Saturday, June 30, 2018

Balloons

Recently, we learned that every year, there is a hot-air balloon festival near Jackson. Last year, we tried to go, but it was rained out. This year, or yesterday, we managed to find a parking spot near the mall where the balloons were within sight. There was no lift-off, but they were lit up to glow, a.k.a, "Balloon Glow". We sat in the parking lot, eating Chik Fil A and watching the balloons inflate until it grew darker and Elias decided he was done with life because there were no firetrucks to see.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Allergies

So I've been suffering from allergies since probably March, maybe sooner. I figured it was the change of the seasons. But, as I've been staying indoors to avoid excessive pollen outside, I discovered only recently that I'm actually allergic to my cats. Awesome. I guess it doesn't help that Maple is unnaturally fluffy, so much in fact, I could build a new cat with the fur he leaves in clumps around the house. I read that pregnancy can lower my immunity to everything, but I never thought it would mean a trip into the past when my allergy to cats was most non-triumphant. I'm living in a Benadryl fog and it's a struggle. I'll be relatively comatose until the smallest arrives.

Friday, June 22, 2018

I dream in cheesecake.

So I can't get enough to eat, apparently. I'm worried I'm eating more than I should, but it feels like not enough and I'm left with a burning sensation in my guts. Drinking water helps, but let's get real, I want a bowl of strawberries and some carrots and maybe a hot dog or seven. And nachos, broccoli and cheese soup, brownies, a smoothie, and whatever else Scott Calvin listed when he was in denial about being Santa Claus.

Food Survey
  1. How do you feel about golden Oreos? I dig 'em.
  2. What is your favorite dessert topping? Butterscotch or cherries.
  3. What is your favorite flavor/brand of bubble gum? Minty kind.
  4. Favorite cheese? Cake.
  5. Favorite lunch meat? Bologna. Seriously.
  6. Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla. Not vanilla bean.
  7. Best looking food? Sushi.
  8. Best food to put cheese on? Potatoes.
  9. Best sexual food? Strawberries, I guess.
  10. Best tasting drink in the summer? Ice tea or pink lemonade.
  11. Best tasting drink in the winter? Hot cocoa or apple cider.
  12. Best food for a night out with friends? Sushi.
  13. Best foods to eat with a roll? Soups.
  14. Messiest food, in your opinion? Barbecue.
  15. Easiest food to prepare? Take out.
  16. Cheapest food you ever ate? Taco Bell.
  17. Most expensive food you ever ate? Disney World food.
  18. Stinkiest food you ever ate? Tuna.
  19. Favorite dipping sauce? Depends on what's being dipped.
  20. Best pizza topping? Artichokes.
  21. Favorite potato chip flavor? Plain for dipping.
  22. Most toxic substance you ever ate? I drank a bottle of orange Triaminic when I was little.
  23. Most calories you ate in one meal? I'm sure it was a buffet of some sort.
  24. Favorite soda? Red cream soda.
  25. Favorite flavor of juice? White grape peach.
  26. Favorite vegetable? Zucchini.
  27. Favorite fruit? Raspberries.
  28. Worst canned food? Fruit cocktail.
  29. Best side dish? Potatoes.
  30. Worst fast food restaurant? Taco Bell.
  31. Best restaurant? Sushi places.
  32. Best smelling food? Peppers.
  33. Favorite appetizer? Spinach artichoke dip.
  34. Favorite cookie flavor? White chocolate chip.
  35. Favorite cake flavor? Carrot.
  36. Favorite pie flavor? Cherry.
  37. Chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? Neither.
  38. Ketchup or mustard? Mustard.
  39. Best food to have on a date? Sushi.
  40. Most share-able food? Amy doesn't share food.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

It's a...

BOY!

Another little boy... He's perfect in every way, though my heart felt this would be a little girl. I had a name for a girl, but another boy means we don't have to do much shopping as I still have quite a few of Elias' things. Now to pick a name. He was so wiggly the whole time the tech was trying to measure him. She wasn't even sure if the gender would be correct at this age, but she said he is 100% male. I told the kids if he was a girl, we'd go to Bops; a boy, we'd go to Fernando's. So we had Fernando's for dinner with Mom. Afterward, we went to visit my dad for a little while in the rehab facility. He's looking alright, just tired.


Everything is good with me. Weight is normal, blood work is normal, etc. I don't have to go back until mid July.

Pregnancy highlights:
How far along: 16 weeks, 1 day.
Size of baby: Avocado!
Total weight gain/loss: I've gained about 12 pounds.
Maternity clothes: Stretchy shirts now.
Gender: Boy!
Movement: Here and there. Usually random times throughout the day.
Cravings: Not really. I still love potatoes, which explains the 12 pounds, I'm sure.
Symptoms: Really tired in the afternoon to where I have to sleep or I get a headache.
Best moment this week: Gender scan.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Siblings

Meredith and Matt drove through town on their way back to Texas, so we, along with my brother and his family, and Mom met up at China Buffet for dinner. It was nice visiting with them. All the kids sat together at one table like "big kids" while us adults and smaller kids sat at another.


After dinner, Meredith, Mom, my big two, and myself went to see my dad for a few minutes before heading to Mom's to hang out. I'm hoping we can go visit Meredith in July, but that plan is still up in the air. The kids would love the trip.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Seven

I've never cared for the number seven, even though it's usually a significant number: days of the week, deadly sins, Voldemort's horcruxes, etc. But now, today, is the seventh month my sister is not here. Seven months I've gone without hearing her on the other side of a phone conversation, without a response to a goofy video, without words of encouragement when Mom is most annoying. She's not here to come by and have coffee with me. I'm actually not sure how seven months have gone by when it feels like she was just here yesterday.

I realized that it doesn't get easier to go through my days without thinking about her or missing her. Sometimes it feels like I'm going to finally be okay, but to be honest, it just gets pushed down over and over until it spills out. The other night, I was on my way home from work, and I was listening to some music she never heard of. But suddenly, I was choked up and couldn't keep my tears back. It just hurt to know we'll never ride in the same car together or hear her singing so loud. Even writing this is hard to do without tears. It's been a rough seven months. I'm trying to wade through the thickness of grief and mourning while holding on to the the joy of one more little soul to complete our family, but it gets overwhelming at times. I'm lucky that I have a handful of really great friends (long-distance and local) who understand my sorrow and are there for me, even if it's only through social media. They can't take Emily's place, but they help fill that empty space in my chest and remind me that it's okay to be sad.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

What do your kids know about you? Pt 2

A few years ago, I posted this, so after seeing Katie post an updated one, I thought I'd do the same.


Without ANY prompting, ask your child these questions and write down EXACTLY what they say. It is a great way to find out what they really think. When you re-post, put your child's age.

Jac, age 12
  1. What is something Mom always says to you? "Not right now."
  2. What makes Mom happy? "Breakfast in bed and cleaning up without you telling us to."
  3. What makes Mom sad? "If we do things that get us fussed at or if we aggravate you."
  4. How does your mom make you laugh? "By tickling me."
  5. What was your mom like as a child? "A good kid."
  6. How tall is your mom? "About five feet? Or maybe a yard and three feet... or two yards."
  7. What is her favorite thing to do? "Crochet."
  8. What does your mom do when you're not around? "Plays on the computer."
  9. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "Crocheting the world's biggest blanket."
  10. What is your mom really good at? "Crocheting, cooking and desserting baking."
  11. What is your mom not very good at? "Um... Hmm... not hurting herself at her job."
  12. What does your mom do for a job? "Bath & Body Works and crocheting."
  13. What is your mom's favorite food? "Sushi!"
  14. What makes you proud of your mom? "She's my mom."
  15. If your mom were a character, who would she be? "Maleficent."
  16. What do you and your mom do together? "Mario Kart."
  17. How are you and your mom the same? "We both have younger siblings."
  18. How are you and your mom different? "Our favorite colors."
  19. How do you know your mom loves you? "Because she tells me that and she plays with me and reads to me."
  20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? "Louisiana."
  21. How old was your mom when you were born? "22."
Leah, age 9
  1. What is something Mom always says to you? "Clean your room."
  2. What makes Mom happy? "Whenever I listen and do my full chore chart."
  3. What makes Mom sad? "Whenever I don't listen."
  4. How does your mom make you laugh? "Tells jokes that are really funny."
  5. What was your mom like as a child? "Nice... I think? She was good."
  6. How tall is your mom? "About four feet."
  7. What is her favorite thing to do? "Crochet, sometimes play games a bit and watch movies with Dad."
  8. What does Mom do when you're not around? "She might worry about me."
  9. If your mom becomes famous, what would it be for? "Probably making a million blankets. Crochet ones."
  10. What is your mom really good at? "Crocheting, cooking, and... lemme think. Making us happy? And keeping me safe."
  11. What is your mom not very good at? "Making me sad."
  12. What does your mom do for a job? "Um... sorts candles."
  13. What is your mom's favorite food? "Macarons and sushi."
  14. What makes you proud of your mom? "She helps me, cooks for me. She's nice to me, but she's also really good at most things."
  15. If your mom were a character, who would she be? "Someone beautiful. Maleficent."
  16. What do you and your mom do together? "We sometimes go shopping."
  17. How are you and your mom the same? "We're both girls."
  18. How are you and your mom different? "You want a bunch of children, but I don't *evil grin*."
  19. How do you know your mom loves you? "You're nice to me, you cook for me, and you play with me, and you also say you do."
  20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? "Target and your room."
  21. How old was your mom when you were born? "25."

Saturday, June 9, 2018

BBQ & Pool

Ashley invited us over to swim and eat grilled burgers, so we accepted and spent a few hours with her and her guys. The kids had a blast in the water. I didn't pack my own suit, though I wished I had not long after putting my feet in the shallow end. I've got too many scrapes from work, so it was probably best to avoid the sting of chlorine. I'll be sure to pack a suit next time, just in case. The burgers were amazing and it was nice getting out of the house and doing something fun.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Dad and summer stuff

My dad had a stroke two weeks ago and is staying in a rehab facility for the time being. His left side is weak and he's not really trying to strengthen it on his own. The physical therapist says that he goes through the motions with them, but doesn't talk much and is just not looking so good. He just wants to stay in bed and sleep. Honestly, Dad hasn't said more than a few words since Emily died. The therapist learned this and has decided to put him on some anti-depressants in hopes it can help him find some joy in life again. He's just so sad. He doesn't want to talk about Emily, but I know she's all he thinks about. Hopefully the anti-depressants can help him.

* * * * *

It's been very hot lately. I've had a number of nosebleeds and allergy issues, as well as plenty of dizzy spells - some of which I blame on growing a small human. I've reached my second trimester already, so it's going by fast (or it will until the last month, I'm sure). We've decided on some baby names, but there are still two more weeks until we know for sure.

The kids are enjoying their summer so far. We bought a kiddie pool a few weeks ago. It took some Zac-convincing, but he agreed that "maybe it's a good idea" because OMG it's hot outside. I had brought Jac and Leah with me to Walmart and we picked out the largest plastic pool (only $15), then we all held it onto the roof through the windows for the ten-mile drive home... in the rain... because we didn't have rope in the trunk. A good memory for the vault.


Elias is potty training FINALLY. He's been asking to go and has been wearing Pull-ups, though he only poops on the toilet (honestly, I don't mind that in the slightest). Making progress. We may only be buying one kid diapers come December. Fingers crossed.