Updates and More

Starting back at school after Christmas break has been keeping me super busy. I feel like I could use another break already. Luckily, I get Monday off for MLK Day. I guess that will have to suffice for now. Spring break cannot come soon enough. Our kids have been a little nuts. They are still adjusting to being back from Christmas vacation. We had a fight at our school yesterday, and I thought, "Already?!" We've had Benchmark testing all week, and the teachers and admin have been on edge. Yep, we are all ready for another break.

The holidays were nice--too quick but nice. Carl and I got a camcorder for Christmas, thinking that we would get a lot of use out of it once Baby K arrives. We should have videoed our cats, Apostrophe and Comma, the other day, because they looked like they could've been auditioning for the Olympics or something. I was sitting on the couch, and Comma jumped in my lap from literally across the room. I think he's part flying squirrel. Apostrophe almost did a backflip, completely on his own. Animals really do add excitement, I suppose.

Anyway, so our Christmas and New Year's went nicely. Carl's parents were out of town for most of the break, so we got to spend most of our time with my family. It was fun. I finally got in to see our new OB over the break. I got to hear Baby K's heartbeat for the first time. I think it was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. Our big sonogram, where we find out gender and get all of the measurements done, is scheduled for the 23rd. I'll be 18 weeks 6 days, then. Everyone thinks we're having a boy, but I really cannot decide. Some days I'll get this strong feeling that we're having a boy, but others, I will think Baby K is a girl. Carl thinks we're having a girl. Our next appointment with the OB is on the 26th. We ordered a crib over the break, and it came in last night. Carl and I are planning to put it together tonight or tomorrow. I've been sick with a horrid cold this week. It's finally getting better, but I was miserable for the first little bit. Not to mention, I have a little nephew who wanted me to hold him while he finished eating last night. I did, but I probably shouldn't have. And, little Ella Jean kept staring at me and smiling, and I just wanted to bounce her on my knee and sing "Ella Jean, Baby Queen" to her. I resisted that urge, though. Hopefully, I will be completely over this cold Monday and able to hold my sweet nieces and nephews. Amy's kids should be at my mom's Monday, too.

Oh, I forgot to mention our little trip to the ER on December 31st. I woke up at 6 AM with this horrible pain in my side. I managed to go back to sleep for a little longer, but it was still there when I woke up. I got ready and went to my mom's house. The pain lasted the entire morning, and my mom and Carrie freaked me out by saying, "I wonder if it could be your appendix." My new doc's office was closed for the New Year's holidays, so I tried to call the on-call nurse. The automated message said that if you are pregnant, under 20 weeks, and have an emergency to go to the ER. I called my RE's office, and the nurse told me to go to the ER if it didn't get better in the next hour or so. I didn't want to go to the ER. Mom and Carrie somehow convinced me that I needed to. Carl was at work when I texted him to tell him Carrie was going to take me. He was freaking out. Poor Carl! He couldn't take off until 3, which wasn't for another hour. So, he was sitting at work imagining all sorts of horrible stuff. Anyway, they got me in rather quickly, gave me a stupid catheter (which is the worst thing ever), and did a sonogram to check on Baby K. Everything was fine. My uterus is apparently tilted to the right. Since it is expanding, it sort of bumped into some other stuff and caused the pain. No kidney stones, no appendicitis. A stupid catheter for nothing. I did get to see our sweet baby again, though, and that made it worth it. I can't wait until I can see him or her everyday. Carl did manage to get his friend to come in earlier than 3, so he could meet us at the ER. He was quite relieved to know everything was A-OK. I guess I was, too. I mean, I sort of figured I was fine all along. I guess confirmation was nice, though.

Last thing, if you have not seen Marley and Me, you need to. I read the book this summer, and it easily made my top 5 list. The way John Grogan writes and being a dog person myself made the book easy to fall in love with. They did not screw up the movie in any sense at all. They were pretty out of sequence and got a couple of things wrong, but it was enjoyable nevertheless. I highly recommend it. But, if you are going to see the movie, you really should consider reading the book.