The plan today... was to sleep in. But I was woken by a heartache at 8.... my boys are gone to Georgia's today. And I am lonely.
WAIT.... don't pick up the phone to cheer me up with a NICE LONG CHAT.... I just miss my kids. Doesn't mean I like the phone now...
Anyway, I think I will rest a lot more with them gone. We'll see how today goes. I know they'll have a blast over there... I spent a good deal of my childhood at Georgia's and the party don't stop.

So me and KSBJ and my quilt squares will be chilling here today...
Man, I'm getting kinda carried away with the ellipsis this morning... somebody STOP me....

Mean Squirrel Attacks Pa. Letter Carrier

Nov 1, 5:12 PM (ET)

OIL CITY, Pa. (AP) - Letter carriers occasionally have to deal with angry dogs or maybe even a spider's nest in a mailbox, but a mean squirrel? Barb Dougherty, a 30-year Postal Service employee, said she was attacked and bitten Monday by a squirrel while delivering mail in Oil City, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh.
"It was a freak thing. It was traumatic," Dougherty told The Derrick in Oil City. "I saw it there on the porch, put the mail in the box and turned to walk away and it jumped on me."
The animal ran up her leg and onto her back, she said.
"I eventually got a hold of the tail and pulled it off me," Dougherty said. "No one was home at the house where I was delivering the mail, but the neighbor lady heard me screaming and came over."
An ambulance took Dougherty to the hospital, where she was treated for cuts and scratches. The squirrel was killed with a BB gun and sent to a lab to be tested for rabies. Dougherty was given the first series of rabies shots as a precaution.
Postal officials said the attack is extraordinary.
"In about 230 years of postal history, I bet it is not the first, but I've personally never heard of another squirrel biting," said Steve Kochersperger, spokesman for the Erie district.
Squirrels do not frequently bite people, said Regis Senko, who works for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Steve Jolley, a Postal Service manager in Oil City, said, "We are not issuing a squirrel alert, but everyone is aware of the incident."
---
Information from: The Derrick, http://www.thederrick.com

Well, I for one have always been wary of squirrels. They should issue an alert, IMO,

So, the new strategy is: sleep later. It makes the day go faster in those situations where one is not allowed to sit up. The challenge is, Daddy and Toby wake at 7. Toby mostly sings and makes happy noises, and throws everything out of the crib. Daddy tries to be quiet, but closet lights and bathroom lights and dropping things and squeaky drawers and hairdryers... you get the picture. So, the strategy is go BACK to sleep after Daddy and Toby exit.
I have been laying down this whole time... pretty much. But today is hardcore bedrest. I was pretty majorly bummed yesterday - I feel much better today.

We need some discussion up in here. I need to be entertained.

Toddler Gets Stuck in Vending Machine
Wis. Toddler Pursuing a Stuffed Sponge Bob Toy Ends Up Getting Stuck in Vending Machine

The Associated Press
ANTIGO, Wis. - Three-year-old Robert Moore went fishing for a stuffed replica of Sponge Bob and ended up trapped in a vending machine. The toddler's adventure began with a Saturday evening shopping trip with his grandmother, Fredricka Bierdemann, and three siblings.
Bierdemann ended the trip by giving each child a dollar and telling them to have fun in a retailer's game room.

A stuffed Sponge Bob in a vending machine's bin caught Robert's eye. He tried without success to fish it out with a plastic crane.

"I told him I could get it for him," his grandmother said. "He's a character. He said, 'Oh no, I can get it.'"

When she turned her back to get another dollar for a second try, Robert took off his coat and squeezed through an opening in the machine. He landed in the stuffed animal cube.

"I turned around and looked for him, and he said, 'Oma, I'm in here," Bierdemann said. "I thought I would have a heart attack."

Store employees couldn't find a key to the machine, so Robert waited while the Antigo Fire Department was called.

"He was having a ball in there, hugging all the stuffed animals," Bierdemann said. "He was so good-natured, but I was shaking like a leaf."

Firefighters broke one lock but then spotted two latches inside the plastic cube. They passed a screwdriver to Robert.

"He stacked up all the stuffed animals and used that screwdriver to open the latch," his grandmother said. "You should have seen him go."

Eventually, Robert freed himself. But his mother, Marie Moore, and grandmother said they were lucky that he remained calm when another child might not have. He went home safe but without a stuffed Sponge Bob.


Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures

I never liked SpongeBob.

The cervix, she is acting up. Sheesh. My measurements were a little shorter today... ugh. So, even stricter bedrest. I think the boys are going to have to go off to boarding school.

I'm bummed but I only have 8 1/2 weeks to go to be safe... so lockdown it is.

Well.... I know you are all anxiously waiting to hear my plan for the day. Logging in 3 or 4 times, even... waiting.
Well.... the moment you have been waiting for is here.

Here's the plan. Lay on the couch. (maybe a hot sock for the aching tailbone) Wait for Toby to fall asleep... projected time 30 minutes... then R2 and I will go watch the extra features on my rental Anne Of Green Gables DVD.
Then lunch... daddy's coming home. Thanks Lisa for the lasagna and salad... it is great!

THEN Lord willing and the crik don't rise, Eva will have delivered the American Idol tape from this week.... and me and the young gents will watch. I will laugh a lot, and they sing and sing. Richy and Toby love this show, and don't discriminate against bad singers.

Nap #2 for Lord Paxton... R2 will also be confined to a couch for "naptime" which really for him is just "don't be LOUD time".

And then Daddy will be home and then I don't know.... no plan.
Now you can all relax and know... today is already underway.

---

INTERESTING TIDBIT ABOUT TODAY
I AM 27 WEEKS!!
3RD TRIMESTER, BABY!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Is it a lack of faith to count down to 36 weeks? I still plan on making it to 40... I just like goals. And I want to get up.

Not feelin too hot today... I've been sick-ish for a few days. Maybe I'll just lay (or lie) on the couch all day.

So I got a little sleep... I am still pretty much exhausted but hopefully the steroids will wear off soon and I can get rested.

I will be updating my other blog soon with food preferences and such...
Fantasy Blog

Drugs... I have lived a relatively drug-free life until the advent of all these babies. Now I am pumped up much of the time... currently just progesterone, steroids, and magnesium supplements.... terbutaline if needed. Ah, and Ambien, around the corner. I have some kind of crazy reaction to antihistamines... I can't sleep, and, while I don't hallucinate, I talk like I am. I wake Richy up in the middle of the night talking about swords, or seafood ... random things. And at the time it makes perfect sense to me, and I am very frustrated with his laughing hysterically. I can't take cough syrup, Benadryl, Tylenol PM, or Unisom. They speed me up. Curious. On the other hand, I can take Ambien or Vicodin with no side effects whatsoever.
It's just funny learning all about this stuff since -during my few non-pregnant days, I don't even take aspirin.
So there you go.

My fuzzy brain is slow this morning, I will read yesterday's comments but you may need to repeat questions... don't boycott me hastily.

Peace.

So yesterday... worked on designing my quilt in the morning... all on the computer so far.
Then I ate lunch and drank my orange drink.... my gestational diabetes test drink which is supposed to zap my blood sugar to the sky and then they test my blood.
So, off I went to the doctor. And began the waiting. 2:00 arrival, in for my blood test at 2:20. Pretty quick.... a few more minutes, time for my progesterone shot. It hurt this week... Then Dr Reed and the other exams.... but my cervix is the same, so YAY! That was my main concern. Then she says she wants me to go ahead and get the steroid shots, in case Brynn is premature at all... so, ok. She has to go check and see if they can do them at her office.
So I am done, I am instructed to go wait out there and see what's happening. They are on the phone with the insurance people... it is taking forever. WAITING. And they are griping about inter-office stuff, which is funny for an innocent bystander. Waiting.
Ok, no they can't do the shot here... I have to go over to the hospital and get it there. Ok. Wait, today? Waaaaaaaah... I already got stuck TWICE. But, off I go down to the lobby to wait for Leah to pick me up and drive me over there... I maybe coulda walked, but I am supposed to be on bedrest.
So I get to the hospital, wrong desk, then off to Labor and Delivery.... ugh.... but! just for the shot. Waiting... really long waiting. Ah, the triage nurse has a dead battery on her cell. So I get in a triage room... and I wait some more. We're talking about HOURS here in L&D. She is a nice nurse, a little chatty about the dead babies topic, but friendly... waiting for the prescription.... by now wer're talking 4:45... and Leah needs to go... so I call and I will get a ride home IF I ever go home.
Of course, 5 minutes after Leah leaves, the nurse is there ready with the shot. OH MY WOW. OUCH.

So now, it's almost 5 and my best bet is to wait till 545 for Richy to get me after work. So I decide to go and pre-register, since supposedly that means I won't have to recite phone numbers to various nurses when I am dilated to 8 and I can't get my epidural yet... oh wait, that was last year. Anyhoo... registration can't take me right now, another victim. So I go get some ice from the hospital ice machine and watch Seinfeld for 20 minutes in the waiting room... she called me back right before I would have had to change channels.
Preregistered... another 20 ish minutes to kill... I thought. Off to the grill where YES I CAN WAIT for a grilled cheese sandwich.
AND YES RICHY I CAN WAIT BECAUSE OF CRAZY CONSTRUCTION.
6:15. I get picked up from my 2:00 appointment and wait until 9 so please can I go to sleep.
But no, insomnia. I give up at 4 am and go downstairs for a few hours. Come back up and lay down. No sleep, anywhere. So here I blog.
And I have to get the other shot today. In my progesterone-riddled hip. Somebody call the waambulance.

Ah, and if anybody wants to help organize some casserole-ish cooking ladies for a couple of days a week... we could really use the help....

Happy Monday, folks...
I'm going to leave anonymous commenting on, as I have enjoyed all the anonymous commenting. If we start getting spammed, I'm axing it.
Doctor's appointment today, 2-ish... I will update on ye Blag. Note: I generally do not feel like talking on the phone post-doctor. This does not indicate hospitalization and labor, only weariness from the ordeal.
My muscles are a wreck... back to back bedrests make Jane weak.

Man, quilting is complicated. I never knew there was so much involved... I have ordered Quilting for Dummies... we'll see how I do.

It was a good weekend... the first since Richy started working that didn't feel panicky and rushed. Plus, I am just not going anywhere... I start getting this take-me-out-to-eat bug and stuff always happens. No, no, no no no no way Jose. I am locking down for 9 1/2 weeks. Only leaving for appointments... that is the plan.

Nothing more to say. Except a few more things. But that's all.

Bide a wee, lass, bide a wee
In your mother safe and warm
Though angels be spinnin their glorious tales
Bide a wee, lass, with me

I've two arms a'waitn
And a home full o' love
So bide a wee, lass, with me

---

26 weeks. 10 to go to full term, 14 to 40 weeks... not far. It seems longer now that I'm waiting for someone specific. My heart was so guarded with Toby... I couldn't believe he was real until he was here. But my wee lass, my Brynnie... I hold her in my dreams. My little pink and white girl... my heart is waiting.

99 DAYS TO GO! WOOHOOOO!

Well, it appears to be warming up outside. Heck if I know. The last time I was outdoors was Monday morning.
For some people, that would be torture. Not so much for me. I like it indoors. Especially during extreme temperatures. What I miss is the freedom to get up and go shopping, or out to eat whenever. And the freedom to get up and do some laundry, or cook, without worrying about my cervix.
But I'm in the home stretch!

Still DELURKING week... if you have not yet unmasked, you should do so!

Nothing more to say... Jane is a dull girl today.

So, even tho the arctic winds blow, and yea, ice is on the very road
as they say, come rain or hail or something something the mail must go through
or the show must go on
and telecom waits for no man
so my man is off to work

Today, I shall lay on the couch. With a large blanket. And read books and watch a movie. And my small people will roam freely until naptime, in which they shall sleep on the loveseat and in the playpen, respectively. And we will not open the door because it is COLD outside. That's the plan.

My younger son is a biter. He makes kissy sounds on your arm or leg, and then CHOMP.

Lurkers- tell us a little about yourself. Heck, tell us about ourselves... everybody knows me, easy. I go around talking about my innards everyday. But like, what about my Northern friends who have never met my Southern friends... whaddya think?

ay chihuahua... it is so cold. I don't know if I am going to get out of my bed today.... too freezy.
Welcome, lurkers! It's fun to see who is lurking... even if you choose to hide your true identity... it just makes it more likely that you are a superhero! Or, Camilla Parker-Bowles, who I have always suspected to be reading.

So, my cervix has slightly shortened... my bedrest will be getting stricter... sigh. I am not in a crisis, it's just not good that it changed, and we have to try to keep it from changing more.

I ordered a bunch of fabric yesterday, my mom and I are making a car seat cover and all the baby bedding... I am primarily in the design/supervisory category, as I cannot sew yet. BUT I am expecting, when I am allowed to get up and frolic in 3 months, to begin learning to sew. So there you go.

Ah, and the baby bedding... pink and black... and french poodles... and a canopy. I am SO having a girl.

It is still delurking week, so if you wish to announce yourself, please do! It's quite fun and kinda creepy to SOME people who obviously have things to hide!

Making plans this morning for a quilt... my newest project... it is at this point all hypothetical.

So, here on my blog it is Delurking week. So de-lurk, announce your presence.
This is especially designed to see who reads, but posts not. Anonymous comments are allowed, for this week only.... I imagine some mutants or such will be around.

Appointment today... shot, ultrasound. Update in the comments later.

Happy Friday! AND HAPPY 25 WEEKS TO ME! HOORAH!!

Been working on a cross-stitch all week... almost done now.... I won't be able to finish it till I have a birthdate for Brynn. We are shooting for April. Late April is when she's due, but our goal is passing the April 1st mark and 36 weeks.

Next week, all you lurkers prepare to unmask thyselves...

Nothing much of interest to say here... looking forward to the weekend and getting R1 back. And freezing rain?? Awesome!!

So, here's my last day in the 24th week. Nice.

I decipher, in some research, that this is National Delurking Week?
I guess I missed it. But, fear not! We shall have Delurking week here next week! I will allow anonymous comments and let's see who's in the lurkage up around here!
And go visit all the blog links over there -------->
and say wassup and such.

Goodbye, all India goers! Have a blast!!!

Still in bed here. Toby is barricaded in my room with me and is very offended that he cannot go and wake up R2.

Stay tuned for updates on my condition.... the phone is ringing over here too darn much. I'll just tell you all here. I am doing very well. I am having regular contractions but my cervix isn't changing. So I am laying down the majority of the time and that helps. I am not lonely, although I miss my hubby a LOT now that he goes to work for the majority of his life.
I can always use books and food. So there you go. I love you all! Well, all the humans, anyway.

Marnin, all.
Today I have an appointment with Dr. Reed... I haven't actually seen her in 5 weeks so it will be good to do that. Also, the shot... which, is not bad at all any more due to the wonderfulness of Heather.

Been thinking a lot about my hair... thinking about some chopee-chop and some color.... or taking out some color. But, that is a topic for another day. With pictures. Oh yes, guys. Soon there will be a hair discussion. Mark your hypothetical calendars.

Feeling pretty good. It's still hard to breathe and especially now because someone in this room is very stinky. Not naming names, but he sleeps in a crib and drinks bottles. Guess I will investigate.

Peace to all the sibs.

Blogger was down all morning. Sheesh.

In the meantime, I couldn't breathe and started getting faint-y and went to the doctor. Looks like I am getting a cold and the combo of that and having a mini human sitting on my lungs was the thing.
So, I still can't breathe well. But at least I have a reason.

Well, Brynn is medically considered viable now. I've considered her a "real baby" for about 6 months now, but viability as far as being able to live outside the womb starts today.
This is the fourth time I have been 24 weeks pregnant. I had the twins at 24w 0d.... R2 at 24w 1d... so as of Sunday, Brynn and I will be in territory that only Toby has reached.
And I'm doing well. Really good. My heart hurts today. For all of my babies and the struggle. And wishing it was different. That R2 was a "normal" 7 year old... that I had toddler twins in here wreaking havoc with Toby... the alternate universe... the other reality of what could have been.
But I only let myself think about it for a minute.
Because I am grateful for what I have. I am so grateful for my sweet sensitive special boy. And my baby... my crazy funny busy baby. And Brynn... the hope of what she will be.
Sorry to bum anybody out, but hey! this is my blog and I'll think if I want to! =)

then you are going to LOVE CLARK # 5! In theatres September 2007!

That makes 10 children between Stephanie and myself. And. we're. just. getting. started. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Babies are a good thing. Children are a blessing. I plan on maybe having a couple more, and snagging a couple from China, and then, who knows?

Well. I'm 24 weeks tomorrow, and at my ultrasound yesterday my cervix was unchanged. Praise God. What a milestone.

Is that walking??

Add to My Profile | More Videos

of the rest of our lives...

Richy started his job full-time today. I have been very emotional, but now that it's here I think I'm okay. He's coming home for lunch, anyway... so that's good.

This is a milestone week for us... the road to 24 weeks. And that's kinda hard. I mean, I'm doing pretty well. Not a ton of contractions or anything negative. Still... it's impossible to not think about the other 3 times I was this pregnant.

So, I'm here... I really enjoy the conversations... I am lurking and don't have much to say at the moment.

Ah, and Toby took some of his first steps! On camera! But I will get the video from Eva later.

Well, here we go, folks. 2007. This was supposed to be the future. And what... no hovercrafts, no personal robots... nothing. Sheesh.
We do have electric cars. That's cool. But I just want a minivan, you know?

Well, I have a very cute video I want to show you. But, it never came to my email... so you shall have to wait. Surely by now the groceries are unloaded! I digress.

You know why I hate New Years resolutions?? Fear of failure... and laziness. And yet, I can't help making them to myself. That's right, to myself. I don't want the accountability of the world wide web.
116 days to go on this pregnancy. That's to 40 weeks, which is my goal. 116 days, 1 day at a time. Not too bad, eh?

Last night we laid here and talked in the New Year. We watched the neighbors fireworks out the window. It was boring, and sweet. Our boys were long since asleep...

New Years 1994/95... we (me, richy, rob, steph) were pushing Richy's car to the gas station.
95/96 I don't know... fireworks at Living Branch
96/97 Fireworks under the Loop. Bottle rockets, over the loop. This was probably illegal.
?
99/00 New Years party at Doug Blakes... we were all waiting for Y2K. What a bummer that was.
??
02/03 The Call Kansas City
03/04 Worship at CTK, fireworks at Radiantville
04/05 ditto
05/06 A quiet celebration at the hospital NICU. Toby had an IV in his head and we called it a party hat... he was basically fine by that point, so it wasn't sad or anything
06/07 Waiting for Brynn...