Baby Shower fun!

It was exactly what I wanted--a few friends and family in an intimate setting with light snacks and coffee. No games or formal activities, just people hanging out. We got some wonderful things to celebrate our new baby girl. My mom made this down comforter pad to lay on that is covered with fleece. So soft and wonderful. Brian wanted to sleep with it last night. I thought it might make it more real once we started getting baby things, but no. I think Brian is right that this baby won't be real until she is here. Our friend Heather made Elijah and Mary these beautiful big brother and big sister quilts. The kids haven't put them down yet. Only 7 days to go at work. I am looking forward to being able to focus my attention on the baby. Tomorrow is my appointment with the doctor so we'll see if anything has changed in the last week.

I wish someone would explain to me...

why people feel compelled to discuss how large I look. I will run the risk of sounding like a hormonal pregnant woman, but people...think for a minute. Do I not own a mirror? Yes, I know I am a giant. I swear people do not think before they speak. Here are some of the comments I have gotten this week:

"How do you feel? Like a whale?"
"Are you ever gonna pop?"
"You already look 10 months pregnant."
"You are huge!"

It's getting to the point where I am going to start lashing out. I seriously cannot continue to put on a happy face and assume people are just trying to make polite conversation.

Sick days are relaxing

Not so much when you have a little baby who just cries and you feel so helpless, but when your kids are older and it may be the only time they really like to sit and be loved on. Today was so nice to just hang out with Elijah. He watched a lot of movies on the couch, but we also worked together on a large 100 piece floor puzzle, drew pictures together, and snuggled together. By dinner time tonight he was feeling more back to himself, so I'm hoping to go back to school tomorrow.

37 week baby update

I went to see the doc today and at least confirmed what everyone at work has already told me, "You've dropped." Yes, baby Greene's head is indeed down very low. However, there are no other signs of impending labor. So, we continue the wait.

I have only 11 days of work left and still no substitute lined up. I go back and forth between worrying about my students being left high and dry and then feeling like this is not my problem. I have other things to worry about. I gave them notice in September.

Elijah is sick. Tomorrow will be day 2 of staying home with him. I am not sure what is wrong with him other than he has a fever and just lays on the couch. Quiet. Obviously something is terribly wrong. He went to bed tonight at 7:30 and I sure hope he wakes up feeling better.

Too much fun makes Michelle a tired girl

This weekend has been a blast! We had some friends over for dinner on Friday night and Brian grilled the most delicious steak I have ever had. He is becoming quite the chef. We stayed up late talking about their upcoming wedding.

Saturday morning we decided to take the kids to the Indianapolis Children's Museum with my mom. They were so good and we really enjoyed our time with them. We spent some more time on the lower level with some of the exhibits we don't usually see for very long. We absolutely love having a membership there. I think we will do it again next year. There is no pressure to see everything and it paid for itself after 2 visits for our family.

Last night we hung out with Megan, Everette, and baby Jonathan until almost 12:30 am!! That is the latest I have been up in a long time--well, not laying in bed tossing and turning anyway! It was fun to hang out with our family who we so rarely get to spend time with anymore. Jonathan is so fun to hold. I hold him on the top of my belly and tell him to feel his cousin kicking him.

Today we went to church and I taught Sunday School for the last time until probably next fall. it was fabulous to "fall back" and have an extra hour in the morning before we had to be out the door. We did get some things done, but today is going to have to be our catch up day. I'm way behind on school stuff, our house is wrecked again, we have no groceries, I need to go to the library. I am supposed to be taking a nap, but I just can't sleep. My back hurts and all I can think about is what I need to do today. I have just 2 1/2 weeks of school left before I am on maternity leave and there is still no substitute hired. I am trying to get everything ready and organized so I can leave in peace.

Do I have wrong expectations?

I feel like life just continues to get hard. I thought we were pulling it together. Brian is finally over his sickness, we have battled round 2 of Head lice (my turn this time), and I have been sleeping almost through the night for 5 nights in a row. We totally rearranged the schedule for tomorrow because of Halloween (which we don't celebrate, so no preschool for Elijah) and got everyone taken care of. Then...after dinner (which she didn't even eat) Mary projectile vomits all over the dining room floor. Elijah's comment was, "I can't believe so much throw up could come out of a little girl."

So, tomorrow is screwed. She can't go to daycare. It is going to be very hard for me to stay home. Our school does huge Halloween everything. I just can't stand the thought of a substitute putting on 22 costumes of kids she doesn't know, how wound up my students will be, the wonderful room mothers who prepared snacks to bring in, but will need direction, and then there is the parade around the school into each classroom. Oh, and did I mention I am getting a new student starting tomorrow? WHY???????!!!!!!!!!

I love you, fall break!

This has been the most relaxed I have been in months. I have slept through the night (with only 1 wake up to go to the bathroom--that is "all night" these days) for 3 nights in a row! I honestly think it is the first time since school started. I've been doing lots of shopping, organizing, napping, and playing with my kids. Huge bonus: they are still being nice to each other after 3 days of being home together. Maybe another record.

I went to our womens' small group this morning where we had some delicious egg casserole and discussion about prayer. We only meet once a month and don't meet during the summer, so it was nice to go and have some time with other women.

Everyone is napping right now so I think I will go join them.

Nesting...or "I just can't stand the filth any longer"

Today started my fall break. The kids were at Bible Study Fellowship for the morning and then Elijah spent the day with Gramma Susan, so I had a pretty open day for organizing! I started with the kids clothes. Their dressers have been busting at the seams, but they never have anything to wear. So, I cleaned out all the summer clothes and the too small clothes and the clothes they refuse to wear. Then I went to Target and Once Upon A Child to try to update their fall/winter wardrobes a bit. They had some cute baby furniture and things that I was actually thinking of buying at Once Upon A Child. I just don't have anywhere to put it.

I also cleaned the fish tank that is now empty of fish because I let them all die with my impeccable care. I am hoping to buy new fish tomorrow or Saturday once the tank gets regulated.

I've been trying to take care of Brian because he keeps getting sicker. Today he went to the doctor finally and got an antibiotic. Yay! He too is on Fall Break, but has a bunch of work to do for Purdue, so we probably won't see him once he is off the couch.

The other cleaning tasks I would like to finish include: taking some things to the attic to make room for baby items in our living space and cleaning out closets. It makes me feel so much calmer having things in order.

Fall...where are you?

We are trying to make the most of any proximity of fall we find. Today its in the mid 80's...and it's almost the end of October!!! So weird! It was pretty mild yesterday so we spent a lot of time outdoors which I have been missing terribly. I did much needed yard work, mostly pruning, but also planting bulbs for the first time since we've lived here. Elijah was selling them for a fundraiser at preschool. I hope they come up. Every spring I wish that we would have planted some the previous fall. It will be exciting to see them.

Yesterday afternoon we went to Happy Hollow park and walked around admiring the leaves, we brought some home to do leaf rubbings which was cool. Then we got some groceries and cooked hamburgers on our brand new grill. To finish the night we had a campfire in our yard and had dessert s'mores. A few friends came over after the kiddos went to bed.

Today I am getting baby things ready--washing the car seat and getting a few clothes and blankets washed so that I won't lie awake at night worrying what will happen if I go into labor.

Brian has gotten the sinus infection that I had, so he has been in bed all day! He said for the first time in his life was glad to be sick on the weekend...it's too hard to write sub plans and be gone. Hopefully he'll be feeling up to going to school tomorrow!

Bloominton and Carmel Apples

Saturday was a full day trip to All Saints Orthodox Church in Bloomington. Brian and Dallas played for their fall festival. Father Peter John Gillquist is the priest there and he is also a musician. He also happens to be the founder of the record label that they are going to be a part of as soon as their cd gets done. One of these days...

It was really fun to take a road trip with friends and no kids for a day. It was amazing to me how tired I was from doing nothing but sitting. Sitting in the van, sitting at the festival, more sitting in the van.

Today as I am trying to push on through the tired and do something fun with my family, the kids and I made carmel apples. It was a fun thing to try.

Sick day

I finally gave up. I stayed home from school today to try to get well. My doctor, who is the greatest, called me in a prescription for antibiotic this afternoon. I am feeling better already! ; )

Elijah and Mary went to a Chuck E Cheese birthday party this afternoon and the greatest part was that I didn't have to go. On Saturday Brian and I are heading down to Bloomington for a music festival that he and Dallas are going to play in. My mom is keeping the kids all day and even better... a friend asked today if we wanted free Feast of the Hunters Moon tickets for Saturday. So, my mom will take the kids while we are gone! We wanted them to go, but it is so expensive and you never know how long they will last.

So, you see. I cannot afford to be sick this weekend. I love you, amoxicillin!!

It must be Monday

I didn't think I was going to make it through the day. Why is that everything always happens at once? Today I was feeling so sick and really didn't want to go to work, but I just had too many things that needed to get done today to stay home. I took my class to see the Lafayette Frie Dept. Fire Safety show this morning at Jefferson High School and Elijah's preschool class was there too. I got to see him across the auditorium, but we didn't sit near each other. That was a weird thing to be at a function with my son, but not with him at all.

On another note. I have never really had contractions before and I am trying to figure out what they feel like (a.k.a Am I having them?). I am not a nervous person by nature, but I just realized the other day that I haven't prepared at all for labor since in my mind I am having a planned c-section. I figure since I gave up all hope of delivering a baby naturally, it would be the time my water breaks unexpectedly. Every doctor visit I have had has been totally uneventful this pregnancy--no questions, no problems... well tomorrow, let me tell you. It is going to be a different story. I feel like I am falling apart at the seams. Dr. Schafer is going to be getting an earful of symptoms.

I have 5 more weeks of work which sounds like no time and tons of time all at the same time!

Productive Saturday

I have to admit that I have not been feeling the greatest. I am starting to get nervous about finishing 7 more weeks of carrying this baby. Last night my mom took the kids overnight so we could have a night out (presumably to celebrate my 29th b-day which is Sunday). Guess what our plans entailed? Ordering Applebee's carryout and laying on our couches watching Freaks and Geeks. In case you are not familiar with that show, it was a one season tv show that aired in 1999 about high school kids. It has sort of a cult following and just came out on dvd. We were introduced to it by a teacher friend of Brian's who loaned us his box set. I lasted through about 2 episodes and then loaded up on icy hot patches for my back and legs and fell asleep.

So, I actually got good sleep last night and got up this morning ready to get some things done. Brian and I had a leisurely trip to the grocery store this morning. The laundry is almost caught up, the house is relatively clean, and I actually got to read a few chapters in my latest book and play with the kids--inside b/c it's about 90 degrees out there. I am not going outside. Thank goodness for central air.

I am enjoying the smells coming from the kitchen--Brian is making lasagna for me for my birthday dinner--fresh mozzarella and italian sausage included.

The new baby

I realized I haven't been blogging about my pregnancy very much. I guess by the third baby, well, you know...I am 31 weeks along now, and for any who don't know, I have a scheduled c-section on November 28th. It has been a fairly uneventful pregnancy so far. I've been feeling good, just kind of going about my usual business. The last few weeks have started getting tough on my back as my giant abdomen pulls the muscles forward. I've been a big fan of icy hot patches to get me through the evenings.

It's been fun seeing our new nephew to help get me geared up for having another baby. I am looking forward to really enjoying this baby's infancy because our kids are older. Mary's babyhood was a blur because Elijah was practically a baby still himself. So that's the scoop.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Visiting baby Jonathan

Introducing...

Jonathan Daniel Mills, our first nephew
Born via c-section after a rough 30+ hours of labor
6 lbs. 10 oz
20 in.

The waiting is the hardest part

My sister-in-law Megan went to the hospital to be induced this morning. Even though when I was induced with Elijah I didn't progress and ended up having a c-section, I was hoping Megan would speed right along. Unfortunately here it is 3:32 pm and she is only 1 cm more dialated than she was before she went in. Also, if I would have been working today the time would have passed faster...but, no. At 7:15 this morning when I was combing Mary's hair, what did I find? LICE!!!!! Oh, yes, head lice. So I proceeded to freak out, then dropped Elijah at preschool, took Mary to school with me while I scrambled up some sub plans and waited for a substitute to come. We bought the super-expensive RID kit and for the next 2 hours I proceeded to wash her hair, and pick nits out using this really fine toothed comb. The whole time she screamed and cried because the medicine was stinging her head which has scratches all over it (should have been a tip--she has been itching her head a lot lately). I also did my own head and Elijah's too, but haven't found any more bugs yet. Well, I better get back to the laundry!

Date night

I don't know how it has fallen by the wayside, we used to go out all the time, but nothing helps me get through the week like knowing that I am going out with my husband on a Friday night. I am trying to figure out what we are going to do. There is significantly more pressure when we don't go out as much. I can't wait to have dinner at a restaurant with no play equipment and maybe go for a walk in the cool night air.

Best Buy called yesterday

Can you believe they left a message on my machine that said that after careful inspection my camera's trouble is caused by corrosion and is not covered by the warranty. Hmm. I think that is interesting considering my camera worked fine until one day I took it to the beach and it probably got some sand in the moving parts of the lens. Why did I even bother with the warranty? So aggravating! Especially since my sister in law is going to have her baby any day now and I will not have a camera!!!

Still waiting on my camera

We had a nice visit with our family and had lots of "lasts" for the season. We took our last dinghy ride through the channel over to the beach, our last swim in the marina pool, our last time to play on the playground. It really is a fun place for our kids to go, how blessed we are to be able to go each year and have these memories.

Today it was back to work. I think it might have been the hardest day yet of the year. My students were noisy!! and not wanting to behave. It was frustrating for me and I am sure they saw a side of me that they haven't before...the mean teacher. The teacher who gets angry, shouts to get their attention, and doesn't put up with any garbage.

Mary is sick. It has been three weeks, what did I expect? She is congested, coughing and generally feeling bad. We've been trying to give her extra TLC and sleep. Hopefully she will bounce back soon.

It sure was nice having an extra day off. I cooked our meals for the week and got the house picked up, so I actually went to the gym after school today. Too bad every weekend cant' be a three day.