I gave blood today. I surprised even myself when I decided that being squeamish was no excuse not to. My last blood donating experience was my senior year of high school when – due to a bulky jean, turtleneck, sweater combo – I just barely met the weight minimum. I remember being helped up off the gym floor after passing out ………..and eating MANY Lorna Doone shortbread cookies. Well I would say today was much more successful as the weight minimum is no longer an issue and I remained conscious the entire time. There were no shortbread cookies but Nutter Butters suit me just fine. And it feels good to know that I will have helped someone, somewhere, someday.
I am in good company. September 3, 2008
Apparently there a lot of people not digging the YDFM lately. What’s with the funk? And yes, if you read that far, that is yours truly commenting about the smell permeating the cheese and baked goods. Gnarsty! I too had a quick trip turned into an ordeal when I was admonished for making it past the security counter with my reusable bags.
Love Stamps July 17, 2008
Stopped by the USPS today to mail a few packages and saw these stamps. Not sure how new they are but they were new to me. I bought a sheet even though I still have a handful of the comparatively boring Forever stamps. These make me want to write a letter. However, “want to” does not necessarily equal “will do.”
APWBWGTTD June 12, 2008
Tonight was the monthly meeting of APWBWGTTD. I had stopped by once before when the meeting was at Fox Bros. They were out of Mac&Cheese and I vaguely remember a mini-hissy pitched by yours truly. I’m pretty sure Dave thought I was a nightmare but – hey – I was pregnant and hormonal.
Tonight’s meet-up was literally around the corner from our house at the Ujoint. I RSVP’d that I would attend, having the best of intentions to actually post a couple of times between then and now to validate my appearance at said event. Well – I think I managed one post. I showed my face anyway thinking that if I didn’t go when it was in my ‘hood I would never make it there. Everyone was very welcoming and I came away giddy. Giddy that they didn’t care that I have been a slacker in the blog department. Giddy that I could carry on a conversation that didn’t revolve around diapers or day care arrangements. Giddy that I was able to have a beer, meet up with good people, and be back home in less than two minutes because I live that close to a fun little bar. (Gainesville, VA – I’m not missing you one bit!) I came in the door glowing with giddiness. Kristen and Randy were having a hard time believing that I had only one beer. I was that excited. So thank you – APWBWGTTD – for being such a welcoming group. I look forward to next month. BTW - they got a shout out in the AJC.
On a completely UNrelated note – I made up a new word tonight. I took Gnarsty (a word I learned from Kristen) one step further. To describe the extreme gnarly nastiness that was the kitty fountain prior to today’s cleaning, I created the word Fugnarsty. Trust me. It was more than appropriate. Poor kitties.
Week of Firsts April 15, 2008
Saturday morning Nate rolled over from his back to his tummy for the first time. He had come close so many times before but just couldn’t get past that arm. He did it while Steph and Sara were here so I think he was inspired to show off.
Usually Nate wakes up in the middle of the night after having been asleep for 4-5 hours. We feed him and he goes back to sleep until about 7am. He must have been plum tuckered out from his adventures at the World of Coca Cola because on Sunday night he slept MUCH longer than usual.
It had been Randy’s turn to take the middle of the night shift. I woke up at 5:03am. Not recalling him getting out of bed at any point, I asked him if he had gotten up with Nate yet. He said No. HOLY SHIT! The Boy slept for 9 HOURS! We both scooted out of bed and into his room where we found him sound asleep. Most parents would be overjoyed at such a long slumber but we were scared that he had gone too long without food. Before you think us paranoid parents…………
When Nate was one week old, we got an unexpected call from the Emory Genetics institute. As part of the newborn metabolic screening tests mandated by the state of GA, Nate tested positive for a Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder (FAOD), specifically Very Long Chain Acyl-CoA Dyhydrogenase Deficiency or VLCAD. What does THAT mean? Basically, he is unable to break down fatty acids to produce energy during periods of fasting. This is treated with diets low in certain fats and frequent meals but can have serious consequences if not properly managed. So by sleeping 9 hours he had nearly doubled the longest he had gone previously without eating. We tested his blood sugar and were elated when it read 103 as a good fasting blood sugar level is between 80 and 110. At this point we do not plan to make a habit of letting him go that long but it is comforting to know that he can. With VLCAD, however, that may not always be the case.
On a more entertaining note, this morning I experienced Nate’s first unmitigated blowout on the changing table. I will leave the rest to your imagination. But suffice to say that this is not what one hopes for at 3:15am.
A wedding anniversary of sorts April 11, 2008
Checking in on Mingaling’s recent post got me thinking about my own bridezilla moment(s). I would like to think that – as far as bridezilla’s go – I was relatively tame. However, in the 4.5 years* we have been married there are a few things that haunt me and if I could undo them I would.
I had this notion that, on our wedding day, nobody outside of my bridesmaids and parents should see me prior to my walk down the aisle. I am not sure why I felt so strongly about this. If I hadn’t been so stubborn about it, we could have done pictures prior to the ceremony and enjoyed that much more of our reception. But no, I insisted on maintaining the ‘element of surprise.’ The ceremony was to start at 4:30pm and I entered the church at about 25 after thinking that most everyone would be seated or at least heading that way. I beelined for the room just off the vestibule only to find that several friends and family members were hanging out and *gasp!* seeing me before the start of the ceremony. With a tone of voice more appropriate for Wendy Whiner than an elegant bride I remember saying, “Moooooooooooom, make them go sit dooooooooooown!” I don’t know if anyone heard me but, if they did, I would not blame them for thinking I was a complete brat.
*April 13th is 4.5 years EXACTLY.
The Biscuit’s Arrival – Part I March 16, 2008
I can’t believe that the day to return to the office is already here. It seems like years ago that we were at the hospital for Nate’s birth but the calendar brings me back to reality. It has been just over 11 weeks. We have gone from incessantly sleepy Nate to (seemingly) incessantly cranky Nate to where we are now – which is holy-cow-how-is-it-possible-this-cute-smiley-kid-belongs-to-us Nate. Now that I have said that out loud I have probably tempted the Gods to turn Nate back into the incessantly cranky* baby we had about 6 weeks ago.
*Cranky Baby = 3 Modes of Operation: Sleeping, Eating, Fussing
On this eve of returning to the office it seems like an appropriate time to share the story of his arrival. Of course – the truly appropriate time has long passed but what can I say? We have been busy navigating the roads of Parenthood. And we can’t seem to find a map, but thanks to our family and friends we are getting around quite well. So far.
So rewind, if you will, to December 26th. I went to Dr. Kleiss for my weekly check-in and was told that I was at least a week away from going into labor. This was fine with me as we still had a fair amount of preparation to do for the arrival of the Boy. I hadn’t packed a bag for the hospital, the nursery was far from complete, the guest room was trashed (leaving no suitable place for the Moms who would surely be arriving), and we had a few key items to get at Babies R Us. In addition, I was not overly uncomfortable despite being almost 38 weeks along. This surprised me as, earlier on in the pregnancy, I fully anticipated that at 38 weeks I would be chanting “Get this baby out of me!” to anyone who would listen.
The next day at work several people asked me how long I planned on working. Sure that Dr. Kleiss was right about still being a week off, I told them that I would be in at least through the following week. That same day I also had a funny conversation with a coworker/new mom about what contractions felt like. I had no idea because I hadn’t had one yet. Would I know it when it actually happened? Apparently not.
That night I woke up at 3am for my usual middle of the night bathroom visit. Walking through the dark room, a wave of discomfort swept through my abdomen. I think I was so focused on getting back to sleep – after all I was going to work in the morning – that I didn’t really pay attention. Besides, I was very used to random aches and pains at this point. Then 5 minutes later, back in bed, the same sensation washed over me producing an involuntary moan. Randy stirred, asked me if I was OK, and I said that I thought that I was. Five minutes later, the same feeling, the same uncontrollable urge to voice my discomfort. Randy, looking at the clock, realized before I did that these were evenly spaced occurrences. Until this point, I had not even had the thought of contractions let alone labor. After all, I was still a week out right?
With the realization that this could be “it” the panic set in. What if we go to the hospital and get sent home jumping the gun at the first indication of labor? What if we don’t go and this is really happening and I don’t get there in time for the epidural? Being a wuss with next to no tolerance for pain and less desire to go the route of natural childbirth, this worried me more than the first scenario.
Four minutes apart.
Randy disappears from the bedroom and returns with the handbook we were given at the Piedmont Labor and delivery class. We review the signs of possible labor, false labor, and labor.
Three Minutes.
Oh shit! This is really happening. Randy starts fumbling inside the TV cabinet that was recently moved out of the extra bedroom to make way for the Boy. He is intent on something but I don’t know what. The cats are oscillating between curiosity of the open TV cabinet and horror at the unearthly noises coming from my mouth every few minutes.
“What are you doing?” I ask in exasperation.
“We have to watch the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD!” he says.
Mind you, this TV has not been hooked up since leaving Virginia. I convey my disbelief with a few choice words since we clearly missed the window where educational videos would be of any value. We call the doctor’s answering service, Dr. Kleiss returns our call and tells us to come to the Hospital.
Less than 3 minutes.
I throw together a bag pausing every few minutes to bend over and writhe through another contraction. By 4:20am we are ready to go. I step outside and cling to the front porch railing while Randy swaps the cars in the driveway. I wail thorough another contraction worrying that I am waking up the neighbors but am unable to help myself.
We arrive at Piedmont and I am whisked from the car directly to a labor and delivery room. They tell me I am 7cm dilated and the first question I ask: “It’s not too late for the epidural, IS IT?!!”
It has become apparent that I won’t finish this post tonight. Stay tuned for Part II
Happy Belated January March 14, 2008
Originally uploaded by PenelopePR
Randy received this card along with some awesome brownies as a thank you for doing business with the Keen Team of Real Source Brokers in Oakhurst. Good Stuff. Wanted to share it with you all a while ago but just got around to scanning it today.
I’m still here. I’m just indisposed. February 28, 2008
It has been over two months since I last posted and – believe me – it is not for lack of desire to do so. I have had it in my brain that my next post had to be the full story of the Biscuit’s arrival. But I just haven’t had a chance to write out the tale the way I had envisioned. But – faithful readers – I WILL get there. The Blogstat page indicates that I still have people checking in on a daily basis despite the abandoned appearance of Penelope Plop Right. Thanks for your patience and stay tuned for the full story on the arrival of the Biscuit – aka – Nathan Randall Moore.
