbzy (although it is funny that Luke learned the word "kooky" from that show. I couldn't figure out where he learned that for weeks!) and Diego. Oh, and The Upside-Down Show. All grate on my nerves.

Luke's First Sleepover Guest

Dylan came down to spend the night with Luke. We've felt that Luke has been acting a little lonely these days and needed a playmate. (Yeah, he'll get one soon enough, but you know what I'm sayin'...)

They are having a ball. Right now they are watching Robin Hood (cartoon version from the seventies, of course) and they are giggling, eating popcorn, and drinking milk. And settling down. That last part is important. Earlier today they did the following: wrestled in the den with football helmets on, chased eachother on foot and on the Spiderman scooter and Diego cycle, trashed the bedroom like rockstars, and played in the tub. I'm learning a lot about how little boys have fun. Two boys are very different than just one...that's for sure!

PS: One of the things that made me laugh earlier was that the first thing Dylan said to me was, "You still got that baby in your belly?" Ha.

Congrats!!

Congrats to John and Mary Reed on the birth of their third son! Haines is beautiful!

Thursday

Thank you to Angie and Lisa W who came by my house this week to visit the shut in. ;) It was so good catching up with both of you and giggling over gossip and the world in general. I'm thankful for you guys.

My big achievement of the day: arranging for Luke's first dentist trip.

I am moving slowly these days. Bear with me.

Oh, I also did a load of laundry and made a Potty Chart for Luke. Go me.

I'm up at 11:49, can't sleep, keep having to get up for the bathroom, irritable and my back hurts. Now I'm googling pregnancy stuff and finding the weirdest stuff.

Male Pregnancy

I sooo wish.

Happy Birthday Bud aka Max!

Happy birthday Bud. The day ain't over yet. I could still ruin your bday by spawning all over it! HAHA!

Happy Bday (Yesterday) To Tanner!

Passive Tanner...

Angry Tanner!

How come blogger won't let me put titles in? Weird!

Today was another doctor visit. I went in, nauseous and tired. Doc said it was probably because my stomach (actual stomach not belly stomach) is all smooshed and can't hold much anymore. He also said the pain I was feeling down below was related to Braxton Hicks, but I was still not dilated at all, etc. Pretty much what I expected to hear.

All the exam rooms have posters on the ceiling above the examining table. Last visit I had the "sea" scene, where I concentrated on counting blow fish and orange "Nemo" fish. That got me through then. Today's room had a poster of puppies in different colored shoes. I just stared at the Golden Retrievers. Anything to take my mind off of what's really going on, right?

Here's a question I want answered: what is the proper way to sit on that exam table when you are undressed from the bottom down with a huge piece of paper and you yourself are huge? It's too hard sitting straight up because of the pressure on your bladder and you can't really recline. You certainly can't sit your bare bottom on the comfortable chair in the room.

I really want Patch Perfect from TV. Just sayin'. (We are wondering how in the world that stuff works, if it is secretly toxic. Chris, from the couch, "Not only will your grass grow, YOU will glow!")

Today, after Chris came home and took Luke to the pool (ole "Prom King") I headed to the library to browse the stacks peacefully. It was so nice being able to take my time and to look for the different titles that I wanted. It was also good getting out of the house. So good that I also stopped by the grocery store to pick up some stuff that I thought we needed. Mom, you'll be happy to know I got a new broom. The old one was a POS. I also brought home bananas, peaches, grapes, and plums. I love holding the plums up and smelling them---so summery.

Hope your day was a good one.

This is one of my favorite photos. This is my mother-in-law, Donna, reading to: from left, Cory, Casey, and Chris.

Reviews

I just finished reading the fluffy Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. It's okay. Like I said, it's fluffy reading. Cute in some parts, but she really steered clear of any real issues---came right up to some BIG ISSUES and then made a joke and got out of discussing it for real. Which I guess is okay--it's SUPPOSED to be all frothy fun. I guess. Anyway...It made me sad when she wrote about the good times with her husband in the delivery room, during the first year and stuff...since we all know that they divorced and she's now with Jim Carrey.

I'm almost done with the Anne Lamott book Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. It's much better than the last one I read, in my opinion. Whenever she writes about her son Sam I pay special attention, that's for sure. I think I'm ready for some fiction though--anyone got any suggestions? Since this will be my last fiction book for a while (think: baby=very little to no reading time) I want it to be a good one.

We watched Little Children last Sunday. Fascinating movie. I loved the whole feel and mood of it---I could definitely tell that the director also did In the Bedroom (another one of my favorites--even if it's excruciating to watch...) I have to say, this movie did make both of us nervous! Heh--the father taking the boy off to the park (I called Chris the "Prom King" for an hour after that) and the Kate Winslett character being all into the bookish life (although I would never have treated my daughter like that---her coldness with her child shocked me). If you are uncomfortable watching sex scenes I would not watch this--but hey, if you aren't, go for it. Any of you guys watch it? I really liked it. Can anyone recommend one similiar to it, one with a similiar feel?(Other than In the Bedroom--which, if you haven't seen, you must.) Netflix just delivered Running with Scissors and Kinsey...

Guess who went to work with "Bobbie" Today...

The New Speaker of the House of Reps: Luker Buker

Forgiveness and other stuff

While reading Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies: Thoughts on Faith:
"Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die."
That puts it in perspective, huh?
***




Anyone ever seen the movie What Alice Found? Oddly fascinating. What Alice found was, she didn't want to be a truckstop ho. I THINK I saw this on Lifetime, but I'm not sure. Go watch the trailer. Maybe you've seen it or parts of it.



Summertime with my boy. I caught him smiling at himself in the mirror today after donning this crown. He calls the crown his "castle."

More from the session. These are my favorites.

Happy Fourth!

Enjoy the view. (Not everyone will like this one, but I thought it was hysterical. Thanks to Lisa W for sending it my way.)

He's growing up so fast...

PS I love Portrait Innovations. Highly recommend!

Heh

I just cracked up so bad I had to leave the room. Chris and I were watching an infomercial for Classic Soft Rock Hits and he ordered it. He made me go fetch the phone for him and "grab his wallet."

"Yes. Classic Soft Rock Hits please."



I

Lost

It.



He sounded so serious. Tears were streaming down my face and I was choking back laughter as he sat there on the phone with the operator.

There ARE great songs on it...reminded us of good times as children: lying in the back of the car next to the glass, staring up out at the nightsky on roadtrips, no seat belt, rolling all around in the floorboard, listening to all these songs, "Dream Weaver", "You Can Do Magic", "Baby Come Back" etc. ...Good times! Go look at some of the songs on the 11 (11!) CDs and tell me which ones bring back good memories for you...oh, and got any good "I can't believe my parents let me do that!" activities to share? (It's amazing what kids in the 50s/60s got to do vs. kids in the 70s/80s and then NOW, you can't let a kid out of your sight...the hyperprotectiveness going on...and yes, I'm part of!)

Joanie?

How does she drive to the take out window?
The comment made by the kid at the window sounds like the morons who work here in town--the only difference is... she would have gotten her order, but it would have been wrong.

Haunting Evidence

Anyone catch this today on Court TV? The thing about N. Holloway? Craziness. I want to believe them.

Guess

Guess the song that Chris and I were talking about:

Chris says, "I really like the song until about halfway in! Then, it starts ratcheting up my heartrate and I do this diagnostic test on myself like, 'what's wrong with me---oh yeah--it's the song' and I turn the station as fast as I can while my hands are shaking and then I'm okay. At first it's such a positive message, you know, you open a window, your book isn't written yet, today's a new day, your life is what you make of it, make it a good one and all of a sudden, I'm a nervous damn wreck."
Jen says, "I feel the same way, plus it makes me want to wash the windows. I don't actually do it, but I think about it."