Step through the web into my life. Read the ramblings of daily existence. My life, though by no means mundane in the overall picture, possesses such poignant moments that sometimes I just shake my head and wonder where the cameras are because it can't be real. Then I realize -- THIS is what it's all about!
Fourteen years ago from right now, I was laying in a hospital bed in Kettering, Ohio, waiting to become a mom for the first time... Oh...I'm jumping the gun a little... let me start out with the beginning of my day... since it was a bit of a surprise how it ended up. Fourteen years ago today, I went to work at the law firm in the morning like every day. Only on this day at lunch I was surprised by the GREATEST bunch of co-workers with a surprise baby shower in the law library. It was probably the first (and only) time anyone has ever pulled off a real surprise on me. Their gesture was beyond thoughtful and oh so wonderful. For everyone to come together for a first-time mom... and do something so ridiculously sweet just blew me away. However, that was just the kind of people they were. Mike, Cindy, Linda, David (sometimes...), Mike, Jim, Nina, Tom, Tamika, Susan, Laurie.... Truly a pleasure to work with. Once the fun was over, I loaded up my car and drove the goods home (I lived like 3 minutes away) and returned to go to my OB-GYN appointment. She was in the same business complex as I was so I just walked over there. I had a thought that my water may have leaked as I got out of the shower the night before... because while I may have been HUGELY pregnant, I wasn't about to admit that I had an "accident!" HECK NO! So, she conducted what was called a "fern test" to test for the presence of amniotic fluid. My suspicions were confirmed. It was positive. "So, what are you doing this weekend?" "Well, I'm going to a Memorial Day party on Saturday and then we're having a cookout on Sunday." "No, you're not." I laughed, "No, really we are. I'm making taco salad." "No, you're going to have a baby." I did a double take. "Excuse me?" "You're going to go grab your bag and head to the hospital in Kettering. I've told my nurse to make sure they're ready for you. We're gonna have a baby!" "What?" (One word answers from me are not something that is remotely normal.) "May I use your phone?" I called Josh's dad to let him know that I had to go to the hospital and be checked in by 6:30 pm. He was on his way to take a chemistry final. He was taking chemistry classes -- for fun. (thud!) He did the same thing I did. One word answers.... then he just said, "My heart is beating so fast." I kind of laughed and told him to go take his test and to drive down and meet me at the hospital that we would work out the logistics with the vehicles at a later date. I went home and took my time packing (I hadn't packed my bag for the hospital yet.) Don't judge -- I still had a MONTH to go! And, you know I was snacking. He walks in the door and spouted out, "WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE?" I said, "I'm packing... and I'm hungry. I know when I get to the hospital they won't let me eat! We have to stop and get food!" I asked what HE was doing home. He said that he had sat down to take the test but couldn't stand the thought of me driving to the hospital alone and checking in all by myself . So, he told the professor that his wife was in labor, gave him back the test and was willing to take a zero on it if he had to (he still made a 100 in the class! Can you believe that crap?!?!) He came straight home. We packed and called our parents and got on the road to the hospital. But first, we stopped at Meijer's and grabbed a few snacks. Once at Kettering Memorial Hospital, we got settled in the room across from the nurse's station. They started me on a pitocin drip in my IV along with an antibiotic since my waters had leaked the day before. It's a necessary protocol to avoid the potential for infection. They also gave me some kind of something (don't ask me, I don't know I was having a baby, not keeping a log of pharmaceuticals!) for my baby's lungs since he was a month early. My room had a DVD player so we'd brought movies to watch... sit-coms and romantic comedies. We'd get into a movie and I'd laugh...and the nurses would come in and turn up the pitocin drip. "This isn't supposed to be funny! You laugh, your dosage goes up!" (She was being silly, not mean and condescending.) I held steady throughout the night. The only uncomfortable part was being checked for effacement and dilation. I wasn't really progressing. Bleh! So, they gave me a sedative to help me sleep that night... ... and my story will continue tomorrow...
1}Which do you prefer in the am: Coffee or tea? Neither. Ice cold water with lemon for me. However, once my day has begun...and it's cold out... I will from time to time enjoy a spot of hot Earl Grey tea with honey. 2} Work has been cancelled on the spur of the moment: Clean house and do errands, Or just fun things? I always choose work. It's a curse. 3} Middle of the hot summer, vacation at: Mountains or Beach? Mountains. I hate sand...and swimsuits... and sun 4}You have to travel at a leisure speed: Train, plane or car? Seeing that I've never taken a train anywhere, I would have to say car. I like to be able to see the sights. I also want to be able to experience something whenever I want rather than fly next to some stranger. 5} To relax: A movie or a book? Book. No question. 6} What kind of pets? Dog, cat, bird or fish. Dog. 7} Dream home: Hard wood floors or carpeting? Hard wood. Carpet is evil. 8} a fun activity: cards, bingo or blogging? Blogging. Though, cards would be a close second! 9} First date: Dinner, movie or a hike? Yes. 10}The first Kiss: peck on the cheek, or a long romantic one? Depends...
1. What was your biggest accomplishment in school? It would probably be just maintaining a 4.0 GPA. 2. Have you ever won a ribbon for any event or competition, and if so, what was it for? I'm sure I have but I don't hold onto things like that... so I wouldn't have a clue. 3. Have you ever been awarded a trophy for anything, and if so, what was it for? Yes, academics... no, I didn't keep it. 4. What award do you feel you’d be the last person to ever win? Most likely to bite her tongue... The older I get the shorter my fuse for bullshit and stupidity. 5. Do you think it’s truly more important just to be nominated for an award, or more important to win one? Awards really don't mean much to me... if you are doing what you love... who cares what anyone really thinks of it. Sure it's nice to realize that you're appreciated but you shouldn't do what you love FOR the possibility of award and/or accolades. 6. A question from a decades-long grade school debate: Do you believe that everyone who participates in a competition should win something just for participating? I think that it depends on the age.... under the age of 8... sure... kids are easy to entertain... they don't GRASP the concept of competition much at that age. Over that age, no, let them understand that rewards come to those who work for them... that they're not a "gimme."
Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! Memorial Day was introduced to honor the men and women who died while serving the in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not forgotten this weekend. 1) This recording was made live at St. Patrick's Cathedral, during Sen. Robert Kennedy's funeral. While both of Bobby's older brothers were decorated war heroes, he served too -- enlisting in the Navy in 1943. Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.) No, I'm not. I would never make it through boot camp. If some power-hungry little dolt got in my face yelling, I'd not be able to hold my tongue. Not out of disrespect, but that kind of crap doesn't motivate me. It doesn't break me either. It just pisses me off. Besides, I don't look real good in green... or tan. My Uncle Norman is a vet. Both my grandfathers served in the Army during WWII. My great Uncle Henry was in the Navy (I think) and served in two wars. I know the Korean War, specifically. My great Uncle Leonard served in the Army as well. I'm not certain what incident he served during. I believe we have some in the Coast Guard in my family as well. 2) Memorial Day also kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? Probably some sort of fruit... like ice cold watermelon. 3) Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life. What an odd question... I realize that the sense of smell is supposed to be the most closely tied to memory, but I can't think of a scent that reminds me of a person that is special in my life ... right now. I remember Loreal Color Vive shampoo reminds me of Daniel... but that was many MANY moons ago. I don't really have a scent tied to a person that I can think of other than that one. 4) When was the last time you had your hair cut or trimmed? May 2. Before that it was over a year and 3 months. I have tried to tell you people that I'm about as low-maintenance as they come! 5) Crazy Sam runs on Dunkin'. Are you loyal to a particular brand of coffee? I don't drink coffee. Sorry to disappoint. 6) If money was no object, what home improvement would you like to make this summer? FLOORS. I HATE MY MOTHER LOVIN' FLOORS. I want my wood floors hand scraped and rubbed. I want tile put down in the playroom and formal dining room. I want hardwoods put in my bedroom and bedroom closet. 7) What was the last thing you bought purely for your own enjoyment? Apparently it's been too long because I have no idea. 8) When was the last time you rode a bike? A week or so ago I took Josh's around the cul de sac. Otherwise, years. 9) Sam worries that many of her song selections reflect her decidedly Baby Boomer sensibilities. Is there a song or a performer that you'd like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer? I'm an 80s hair band freak but love lots of genres. I say you write the meme, you get to pick the song!
1. Do you wake before the alarm or stay in bed until the last possible second? It depends on the day. Lately, it's just whatever. When I'm regimented and not suffering from some malady, I generally wake before the alarm, turn it off and start my day. I don't have a snooze button anyway.
2. Who should get a baby shower? Is it just the first baby or all babies? Again, it depends... I think it's a fun way to celebrate the mom, even if it's not a gift giving occasion. If one mom had a first baby that was a boy and a second baby that's a girl, she will DEFINITELY need new goods. Unless, of course, she wants to raise a gender confused child and have everyone telling her how cute her "son" is when SHE is born when she dresses her in hand-me-down Carters gear boy-ified with dinosaurs, monster trucks and bugs.
3. How will you spend Memorial Day? At home, with my family.
4. Do you have a Storm/Hurricane/Tornado/Fire plan for your kids, house..? Yes. When the sirens go off, we walk outside and wonder what's going on... look up at the sky.... and go on about our day. Don't laugh. They seem to go off for every little thing during storm season that no one takes them seriously.
5. What is your favorite morning drink? Ice cold water with lemon.
Yesterday our nation witnessed a natural disaster like none we've seen in a long while... an F-5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, just three hours north of my location -- a straight shot up I-35. Two elementary schools took a direct hit. Entire homes wipes off their foundations. Cars, trucks and SUVs crumpled like paper and just strewn about. There has been loss of commerce... businesses are totally gone Loss of homes... many have nothing left Loss of pets and livestock... horses and cattle too numerous to count Children are displaced from their families.... There are hundreds of walking wounded There are many that didn't even survive. Peoples very lives were completely blown away. I don't know really how to make sense of it. Be prepared seems hardly an option when regardless of WHAT you've done... it wouldn't really matter if 200 mph winds are ready to blow you and your home away. I mean, there is NOTHING left of these homes... The photos I found on www.nation.time.com are just amazing... and gut wrenching... and although some people might feel photographers during a tragedy like this aren't warranted, they are. They document the moment... the feelings... they capture the tragedy in film... because people need to remember this. They NEED to use this to be prepared themselves. Personally, I'd like to install an in-ground shelter in my garage. True that we don't live in the "death zone" of tornado alley, but we DO still live there. I don't think there is a price tag you can put on peace of mind... KNOWING you have a safe place to be. You just CANT put a price tag on that. We have tornado warning sirens go off here often enough that it would get utilized. In fact, I saw a video of a family that video taped their exit from their in-ground shelter right after the tornado was gone. There was NOTHING LEFT of not only their home, but their entire neighborhood. BUT-- they were alive... and safe... and had each other. Stuff is stuff. There are precautions you can take with your "stuff" as far as insurance and photos.... Sure, sentimental items can't be replaced, but in the grand scheme of things -- it's STILL just STUFF! You can't replace your loved ones. I wept as I watched a mother reunited with her son as he was sitting next to her teacher... and they just hugged as the teacher told her repeatedly, "He was so brave. He was so brave." Can you imagine FINDING your pet amid the rubble? She did... I wept as I watched a little old lady who reminded me of my grandmother... she was being interviewed... and then they spot her dog under rubble... and they're reunited on camera. That's all she had left in the world... and it was so touching when she said, "Well, I thought God answered one prayer to let me be okay. He answered both of 'em." I'm so thankful that she'll have her dog to help get her through this... I think in instances like this... we need them probably more than they need us.
Today, as we were under another threat of severe weather, many parents were worried about leaving their children at school and so they picked them up... My son text me at about 1pm and said, "So how bad is it?" I didn't know what he was talking about. "What" I replied. "The weather" he shot back. I pulled up the weather radar on the computer to take a look at what was headed this way. It was supposed to hit by 3pm. "It's just rain, why?" "Because half the school is gone." REALLY? I guess I'm a bad parent. It's just rain. I'm seriously not worried about my kids being at school when it thunders. Sorry, I'm just not. Rain... schmain! Plus, I had Benji down for a nap. Trust me... you don't want to wake him up until you absolutely have to! Fo' shizzle! ... but alas, I still had to wake him up early from his slumber (and my ONLY break during the day) to go play carpool mom and grab the boys. And then it was basically a whiney-screaming-tattle tail session for the next three hours... and I finally had ENOUGH. I'd had a headache for the better part of two days... nothing was providing relief. I was trying to make dinner. I've got a kid freakin the hell out every time Drew put an appendage on a green space on Twister because ALL THE GREEN SPOTS BELONG TO BENJI so I just HAD IT! When dinnertime turned into a fussy whine session, I, not-so-politely, informed my tri-ped clan that a) I had a headache, b) I was sick of it, c) I had PMS, and d) I was having to spend 24/7 with Benji who TRIES every last nerve I have, and e) (most importantly) I was OUT of patience... So, unless they wanted to spend the rest of their night in their bedrooms without the luxury of any electrical components (radios, which they both sleep with), I strongly suggested they all just play nice and shut the pie holes!
So, Drew asks, "What's 24/7." "Why isn't Benji in school?" "What's PMS?" Seriously, does he DO THIS ON PURPOSE? I think he does. Secretly, he wants me to go mad!
Andy said, "You heard Mom when she said she had PMS. That means, she's going to kill you and tell God you died."
Sunday Stealing: the fairy tale meme Snow White: Do you consider yourself pretty? Name the part of your body you think is the most beautiful! Cute, yes. Pretty, no. I like my eyes. They're a unique shade of blue. Plus, I have naturally long eyelashes. Cinderella: What is your shoe size? 8 Sleeping Beauty: How many hours do you sleep each night? 8 is my goal. Not always reality, but I do try. Little Red Riding Hood: What is your favorite food? I don't have one. The Frog Prince: What do you find disgusting? Abuse of power, children, elderly and animals. Jack and the Beanstalk: What plants are in your room? Whatever the dogs chewed up and drug in from the back yard. Puss in Boots: Do you have a pet? Do you want one? See above. I have three pets... unless you count my children... then I have six... but the four-legged ones mind better. Rumpelstiltskin: What is the meaning of your url? No hidden meanings here. The Little Mermaid: Can you sing? Yeppers. Pinocchio: What is your greatest wish? Feeling complete... Peter Pan: What is your (mental) age? One MILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLION years old. The Star Money: What is your most prized possession? I don't have one... Thank you for playing this week on Sunday Stealing! Please leave a comment or link when you have posted. Feel free to stop back and visit other player’s posts. Have a great week. See you next Sunday!
