Week In Review

This week has totally rocked. A fragiliion times better than last week. My 29th Birthday was everything I dreamed of and more. How sad I am it will be another year until my next one and then it will be the big 3-0. But I am going to have a HUGE party. HUGE. A huge surprise party. (Don-this means you have to plan it and I will pretend like I know nothing about it).
My day started out with brunch at Mimi's Cafe with my second mothers. We had a terrific chat and a terrific breakfast.
And then Don took me to the mall and gave me some money to go buy some clothes. So I bought a couple shirts. And that rocked.
And then I went out with some friends to Oregano's and had BBQ chicken pizza and pizzokie. And that rocked too.
And then we watched Sherlock Holmes, and that movie rocked.
And then I remembered I needed to renew my library DVD's before midnight, that didn't rock quite as much.
And unfortunately I was too tired and full to get my free box of Krispy Kremes. But the good news is, Chloe's birthday is in May so I will get some donuts for "Chloe."
(I just can't figure out why I have gained 5 pounds this past month...and why I can't get it off. It is such a mystery.)
Although I don't know how I will prove her birth. I have yet to get her birth certificate. I tried but I failed in completing the directions as stated by the United States Bureau of something or another.
So I probably should try again one of these days. I think all I have to do is photo copy the back of my drivers license or something, but for some reason that has seemed too time consuming to do for the past 3 years.
I digress.
Anyway, thanks for all the well wishes, facebook messages, phone calls, texts, chinese food, mnm's, and chocolate cake I received for my birthday! I felt super famous. Like Sandra Bullock famous...not Lindsay Lohan famous.

Sigh. I had a very, very good day. I am one lucky gal.


Some friends that went with us....oh except the one on the left...it is a very long and confusing story....anyway, I took this picture and someone said, "Hey look-Dave and Elizabeth, and the marriage counselor." And for some reason, I thought that was a really funny comment.

My beautiful friend Elizabeth and my gym partner, who makes working out actually sort of fun.

Okay so Part II :

Now I would like to record my Chloe stories from this week, for journaling purposes.

My Chloe makes me laugh every single day. Except for the days that I am in a bad mood. Then I am just exasperated. But I still think she is funny.

A) A couple days ago I heard her out of the blue saying "Ohhhhhhh dangit" over pretty much everything.

I have no idea where she got that from. No idea.

B) I don't know who loves Target more. Chloe or me. But we both get incredibly excited over their merchandise . She must tell me as we walk through the store very loudly, "Wook it Mom!!!!" with everything she sees. We spent 15 minutes in the princess/doll aisle with her gleefully pointing out every piece of merchandise on the shelf. Her other expressions involve "oooooohhhhh!" "I wike it!" "Thas beautiful Mommy!"

Anyway, as we were walking through Target a lady in a motorized shopping cart was approaching me and Chloe being about 10 feet behind yelled, "Mommy!!! Watch out!"

She also thought the Cascade individually wrapped pillow type dish detergent thingees were marshmallows.

She also has a tendency of just throwing things she likes/wants in the cart. And I usually just gradually sneak them out of the cart one by one.

C) I mentioned she likes throwing things in the cart. At the grocery store the other day she threw half a watermelon in the cart before I could stop her.

D)Today when I took Chloe to the kids care at the gym, she told the lady working that she needed to use the potty. Uh, Chloe never uses the potty at home. She has no interest.

Apparently she went in the bathroom and came out and said she was wet.

And when asked why, she said it was because she sat in the toilet.

Now I wasn't there, but the evidence left us to conclude that she sat in the toilet with her clothes on.
Sigh.

Well that is all.

Dear Don,
It is my Birthday tomorrow and I know you have been fretting and worrying all month about what special gift you are going to give me.
Now you know I am not a material girl, even though we are living in a material world, and you know I get no joy out of gifts or nice things, but I know you are exhilarated by shopping and gifting, that I just don't have the heart to take that experience away from you.

Therefore, I have stretched my brain, very very far, and have come up with a few things you could give me, if you just absolutely must buy me something.

1. Anything from Anne Taylor Loft.
2. Any throw pillow from Pier 1.
3. Any picture of a President on a greenish rectangular piece of paper.
4. A Dyson vacuum
5. New Dish set
6. Anything from Anne Taylor Loft.

Like I said, it was very hard to even come up with the list, I gain such little pleasure from these sorts of things. But I am thinking of you and your happiness, so shop away if you must.

Yours Respectfully and truly,
MMM

Doesn't my little flower patch look happy?

This is what happens when you send your child off with her Dad for the day.
Don is an Eagle Scout, and I have to say, he really does know how to make use of the available materials.

PS Chloe couldn't care less about being potty trained.

This is our Anniversary before I thought I was going to die (see below). Don told me I do not cut my meat in the dignified manner. What? I don't see it.

So he showed me the proper way to do it. Oh, and your put your knife down before you put the piece in your mouth.

I personally like the "Me want meat" way.

And we sat on opposite sides of the booth. So here we are.

So you want to hear a crazy story?

It is 2:30 AM and I can't sleep.

So back up.

Let me just say this past month has been...

Delightful.

To make a long story short, I have been waiting around for more than 2 weeks since I found out for sure, to miscarry. But really, I think it has been at least 4 for sure that nothing has been going on in there.

If I were still pregnant I would be ten weeks by now.

I finally went into my Doctor this past week and they gave me some magical pills.

They told me the process would take 4 hours and they gave me some vicadin and sent me on my merry way.

Well I had heard horror stories so was quite apprehensive, nevertheless I figured it was my best option.

Well 4 hours went by with basically nothing of consequence. So I took a couple more pills as instructed...slept through the night, and again, nothing of consequence. No pain medication needed at all.

I called my Doctor the next day and told her and her opinion was that it had in fact taken place, and that I was lucky that it was so painless and basically inconsequential. I felt extremely grateful too and thought...well that was absolutely nothing like I had heard.

That was on Wednesday night that I started the process. And Thursday came and went with little to write home about.

Well...tonight Don and I were eating our Anniversary dinner at Black Angus (ps did you know you can get a free steak dinner during your Birthday month by registering in their birthday club?) when out of the blue I started to cramp. I didn't think much of it.

Boy am I glad we didn't get a Pizookie.

We got out of there in just the nick of time.

As we drove to my Dad's to get Chloe, the cramps got a little worse.
And luckily I got in my Dad's house before the fun really began.

Before it got too bad I told Don I wanted to get home.
And I am glad I did.

I was opposed to taking Vicadin at first because I don't like how I react to strong pain meds most of the time.
But let me just say, the pain quickly made me say, who cares!! Give me that darn Vicadin!

And just about right before I though I was going to die...the Vicadin came to my rescue and oh what joy filled my heart.

My darling Chloe tried her best to help me. "Mommy, I get you something else?" "Mommy, I hold your hand?" "Mommy, I sit on your lap?" The last one was very sweet, but under the circumstances, a very bad idea. She is my little sunshine, and the reason I think I would go through even worse pain to have another one of her. Not that I want a clone...you know what I mean.

All I can say is literally, God bless the soul who discovered that drug.

So I guess I can officially say it is over. It was so anticlimactic before.
And I just think, isn't that the way...on our Anniversary...but then again...I guess that is what marriage is sometimes, and why I am grateful for it. Someone sticking by you at your very worst.

Life is just really funny, isn't it?

PS I am doing fine, don't feel sorry for me. I mostly wrote this because I thought the irony of it all was too much not to be recorded. This has been quite a strange month for me. Thanks to all for putting up with me!

PPS Maybe the Vicadin made me write this, and I will seriously regret it in the morning!

PPPS Moral of the story? If someone gives you Vicadin...take it.

PPPPS At least I will never forget this Anniversary.

Well today is our 5 year anniversary. Wowsers. The weather is similar today as the day we got married...well a little cooler today. But by the time of our reception that night, it was quite chilly, just like it is today. Today would be ideal weather to get married in. Breezy and cool all day. Not typical for this time of year. In fact we are heading towards 90 degrees next week.

A couple days ago I went to lunch with some old friends. They are like my second mothers. We were talking about how 5 years ago they did the flowers for my wedding and they remarked, "Isn't it amazing the things that have happened the last 5 years. You are a different woman."

And I asked "Are you all different than 5 years ago?"

And they said "yes. The learning curve continues!"

It's been a good 5 years.

Here's to another....

50th Wedding Anniversary Fiesta

This weekend was awesome. Up until yesterday when I (via Don) got served with a traffic ticket. That is just plain low to do to someone on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. I cried. But the rest of the weekend was a whirlwind of activity. Don's family was in town this weekend for the 50th wedding anniversary of his Aunt and Uncle. There was a huge Fiesta with dancing, food, Mariachi band, and lots of bugs. And a cake. That Chloe and her cousin were very interested in.

I liked that they were some of the only spectators of the cake cutting.

Said Aunt and Uncle.

Just got back from the Pat Tillman Run. A run honoring and fundraising for a local and National War Hero who died in the line of service.

It was motivating, patriotic, and by golly, I love America.
And running AFTER I get the endorphins.
Not so much during.
My legs felt like railroad ties for some reason.

4.2 miles and I ran it in 42 minutes. I could have done better if there were not so many dogs and strollers there. Babies and dogs....who needs them.

Just kidding. The world would be a sad, sad place without babies and dogs.

I would have taken pictures but I had no room to stuff a camera-I had already stuffed too many other essential things in my underclothes.

I have absolutely no idea how this conversation got started. But, I think you might enjoy it.

Chelsey: I am going to be eating solid foods until I am 70 years old, which is a very, very long time away.

Me: Uh Chelsey...Dad is almost 70 and he still eats solid foods.

Chelsey: He eats Malto-Meal for breakfast every morning.


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Evidently, things to look forward to when we are 70.

Chelsey turned 22 today. Yesterday my Dad threw a big shin dig. We had Italian food, orange julius, salads and a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream cake. I am writing what we ate because I really like food.

Cousin Stacey surprised us with a visit.

Of course my Dad called in the band.

And the bumpkins.

My favorite picture.

And the story teller thoroughly captivated my daughter.

Oh wait. I lied. This is my favorite picture.

The only criticism I have is that there was no pinata.

A few years ago my Dad got a pinata and filled it with pecans, oranges, and unwrapped chocolate that became coated in dirt once the 50 pound pinata filled with oranges, hit the ground.

Needless to say, that was the only time I have ever seen no one go for the loot from a cracked pinata.

How I wish we had a video of that. That would provide me hours of entertainment.

Okay I know my moves leave much to be desired, but Kate Gosselin is seriously well...see for yourself.




And this had me in tears.

My Date With Destiny

Well my date with destiny did not turn out well.

Now if I were a mystery writer, I would have waited until the end of this post to reveal that fact.

However I am not into suspense right now.

I have been in suspense for 10 days and today I am just grateful to know.



I am not like "normal" pregnant women.

When I am 6 weeks along, the powers that be, make me come in for a little afternoon tea.

Okay not really, I actually come in for an ultra sound.

That was 10 days ago.

You see I have something called Factor V Leiden.

It is a pretty common blood clotting disorder.

A lot of people have it and don't know it.

1/20 of the Caucasian Population actually.

It usually doesn't cause problems.

But it caused problems for me.

And it put me in intensive care a few years ago with a massive blood clot in my leg.

An experience that is definitely in my top 3 list of worst life experiences ever.

Anyway.

Because of this unfortunate event, when I am pregnant I have to inject myself twice a day with blood thinning heparin.

Thus, the reason the powers that be, have me come in for tea.

They like to get me started on my shots ASAP. But they want to make sure there is a viable pregnancy first before I get started with the unpleasants. Which I think is very nice of them.

Almost 4 years ago I went in for my first Ultra Sound.

And on that monitor I saw a little flashing light.

That little flashing miracle.

The heartbeat of my soon to be, little red headed joy of my life.

10 days ago I went in for my 6 weeks appointment and no flashing light.

My Doctor told me not to jump to conclusions-it might be too soon to see.

I told her I am a pessimist, and jumping to conclusions is what I excel at.

But she said, well come back in 10 days, and we will check again.

Well that was today.

I have been preparing myself for either scenario.

Flip flopping from hope, to accepting the possibility it might not work out.

But praying that either way I would be okay.

And today my prayers were answered.

I didn't see a flashing light on the monitor.

But I didn't cry.

I felt "okay."

Everyone at the office was extremely kind.

After my ultrasound 2 different Doctors came in and talked to me.

I told the first one that came in that he was always the one who delivers the bad news to me.

When I was pregnant with Chloe I had an ultrasound that detected possible birth defects.

And he was the Doctor that came in and told me.

So now, his reputation continues!

I told him next time I see him, he better have GOOD news.

He said he hoped so too.

And then the second Doctor told me she knew how I felt because she had 9 miscarriages and never had any children.

Now that made me want to cry.

When I got home my little Chloe joyfully beamed, "Mommy, Mommy!"

My favorite word.

And that made me very, very happy.

Hopefully someday soon I will have a little chorus singing "Mommy"!

But until then, I am going to enjoy my little soloist and just be thankful for all the blessings (and curses!) that come along with being a woman.

Easter

Gorgeous weather. Going to church in the comfort of your own home. Variety of scrumptious foods and baked goods. Spring colors everywhere. I love Easter.

B-17

We took a field trip to Deer Valley to check out a restored B-17 Bomber.
My Dad's older brother flew one of these in WW II so my Dad is fascinated with them.
WWII soldiers are rock stars in my opinion. Heck no would I ever get into a plane when I knew I was going to be shot at. I barely like flying Southwest. I pray the whole time that the plane is not going to crash.

As you can see Chelsey had a great time. She told me it was "the second worst afternoon of her entire life." Although she has had many of these so I think this statement is inaccurate. She has also told me that she is not speaking to me for the rest of her life, "which is going to be a very long time, because I am going to live for a very, very long time."

Chloe enjoyed touring the plane though, as there were a few places to sit down, and she had to try them all.

The plane was a pretty tight squeeze in places. There were some people who had to back out because they were too large to get through at a certain place. I think this would be rather humiliating. Thank goodness I fit.

Chloe likes to watch planes.

Chelsey brought this hat to wear, it is from her Easter ensemble circa 1998. We thought Chloe was a better fit for the hat. You can see where my nerdy hat tendencies come from. I wish I had gotten a picture of my whole family wearing our hats. We looked like an outing with the Nerdy Hat Club, if that existed.

Anyway, it was a fun and enlightenging afternoon.

The Unveiling

Well I am mighty darn proud of myself.
Remember how I said I took up sewing?
And that I was going to make a duvet?
Well darn it. I did it!
Thanks to the help of my sister- in- law, Leonore. I am pleased to announce I only made about 3,341 mistakes. And that there are still a few finishing details left, which could raise the tally to like 4,021.

But overall I am happy with the result

It is white and puffy as I had imagined. Very "Sound of Music"esque.

And best of all, it did not cost me $200 plus tax, like the original from: "I spent my husband's whole pay check on a Scarf Store" AKA: Anthropolgie.

It cost me around $55.

If I were to pay myself hourly though, I would say I made about $.25/hour.

So I am thinking mass producing these for Etsy would not be advantageous if I am in the market for money making.

Slave labor, now that is another story.

But I am not interested in slave labor.

But maybe Chloe is.

But judging from her sorry attempt of picking up thousands of shredded paper off the office floor (see previous post), I am guessing she is not either.

Here is the original.
Wow. You know it is kind of hard to type with one hand.

The other one is busy patting myself on the back.

Chloe Strikes Again

Also.
We went to Don's office tonight to help him move out.
Chloe helped him move out by dumping an entire trash can of shredded paper all over the floor.
It took me over an hour to clean it up.
Have you ever tried cleaning up shredded paper with a cheap vacuum whose only use is chewing and spitting things back out, a broom, and your bare hands?
I suggest not trying it.
Unless you enjoy lessons in futility.
In that case, this is an excellent activity.