Pictures from the weekend

The girls are having so much fun playing together now. Audrey is three, will be four in April. Abbey is two, will be three in March. I hope they will always love each other as much as they do now.

Oprah wants to know

for some reason Oprah has asked me "how do you make the big decisions". I'm not sure why Oprah needs my advice, she seems to be doing pretty well on her own. But I was feeling generous and decided I could share. my answer: I procrastinate until the decision is made for me. That way I really can't be blamed for a bad decision or for that matter a good one. I've been that way all my life. Oh, no. Wait a minute, now that I've read over that, I realize I've been completely wrong. I should have weighed the pro's and con's, did a lot of research, asked for council from those whose opinions I admire, then flipped a coin. Yea, that would have been better!

Some years ago, Mark and I lived in a two bedroom duplex in St Johns, a neighborhood of St Louis County, the street was W. Milton. We lived in the rear apartment which gave us access to the backyard

The only room we spent anytime decorating was the nursery which was for our much anticipated little boy. And no I did not really know he was going to be a boy, no ultrasound, we just knew. We painted a used crib a bright enameled chinese red. Then we took a upright chest of drawers, removed the top three drawers. Then using shutters we made doors, making the chest into an armoire of a sorts. This was also bright red. Mark and I read that babies liked bright colors!

I made a baby quilt, hung raggedy ann and andy on the wall. A sister-in-law made two pictures, one of a lion and one giraffe with red borders. The room was ready.

On February 19th, 1971 I went to bed early since I wasn't feeling well. I did not get to sleep till morning. I woke up with stomach cramps, feeling only sick. I never thought it was anything else. But the feeling didn't go away or let me go back to sleep. Around six A.M. I thought maybe I should wake up Mark. He immediately got us ready for the hospital. Did we call ahead? I don't know, I do remember the trip downtown to Jewish Hospital. I wondered if we were doing the right thing.

It was early and I was taken upstairs to the maternity floor. I tried to let people know I did not think I should be there yet. They weren't listening. Into a room that was small and only for laber. That's odd now, but there were labor rooms then. I just thought I was sick. Then the pains amped up and there was no doubt left. They gave me a shot that they called twilight, and it didn't take away the pains but they said I would forget. I made a consious effort not to forget becaus I thought it was so stupid not to ease the pain. Of course it's all a blurr to me know, I don't even know if Mark was allowed in there or not. I think he was.

Then off to delivery. My doctor didn't talk to me at all, he just kept talking about his landscaping and the trouble he was having getting his trees delivered. And not to me, only to the nurses. I felt like I was just a prop in the room. They didn't ask if I wanted any shot or if I was ok or anything. I hated that doctor. I think I finally said, "hey, I don't care about your yard, I'm having a baby here" They still didn't talk to me but they shut up. Oh wait, they did ask me if some students could watch the birth, I said "hell, no". So now they did not like me. I did not care, what a bunch of assholes.

So my baby was born, I held him and they wheeled us out and Mark was there. I'm glad I didn't realize he was just thinking that I had a baby that looked funny, with a big nose! I guess he never saw a new born baby before. Then they took the baby, and then I went to a recovery room. I guess i recovered and they took me to my room and I got to hold my baby. And I think that was when I fell in love with him. I thought he was beautiful. And I still do. So February 20, is the day of his birth and I thank God he was given to me. I would go back in time and do it all over again if I could, and with a lot less mistakes on my part, but I wouldn't change a thing about that baby or the man he has turned out to be. A mother could not be prouder of a son than I am with all my sons. Happy Birthday Major Brian, I love you.

Son at work

This is work?

This is familiar.

Who does this for a living?

random thoughts

At one time I thought I had a different kind of sense of humor. I actually thought I looked at things differently than most. I watched television during the early sixties and it didn't seem as if I had anything in common with any of those people. why were they so nice? did they really feel that way all the time?
Then the seventies and what....the brady bunch? Mary T Moore? Still too nice. Possible exception M*A*S*H.

Eighties, Benson, a different world, Lavern & Shirley, Little House on the Prairie? Come on people.

Ninties, ok, tv is starting to catch up. Seinfeld, Drew Carey, 3rd Rock, Frasier. Finally, a little sarcasm, not so nicey, nice.

And then.....Reality TV, Cable, well crap, I'm out of it again.

Its Saturday night, or rather Sunday morning 1:30. We kept the three and two year old Friday night over to about 5 or 6 Saturday. I thought I would have help today from the fireman (husband), but it was not to be. The Polar Bear Society or whatever took their yearly dunk in a lake today. The temp outside is around 20 so yes of course lets take a swim. The fireman said he would be back (yea, right) he was only going to help set up. He returned about 4:30, did I mention the kids woke up around 6 AM? Long day, but they were better behaved today. They at least let me get some cleaning done. Oh, and they took a nap around 1, so tolerable. Even so when the fireman came home finally, I couldn't help but be pissed.

So it's late on Saturday, sorry early Sunday morning and I'm still pouting, kinda. Well how can you pout when your reason to pout went to bed hours ago?

I don't want to waste the day tomorrow, so I guess I'm off to bed now. In a minute, or maybe an hour. When did tv get so terrible late at night? I would be watching channel 131, except I'm writing this boring tirade. Go to bed. It's late. Oh wait a minute, are you smarter than a 5th grader is on. Oh crap, I wasn't that smart when I was in 5th grade. What school do these kids go to? I can't help but think it's not one around here. History channel is about the Templar's. They seemed like fun guys to hang with. Did you know our government was based on religious society? I just did and not from a 5th grader. The founding fathers borrowed from their church's to form the structure of our government. Who knew! And no I didn't get that from television, but from a book on Abe Lincoln. Oh, look, Tom Hanks in the churchy movie. What was the name?....... Isn't that funny, maybe it's a theme tonight. My brain isn't working tonight, what is the name of that movie..... You know, that crazy albino monk, the priory, holy grail, louvre, Michelangelo. Now I just cought the end of Kell on earth, I never saw that, what is it? I really like that there is all these shows with people yelling at each other and cursing. Makes you feel all warm inside. And all the family, sisters, who in the hell are these people, Bravo? What is going on? I'm too old to watch tv now. What does it say when the only family reality I'm the least bit interested in is the Duggers? No, not really. Although I've seen one or two. But they are the only family I would want to know personally. Hey Rue Paul is on with Rickki Lake now. It's a sign I've got to go.

Last night I stayed with two of the grandkids overnight. Those kids were wild! How much energy does a three year old and a two year old have? Well way more than I do, that's for sure. And what is with the craziness right before bedtime, is it that they have to get a lot of movement done before they hit the bed? And everything is so funny, everything. And really, since when do I do everything wrong? My mom does that this way, or my dad never says that, or my mom doesn't use that. What happened to Grandma is wonderful? I want that back!!!!

Today my son left again for Iraq. He should be there for another 6 months or so. I was to be at his place to watch his two kids while his wife goes with him to the airport. I think they said they needed to leave at 5:30 AM to catch his flight out. So my husband and I kept waking up all night to look at the clock so we wouldn't be late. Almost every hour on the hour. Why do we not just set the alarm clock? I don't know. Even though we both have an alarm clock on each side of our bed, we just don't set them. Well I know I don't bother cause I'd screw it up. I tried once and the alarm kept going off every hour and a half. Or I'd get AM and PM messed up. My internal clock woke me up again at 4:00 AM. I got up and dressed and went to the "Major's" house. Since he was back in uniform, he informed us that we had to call him Major. Even if it was"Does the Major want a piece of gum?"

Anyway had a good day with the kids, I wasn't scared at all. Usually babies scare me, I don't handle crying well at all. But for some reason this little one month old is just easy to be around. And his older brother has been good to be around for quite a while. That two year old is a riot. He is silly and cute. And surprisingly good. And he kisses. Which is very sweet. After Christie got home I went to work out at the gym. Had a Doctor appointment to check my weight for the month and didn't think I lost any at all. three damn pounds. I have to end this, really work all month long instead of just the last week. Another appointment in March, and the doc said I have to lose 30 more lbs. I'll look like crap, but what the hell. I haven't weighed that since I was in my early 20's. And although I will fit in a size 6 or 8, I'm happy in size 12. Really what is wrong with that?