lepetitpouletnew

BLOG ADDRESS CHANGE....PLEASE UPDATE

2008-09-27T21:56:00.001-07:00

Hello! So I've been working on trying to make a blog where I can post larger images. I think I have it figured out....*crosses fingers*....if I don't then I will pack up and move on back to this address. But for now please click the picture below to come with me to the new Le Petit Poulet.

I would love for you to change your bookmarks and join me!

If you come to my house and I'm playing with my camera......

2008-09-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

You will get your picture taken!!
I like to call these pictures "Ode to Vanessa and G".
As I mentioned before my beloved 30D and fancy dancy lens are off to parts unknown to be repaired. It's a little strange to have your camera sent away with no word from anyone on how it's doing or when it will be feeling better. Sort of like sending away your troubled kid to a wilderness program or something.
My first thought upon the cameras departure was "OOOOOH I guess I need to buy a backup camera. The backup camera shall be bigger and shinier with more bells and whistles so that it will eclipse the current camera therefore sending the 30D to backup status whilst the new camera sleeps on a satin pillow beside me!!!!!" Mwahahahahaha. And then as the days rolled by I remembered "oh yeah....I have a backup camera....where is that thing?" So I dig out my Rebel. Not the new fancy Rebel but just the happy go lucky Rebel that I once used for everything including photoshoots.
It wasn't bigger and shinier than the 30D and it's bells and whistles were not as loud and ringy dingy (did I just say ringy dingy??) but it was once a great camera that took excellent shots and warrented a place on that fictional satin pillow....but instead it had been tossed on the shelf and left for dead.
So I dusted it off and tried to remember how it worked!
The first day I was playing with it in the yard with Little One when G arrived home from her playdate with her bestest buddy G and her mom Vanessa.
They ran around and played as I tried to coerce them into looking my way for some pictures. Vanessa's G gave me that look she always gives me....that "lady you are nuttier than a fruitcake" look.
I love how these pictures turned out. Vanessa is one of the most awesome people I have ever known. She is bold and hilarious and is in the process of writing a book which I have been lucky enough to talk her out of a rough draft to read!
She was unfortunate enough to have befriended me right before I got pregnant and to her credit stuck by me through the horror of the Barf-O-Rama, HemorrageFest 08' and beyond.
She is an awesome mother to her G who is wonderfully unique which is why my G and myself love to have her around! And c'mon look at that kids eyes and lips....I've wanted to take some fancy pics of her since the first time G brought her home to play!!!
I have to say, after the last post and comments it is true. My friends are my sisters that I never had and always wanted and I'm grateful for all of you!!
(and if you come to my house and I have the camera out be prepared. I will take your picture and I will make an ode to you too!!!!)
p.s. Please people save your pennies and don't feel like you have to have the biggest and brightest and most expensive camera. Learn to use the one you have and you'll be taking amazing shots that you can hang on your walls in no time!!

Missing You....

2008-09-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

This week is the first week that G is going to school all day. I have suffered over this (just ask anybody I blah blah blahed to about it over the last few months). I wasn't ready for her to go...I'm still not. Time is flying by so fast and no matter how hard I try to grab it and wrestle it to the ground forcing it to stop, it won't. She just keeps growing....getting smarter and funnier and more incredible.
I can't believe I have a seven year old, how did that happen?
Well, I guess I know how it happened!!
I know that Little One misses her too. Today she heard the sounds of kids on the street outside and ran to her window. She thought maybe her sister was coming home..."not yet" I tell her "not for a few more hours."
It seems so weird without her crazy laughter in the house all day. It seems weird to not run into her in all the usual places as the day ticks by....to hear her playing petshop in her room or coming out to tell me one of her jokes where the punch line never quite makes sense!
When she came home today Little One couldn't keep her hands off of her.
We were sitting in the yard, where I was trying to figure out how to use my old camera again while my beloved 30D is in the repair shop.
I could hardly pry them apart long enough to take any pictures so I just started snapping away at what I could get.
Sisters.
Makes me wish I had one too :)

A Passion for Fashion and Photography!

2008-08-29T00:49:00.000-07:00

It is the rare occasion that I feel like doing a photoshoot so how much fun was this beautiful Saturday morning that Kristen and I took our girls out so that I could take pictures of them sporting their funky new clothes!
Kristen and I are in love with Matilda Jane Clothing (www.matildajaneclothing.com) That love turned into a full fledged passion for Kristen who put together a trunk show that I am going to co host with her on September 6th. I could seriously buy every piece in their line and be hap hap happy!! They even have womens clothing that is fantastic.
I sent out a few emails to friends and mommies with girls! If anybody else would like the trunk show info let me know and I'll email you :)
When I have a great day like this one it makes it soooooooooooooo hard to turn down clients for photos.
There are moments I think "should I go back and take pictures again?!?!?!" But then I look at my sweet baby boy and my girls and how much time it will take away from them and I know I can't do that.
What would Barry Manilow do?? *see last post for this reference hehehe*

In Love

2008-08-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

It's official....I'm in love. He's sweet and dramatic with big feet and even bigger blue eyes. While I have been traumatized from the events of his birth it has not altered my adoration for him one bit!!
And I think I literally am traumatized.
The bleeding has stopped and life has resumed....such a great thing but at the same time I am having a hard time moving past it. I am just now starting to be able to sleep without the t.v. on at night. It was a habit I developed at the hospital so that I wouldn't be startled when the nurses burst in or the blood snatchers arrived to tap another vein to fill their keg!
I still worry everytime I go to the bathroom that I'll start hemorraging....I have cramps quite often and wonder if something frightening is going on inside that I don't know about. My mother actually said to me the other day "a friend of mine had pain in her stomach after hemorraging and it turned out she had blood in there that was pushing on her liver." HOLY CRAP DO NOT TELL ME THAT!! I don't need to wonder if blood is filling up inside of me drowning my organs.
Once I came to the conclusion that I needed to move on with my life...pull myself up by the bootstraps and overcome this....that is what I've done.
I love the normalcy of friends dropping by to say hello, playdates with laughter and the little faces of my girls friends that I absolutely adore....kids who wondered what the h@ll happened to me when I got all giant, lost my sense of humor, and stopped having them come over to play!
I love being able to eat again and not barf. And sadly I actually enjoy cleaning and doing laundry. There's something about a hospital and wondering if you're going to hemorrage to death that makes you appreciate the little things....or in the case of my laundry basket of dirty clothes, the BIG things.
This baby-o-mine gives me so much joy I can't even begin to describe my love for him. I love hugging him and squeezing him and kissing his little face until he looks at me with an expression on his face that says "PLEASE KNOCK IT OFF!!!" I love ploppping a red knit cap on his head, pretending he is the gome of G's room there to grant her three wishes......we'll save that story for another time hehehehe.
For weeks I would cry and tell Bri that I just wanted to be a mom again instead of some lifeless person in a hospial and now that I am getting the chance I don't want to miss one moment.

Are you wondering when I'm going to get out of my contemplative sappy mood? I don't know if I will.....what if I stay this way forever?
What if I become one of those people that just sits and stares at old photo albums, listens to Barry Mainlow and talks about the "old days" with a wistful smile on my face? At the Copa....Copa Cabana...." *sigh*

The Reign of Baby {Son}Shine

2008-07-31T09:57:00.001-07:00

Born: June 22, 2008
Weight: 10lbs 3 oz
Height: 22 1/2 inches
Baby {Son}Shine arrived two days before the scheduled induction. He must have finally gotten the hint that I was ready for him to come! In addition to coming two days early he was 1 lbs and 3 oz larger than the last guestimation.....this is the point where you may feel free to say OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. 10 lbs 3 oz he made his way out and in the process broke my tailbone because of his mighty girth!! But lemme tell you he was GORGEOUS. Nothing like a big hunky quarterback baby being placed on your chest with big beautiful arms and legs and the cutest cheeks.
While my son has been doing well I have not.
Following the birth I just never felt good and bad went to worse until I was diagnosed with a uterine infection (about 10 days later) and about 12 days following his birth I began hemmorraging so badly I had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance where I was passing liver sized clots....I spent the next six days in the hospital feeling worse than I have ever felt, wondering if I was ever going to see my family again. I had blood transfusions and a surgery and more medicine hung and put through my IV than I had ever seen in my life.
When I finally was able to leave the hospital weak and depressed I came home only to have to return by ambulance five days later for hemmorraging again. They had drained my veins so horribly the first time (I also had phelbitis in the IV arm) that the ambulance personel tried twice to get a vein for an IV and couldn't do it. They had to leave it for the ER (also leaving me with the most painfully bruised arm from missed IV's that I have ever felt). A second surgery was done with a scope this time....apparently the placenta had adhered to the uterus making it impossible for my uterus to contract therefore causing the large amounts of blood loss. They used tweezers to pull the placenta off until they made it to the uterus wall.
I was sent home on a week of bedrest...and the possibility of the hemmorraging returning if the placenta has in fact gone through the uterus wall. If that is the case a hysterectomy is the only option.
Soooooooooooo long story short that is where I have been. Trying to be a mom to this new wonderful baby as well as my beautiful girls but at the same time being shuttled back and forth to the hospital while either bleeding profusely or worrying about bleeding profusely.
The only way we'll know the outcome is if the bleeding slows and stops right now after the second surgery OR if I hemmorrage again.
It has been a lot to go through but when I look at my son's little face I know every minute of it has been worth it.
I wanted to check in to let everybody know that he is doing well and that I appreciate all the wonderful well wishses.
I also cannot say enough thank you's to everybody who has helped my family and me during this horrible time. I don't know how we could have done it without all the help and love and prayers. I love all of you and because of your help and love my girls (who could have been traumatized) were able to have some sense of normalcy throughout this whole ordeal.
So now we cross our fingers and pray (as I get back on my feet this week) that I will continue to heal and no further medical intervention is needed!!

Shuttin' Her Down

2008-06-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight I sent the family scattering like mice from the table when I started throwing up. At this point you are saying to yourself "now wait a minute....aren't you about done with this pregnancy? Haven't you been puking the WHOLE FREAKING TIME?" to which I answer, with a very sour look on my face "YES."
These last two weeks have been brutal in the barfing/nausea department. It stresses me out for labor and what that will be like if I'm throwing up the whole time. Last week I charted the largest amount of weight I have gained in one week since this whole thing started. And then today when I went in I had lost weight. Not a big surprise since I can't eat or keep food down.

The update is that Rex is not making much progress. Despite the contstant contractions and the fact that he is so low every step is painful...I am still only dilated to a one. And when they check him his little head floats up so he is not staying engaged. I am grateful that I scheduled this induction for next week, not only because poor little guy can't seem to make progress where he is supposed to in there but also because the Dr. I had to see today has guesstimated that Rex is going to be 9 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!! So my son is a HUGE baby with no sense of direction and needs this induction to get him out before he comes walking out asking for a steak and baked potato in his bottle!!

This last week in particular has been quite painful...I don't know how many times I have uttered the phrase "I can't do this"....not just in the last week but in the last 7 months. I am almost there but it seems like this mirage in the desert that I'm reaching for and can't quite get to it.

I am now going to be officially shuttin' her down until after his arrival. I would love any extra well wishes and whatnot sent my way while I just buckle down and wait for the 24th to arrive. And seriously if they bump me on the 24th due to emergencies look for me on the news to be strapped to the front door of the hospital refusing to move until someone extracts my son!!! HA HA HA HA

Thanks for listening to me for all these months and for the encouragement and comments that have made me laugh and smile. See you in a few weeks :)

His Last Fathers Day as a Father of Two!

2008-06-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Some snapshots of a father on Fathers Day clearly showing what he means to his girls and what his girls mean to him :)

Truly Amazing

2008-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day!
They are who they are because you are who you are.

So Mr. CC what are you going to do now that you've had a haircut??

2008-06-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

He's going to Disneyland!!

This one is my favorite.....the look of absolute terror on his face as he listens to me, trusting that he can look at the camera....full well knowning that a maniacal little person is getting ready to do something behind him.
Good boy!

Exactly what you DON'T want to hear at your Dr. appointment

2008-06-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Doctor: "Well, we could induce you as early as the 19th but I'm going to be out of town that whole week. So it looks like the earliest now would be the 24th."
Me: *SIGH*

Interesting Facts Overheard at the Breakfast Table

2008-06-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

G:"Ehhhhhhhh Curious George is going to get stung by a bee!" (screamed while running from the room)
G:(returns)" OH NO! He's still getting chased by that bee! I hate bees, I don't want to get stung!!" (runs from the room only to return again.)
Little One: (exasperated) "G, you don't have to worry about getting stung by a bee. Our town only has penguins not bees so you can't get stung!"
Me: "Yeah G, didn't you realize that we don't have bees in this town anymore, at least not since the penguins came to stay!"

If you haven't had your baby yet....go to the bowling alley!

2008-06-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

We had plans to do a little bowling with the "C" family....I am always on the fence about whether I can leave the house due to the giant baby inside of me who is presently wedged so far down in my left side that I expect him to just drop out any minute and say hello. Just before everybody was leaving I threw up in the sink, and headed out the door. Determined to get some fresh air and get my mind off the contractions!
It really did take my mind off of things watching the kids and dad's hit the alley. Sweet Livvy and Sam had never been bowling, they were so cute! Everytime Sam hit the pins he would come galloping back claiming that he had scored "another world record!" The three girls were awesome cheerleaders....and the dad's....well let's just say that I'm convinced that they are playing on secret bowling leagues when they are supposed to be working!
It was so dark in the lanes I couldn't really get any pictures but afterwards the kids eagerly ran for the arcade so I whipped out the camera. Kristin said I couldn't take her picture but PUHLEEZE....we all know I'll do whatever I want! *snicker* Especially when she is involved in some off road arcade racing and stopping me would require her to take her hands off of the wheel therefore crashing into innocent spectators on the track!
The dad's were helping the kids gather tickets from the games that spit the tickets out so that they could get some prizes.
Thanks "C"'s for a fun afternoon and for getting me out of the house :)

Someone Needs a Haircut

2008-06-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

(*Shhhhhhhhh don't tell Cody I posted his picture, he prefers to remain incognito due to his special agent status. I'm not sure he could tell if I was taking his picture or not though what with his rock star bangs in his eyes.)

Baby Cousin Max Comes for a Visit

2008-06-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

In addition to the wonderful company of Kristin, Livvy and Sam yesterday we had the honor of being Baby Max's first place to go for an official "PLAY DATE". :)
It was so fun to have my Cousin John come and visit with his son. John has taken on the amazing responsibility of being a stay at home dad to Max, and while I know that it has been hard, he (in his third week) is really stepping up to the plate! John had never even changed a diaper before Max came along and now here is my cute little Cousin changing diapers, making bottles and kissing the sweet soft little cheeks of his son.
This has been such a fun thing to be a part of, I honestly never thought my girls would have any cousins. So imagine the fun to find out that not only were John and Rebecca were going to have a baby after all these years, but that we were also expecting and both of us boys! Then we never even discussed names too much with each other and we find out on Easter that they are going with Max and we will have Rex! It is just meant to be, these little boys will be buddies and pals :)
The girls are just over the moon with Max, it's been a great introduction to when Rex comes along. Little One rocked him in his carseat yesterday until he fell asleep. They hovered around John while he fed Max, Little One even dared to be in the same room while John changed a poopie diaper (G opted to wait in her room whilst dry heaving at the thought.)They loved making him smile and Little One even went and got her prized stuffed monkey that she has had since birth and tossed it in the carseat for him to snuggle with!
Getting to hold that little guy has really helped me as I sludge through these last weeks until Rex's arrival. Last week was so hard with long days of contractions and feeling so sick and wondering if I was going to give birth while walking up the stairs. Snuggling with Max gives me the strength that I can make it....a few more weeks. I may have to drag myself into the hospital since I can barely walk without pain, but I can do it!

And on another fantastic note Patti Lupone is on The View singing music from "Gypsy". What a fantastic Broadway performance that will be! Made me wish I could jump a plane to New York just for a night to sit in the audience and mouth the words along with her while she knocks it out of the park :)

What Would I Do Without You?

2008-05-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body".
~Elizabeth Stone

Looks Like a Storm's a Brewin'

2008-05-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

This storm was amazing! It came rushing in out of the blue, darkening the sky to almost black as loud rolling claps of thunder hammered the sky. I ran outside into the downpour with my camera to try and catch it as it began to roll through. Within minutes the rain was coming down so fast I couldn't see the neighbors across the streets houses, and then came hail that soon slushed up and was coming in slurpee like quantities down the drainpipes! Yummmmmmmm....Slurpees.

(*be sure to say the title post with a thick New England accent....such as the people use in the movie "The Perfect Storm". For some reason I always have to do this when a storm blows in!)

A Little Randomness to Fill the Day!

2008-05-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

I thought I would just toss in some random things that make me happy as I am counting down the days waiting for Rex's arrival.
RANDOM #1
This wonderful purse from Marieliz's Creations shop on Etsy.

My Sassy Brassy friend Meg went to the quilt market as a special correspondant and while that sounds sort of stuffy and grandmaish it is anything but. These hip designers of fabric amaze me...I don't think I really ever thought about fabric as being designed? I'm not sure where I thought the pictures/ideas/colors on the fabric came from but I surely never thought someone designed it!
Some of the most amazing designers were there with their wares which Meg covers extensively on her blog.
Through reading her updates I saw cute Patti from Modkidboutique (a fantastic childrens clothing designer). She was toting this purse in a picture, her mother had designed it out of Amy Butler fabric and Patti had a pic of herself with Amy Butler holding this fantastic bag!

Anyway long story short I emailed her mom and BOOM, it was listed that night and I snatched on up for myself! It is in production now and should be coming in the next week or two.
People seriously.....Etsy.....awesome!!!

RANDOM #2
80's music.
When you're feeling down get out the 80's music and go crazy!! I've been enjoying some flashbacks via my IPOD and ITUNES.
*B52's
How I love them! And if you're feeling like REALLY going back in time go to YouTube and watch one of their videos to go with it!

*THE THOMPSON TWINS
Was the lead singer gorgeous....yes he was. Did he marry the crazy looking he/she looking girl in the group.....yes he did....does that still confuse me after all these years....yes it does.
"If You Were Here" still as yummy today as the day it was released even though I still can't decipher half of the lyrics.

*Men At Work
At this point in life I am so beyond the Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Jive. I have rediscovered songs by them that I didn't know or appreciate as an 80's child. "Overkill" Gotta have it!

*Duran Duran
How many times did I take one of their centerfolds from TigerBeat and trick my mom with the ol' "Okay which ones are girls and which ones are boys." Falling down with laughter at the expression on her face when I had to inform her "Nope! They're all boys!!"
Put on "Reflex" and be sure to do the Reflex arms like the backup singers!

*REM
I {heart} you Michael Stipe! Go in your wayback machine with REM....back before "Stand". Hit the golden oldies that made them what they are. Put on "Superman" and sing it at the top of your lungs and at somepoint you will believe you are Superman!

*The Culture Club
Karma Chameleon....need I say more?

*General Public
So many great memories with your album spinning around on my record player in the background. I am pretty sure my friend Merri and I played "Tenderness" so many times in one sitting that the record started to melt.
(And you can't list General Public without mentioning English Beat!)

*The Cure
Robert Smith and that beautiful voice....those angsty lyrics that sometimes make you happy and sometimes make you confused as to what he is even saying! Hit the back catalog of music as well as the "newer" stuff. "Just Like Heaven" is still one of my "happy songs" and has been since highschool. It comes on and I just smile.
Inner Beauty is Overrated (Ally) just went to a Cure concert, you can see her slideshow of it on her blog. She was trying to rock the goth look but looked way to good to be goth!! She needed to paint her face white and at least smear her perfect MAC cosmetics around to make it seem as if she'd been crying in her bedroom over a lost love in Junior High! ;)

*Depeche Mode
Perhaps the only good memory of my brother....that he and his bizarre friends (with names like Gandalf, Duck etc) were obsessed with this group so after they would depart his cluttered bedroom for parts unknown I would hustle downstairs and gather up all of their Depeche Mode albums to listen to while they were gone!
They have gone through so many metamorphisis as a group....you have to get a little from each phase. The super synth "Just Can't Get Enough" happiness for me! To the brooding songs from "Black Celebration"...."Question of Lust"....too beautiful for words!
My brothers friend Duck was pretty sure he was Martin Gore from the band. And when I think back now man he really did look just like him. Same hair, build, etc. He (Duck not Martin Gore) was the one who really took my brother on the spiral of despair as a teen, it was all downhill from there. So I didn't feel so bad taking Ducks import Depece Mode albums and hiding them in the my closet so that he would never see them again mwahahahahahaah.

Well will stop here for today on music or else the list might go on and on and on. Would love to hear your 80's faves!)

RANDOM #3
SLURPEES

I seriously wondering if there is crack or something in Slurpees? I have now been addicted to them since childhood. In highschool when all of my "cool" friends were getting their Ginormous SUPER BIG GULPS filled with Coke....I proudly filled my Slurpee cup up with a smile and enjoyed my day! Bri and the kids are on the way home with one for me as we speak.....I'm getting all tingly!!

That's all the randomness I can muster for a Saturday!

American Idol

2008-05-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

G: "Mom I really want that one guy to win American Idol."
Me: "Which one?"
G: "David."
Me: "They're both named David."
G: "The Enchilada Guy."
Me: "Ohhhhhhhh David Enchilada." *holding in laughter*
G: "Yeah, the Enchilada is really good......Mom, what's an Enchilada....is it like a Taco?"
Me: "No, the other David is David Taco, so a Taco isn't like an Enchilada."
G: "Okay!" *Big Smile*

Needless to say someone wasn't too happy when the Enchilada guy didn't win....but her mommy was very happy that David Cook won!! I just had a nice talk with her about the fact that The Enchilada was young and would go on to do many wonderful things with his life so we shouldn't be sad that he didn't win American Idol and she seemed okay with that :)
If only all problems in life were so easily solved!

The Joys of Having an Older Sister

2008-05-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

G: "Hey Little One....look in the hose, do you see the water coming out yet?"
Little One: "Not yet?" (looking into hose)
G: "How about now?" (cranks on hose while little sister is still looking down the barrel.)

The Balance is Restored to the Universe!

2008-05-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

They're baaaaaaaack!!
And not a moment too soon. I cannot even begin to express how much I missed these two little faces (and of course I missed their Daddy's darling face too!!) I missed their laughter, witty ways of expressing their opinions, the way they climb all over me like a jungle gym and snuggle in for some love. I missed their big beautiful eyes looking up at me and the soft steady sounds of their breathing after they've gone to bed.
An adventure to Disneyland with their Daddy and Grammie, Poppa and Aunt was where they had flown away from me to. The night before they left the three of us (the girls) bawled like babies in each others arms. Bri looked at the three of us sobbing and hugging and all he could say was "this is the saddest thing I've ever seen, I don't even know what to do!" And the next morning they drove off and it felt so strange to be the one left behind.
This trip was planned before we got pregnant with Rex, I knew the moment we found out that he was on the way that there was going to be no way I would be going with the family on this particular adventure. Eight months pregnant schlepping it around the giant-ness known as Disneyland in the heat (it was mid 90's the entire time they were there.) was not something I have ever aspired to do!
They had so much fun and their Daddy took such amazing care of them (as if I had a doubt!) They had the joy of having four adults looking out for them and granting many of their wishes, what could be better. But they still missed their mommy, and their mommy missed them!!
When they came back last night it was as if everything with the universe was right again! Our little family was back together and I felt like I could fully breathe again. I had the best sleep last night then I've had all week.
Today I snapped a pic of them with their baby brother (above) whom they also missed. Hard to believe that the next adventure we take he and I will be along for the ride!
I love you girls.....welcome home :)

Day Three......

2008-05-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

In between a lovely breakfast with Cindy and a too fantastic lunch with Kristin I kept my vow of taking pictures. I have to say today it was hard to drag myself to my destinations....in and out of the car is getting exhausting. It is like a large whale might feel once it gets itself beached. It's that sort of "Oh crap what now?" When you're halfway in the car and halfway out.....no committment either way but you know you have to do something because otherwise you'll just be sitting there until someone walks by and offers to pull you out/push you back in your car....or they just pull you out of the car, leave you lying on the pavement and take off with your car!! (For those of you who know my mother you will know that second part is what she would tell me would happen if I got beached in my car. Then she would give me the advice to roll across the parking lot while flailing my arms so that I would be a much more difficult target for the carjacker to hit with my car he has just stolen.)

Anyway I digress.....I am glad I forced myself to get out and get food. I'm back in the no eating, dry heaving, only want to consume liquid phase (I'm not sure I ever left that phase now that I think about it?) So going to get breakfast and dinner actually forced me to eat something! And of course the company was was perfect!
Here are todays photos....

I vowed to take pictures today

2008-05-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

While the chickens are partying it up I promised myself I would do a few things for me while they are gone. One of them was to take some pictures. Since I was about nine or ten I had a fascination with photography, but my fascination lay in more artistic style landscape/building photography. I loved old run down shops or the random beat up car by the side of the road. Tilting barns and whatnot grabbed my attentnion as we would drive to California for family vacations.....and if something had rust on it the rustier the better!! I've been enjoying taking these types of pictures since I've been pregnant. Places catch my eye and often I'm too tired to go back or I have the girls with me or I don't leave the house (with this pregnancy) to go back and get the shot so today was the day I was going to fit a few shots in.

I adore the one with the lone shoe hanging from a strand of lights. I just happened to spot it while I was taking some other shots and how could I not stop and study this oddity. The shoe looked like a replica French style book from the early 1900's. There was just one dangling at the end of the strand of lights....all of it hanging from a building that had virtually been demolished. It almost seemed like an art exhibit in it's own right. I put different versions of two of the pictures to show the colors and then the dramatic side.

I did do a few other things today for just me but currently I am suffering from some serious side cramping (I think this giant baby I'm carrying is just getting too big and too low for my ligaments to hold him up anymore!) So I'm going to go and lay down and put my feet up.

Haircuts and a little Exploring

2008-05-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

Before a great adventure it is imperative (in my opinion) to get a fresh haircut! The chickens agreed, feeling frisky and much lighter with their cute little do's. I try to let them have a say in their haircuts.....G has been wanting longer hair but when she gets up in the chair she always tells them to make it short in the back and long in the front....Cute Kisty did an amazing job on her little A-line, the back is fantastic!! Little One's hair has been getting quite long, she loves to tuck it behind her ear and flip it around so I thought for sure she would want to keep a little hair on but she hopped up in the chair and let Kisty know that she wanted it "just like G's".
Afterwards we did a little exploring and I shot some pics to play with while they are off on their grand adventure!

The Backyard in Bloom

2008-05-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout

Remember back in the day when I was a photographer? ;)

2008-05-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away I used to be a photographer! Then I got pregnant and could no longer go through a day without throwing up so the photography thing was put on the back burner while I got to be really good friends with the commode :) Way back in December I committed to two clients for February appts (this is when I tricked myself into thinking the sickness wouldn't last that long.) Between the weather and sickness and numerous other things I finally was able to get this shoot done last weekend!
Was it fun....yes it was!! I've known "A" since she was in her mommy's tummy so hanging out with her was like kicking back with an old friend and sharing a beer....hmmmm well no not a beer....sharing some milk! We laughed and laughed and when she asked me to sit in the back seat with her as we went on location I gladly said yes. She even asked if I could be in a few of the shots with her and her mother but I explained that I wasn't sure how we could do that if no one was behind the camera!
I am LOVING how these are turning out, it was fun to be inspired again in this way and to have that feeling of excitement at getting home to see how the shots turned out.
I am not sure where my photography business will go after the baby comes. Right now I am concentrating on trying to keep the baby in for eight more weeks and battling some depression and contractions and whatnot....you know, the usual.
So right now here is a sneak peek of this session!

31 Weeks and 1 Day

2008-04-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

REVENGE

2008-04-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

As I sat at the kitchen table this weekend, messing with my camera, G came walking out and sat across from me with a very interesting look on her face.
Me: "What's up?"
G: "Oh I'm just sitting here waiting for my revenge."
Me: "Ummmmmmmmmmmmm" Looking around to make sure there are witnesses in case this revenge has to do with me! "So how is that going for you?"
G: "Fine." Big smile. "I'm just going to sit here and keep waiting!"
Me: "Do you know what revenge is?"
G: "I don't know? I'll go and look it up."

(Yes that is correct, I LOVE looking things up that I don't know! I always have my Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary close at hand for any spelling/question issues. If Daddy seems like he is telling up a story about Franklin Roosevelt that might quite not be true I rush into the front room and return with my GIANT Encyclopedia where we proceed to attempt to prove him wrong!

G returns shortly with her Barbie My First Dictionary which I am pretty sure does not contain the sweet and peppy quote for "Revenge" but I decide to let her look for it just in case!
She scans through the "R"'s quite perplexed that this book would not tell her what revenge means! So the two of us retire downstairs to grab the Funk & Wagnalls and look up our word.

Bri stood by listening to this lesson, probably wondering how I was going to explain this to our six year old. The definition was very intense but we were able to relate it to the fact that her sister had just socked her in the face that very day.
Me: Revenge would mean if she socks you in the eye you turn around and sock her back (inflict punishment, injury or loss in return for) is that the best thing to do?
G: (intently listening) No, that's not good at all.
And then suddenly I remember the "do unto others" quote! Well we tie that all into revenge and I realize BY GEORGE SHE'S GOT IT!! I just gave an awesome lesson in revenge.
G walks out quite pleased that she now knows what this means and the best part is Bri looking at me and saying "You know what, you're a really good mom!"
But of course in the back of my mind I know...had I given this same lesson to Little One it would have ended quite differently....most likely she would have left to go and sock her sister in the eye because WOW revenge sounds WAAAAAAAY better than the rest of this crap!

My New Baby Cousin Max

2008-04-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday Soccer

2008-04-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

For obvious reasons I haven't been able to attend any soccer practices or games this season. After this last week of lying low (after nearly having to report to labor and delivery 10 weeks early) I was determined to go and watch G play a game!
She was so happy that I was coming to see The Dragons in all their glory!

For sure G has her daddy's talent for soccer. This is her second year on the team, we love playing with Audrey and Kate her sweetest pals that she has now known and hung out with for half of her life! They are not just friends they are family, the cousins my girls don't have! It was also really great that some of her other team mates she ended up in kindergarten with!
Above they are getting ready for kick off....notice Adurey's intense runners stance. Also notice that the girls show off their sports fashion sense with their choices of pink and red cleats!

This picture of G and Audrey sharing a chair on their break while the game is going on can't help but make me smile!

Despite the wind the team kicked butt!
I think this picture below of Kate in the wind is dreamy with her hair blowing across her face.

Everybody had to huddle up when the sun went behind the clouds and the wind kicked up. Here is one of my incredible friends Cindy with her family (even little Ceci can be seen peeking through the shoulders!)

G was especially pleased that her Grammie showed up and LIttle One liked being able to be wrapped up and snuggled on her lap as she cheered her sister on.

It's so funny how into these games you can get....you forget it is six year olds playing! Hopefully I'll feel well enough to go again next week, it makes me so proud to see my girl out there not only playing and getting in there for the ball BUT loving every minute of it!

These Boots

2008-04-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

"These boots were made for walkin'
and that's just what I'll do. One
of these days these boots are going to walk
all over you."

My G is a tall girl with long legs. When she was smaller I used to get uptight about it, worrying that she would get a complex always being the tallest child. I learned when she was less then a year old that other moms find it a fascinating topic of conversation when a child is tall. They like to point it out over and OVER AND OVER. And then they like to point out that their child is so wee small. When she got to preschool there was one mother in particular who had to point out to me almost ever day that G was "sooooooooooo big and tall! Is her daddy tall? How old is she?" As if perhaps I had snuck her in the class and lied about her age so that the class could make it to the preschool finals in basketball!!
The funny thing was G never had a problem being tall. She never asked about it, never even noticed it! So I stopped worrying about it. She isn't the tallest kid in the class anymore but she wishes that she was.
She LOVES being tall and totally owns it! Her favorite pair of shoes are these boots, purchased for her Pink Power Ranger Halloween costume in 2006 she discovered them again this winter/spring season and would wear them everyday if she could.
They have a two inch heel on them and one morning when I asked her why she wanted to wear the boots again she replied....
"They make me tall!!!"
You have to love a kid who owns her height and is willing to add even more to it :)

A Great Gift Idea for Yourself!!

2008-04-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

This morning I saw the author of Ladies of Liberty on Good Morning America this and it looks like an awesome book! If you love history like I do and more in depth looks into the powerful women behind the powerful men this would be a great gift for yourself or for someone for Mothers Day! I immediately thought of Carin when I heard about this book! So Carin you better get this book!!
Last night was such a fun surprise to see Carin and Ellie at our door! They came with yummy cookies and company to say hello and my girls were pleased as punch. #1 because they did not have to go to bed yet and #2 because they loooooooove to see their oldest and dearest friend Ellie!!
Thanks Carin for the yummy cookies and conversation, I still miss having you just kiddie corner from me. I miss being able to hop over to your house at 10:00 at night to learn a wonderful discovery you have made on photoshop! I miss your amazing lunches with fresh picked veggies from your delicious garden and just hanging out all day watching the girls play. I miss having you kick my butt and get me going when I planned to stay inside all day! I miss watching your girls grow on a daily basis and for all the inspiration that would seep through my pores by just sitting next to you!
Yes, I'm prone to being sappy and sentimental and I always will be!

I'm Alive.....ALLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE

2008-04-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

I did it!!
Thank you so much for all of the well wishes and great tips on preparation for the dreaded test. We were going to try for Saturday morning but after my barf-o-rama on Friday with lack of food and going to bed early I woke up Saturday morning at 5:00 a.m. starving with the baby kicking and squirming all around and I knew there was no way I would be able to keep fasting.
So.........Saturday I spent preparing myself mentally and physically for for Sunday morning. I made sure to eat small meals/snacks throughout the day then at 6:00 p.m. I had steak and a baked potato for dinner for some protein. I ate again at 8:30 ish and then 10:30 ish had one last snack before the fast began. I stayed up until 11:15 and then hit the sack with all sort of inner empowerment going on and prayers for more inner empowerment! When I woke up throughout the night for a few pit stops I felt the strength and I knew I was going to do it no matter what!
The alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. I got right up hit the shower munched on ice chips and drank water, we were at the hospital by 7:00 a.m. and after a momentary glitch where Bri noticed on the doctors orders that it said Sunday the lab opened at 8:00 a.m. (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!) it ended up okay. He went in and talked to them and they said it was okay they would take me!
The first hour was okay, I just have to say that I am so sickeningly thankful for my Bri. He seriously is the only person I could think of that I could spend four hours sitting with in a lab waiting room while they siphened my blood and made me drink sugar water! We laughed and talked and laughed some more. By the second hour I started to feel sick and slightly woozy, when I went in for the next blood draw I tried to be cheerful to the sweet gal taking my blood but I could feel the tears welling up as I teetered on the verge of bawling! She did reiterate what Ad had mentioned....you throw up you start over.....and for some reason going into the third hour I reached down deep for the power again and pulled it out! I was glad that I was warned of this ahead of time so that I was prepared to have to dig down deep for some strength!
It was very quiet at the lab for most of the morning, a few babies here and there which we found out later were jaundice babies that had to be tested everyday since birth. The third hour quite a few of these parents came in with their little 2,3,4,5 day olds. Such nice people, we all chatted and laughed about parenthood and those first days home with your first baby!! Wow, can't say I would go back to those first few days/weeks/months with G again! She was HARD.
This wonderful company really made the last part of the test sail by and four hours later and one last blood draw and we were out of there! I warned Bri that I was pretty positive I was going to be vomitting in the parking lot....but as long as I was done with the test WHO CARED!!!!
The rest of Sunday I was so tired and felt like crap and Monday I did too, throwing up and feeling like my belly had 30 babies crammed in there. I don't know if that was the after effects of the test or not? Today seems to be better , at least for now (mwahahahahaha)I'm just taking it easy and waiting for my results.
The first blood test I was 100 (pre sugar drink) which was within normal range, an hour after the drink I shot up to 212 (179 is the highest they want you to bed) what that means I don't know? Then the third test I was down to 150 (the high they wanted you was 152) and I don't know the last number as we took off like a shot when we were done!
So it will be interesting to see how this all calculates out and what I'll need to do from here on out.

Thanks again everybody!!
The tips on asking about a room to lie down were great! As well as tips on taking ice chips to chew on as well as a big tank of water. And I have to say whether you are a prayer person or not it really helped to give me strength and to ask the powers that be for some power of my own to get in the zone to do this!!

****UPDATE****
So in order to have to undergo treatment for gestational diabetes you have to have failed two out of four of the blood tests (i.e. not be within the range given). My last blood level was 68 but because that second one shot up so high they are reviewing it. The nurse thinks that everything is AOK but they will let me know.

Not a Good Day....BLAH

2008-04-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh today has been a 300 out of 10 on the suck-o-meter of life. Throwing up feeling like garbage....I literally feel like I have a flu but I know I don't have the flu. My mom says it is because I am upset about going for that test....honestly I know it isn't that. I woke up this morning with the queasy tummy and then went about my daily business before the mega puking began. It was so bad I had tears streaming down my face because apparently when your body can't push out more puke it just starts shoving out any fluids it has left in it.
Now of course my next question is how do I do the test if I feel this way tomorrow morning? I don't know? I suppose just walk in with my hands raised above my head tossing a white flag onto the desk of the lab and saying "I give up, let's just skip the test amd move on to the next step to fix this problem."
I know things could be so much worse.....believe me! But this is a good place to be able to vent and get things off my chest and hopefully try and eat something and move on!

Soooooooooooo I shall post some pics from one of the better sick free days this week! And then get ready for updates on Digiscrap Night complete with a guest speaker via cell phone all the way from Arizona! ;)

A Good Day Includes.....
Two G's
Yummy Lollipops

Compromising over what to play
and......
Including a little menace, who also likes lollipops, in all of their fun!

Is it good when......

2008-04-03T16:22:00.001-07:00

You get the letter describing the three hour glucose test and you start dry heaving while reading said letter......shades of what is to come.
On a good note I have gotten approval to take my anti nausea meds since they do not contain sugar. That could give me an edge up....Vegas odds Throwing up complete with sobbing vs. Susan coming out with a victory 80:1 place your bets folks :)
The plan is Saturday morning, apparently the test itself is around three hours but I have to plan for four to five hours to be there. WOO HOO. Good thing G has a BYE this week for soccer.

SPC Self Portrait Challenge "Absurd" Week 1

2008-04-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

"Absurdities are all around us - part of our lives, part of our selves.
Absurd means: foolish, freaky, idiotic, inane, incongruous, nonsensical, irrational, loony, screwy, and ludicrous
a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless
This is your assignment - to show us how you have embraced the absurdities in your life…"

When I read this months challenge for SPC it made me think. I wasn't sure that I could wrap my brain around how to do a self portrait with all of these things in mind. I couldn't really think of something in my world that was outright absurd?! Then this morning as I got ready to pick up my girls from school I found myself mumbling aloud "This is absolutely absurd that it is April and I am wearing a turtleneck sweater!" As soon as the words spilled out of my mouth I had a lightbulb moment! There are absurdities all around us that we just adapt to! Grabbing my camera as I left I snapped this picture. The sad bare, bud free branches....the bleak white winter sky....raindrops that can't be seen but are felt and the turtleneck sweater that I embrace on such a day whether the calendar says it is spring or not!

I'M A FAILURE....A FAAAAAAIIIIILUUURRRRE insert sobbing

2008-04-01T16:24:00.001-07:00

So last week I took the lovely glucose test for gestational diabetes. Those of you who are mothers or in the process of being of mothers know the wonderful test I speak of.....where they give you a drink, a drink that appears to look refreshing but is secretly akin to drinking a big pot of Kool Aid made with half the water but the same amount of sugar and Kool Aid powder. You can't eat after you have consumed this drink, then you run off to the doctors office for them to take your blood one hour after you have finished the drink.
Being the gag, sick, vomiter that I am this pregnancy I instantly felt the need to hurl once I had finished the drink. I grabbed a bucket to take with me in the car and headed to my appt. In addition to the pukey feeling it also makes you feel like you have the jitters, I am assuming it has something to do with the MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SUGAR in the drink. When I got home I was sick for the rest of the day.

Then yesterday came the dreaded call:
Nurse: "Hi Susan, I called to tell you that you failed the glucose test."
Me: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Nurse: Yup. Normal levels are 126, you were 179....so you failed it by quite a large number.
Me: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

My reaction is due to the fact that I failed this same test with Little One so I know the drill. I have to go and do the same test only this time for THREE HOURS....where I alternately drink the coma inducing sugar drink and then have my blood drawn over a period of three hours. I have to fast from the night before and cannot eat until the test is over. Those of you who have sick pregnancies know that the prospect of this is HORRIBLE. I woke up this morning and first thing started dry heaving. How on earth will I not eat and then go three hours chugging that drink and having my blood drawn? I assume I will accomplish this with a large barf bucket beside me!

When I did the test with Little One I was not quite as sick as I am this time around. One of my favorite memories of the test before was right around the two hour mark I started feeling like I was hallucinating from the sugar and lack of food in my system. I was two steps away from my own psycadelic Woodstock re-enactment in the lobby of the lab.

This time I fear I may be puking too much to put on a show?

I have to say I'm slightly worried this time around because I am so far off of the mark. With Little One I was borderline and ended up passing and did not have to do treatment for gestational diabetes. With the Rex-inator I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay off which is somewhat alarming.

And no....for those of you that think this is due to my consumption of my cinnamon heavens (see last post) it isn't!!!

And in other news pigs were actually seen flying over Susan's house!

2008-03-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

In a rare occurance (especially since I became pregnant!) I actually cooked some food! I KNOW....it's craaaaaaazy!!! I have been wanting to make these yummy looking muffin thingy's on TASTEBUDS blog. The official name is not muffin thingy's it is in fact CINNAMON HEAVEN which is a perfect name for these! The girls and Bri just sat patiently waiting for me to whip these up, every few seconds asking me "are they ready?". G was especially excited to see the blog pics of the muffins and to know that her beloved "Anne-Boree" (like Gymboree) had made them first!
They were yummmmmmmy! And I took the advice of Tastebuds and did not have one moment of guilt over putting a warm cinnoman heaven in my mouth :)

And to top off my cooking weekend I also whipped up some fresh salsa! Dearest Vanessa who always supplies me with excellent conversation and food made some salsa last week and sent some home with me. It was so freaking yummy I ate the whole bowl, Bri kept trying to get in there with a chip but let me tell you I was quite clever at boxing him out of the action. When something tastes good and does not threaten to reappear in the toilet bowl or barf bucket I'm going to eat it until the plate is clean!
I called her the next day to order a few gallons of this creation, she gave me the recipe instead *snicker*. Now apparently the anaheim peppers are not as hot so I used these since Bri is not a spicy salsa fan. It tastes super yummy the next day after it has been soaking in its' own goo over night. I'm wondering what it would taste like with regular tomatoes? Hmmmm perhaps I'll have to try this out mwahahahaha.
Vanessa's Salsa
7 Roma tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
1/4 c cilantro
2 serrano or anaheim peppers
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 lime (juice)
1/4 of a medium onion
Chop 'em, mix 'em up, let 'em sit, eat 'em with chips. (All measurements approximate and changeable to taste).

And in one final joyful surprise today....better grab the big puffy coat and hat and bundle up tight....

MEMO TO WINTER.....ENOUGH ALREADY.....GO AWAY.....AREN'T YOU TIRED....DON'T YOU NEED A BREAK TOO?.....FEEL FREE TO SIT DOWN, HAVE A CUP OF JOE, PUT YOUR FEET UP AND REST UNTIL DECEMBER.....WE PROMISE WE WON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU!

You Can Just Feel the Love

2008-03-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Me: "Can you give your sister a kiss?"
G: "Okay!"
Little One: "NO WAY!!!!"

Spring Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo

2008-03-24T17:35:00.000-07:00

So we are now on Spring break, which is slightly over a week. I suggested that perhaps I should take the girls to Florida where we could get into some GGW trouble but Bri said no way so home we shall stay.
This is the first official day of our break and I have to say the girls were quite marvelous. They played so well together, spending some time outside as well as inside. Of course during part of their intense game of "Barbies getting dressed to go to Hawaii" I had to pop in with my camera and get some pictures.
You can see from the pictures that it isn't easy picking the correct wardrobe for such a trip, you can also see how dangerous going through customs can be....occasionally perfectly healthy travelers can and do lose legs.

I am also in process of re-decorating for Spring. I am in that restless phase where I need different colors around, different textures, new photographs etc. I started this weekend with the front room, one of my favorite rooms in the house.
I informed Brian that I had introduced a new color into the mix....he stared at me with a look that said "I know I should care about this revelation but I don't know what the heck she is talking about?"
The new color is green! Not a luck-o-the-irish emerald green but a more chartruese green.

I also received these wonderful flowers from Bri's mom. Wouldn't it be great to be like Elton John and have fresh flowers delivered everyday to freshen up your home! Right now I'm pretending that this is todays delivery ....

I've also started adding new photographs like this fantastic pic of my dad while he was in the Navy! We have very few photos of him as a youngster so to receive any photos of him is a score! I placed it in this rustic frame that I have never found a use for and then used a new pic of my parents as a backdrop. I love how you can see it as then and now. G talked to my mom today on the phone and said "Mom put a pic of Gramps up when he was young. Wow, he's not as young as he used to be!"

I also framed one of my personal photos that I took last year of some poppies in my neighbors yard. I love the bright colors, I can spot it clear across the room! Eventually I want to have it framed in a large frame with a wide mat.

*original print of "POPPY" By Susan

I've added some new scents as well, spring scents with a grapefruit and passionfruit diffuser. This morning when I walked by the room I had to back up and do a double take it made my eyes and senses sparkle!
Next....on to the kitchen!!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to everyone! We set out today to take some shots in the Easter dresses so I wouldn't have to put everyone on edge early tomorrow morning trying to get pictures before we ran out the door!
It is nice to see some smiley girls up and out of their sick beds :) I have to say, I haven't done an official "photo shoot" like this for awhile and PHEW it wore me out, I even had Bri along to help and I was exhausted!
I hope everybody has a wonderful Easter, I've been trying to impart the meaning of Easter to the girls beyond the "we get candy and it's about Spring!!" answer. Hopefully some of it will stick.

What do to while sick.....hmmmmmmm

2008-03-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

SHOP!!!!
I needed something to brighten up my time spent here in the confines of my own home so of course where is the best place to to find such things.....ETSY. Ooooooh I love that site so much I just wanna hug my computer screen everytime I am visitng!!
Today I purchased this fantastic photo (shown above) from THIS SHOP . I am completely fascinated by her work with miniatures but especially with this picture! I plan to give it a nice little mat and framed home when it arrives and put it in a place where I will see it everyday!
I also did a little shoe shopping. I am addicted to shoes. It honestly could be a problem....especially when I buy them and then leave them in the closet in their boxes for awhile just admiring them before I dare break them out of the box and wear them. I will have to post pics of the shoes later as they are stinkin' cute and also very comfortable. I rarely buy shoes for anything other than the aesthetic quality so to have them come and actually be comfortable is a BONUS.

Does anybody else have something they LOVE to purchase to make them hap hap happy!?

As we slowly recoup I am bringing up the rear of the family illness. I've been sleeping when I can get it and finsihing up my Z pack. As we coast into week 26 of the pregnancy I continue to grab for anything suitable to hold vomit when it hits at random times. I have to say there are days that I'm not sure I could make it if it wasn't for the kindness of friends and family. In my mind it is already June and I'm days away from giving birth.....that can have it's upsides and downsides. But so far it is keeping me going!

I've had to completely put the photography on hold. I just can't see my way out of the sickness to think about scheduling any appointments. I will try to start back up in the fall, I'm so sorry to all of my cute clients! I am missing seeing those kids grow :)

Well it's off to bed now, I've just got to beat this thing before the week is up!

P-N-E-U-M-O-N-I-A

2008-03-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

**(feel free to sing out the title to the Gwen Stefani song Hollabeck Girl...B-A-N-A-N-A-S..)

I honestly think I may have to eat my words and declare my father-in-law the most clever of all men? We could honestly be the "sickest people" in the world!
We found out last night that dearest G has pneumonia. Her fever was running low grade all week and she just didn't seem to be getting better so we finally took her into the Dr. and sure enough that is what she diagnosed her with. She is now on a Z pack and will hopefully be perking up in the next few days. I am also going to be on a Z pack soon. I called into my OBGYN and described the pain and misery I am going through and she decided that a Z pack could clear up some of what ails me.

A quick note on illness and motherhood....first of all it never fails that when I am sick and really down and out Bri doesn't seem to think I am doing to poorly. I hear him on the phone telling people "well she might be sick" as I'm lying in bed hacking up a lung with a raging fever and 400 used kleenex piled around me. But when he is sick.....OH MY GOSH HAVE AN AMBULANCE STANDING BY!!!!! And a husband will NEVER know what is like to be so so so so sick with two sick children and to have someone say to him as he comes to the doorway of the sickbed with briefcase in hand a perky bounce in his step "Okay well I'll see around 6:00 p.m.!"
The last time he was sick with the girls I was running around care taking all three of them, while he slept the sleep of the dead on the couch. In between I was barfing in anything available to hold it and still trying to run the house. I asked him "now how would it be right now if I said "okay I'll see you after work, good luck today!" but he just glared at me and rolled over to go back to sleep!

I'm not complaining about the mom job, I love the mom job and I know the reason that I am the mom and he is the dad is because he could never be the mom!! He would have checked himself into an insane asylum years ago. BUT a little pretend sympathy goes A LOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNG way!! Just try to turn the corners of your mouth down a little, or say "I'm sorry you are feeling so lousy" or even lie and say "I will do my best to get home early and try and help." ANYTHING but what you usually do!!

Okay, that is enough of a rant for today, or at least for the 12:00 o'clock hour :)
Happy Friday

A True Companion

2008-03-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

In cases of illness there is nothing better than a little dog to keep you company. The way he curls up by your head, stays close by your side throughout the day. Sleeping when you sleep, entertaining you by tossing used kleenex all over the bed, and then curling up again by your side.
Most people don't even know we have a dog. If they have heard of this so called "dog" I speak of they haven't seen him!
Cody was my first baby and until June has been my one and only son! In December he turned a frisky ten years old.
From the time I brought him home he was slightly quirky. I would go from the bedroom to the bathroom and he would sit in the bedroom and cry until I came back and got him. It was evident quite early on that he wasn't really a fan of strangers. He had some insecurity issues (such as the having to be with me at all times the first month he came to live with us.) I had to take him to "doggie day care" every day for a month while I was at work. Otherwise he would sit in the condo and scream like a woman. I would drop him off before 7:00 a.m. and pick him up at 4:00 ish. He was the size of a tin can so I'm sure being so small and having people always want to pet him is intimidating to a tiny dog, and as he grew slightly larger he decided that really the most fun thing to do with people was to chase them and bite their ankles and scare them.
It was subtle at first and then over the years it became more obvious that he wasn't just singling out certain people (like my brother whom he particularly had a great hatred for) but really anybody was fair game.
When we moved to our house and I was pregnant he was very protective of me. People could enter the house but were not allowed to leave the front room....or really just move in general. If they moved even a muscle he then saw them as fair game to go after and scare.
He enjoyed lying in wait in our new backyard, flat in the garden, waiting for our elderly neighbor George to come walking in his backyard, oxygen tank in hand, for some fresh air. As soon as George got half way across the yard Cody would pop up from the garden and start barking. One day George exclaimed "That dog scared the s#@t out of me!"
If we took him on walks he found it entertaining to go after much larger dogs, soon the walks had to stop. If we held him while people came over he would look innocent and sniff the backs of their hands and then looking up at them with his big dark eyes he would proceed to try and snap a chunk of their skin off. That was when we started having to lock him up when company came.
He is the most loving, sweetest, cuddly dog when he is with family. He has never attempted to hurt the girls or any of us (although he has tried to attack Bri when he is wearing a baseball cap coming up the walk, "hey you can't expect me to recognize that guy if he is going to disguise himself with a hat!")
He also loves my parents and Bri's parents but that is it. He does not see the point in expanding his circle of friends.
When we take him to be groomed or to the vets he couldn't be sweeter. There is something about home and his need to protect that makes him act this way.
People have suggested the Dog Whisperer, or taking him to a dog shrink. At this point we have just accepted the fact that this is his personality, and we must keep him under lock and key at all times to prevent any kind of law suit!

He has a particular newfound love for G. As she has gotten older he is less wary of her motives when she approaches him. He actually stays put and doesn't just slyly remove himself from the room when he hears her call him name. He sleeps on her bed at night and takes her his little stuffed bear for a game a catch. When she is worried about something we find her sitting somewhere with him tucked in her lap. They are true companions.

And on a day like today when she and I are hunkered down sick there is no better company than our little dog.

Is it something in the air?

2008-03-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

So week before last when we were in the death grips of the nasty flu that consumed everyone in the house but me, my father in law called. I am still not sure of the point of the call other than he informed me that we were the "sickest family he had ever known."(in an ill sense not a mental sense). After the phone call I hung up quite offended. I don't consider us to have any more colds than the average family. And I reminded him that pregnancy cannot be considered "sick" in the germ sense, to catagorize me as "sick" is sort of insulting at this point when even after 25 weeks I am still not feeling that elusive "burst of energy" and "hunger returning" that they describe in the happy go lucky pregnancy guides!

So last week we had a lovely week of being germ free. The girls were able to return to school full time and we even hit the park on Friday with three of my favorite friends and their children for some fresh air and conversation.

Then came the weekend......

It blew in like a fierce storm, a nasty cold that attacked Little One then spread to G and by late afternoon yesterday I was firmly caught in its' whirlwind. Fever, runny nose, aches, sore throat. BLAH.

This morning for a brief second my father in laws ever so comforting words of us being "the sickest family he had ever known" popped into my head...but I shooed it away like a pesky little fly.

Don't the rest of you get sick too? Or do you just tell me you get sick to make me feel better about the fact that we should be listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for "SICKEST FAMILY STILL LIVING."

And now onto something happy!

If you're digiscrapping away and need some fun new things head over to Diginirvana. They are having some excellent 40% sales on their kits....I have my sites set on some of the new "Little Darlings" kits! Right now the site appears to be having issues when it comes time to pick the categories so keep checking back, I'm sure they'll get it fixed soon!

This is a page I did yesterday using the photo rings tutorial from Jessica Sprague. I truly want to be her when I grow up! She is so amazing, the things she just "does" with photoshop. I recently ordered and received her magazine in the mail and have been LOVING it. Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking. This is the second one, there is a first edition as well that would be fun to have!

Welcome to the new Le Petit Poulet!

2008-03-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

Phew....this is much better! Much better than battling the forces of html to try and figure out what the heck happened to the old blog. I hope everybody will make their way over here to visit and change their bookmarks! :)