The Chatterbox

Poor Nathan. Poor poor Nathan. The kid literally cannot get a word in edgewise because of his brother, who is apparently attention starved. Let me explain...

Yesterday, Jackster woke at the crack of dawn around 6:15. Talking. He came in our room just talking. He talked all day nonstop. There were no real topics of conversation, he just talked. Whatever popped into his head made it's way through his vocal cords and out his mouth. He finally stopped around 2:30 on the car ride home from lunch, and only because he fell asleep. However, he woke himself up an hour later from his nap because he started talking in his sleep. And once he was awake, he didn't stop.

My solution was to take him to the pool to wear him out. I think he tried talking underwater while we were there. John stayed home with Nate, who, apparently, as soon as his brother was out of the house became a Chatterbox in his own right. I think he must have been waiting for the right time to voice his opinion in the way that a 13 month old would.

Jack did stop talking yesterday at bedtime, by which time he was hoarse. But today was a brand new day, and while I was working the sitter got an earful as well. At least he was playing with his buddy though, because I guess Nate had a chance to be vocal throughout the day too. I have noticed that when Big Bro starts talking, little Man kinda just looks at him and the thumb goes in the mouth, and he just watches and listens. The best thing is he's hearing language all day, the bad part is he rarely gets to practice it himself.

I've decided that this may be another reason why I've started doing this blog thing. It gets me down in the basement where the only sound is the air conditioner running. It's quiet. I can't even hear the t.v.
And nobody is talking.

In Praise of Sisters-In-Law, antibiotics, and Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream

I'm finally feeling up to writing this post...About a week ago (very long story short) I was diagnosed with a strep or a staph infection in my breast. Apparently, these things "just happen" but usually to nursing mothers, not those who are still lugging around a bowling ball in the midsection. I honestly have never been in such pain. Sure labor hurt, but at least there are nice drugs called epidurals to help with that. This was just awful. Until I started taking antibiotics, which supposedly do nothing to hurt the baby. All hail the Z-Pack.

My sister in law actually saved me the day I had to go to the Dr. She called off work, came and took care of the boys, and when all was said and done took them on an adventure that lasted long enough for me to finally get some sleep, since I hadn't slept the night before. The whole sleep thing alone was worth a million bucks to me...all Hail the SIL!!!

Lastly, the next night, when I was finally up to it (antibiotics do a number on my tummy), hubby went out for ice cream. Baskin Robbins had a chocolate oreo number that was just divine. I'm drooooooling thinking about it. Yummmmmy!

Through all of this, I was so sad that I missed a dear friend's visit from Nebraska. She and I had just started bonding when she had to move...she's great, I don't think there are many people who wouldn't bond instantly w/ this chic chica. But, she came over to visit me in my misery with my messy house declaring that she couldn't care less, and she even had a gift for Miss Thang. I'm so glad I got to see how big and beautiful her girls have gotten, even if they did sleep the whole time. Another instance worth a million...all Praise Yummy ice cream and good friends who have seen you at your worst and don't care that your house looks like a pigsty!!!

And in case anyone is wondering, the boob is feeling better.

Is it a "Jenny Movie?"

I'll admit I'm not a romance movie/novel person. I own (not my husband) the box sets of both Indiana Jones and James Bond movies, and can't stop watching "Predator" when it's on the F/X channel. But, I watched "Brokeback Mountain" today to see what the fuss was all about, and I don't get it. I'm sorry if I sound mean, but I thought it was just a boring movie, AND would have felt that way if it were about a hetero couple as well, so I don't want to hear any "I'm anti-gay" comments. I'm not, I'm just anti- love story. Yeah, I get the whole "in the closet" thing, but the movie was (for me at least) along the lines of "The Notebook". I HATED that one.

My sister rates her movies and how much she's going to like them based on a "Jenny movie" scale. For example, she will call me and say, "Jenny, I rented Blah de Blah. Will I like it, or is it a total "Jenny movie?" So, Steph, I am sure you will like "Brokeback" since I pretty much didn't at all. 2 stars out of 5 and only for the acting and scenery. Beautiful scenery....

Pink Party

Today my coworkers threw me a baby shower with a VERY pink theme to it. It was soo sweet, and sooo unexpected (I was told I had to go to a department meeting). For someone who has resisted the urge to buy some very cute little girl things, it was great. I think I'm still in denial that not only am I having a baby in 3 weeks, but it's going to be a little girl, complete with little girl parts (will have to get used to that) and little girl...ummm diva-ness. It just makes me realize that I am very blessed in my life, and it was also a great pick me up after everything that has been going on in our lives here lately. I feel so very fortunate to have ended up where I have in my life...I have a home, a husband whom I adore and 2 and 1/2 kids that make my world go around...even when I'm ready to really prove how crazy of a mom I can be. It is truly the small things in my life that have made everything to this point more than worthwhile.

I have Cramps!!

No, not the kind that spit out a baby, but leg cramps. Debilitating inner thigh cramps that make it so impossible to move that I had to pee standing up the other day because every time I went to sit my muscle that runs from my pubic bone to my knee locked up. I'm trying potassium drinks and mineral water, we'll see if that helps. Is this normal? Any suggestions?

In my next life, I am so going to be a man....at least I've got the whole bathroom thing down now!!!

I'M SICK OF IT!!!

I had a Dr. appt. today, my first internal...and you know what hurt? I felt like all the work the PT did on Monday was rendered useless. The actual exam was fine, but now my right leg is numb. Great.

Anyways, the big news is that for the first time in 3 pregnancies, I have actually started dilating early. I'm at 1/2 a cm. Yes folks, she might just fall out of me one day when I get up to pee. I was sooo excited, but Mr. Dr. Man crushed all hopes when he said, "I anticipate you'll be pregnant for a little while yet." A LITTLE WHILE YET????? Has he forgotten that I've been pregnant for like, 3 years and counting now?

And in case anyone is wondering "how I'm feeling" the most honest answer at this point is "I'm sick of being pregnant", but if you ask me in person, I'll tell you I'm fine, which mostly I am of course. I'm fine, Really, I'm fine....fine....

Head wounds and Cookie dough

Okay, so Nate is sick with some kind of viral infection in his lungs and has to be nebulized every 4-5 hours for the next 5 days. Nothing we aren't used to (just twiddilng my thumbs waiting for that asthma diagnosis, really). He is so messed up that his equilibrium is waaay off and he keeps falling into things and whacking his head. You should see the bumps and bruises this poor kid has sustained over the past 3 days!

Not to mention, this baby girl is killing me with my horrible eating habits (along with acne breakouts). This afternoon during naptime, all I wanted to do was drown my sorrows (whoa is me for having to take care of the poor baby, right?). And all I wanted to eat was the tube of Tollhouse cookie dough. I restrained myself from eating the whole thing, but supplemented with some leftover vanilla frosting. How Gross is THAT?

I have a dr. appointment tomorrow, and am dreading the scale. 17 pounds gained so far and counting, which if you know me is a HUGE deal, and extra weight gain not good. I'm sure it keeps my physical therapist happy though, because to a certain extent it gives her paycheck a boost every week.

I'm wondering when I'll start craving things like rice and lettuce....nice wholesome low cal snacks....like anyone ever craves rice and lettuce right? For now it's time for me to haul my FA up the stairs to bed and try to sleep with the little gymnast in my belly high on cookie dough and frosting and the miniscule amounts of sugar I'm sure are contained in both.

Picasso or Pollack?

Okay, so Julianne has inspired me to be doing this, mostly though I want to be keeping a record of what my crazy children are up to on a regular basis. Sort of like a diary that hopefully I can make a million dollars off of one day. If Jenny McCarthy can do it, so can I!

Since I'm soon to be a proud owner of a digital cameral, hopefully photos will be forthcoming....

Anyways, I'm going to write my first blog about what happened at Oma and Opa's house this weekend. Since John has been on bedrest for a week, and couldn't watch the kids on Saturday while I went to work, the boys stayed at my mom and dad's Friday after the King "Tit" exhibit. Saturday I got a frantic call from my brother, muffled with giggles, as to what could possibly get Penaten diaper cream out of hair, skin, clothing, bedding, walls, carpeting, and even Elmo. Apparently, at 7 a.m. my mom was awaken out of a DEAD SLEEP (okay, that's the first problem to be in a dead sleep at 7 a.m. with Jack around) by my dad. Jack had painted Nate up Al Jolsen style with the entire container of diaper cream. His hair, face, any available skin really, had been lubed with "butt creme". And all Nate did was sit there with his thumb in his mouth letting big brother do his damage. And, no one thought to take a picture!!! Nate could've used it as blackmail FOR YEARS!!!

Twenty-five washings and eighteen gallons of mineral oil later, I finally picked up my children to take them home. Although they'd been in a pool all day, they still were a little shiny and greasy and slippery to the touch, but I loved 'em and kissed 'em anyways.

I sincerely hope Oma and Opa learned their lesson...either get up earlier, or turn on that moniter!!!!