beating the odds

4 years ago I visited a friend who had a young baby girl with a very serious medical condition.  I held that little baby and wondered how her mother could handle the stress of her treatments and the knowledge of an 80% mortality rate for her baby girl's condition.  Well, today that baby girl started kindergarten alive, well and cute as a button.  It's time for a happy cry!

a new day

It's Sunday morning and we just returned from a trip to the store. And I don't have PTSD from it. Same kiddos, same reluctance to leave the toys at home. Yet today's trip was met with acceptance if not pleasure. There was little argument and at the store Little Guy stayed calmly in tow, waiting with near perfect patience while I searched the shelves, even allowing me a moments peace to weigh my options. He asked me very nicely, "5 more minutes?" and only tried to drive the shopping cart off with Baby Boy once when my selection process stretched too long. He walked right by toys I know he would love to possess without pestering me once to get them. At check out he greeted our cashier with "Nice mustache!" and responded sociably to small talk. The only melt down the whole time was a small one from Baby Boy, who feels it is a great injustice that Big Brother gets to walk in stores while he must ride in the cart. The cherry on top of this nice trip -- listening to another mom one aisle over come completely unglued screaming at her kids to behave. "That is not how you behave!" and "Because I said so" were generously verbalized. Don't get me wrong, I feel for that stressed out mom. But THANK you, universe, for both letting someone else have a turn and for showing me I am not alone in my store drama issues.

a new year update

The holidays
It was great seeing everyone for Christmas, being in old familiar places, and seeing sunshine and blue skies again. The price of all this was a whole lot of driving thanks to our airport shutting down all flights. Little Guy handled all the car time (14-15 hrs each way) better than I would have ever dreamed but the drive home was really, really rough. Portable DVD players are worth their weight in gold. And in the most desperate of times, in the darkest of hours, mini chocolate donuts can really make a toddler a much happier person.

The pregnancy
As recently as our drive home I was puking on the side of the road in the freezing cold (needed to stay awake so no nausea meds) but I am doing much better now. I've been off nausea meds for 5 days now and I think I'm going to make it this time. I'm a lot more energetic in my waking hours without the meds, thats for sure. Sleeping is getting rougher and I miss being able to lay on my back. A lot. But I'm managing!

The baby
We had some ultrasound findings that while statistically are probably nothing, still have to be checked out so we will be visiting a perinatologist in a few weeks. In the meantime I'm trying not to worry and to be reassured by the stats. Also we're trying to agree on a name for BabyTwo. I feel we're not far off, but who knows? He's been kicking a lot and hubby finally got to catch some good ones the other day.

The big brother
He really enjoyed seeing everyone at Christmas, too. He remembered exactly where his grandparents kept all the good stuff thats the most fun to get into. He's been especially clingy with me lately. On the one hand it's very sweet and warms my heart. On the other hand I want to foster more independence now so it doesn't sting so much when the baby comes. I love my cuddle time with him and don't want to lose it, but he simply will not be able to sit on my lap or be held all the time once BabyTwo arrives.

The Hubby
He recently found 2 of his 3 tackle boxes that have been missing since the move. His dad also sent him home with a zodiac boat and is currently repairing a motor for it. Now if his favorite fishing spot would open back up he'd be set!

catching up

Last week we flew down to Berkeley for our Dave Matthews Band show and I thoroughly enjoyed our time. These shows are indescribable magic to me. They always have been. With LeRoi gone it is different -- I actually fought off tears when his sub started playing his part on the first song. But the magic is still there. Especially enjoyable at this amazing venue. Exponentially more wonderful with my husband beside me equally enraptured. It was hard to cut it short after just one night, but work is work. 16 hours later we were back in Oregon and hubby was back at work. In my old mothery age it is pretty much impossible to get in the 6+ shows/year of my youth. That makes these single tastes all the more sweet.

totally psyched

yes, just yesterday i was crying about the move. but that was then and this is now. the tide has turned and now I am SOOOOO excited about it!

this morning hubby and i figured out he has only 2 more commutes away from us before the move. 2 more horrible sad goodbyes. thats it!

whenever i get all pitiful about leaving i just have to remind myself how much this situation has sucked, how horrible it really has been...especially for hubby. but soon soon soon that will be a thing of the past!

awesome, awesome and awesome!

exciting possibilities

We're set for house hunting next week! I feel so much better now that the arrangements have been settled through corporate travel. We got the flight and accommodations I had hoped for and I feel significantly less tense about traveling with Little Guy. Hubby and I are both excited about the trip and finding a new home. And about our new life together in what seems to be a very nice area.

On a separate note, we also got the confirmation that our corporate moving service includes packing up of the house -- awesome, awesome and also awesome!