Terms That Evade Me

Anyone who knows me or has followed my blog knows how I keep myself busy...and also how when events occur in my life they tend to take on the resemblance of a whirlwind. Take my wedding as an example, or even my pregnancy. Despite the fact we were engaged at the beginning of July and married at the end of November many people thought we should have given more time. I'm glad we didn't because there was enough drama built up over such a short time in planning, but I'm still getting used to the married life. Now compound that with being pregnant and having the busiest and most stressful spring work-wise ever.

Husband

Wife

Step-mother

Mother

Pregnancy

Birth (ahhhhhhhh!)

Baby

In-laws (boo, hiss, boooooooooooo)

Anyway - those a a few of the terms that just don't quite roll off this independent gals tongue quite so easily yet. It really hasn't helped that I haven't had much time to actually sit down and contemplate life in a long, long time either.

I don't see this as irresponsible as I still make sure I'm as responsible as ever concerning anything that has come into my life, but I find myself sitting on the couch some evenings after a long day waking from what I can only describe as 'automatic mode', and looking around myself like I'm only just realizing this is all real.

It's a strange and unsettling feeling. I hate going through the motions of certain tasks feeling completely removed from them - such as being instant mom. Nate's daughter and I haven't had the easiest few months this spring as she continue to defy myself and her teachers now after visits with grandma. We tried everything from short visits to overnighters, asked grandma to be on the same page as us concerning behavior, following lines of questioning that doesn't involved how much she misses her and how she should visit more and more along the lines of what she does and school and home - but to no avail. Visits result in swearing, tattling, falsely accusing other children, pushing and acting violent towards other children. After a week of no visits these seem to dissipate - so guess what? No more visits. It also puts a horrid stress on the marriage and things are much calmer in the house when there is no acting up. I've put my foot down with behavior - either everyone behaves like adults or leave until you can. I can't handle the stress. It's working just fine so far.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a family member to trust to watch the kids? I'm afraid that's not written in the stars for this marriage. We're on our own. That combined with her increasing criticism of everything involving me (basically the fact Nate is still married to me - seriously - what a horrible concept eh?), the MIL is pretty much cut out of our lives. And my mother hasn't said a peep to me about my pregnancy all surrounding the facts we had a house before the wedding and I was upset for 30 seconds after getting left with the salon bill the morning of the wedding. I guess when you get married in my family you are supposed to walk away from the family you grew up with. Whatever.

I'm not really in a bad mood or anything, it's just that as things have slowed down I'm finally starting to look at the issues that have been going on that I've been maybe complaining about, but avoiding due to time constraints. Overall the situation concerning parent's is quite bleak - and bothersome. And quite honestly I'm at a point in my pregnancy that I'm not dealing with everyone else anymore. For almost 6 months it's been about trying to make things right whenever there is a spare second, addressing household issues, conferencing with pre-school teachers and psychologists, dealing with school budget woes and the classroom. It think time has come for me.

When I sat down the other night all I could think was, "Oh my GOD I'm PREGNANT!". I believe that was a bit more than a 'little' delay in my thinking.

23 weeks today. Leave the girls out of it. They make everything seem 3 times larger than normal. If they don't get under control later the word 'reduction' will become an intimate part of their vocabulary. Here that gals? After nursing you are going back to normal. This is your one and only warning. I can't afford the size you are. It's too weird and nobody carries it. Are you readers ready for the size? Scroll down....

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34F with no end in site (I'm normally a 32D)....right now I'm squeezing into a 36 D which is the best I could do in the valley. I'm heading to Pueblo this weekend to attempt to remedy the situation. I need support!!! I don't like porn star girls.

Titanicized!

Kudos to Bolte for first guessing the theme. The days leading up to Prom were interesting, meaning I'm using the most polite term I can use. The Juniors decided to charge $5 a head to get in (yes, yes I know - we all paid LOTS way back when, but for some reason, despite spending thousands there isn't usually a cover charge). This caused all sorts of controversy, including some serious verbal abuse sent my way by some parent's. All we could explain was this was a Junior class vote and they were the ones who needed to take responsibility. I know, I know - all over $5. I can't explain it either.

However, once the day of Prom arrived I didn't much care. This is what I woke up to the day before, so there was some worry about weather since we'd turned all the heaters off to keep the 'ceiling' from blowing all over. But it ended up being just fine as Saturday dawned sunny and cool instead of blowing and snowy!

I managed to get some pictures of everything the evening before since we'd be psycho busy the day of - and sure enough we were. These pretty much represent what there was even though all the tables and chairs weren't set up yet.

This is our ice float where the live four piece orchestra played. Just like in the movie "Titanic"!

And the centerpieces I put together! They were a big hit!

What's Prom without a few pics? I had serious debates over what to wear as the dress I bought looked like a tent on me. I just couldn't do it so I rifled through the closet and found this drapy bodysuit I bought a few years back, wore once and forgot about. It was perfect and comfortable. I hate how much weight I've put on through my face more than anything else. I can't wait to be able to P-90X again. Nate takes horrible pictures (it's a standing joke with everyone who's ever taken our pictures) but I thought you might like to see the belly at 22 weeks.

Rude

That's what my girls are. Rude. They don't want to fit into anything, don't look the best for my small frame, aren't cooperating at all, don't want to go anywhere and certainly don't want to dress up. All they do it get in the way also. I swear I heard one of them tell the other to, "watch this..." the other night when I rolled over. How inconsiderate.

My husband has named my belly 'Hank'. Why? I'm not sure. But if you remember we used to have a Turkey he named Hank. I think it's a name he uses for anything he has found an affinity for. However Hank the turkey turned into 'Hank the Sunday dinner' after he flogged the crap out of Nate one day. I'm not sure I like the belly called after Sunday dinner. If Hank Williams Jr. was his Muse on this one I'd be totally cool with that, but personally, I think the belly thinks it's a bit rude.

Speaking of the belly...it's getting a little inconsiderate of the space it has been allotted so far. I feel like a science experiment and I strongly recommend never watching the movie "Aliens" if you plan on being pregnant and have yet to see it. The movement I can feel and now see just reminds me a little bit too much of that. I expect something to pop out singing, "hello my baby, hello my darling..." from the "Aliens" spoof. It's creepy and, well, rude....

I did receive the dress I ordered. However my body isn't cooperating and it is a little large. Can't pregnancy clothes be made to 'grow with' the pregnancy so I don't have issues with all the in between crap? I think I can make due with it, but a size medium, a size 32 with the growing girls aren't matching up well. Find a bra in that size and pregnancy clothes made to fit. All straps fall off my shoulders, the belly is too small for most clothing, yet the front completely fills out. How can that be with straps falling off? Can't pregnancy clothes be made for smaller frames that have large girls to begin with? Ones that grow with the belly too? I don't think much thought is put into that... I'm just worried the since my girls are rude they aren't going to cooperate the night of Prom.


Prom is still killing me. I'm a 'jump in and do' person, especially when I see things that need to be done and there are people standing around not doing it. It makes me crazy so I go do it - then I get yelled at for being around paint fumes, getting up on ladders or carrying heavy objects. Don't yell if you aren't willing to do it!!! Seriously!!!

The canned response of, "too much homework" is used by all students who have not been applying wise time management or are otherwise pissed off at a teacher. If I have given a student a week on an assignment and they wait until the last minute it honestly isn't my fault. I don't understand why they complain to parent's or administrators about teachers who are more than fair concerning this issue because they are crabby. It's rude and doesn't speak well of personal integrity.

Consumed

This Prom thing is totally consuming all my time. Not like there was a lot extra to begin with, but when I'm not getting home until 8pm or later it does get a little trying. ONE MORE WEEK! What does suck is the dress I ordered still has not arrived and the chick DID NOT track it because it was to my PO box. Hate to tell her you can track to a PO so that isn't an excuse and if I don't get it soon I want my money back. Leaves me up a creek though as I'm not sure I have anything I fit in anymore appropriate for a formal event.

So let's see if you all can get this figured out! I'm not saying what's been guessed now as I don't want to give anything away! I know it doesn't look like much - but when the lights are out (as they should be - lighting is from our own effects) it looks awesome! And yes, that is my husband in the second picture. I made him bring the tools we so desperately needed.

I've noticed it's really hard to get clear pictures under fluorescent lighting (such as in the gym). Any ideas how to fix this when taking pictures? I've messed with all kinds of settings with almost always the same results.

Any more of you hazard to take a guess on the theme? I think it's getting more and more obvious!!!

Mooooooo!

For reals. I feel like a cow. I can't wait for my front to shrink back to normal. And yes I know it only gets worse from here and I have awhile to go. I also keep forgetting things. Last week I left my keys at the post office and couldn't pick them up until this morning because I didn't even realize until Saturday afternoon. I also am suddenly really sick again. I'd rather it be due to pregnancy than what I think it is...the stomach flu. But yet here I am stoic at school making everyone else sick I'm sure. Not the smartest thing, but until I get more sick days for maternity leave I can't afford to miss any more school. I am going to try and get out of prom decorating tonight however. In the meantime, here I am at 20 weeks. Nice flattering pic huh? Yes I'm talking on the cell in my classroom.

This is the dress I ordered for Prom. I really didn't want to get a dress but I figured I could use it again in the future anyway so why not. Obviously it's used. I love ebay. The only thing I'm worried about it that it will be too big. I have two other dresses that are still huge on me. I know I feel huge, but right now I can't imagine how much bigger I'm obviously going to be. I usually wear a Small or Medium so I've ordered everything in Mediums, and they pretty much fall off me. I've been getting by with bella bands and my normal pants and regular tops. There are a few maternity pants with the low bands that work, but all the shirts are huge.

Here's the progression of Prom. We keep getting setbacks. It's lovely. Nobody has guessed the theme yet!

And for those of you who have been wondering what ever happened to the pups we adopted; I found a home for one, and the other has stayed with us. I think I'd like to find her a home to though. Four dogs is a bit much for me and Nate doesn't do anything with them even though he wanted these dogs (why am I not surprised?). This is the runt, Brees. She's very well behaved but a complete puss. She cries if Dixie looks sideways at here and don't be around if she gets pinned down - you'd think someone was killing her it's that bad. When I have her on her own she's great. I had her at decorating all day last week and she just hung out - never a peep. She needs a good home. Any takers?

It's.....

... a baby....

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.... a child.....

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....a lifeform weighing me down.....

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....in my belly.....

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....making me gain strange weight (10lbs since my last visit when I'm averaging only 2 or 3/month? I think something's off)......

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....causing strange things to happen to me.......

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.....making me cranky occasionally......

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...making my teeth hurt....bad....and I've never had a cavity before...but I think I do now....

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....making me tired a lot.....

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....oh yeah......

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A BOY!!!

When Time Doesn't Belong to Me Anymore...

Which is a typical problem when you become a teacher, unfortunately.

Easter rocked! Sorry I don't have any pictures, but I kept leaving my camera in places - the truck, Nate's truck, my friends table, etc... I decided that holidays are supposed to be stress-free. If family causes stress then they don't need to celebrate holidays with us. Christmas was horrid. I was basically 'kicked out' of the festivities in my own home when it was invaded by family. I declared 'stress free' holidays only after that.

We went to mass, a Mexican buffet and then a friends house for both children's and adult egg hunts and more food. We were home at a decent time, relaxed, played video games, and just hung out. It was the best family holiday yet!

Which was a good thing - because until April 24th - this is what I'm doing every night and most weekends. Remember when I said Prom has about a $9000 budget? This is why:

Let's see if you can't figure out the theme as it comes together over the next few weeks!

Maybe I'll hold a contest!

A Boy? The Myths I Experience

I don't find out officially until the 8th, but here's why everyone thinks so:

I could only eat carbs (fresh breads, bagels, some pasta) with cheese, cottage cheese and fruit during my first trimester.

No serious morning sickness, just constant nausea.

Higher fetal heart beat for the first and second trimester so far- I average between 150 and 160 bpm

I'm carrying to the front (like I have a melon under my shirt). And I'm high already.

The Chinese Conception Chart says since I'm 31 and conceived in December it's a boy.

I know there really is no accuracy to any of this, but here's to wishful thinking....have I mentioned I would prefer a boy over a girl? Call it selfish, and a girl would be just as loved, but right now I've about had it with having a girl in the household and I can't quite imagine another one right now (guess what? She's in trouble again...through the MIL influence no less). Give me a little boy who gets into everything, doesn't mind getting dirty and loves his momma.

Anyone ever staple their finger? I just did. I'm not multitasking quite so well being pregnant. Ouch.

Have I also mentioned I'm a co-sponsor of Prom? It's on the 24th. We have a $9000 budget. Can I say how crazy and BIG this thing is...oh yeah, and that I now live at the school.

Thought I'd explain the high heart beat for a boy - that's for early on in the pregnancy. Girls typically have higher heart beats in the late 3rd trimester, boys are lower. The tale refers to the higher heart beat early on. I actually asked my doctor about this and he said sometimes this happens, but that both sexes pretty much fall between 140 and 160bpm before the last few weeks and that the consistant higher heart beat translating into being a boy is an 'old wives tale'.