TGIF

The Hubby is in a field where in order to move ahead, you must be accredited, approved, and have a designation from the IRS. In order to get the full accreditation, there are nine-ish tests (it keeps changing,) four papers, and other continuing education requirements. You don't have to take any tests and still have an entry level job. Or you can go about half way, get a partial accreditation and still have a pretty good job. But.... if you want to be the boss, if you want the responsibilities, and if you want to make the big bucks, you need to go all the way. It usually takes someone 10-15 years to complete everything. Exams are offered once every six months (some exams are offered only once a year) in the spring and in the fall.

My Hubby is driven. He's a hard worker. He wants to be The Big Boss. He already has much of the responsibility. And he wants to make the big bucks. I admire him. When I finished 4.5yrs of college, I was done with school and with studying! He usually puts in 250-400 hours of studying for each exam. (That's in addition to working 50 hours a week, year round.) He's been taking tests since November of 2000.

Basically since we've been together, I've done everything that is house/home related. Mow the lawn? Yep- that's me! Clean the deck? Right here! Cooking/cleaning/shopping/all laundry related things? Oh yes! Home improvements? Yeah, I'm pretty handy. Even packing to go away for a weekend. I do his stuff too.

All that, because I wanted to say... There is an end in sight!!! Test #8 is tomorrow. If he passes this exam (which is not a given, no matter how well you know the material.) There is one more Exam- which will be offered in May, 2010, and two more papers, which he can complete anytime.

Poor guy is getting worn down. I can see it in his eyes on Saturdays, when he has to leave to go to Panera and study instead of staying home and playing with B or mowing the lawn. I can tell when he collapses into bed before 9pm, because he got up at 4am that day to study for three hours before actually going to work. For all of our sake, I hope he takes a breather (even if it's only a month long) before he starts hitting the books for the next test. So THIS Friday will be TGIF, if there ever was one!!!

A House Full!

Inspired by Melissa at MoodyPeach.net! (Thanks!)
http://moodypeach.net/2009/10/25/by-definition/


I always pictured myself as the mother of all boys. Maybe it's because I'm not your typical girly-girl. (I can't remember the last time I wore a skirt or dress- and it has nothing to do with being pregnant.) Maybe it's because I only babysat boys when I was in high school (luck of the draw?) Maybe it's because I grew up on a farm, and your gender didn't matter- you were expected to work just the same.

But honestly, girls always scared me to death. The ear-piercing squeals (Ack!) the teenage attitudes (Oy!) the delicate balance of empowering them without making them into a b#*%h (Ugh!) However, now that we have a girl, I'm just rolling with the punches. She'll be fine- she's a rough and tumble girl already, but oh the drama sometimes.


ANYWAYS, now that we have a boy coming, numerous times these past weeks people (acquaintances, church members, the server at Panera,) have asked, "One of each! Are you done after this?"

Um, NO frick'n-frack'n way!!! (If for medical reasons, we are done, that's fine, but it's not The Plan.) My actual response has been a surprised look and a pleasant "Nope!" I know the American dream is a boy, a girl, a dog, and a house with a white picket fence. (Seriously, we have a cat instead of the dog, but otherwise...) And I guess two is the social norm. But my desire for a house-full of kids has NOTHING to do with their gender!!! I came from a big family, and I want a big family of my own! (Even if it is all girls!) To us, the determining factor on how many kids we have, is how well we can provide for their quality of life and for the opportunities that we desire for them! If our ___ (actual # still TBD) kids are happy and healthy, that's what matters!

I mean, how could I NOT want twenty more of these?




Oy, the questions that random people ask...

PS- I know, I know- carbon footprint, overpopulating the Earth, etc. Don't worry, I'm not going to give Michelle Duggar a run for her money! Besides, I'm a chemist- I'll find a way to help those things through science! :)

It's Just Me....

I know, I shouldn't complain. I've had relatively easy pregnancies. But Dude, I am feeling huge!

I can't eat more than 2 bites of food without feeling uncomfortable and bloated. Heartburn is starting to creep in (spaghetti, why do you do me wrong?!?) Tums are my new best friends.

I am about to give up the fight, and just start waddling. I've already had to wear the over-the-belly pants for the past two months. Those ones that go below the belly get pushed down too far (b/c the belly is HUGE) and therefore my pants would fall down. Regular t-shirts are a joke. The ones that are big enough to fit over the belly have huge arm holes that I just don't find comfortable. It's all-maternity clothes, all the time.

My back hurts- I've been sleeping with a pillow between my knees...

Playing with B is a chore, anymore. Getting up and off the floor is something that I avoid at all costs! Once I'm there, we're going to play, damnit! :) And once I'm up, you're going to have to live with me sitting in a chair instead of on the ground.

These next eight weeks can't go by fast enough for me. I had kinda forgotten about The End of Pregnancy Awkwardness. We picked up Bito's bassinet today, so officially we have everything we'd need for him- clothes, diapers, and a place to sleep!

At least my feet aren't swollen yet. I think the cooler weather is helping stave that off, for at least a few more weeks! *knock on wood!*

{And end Self-Pity Party.}

That being said.... I love being a mom- even at 3am when B needs to be held and comforted! I love feeling Bito kick and wiggle! I love my life!

My Man

Have I mentioned that I love this guy? Sure he's funny, smart, hard working, and good looking. But he's all that, and he does what's best for our kid(s.) (Can I make that plural yet? I mean Bito is very real to us, even if we can't see him yet.) :)

This evening, B and Hubby went outside to swing while I was cleaning up dishes (don't feel bad for me- it was my suggestion. It's impossible to load/unload the dishwasher with B around.) When I look out the window, I discover that he has taken her swing down and turned it around- so he would be the one looking into the sun and not her. What a good Dad! :)

(PS- I know it's a crappy picture, but I was trying to be stealthy, and I don't have a zoom lense for my camera yet.)

Kung Fu King

In case I haven't mentioned it.... Okay, so I haven't mentioned it, but anyone who reads this probably already knows- we're going to have a baby boy in December. Currently we are 21.5wks along. And I'm worried.

For the past ~3weeks I've been feeling this guy move. And I mean he moves! It seems like he NEVER settles down. Bridget was active in utero, but this guy- HOLY COW! And it worries me because B was all wrapped up in her umbilical cord (around her arm, around her waist twice, and then around a leg....) which was the cause of her emergency c-section. If she did all that with her movement, I can't even imagine what this guy is doing. He's going to have is cord in knots- literally. I'm hoping to try for a VBAC, but if he's in knots and requires a c-section, I have NO problem telling the doc, "Go for it!"

Don't get me wrong- I LOVE feeling him and knowing that he's doing okay. But, settle down, Dude. You're making me worry over things that I never would have thought about, if it hadn't been for B's experience. :)

Year One

A year ago today, was the best and scariest day of my life. Looking at my healthy, active, smart little girl, you'd never guess she had such a rough start. B had some breathing problems.... a lot of breathing problems. And by this time at night she was intubated and on 100% oxygen, sedated, and being fed through a tube in her nose. But... she was finally improving! After a week in the NICU, we went home with our healthy baby girl, and she's been going, going, going ever since! Her first year has been amazing. I never thought motherhood would be so challenging, or so rewarding. My heart gets filled every day with just that smile- the scrunch of the nose and the toothless grin. I never thought parenthood would bring Hubby and I closer together, but it definitely has.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, B!!! We love you so very much!!!

Edna Mae Lynch Fair

My great grandmother died last Wednesday night. She was so frail and weak. The only sad part about her passing is that she was so excited about turning 100, and she was just 12 days short of her goal. Yesterday was calling hours, today was the funeral, so I’ve spent the last two days surrounded by family.

I thought I knew my great-grandmother well. After all, from the ages of three until I was eighteen and I went to college, she sat right behind us at church every single Sunday. Two different summers, when I was fifteen and sixteen, I mowed her lawn (and yacked with her afterwards.) But in the past few days I’ve learned so much more about her. How feisty she was. How frugal she was. How funny she was. What a strong woman she was. What she valued. How she lived. Although I wish it could have been under different circumstances, I’m glad to have gotten to spend so much time listening to stories and getting to know my great-grandmother even better.

You will be missed, Gma. But, I know you are so much more comfortable now. You are with your Savior. And you’ve waited 20 years to see your beloved husband again. That part makes me happy. Thank you for being such a wonderful example of how everyday, normal people are truly are the best people to be. And good people change the world in the most significant and most meaningful ways- one person, one day, one conversation at a time.