Hi All!  Just so you know, I'm still around.  I just rarely have both hands free long enough to do anything other than the absolutely neccessary stuff like cooking, cleaning, etc. Our baby girl is 7 weeks old now.  She is growing like crazy and is starting to goo and gah and smile.  Her nighttime sleep habits are still pretty random.  She is alert more during the day now so I'm hoping that will translate to more sleep at night. The start of the new school year alon...

Well I just got back from spending 11AM Friday-3PM today at the hospital.  No, I didn't have the baby.  I spent that time being "observed". I went to my OB checkup Friday morning and my BP was 162/92.  I have a track record of preeclampsia with my first and high BP with my second so the doctor sent me to the hospital for a non stress test.  I figured they would monitor me for an hour or so and send me home...wrong. I guess my consistently elivated BP along with headache...

I've been having my 7yr old niece over to play with my boys a couple times a week for the Summer.  During one of her last visits she asked "Aunt Debbie, how did you get pregnant?"  I told her that was a question that she really should ask her mommy.  I really didn't feel it was my place to field that one!  Of course Alex, my 9yr old, chimes in "It has to do with eggs and sperm."  I told him that was really as far as the conversation should go. Today I took my boys sho...

Today I thought I was just going out for lunch for my birthday.  I got to the restaurant and all of the ladies from Stardock were there.  I thought "What a nice birthday surprise!".  I didn't even notice the pile of presents I sat right next to until I saw a little mint bag in front of me that read "Ashley Grace Wardell".  These wonderful ladies gave me a baby shower! I was totally and completely surprised and delighted.  They all picked out such sweet, pretty and use...

One of my requests for my birthday this year was a massage chair.  Yesterday it arrived.  Oh how I love that chair! It is in the bedroom right by my side of the bed.  You can watch TV or listen to music while enjoying it.  I gave both a try yesterday.  When it first arrived I got in it for about 20 mins.  My sons of course were begging me most of that time for a try.  That 20 mins gave me such a boost in energy! It is amazing how much lower back pain can ...

Did I NEED pretty painted toes?  No.  Did I need a foot, leg and back massage?  Hell yeah.  And I got it today for a mere well spent $30.  I have a wonderful nail place near me that takes you on a walk in basis.  If I had to make an appointment, it would have never happened.  My boys got hot running around and riding bikes outside so I made a deal with them.  They needed to be good and patient while I got a pedicure and I would in turn take them next d...

I have about 5 weeks left of pregnancy and I already feel maxed out.  The way the baby is situated right now, straight up and down, I feel literally full of baby.  I feel like she has been kicking stuff that's in my stomach back into my throat. I used to joke with my husband that things that grossed me out "made me throw up a little bit in my mouth".  It's no joke now.  I have to take Tums even when I eat Cheerios! People keep saying I don't look "that pregnant" meaning...

I didn't get Angela's permission to blog about this because I haven't gotten the chance to talk to her yet.  I figured she would appreciate some well wishing though.  She was in a car accident on the way home from work last night and spent the night in the hospital. I only have third hand information and hope to hear from her this afternoon or evening when she is expected to be home.  The info I got came from her husband to her mom and what they said was that she was rear-ended...

It seems like every store I go into now has its own store customer member card.  I have them from a couple of local grocery stores I frequent and have a bookstore card also.  Of course I have a video rental card but luckily they also accept my driver's license because I never seem to have the darn card on me. That is the problem with those cards.  It seems I never have them with me when it would actually do me any good.  Half the time the grocery stores don't even require ...

From the waist up I probably look like a fairly normal pregnant woman.  My legs, ankles and feet are freakish though.  The swelling is totally out of control and I have veins that make it look and feel all the more wonderful. Of course it is incredibly hot right now so I want to wear shorts and skirts.  Unfortunately that lends itself to having my freaky lower half exposed.  I am certain I make people uncomfortable just by looking at me because I see the looks on their fac...

I'm not happy with myself right now.  I'm moody, tired, achy, emotional, crabby, scatter brained and needy.  I can't take even the smallest criticism without feeling like I'm going to cry.  By 3PM I feel like I need a nap...I hate it! I don't remember being like this with my other two.  I don't know if my body is that different now or if my expectations are different.  I do think I'm a lot more hormonal this time and have heard that many moms expecting girls feel that...

I love my children dearly and luckily have the ability to laugh most of the time rather than getting cranky and fed up.  I have to remind myself that the constant "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" is because they love and need me not because they are purposely trying to make me lose my mind. Those of you who are fellow SNL fans and have small children probably understood the title right away.  Chris Farley had a skit where he had celebrities on, would ask them "Remember when you____?"  Th...

I finally have a free minute so I thought I would write down a quick synopsis of our TX trip for those of you interested. On 4/27 we headed to Dallas. Everything went very well. My hubby had the forethought to rent a car with GPS...Thank god!! Dallas highways are crazy! We stayed at the Hilton Suites North Dallas which was right across the street from the Galleria Mall. That turned out to be a most excellent feature of our stay. Or first night we got settled into the room and headed...

Getting ready for vacation is a whole lot like work!  First comes nailing down dates, flights and hotels.  Then there's making lists of things you want to make sure to pack.  Of course you have to do some shopping to get some of those things.  There's also the subject of keeping up on the laundry so you have enough clean clothes to pack. I am now at the point of getting things arranged for the house and about to do the actual packing.  I am always a bit uptight until ...

I planned on getting plenty of rest- I didn't fall asleep until around 3AM I planned on getting up as soon as the alarm went off to exercise- I slept an extra half hour I planned on not snacking tonight- I just got done having some blackberries and Special K (guess it could be worse) I planned on getting to bed early tonight- here I am blogging at 10:30 and I'm wide awake!! (so is the baby.  She's what kept me up last night too).