Care Bear's First Conference

This is going to be a grossly, braggy, Mommy post. So if you hate grossly, braggy, Mommy type posts, click away now. You've been warned.

It is an understatement to say that Care Bear looooooves school. I knew she would, but it's so refreshing to have a child who loooooovvveees school and who dives into her (albeit minimal) homework the minute she gets home from school and tells her friends she can't play until she does her homework.

I really like Care Bear's teacher. She is new to our school this year and is very young and has young children herself. She reminds me a lot of Ramona Quimby's kindergarten teacher and awhile back I actually did a comparison between Ramona Quimby and Care Bear. The comparison is more evident than ever now. (Except that Care Bear does not cause the problems Miss Ramona did).

Anyhoo.....Care Bear received a glowing report from her teacher. Her report card consisted of all 3s and 4s (Kindergarten equivalent to A+ and As). 3s mean she is performing at expected grade level and 4s mean she exceeds expected grade level. By the end of this quarter she was supposed to be able to count to 25. Yeah. She was counting to 25 before she was 3. Feisty can count to 25. She knows all her letters, capital and lower case. She can write all of her letters--capital and lower case. She knows and can write all of her numbers. She knows her phone number, her mommy and daddy's first and last names (which apparently, some kids don't know--hmmmmm). She can use scissors, glue, crayons and all other art accessories properly--she should be able to considering the monumental hours she logs in using these items at home. She can hop on one foot, skip, run, do hop-scotch, etc....She finishes her centers so quickly she wanders around the class aimlessly until her teacher pulls her over and has her read books to her. Care Bear read five books to her the other day. Her teacher adores her, which means I adore her teacher. She can not get over her artistic ability.

Go throw up now because the bragging is not over yet.

On the way up here today (today is a non-kindergarten day so she goes to the Early Childhood Center which is here on campus) she asked me if I would like to hear how far she can count. Of course I said I would love nothing more. She got to 200 and then I decided that we could go on like this until she got to infinitiy and beyond so I quizzed her on other things. I asked her our phone number, which she knew. I asked her who she would call if something happened to mommy or daddy and there was an emergency, and she knew (except she was concerned about the fact that she can't reach the phone--we might need to find another location). Then, just for kicks I thought I'd ask her some math facts. I asked her 5+5, 2+2, 4+4, 10+10 and she answered all with no hesitation. That actually surprised me a little bit. My kid is a freakin' genius. She really amazes me and her capacity of knowledge surprises me every day. How she innately knows the things she knows is unbelievable to me. I hope she always relishes learning and school the way she does now. I hope nothing ever deters her from it.

I'm a proud mama. Sorry to brag shamelessly this way--I just can't help it. I burst at the seams over my Care Bear (I do with all my kids, however I just had a glowing parent/teacher conference with Care Bear's teacher so my seams are currently bursting over her).

To shamelessly steal from Karen: Ilovehermadly!!

Mooooooooooo!!!

The Scene: Early this morning. Mom (me) is in the bathroom brushing her teeth. Care Bear is in Mom's room sitting on the bed watching Mom get ready for work. Mom is wearing a cute, never worn before pink maternity top.

Care Bear: You look like a big, pink cow!!

Mom: (Immediately drops toothbrush, rips off pink blouse and searches
feverishly for another top that will hopefully not make me look like a cow. I
find a striped shirt--also never yet been worn--and put that on).

Care Bear: No! I like the pink shirt that makes you
look like a pink cow. Now you just look like a striped cow.

Mom: (Picks up dropped toothbrush and continues to brush--laughing so hard
in spite of myself that I'm about to spew milk out of my udders).

Mmmmmmmooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Pumpkin Carving Contest

So, here's a fun little thing to do to get you in the Halloween spirit and keep you busy for a few if you're bored (or simply not quite in the mood yet to be doing whatever it is you're supposed to be doing)....

I found this contest through Pea and the contest is held over at "Spilt Milk". Go on over there for the rules for the contest.

Here is my pumpkin that I carved.

HAPPY PUMPKIN CARVING!!

The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

A Sweet, Thoughtful Award!

I was looking through my e-mail today and came across an e-mail from someone named "Mary" who wanted to give me an award. After looking further, I discovered that she had found me through my Mom and had read my initial post when I found out that there may be something wrong with my babies. The award she has given me is called "Amazing Woman Award" and I feel so honored to have received this award from someone who has read my blog once, maybe twice! Mary blogs over at "Mary's Writing Nook". Thank you so much, Mary. You really made my day.



The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

Wordless Wednesday

Pictures of Feisty Taken by Care Bear

And One of Grandma's Sassy Hairdo--Compliments of Feisty

The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

Short-Term Disability

I began inquiring about short-term disability today through my Human Resources Department. I wasn't completely sure I was really going to pursue this avenue until today; especially after spending the entire weekend practically parked in my recliner unable to do hardly anything for myself or for my family. I am also fairly upset and disillusioned by certain things that are happening to me at work here as a result of all the time I have had to take for various appointments for myself and for Feisty. I feel that after 10.5 years of service to this institution that I am being treated rather unfairly and the stress of the situation is not helping matters.

I don't know if "severe pain in the upper leg/groin area and emotional distress in the workplace will be a claim that will be accepted, but I guess there's no harm in trying. I need to be at home. With my kids. Not here.

The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

And It's Official--Perfect Babies

Regardless of the fact that my test results came back showing no chromosomal abnormalities in either of the twins, the doctors were absolutely convinced that this cycstic thing (I can never remember its official name) had to mean that there was something wrong with the babies. So today I did what they told me to do and went back for another ultra sound; this time to make sure there were no other serious birth defects happening and to make sure that the hearts are all good.

This was about the coolest appointment I've ever had because this guy's ultra-sound machine rocks. He can zoom in on the babies and make them look like they're on an IMAX screen. It was wicked awesome. (That's me being 32 and trying to sound like a young 20-something pregnant lady--don't mind me).

He was very thorough on each baby and the ultra-sound lasted almost an hour. He measured every body part he could, looked at the heart, the kidneys, the lungs, the spine, checked for cleft palates, how the feet are growing, etc. etc. etc.....he kept using "doctor speak" to which I would respond, "Is that good? Is that OK?" After about the 50th time of asking that, he finally acknowledged, "Poor Kristen. We've really put you through hell through this pregnancy haven't we?" I responded in the affirmative.

When finally every body part had been checked and re-checked, measured and re-measured, EKGs done on the babies hearts, etc. etc. etc......he finally had to resolve that "These babies are perfect." The only slight complaint he had is that one is measuring about a week behind and he wants to continue to monitor their growth. OK....well tell me something I didn't already know. We've always known one baby is smaller than the other and measuring a week behind. When did this become news?!

The funnest (I really don't think that's a word) part of the whole appointment that totally shocked me when it came up on screen was when he treated me to a 3-D picture of "big squirt"--the one who had the cycstic whatchamacallit. (He truly seemed baffled as to where that thing has gone....) Little Squirt would not cooperate and sit still long enough to get a 3-D picture of her. Stinker. So, for your viewing pleasure....big squirt at 20 weeks.

Isn't technology amazing?!?! Look at that face! I can see my baby's face!!

And by request, here is a belly pic or two--at 20 weeks:

So, that was a pretty great way to start the weekend off! No big plans this weekend--except for cleaning out my closets and putting clothes away. Yipeeeee.

Have a great one!

The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

Picture Day At School

My kids are getting their pictures taken at school today. This is Care Bear's first official school photo. And although Feisty doesn't attend school anywhere as of yet (potty training issues, still.....) she had to get in on the action as well...

Anakin--4th Grade (age 9)

Care Bear--Kindergarten (Age 5)

Feisty (age 3 1/2)--should be in pre-school

Are they not precious?!

Care Bear has a big day today because besides it being picture day, she also has a field trip to the pumpkin patch farm and the fire station. She was almost giddy this morning! Ahhh....to be in Kindergarten again!

The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

I Have A Pain

As in a portion of my body hurts. My legs. Way up high. And it's making it hard to walk and get out of my chair comfortably. I feel like a crotchety old lady. I think I'm going to file for short term disability and just spend the rest of this pregnancy in my bed, on my couch, or curled up in my massive recliner.

I'm only half way through. What on earth am I going to do?

At least I have clothes to wear now. Courtesy of my fabu cousin Karen and my wonderful Mom. What would I ever do without these people to take care of me?! Go naked I guess. And who would want to see that?!



The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!

Blah, Blah, Blah!!

Yuck! I feel so utterly boring and blah and without anything of interest to say these days. Sometimes I feel like I should just shut down again for lack of stuff to write about and because I'm wasting such space in the blogosphere, but--nah. As soon as I did, I'd have something to write about and then I'd have to do yet another embarassing "OK, I know I said I quit, but....." post.

So, here's yet another pointless post from moi.

This week I started to panic a little bit when I didn't feel like I was feeling the babies move enough and when I obsessively checked my belly in the mirror every time I passed one thinking that I just wasn't getting fat enough quick enough. Care Bear didn't help to alleviate that fear when she informed me after waking up one morning that the "babies aren't growing." We have suspected in the past that the child (Care Bear that is) has an eerie habit of making correct predictions. Plus, I was having this little nagging, annoying pain in my upper belly, that of course, just had to signify a problem. Hey--give me a break. Up until a couple of weeks ago, world renowned perinatal doctors were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that both of my babies were going to have severe problems. I think I'm entitled to a little paranoia, no?

Anyhoo--I called up on Monday in a slight panic and insisted I had to be seen. My regular doctor is out this week and that just exacerbated the panic a little bit. How would a doctor who knows nothing about this pregnancy help me? Well, when she did the ultra sound and told me that both babies hearts are beating, they're active as can be and that currently I am measuring at 24 weeks instead of 20 (which is right on for a twin pregnancy), I figured that she must be the most intelligent doctor ever and that I could implicitly trust her judgement. Even more so after she told me that they are beautiful babies. Hmmmm....good to know because all I could really see was some alien looking blobs with an arm or leg popping out every now and then. Doctors must have some special kind of vision. She also informed me that I am "all baby" and that here real soon I'll be really huge. OK, so she didn't say it quite like that, but that's the impression I got. She says I am just the size I should be and that since I didn't eat much the first trimester that now that my appetite is back and I can eat again, I'll probably really start to grow. Yipeeee...........................

Speaking of eating---I am far beyond despair that I am still unable to properly digest my favorite lunchtime delicacy: CHIPOTLE. *sigh*. A few weeks ago, I figured that since I pretty much seemed to be able to keep food down again, that I could resume my two or three times a week Chipotle habit. But it is just not meant to be. I regretted eating that thing about 3 hours after I ate it. At this point, I'm wondering if I ever will be able to eat it again. And what's worse?! I'm having an increasingly difficult time being able to drink my favorite beverages as well. I can drink maybe two or three gulps of a Diet Dr. Pepper before I have to give up and drink some healthy crap like water or something. If nothing else, this pregnancy is forcing me into better eating and drinking habits. (blasted pregnancy!!) Seriously, though. I really enjoy my Diet Dr. Pepper and this is a hard habit to give up--even if it does make me feel sick when I drink it.
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The weather around here is gorgeous right now. Today it got to about 80 degrees or so, sunny, clear skies, etc.....however it's been really difficult to figure out how to dress because in the morning it's barely above freezing. So you have to dress for winter in the morning, and by afternoon it's Indian summer. What a dilemma. This weekend it's not supposed to even get into the 60s. Sounds like fireplace weather to me.
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Feisty has yet another urinary tract infection; despite the tests saying that she has nothing wrong with her, I am really starting to get worried and this is starting to wear on me; and I KNOW it's wearing on her. It's got to be real tiresome for an otherwise active, energetic, happy 3 year old to have to be on medicine and have to feel like crap all the time. My poor baby.
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My kids have already gotten into the Halloween spirit. It wasn't even October yet and they had already bull-dozed Mike and I over to the Dollar Tree and Big Lots to do shopping to decorate and for Halloween costumes. The other evening, they actually put on their costumes and went around the neighborhood "practicing" their trick-or-treating. This was all Care Bear's idea. When she gets an idea in her head, there is NO stopping her.
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That's all I can think of for now. I suppose I'll be back in another two or three weeks after I live another hum-drum two or three weeks--or until I panic about something again!

Happy Wednesday!




The "Baby Name Game" will continue throughout the remainder of my pregnancy (or until I decide on names, whichever comes first). Click on the button in the sidebar to add any names you think of. This is much harder than I thought!