Crime wave...

We had out first brush with crime in the neighborhood, today. It really was rather terrifying. I'm not sure I'll ever feel safe here again. What happened was this: it was mid-day and a teen age boy and another boy who looked to be around ten came walking down our street. My neighbor, John, was sitting on his front porch watering his yard. The kids stopped and asked him for a drink, and so he unhooked his sprinkler and let them take a drink from the hose. They said thank you, and while his back was turned to rehook his sprinkler... here's the horrific crime part... the kids walked across the street and tried stealing our other neighbors shoes that were out drying!!!! Mark was inside his house and was watching the kid approach his shoes, waited until the kid had taken his own shoes off and had his in hand and then came out of the house. The teen ran, Mark started to run after him, the teen dropped the pilfered shoes and kept going... totally ditching the 10 year old. I was in my dining room during this and so witnessed most it. I love living in a town that this has been my first brush with crime and just how innocent it is! Sacramento was a different world, man. So, now this shoe theif is shoeless- he's desperate! I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight...

black cats, broken mirrors and me...

I am beginning to think I am plagued or something. Am running a fever, so went into the doctor; he did another internal exam which hurt like the dickens which means there is a mass on the back of my uterus. He guesses it's a blood clot that my body has not absorbed yet... and that is also why I am still hurting so much. I go in for an ultrasound Monday. All I can say is morale is low.

***UPDATE: There is a "10cm wide complicated mass attached to the back of my uterus." Both the radiologist and the doctor don't know what it is. The doctor is gonna take a look at the blood work I had had done on Fri. and call me back tomorrow. (insert suspenseful music here...)

Happy Birthday Gwen!!!!

My baby girl turned 5 today! Here are a few pics to sum up the day. She had a rockin' Littlest Pet Shop birthday party. It was a great party. Thank you so much Wade, Sarah and Mom for helping me pull it off! I never could have done it without y'all. (In fact, what I did contribute just about crushed me. But I was stupid and was trying to run around with all of them during the games... yeah, bad idea on my part.) Some of the pics below are Nonna doing the face painting! The coolest invites EVER! The spread (mini cupcakes compliments of Auntie Sarah so they were actually cute and tasty!). The awesome new bike WA Nonna and Papa sent her. And some action shots. Happy Birthday Princess! We love you!!!

...Network Scum!!!!

First Pushing Daisies, and now EARL!!! Why do I even bother watching TV!!! You cancel all the best shows! and yet keep The Bachelor and how many versions of CSI?!! So Parks and Rec is what they are putting in Earls place... another copycat show. We already have The Office, Amy Poehler, get your own shtick. ...I'll miss you Earl. ...TV, you are dead to me now.

....the passing of an era...

Since the first night of Gwen sleeping in her own room, she always wakes us up in the morning by calling out,"Anyone want some snuggles?!" To which we always reply Yes! Pick me, pick me! And she will come in and we have a nice cuddly time laughing and talking before we start our day. This morning it didn't happen! We heard her awake in her room, playing with something. I called out to her "Whatcha doin?" She says playing with some pet shops... Wade then says "Anyone want some snuggles?" And she says "Not right now, Dad. I'm busy". !!!! So I ask the same question and she replies by telling us not to be sad and that we get what we get and we don't throw a fit. Hmmm... my baby is finding other interests in her life. She is growing up too fast. How do I slow this train down!? Wade has gone into her room and has joined her playing petshops and watching Hotel For Dogs... I think I'll go join them. Hey... what's the saying about if Mohammad won't go to the mountain... then the mountain will go to Mohammad.

Gwens Recital...

Gwen had her "dance recital" this week. I think it was more of a disorganized display of kids just running around in tutus and throwing in some dance moves now and again. Seriously, it was bad. I'm a proud parent and I had a hard time paying attention at times. (but my girl was the cutest one there) It was held at an Alzheimer's facility on behalf of the residents there. I'm not really sure how excited any of them were... they all kind of had a look of "Here we go again. Have to sit through another one of these stupid charitable shows. I haven't completely lost my mind as to find any of this entertaining... what time is supper again?"





The first song turned out to be one of the songs the kids have been practicing for the pre-school graduation performance, which has been being kept as a super secret. Gwen heard the music and then totally panicked and started screaming Plug your ears, Mommy!!! Plug your ears!!! for the whole song. She didn't move an inch, the other kids are all dancing around her; she just stood there screaming. It was hilarious. I was almost in tears from laughing so hard. The rest of the recital went better thankfully. Here's my girl, showing some of her moves...

...blah blah blah blabbity blah...

Latest health update... hcg levels came back at 27. still moving in the right direction. went in to the doctors this week cuz I'm still in a lot of pain and wondering what gives. turns out it's normal. I'm supposed to expect it to take at least 6 weeks to recover from this. blech. seriously- 6 weeks! it was bitter sweet- yeah there's nothing wrong with me vs. what!? there's nothing wrong with me??!!! meaning there's no magic button to make me feel better? bummer. but knowing that the pain isn't signifying something horrible makes it a lot easier to deal with mentally. so that's fantastic. ...um, over and out.

lab results for the week...

HCG down to 57! finally something in my body working like it's supposed to... but think I have a UTI now. ahh, the joys of life are not wasted on me.

*** went in to the doctors office, it's not a UTI... it's a big question mark requiring some more tests and an ultrasound. So, I head back in on Tuesday hopefully for some answers. this is becoming ridiculous. But good news is that my doctors office now will respond to any of its patients being admitted into the ER- they will no longer subject them to whomever might be on call. Thank heavens for that. I can't help but think that my experience has been the catalyst for this change.

still kickin' it...

This is me... still kickin' it. Getting better- not as hunched over as I was, but still not up to a zombie walk...wah. Surprisingly, I am still really sore. What gives already! I am so over this, body, get with the program! I went in for another blood test today. They have moved beyond babying me and busted out the big needles today... and I had thought I was getting tough, nope... there is a difference! Last week they had asked me if a student could draw my blood. I looked down at my arms that were all black and blue and still sporting a couple band aids, then back up at her and said, I don't think so... I've had quite a week and would like someone who knows what they're doing. But it was nice they asked and didn't just stick some freshman on me. I'm still considering lodging a complaint about one of the phlebotomist that I encountered while still in the hospital. Her name was Bobbi and had to be pushing 60. It was in the middle of my last night in there. My blood drawing arm (the one without an IV) was towards the wall and she, being a more traditionally built woman, had to move the bed to fit on that side. My veins were all in hiding (other phlebotomists were using syringes to get to veins that hadn't collapsed yet, but not Bobbi). Oh no. She pulls off the freshest band aid and sticks her needle into the wound of a previous draw. And of course to no result! So she actually wrenched her needle side to side to get some blood flowing!!! I really wish I had a frying pan in my other hand at this point... and even then, she barely gets enough for the tube. THEN she bangs my bed against the wall 3 times trying to put it back in place before giving up and telling me that I always give her problems.... if this was said in a jesting manner the effect was lost on me as I was busy clutching my wounded arm and stomach... bobbi bobbi bobbi... the chocolates I send up to the nurses station as a thank you- you don't get any. And if I see you at the lab, I'm taking my chances with the student.