Friday, December 19, 2008

Not Checked Off... (EDITED)

Much like Santa, I too am making a list and checking it twice. My list, unfortunately, is growing faster than I can check things off on it.

Please tell me you can relate.

The most critical items remaining on my list:

FINISH treat baskets for neighbors. (Ya'll like stale cookies, right?)
CREATE and MAIL a photo calendar to Nana Franklin, Nana Jackson & Grandma Joyce.
WRITE a Christmas newsletter. Or something.
TAKE a picture of the girls to include with the Christmas newsletter.
PRINT and MAIL the Christmas Newsletter. (Lost a bunch of addresses due to a computer problem, but mailed as many as I had addresses for. Oh well.)
PAINT Grandpa Thompson's gift. (It's about 50% painted...)
For that matter, BUY PAINT for Grandpa Thompson's gift.
Assemble Grandpa Thompson's gift.
Assemble Mom's gift.
Wrap a lot of presents.
Go grocery shopping.

I think, however, that I just figured out why these things haven't been getting done. They aren't written down on my ACTUAL list. Not one of them! The ACTUAL list is full of other items - like clean out the refrigerator, vacuum the stairs, and clean the bathroom.

I think I need to update my list.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The 13 Days of Christmas

I made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to teach my children The Twelve Days of Christmas.

They decided to create their own version.



Sorry that it's so dark and so grainy. It didn't look that way when I was attempting to record it!

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Sunday, December 14, 2008

A Few Last Minute Gift Ideas

Are you still trying to find that perfect gift? Maybe something for the person that has everything? Or maybe you are the type of person that likes to give practical gifts.

I could use some new luggage tags (well, I could use new luggage too...) because I am tired of using the paper ones that the airlines give out. So many people use them, there's just no way to easily pick out your luggage from all the other bags! These heavy duty nylon tags will hold up, regardless of how much traveling you do, and will add a splash of color to your otherwise boring luggage.

These LED flashlights would make a fun (and useful) stocking stuffer for just about anyone. Each flashlight has 4 functions: High power, Low power, Strobe & Signal mode. The LED beam reaches 26-33 feet and can be seen for over a mile! This would be a great tool to add to any emergency kit.

Or maybe, somebody on your list has a need for new boots. There is a huge selection here, including several from Timberland (one of my favorite brands).

For a limited time, every order will also be sent with a FREE Schick Quattro Titanium Razor. What are you waiting for? Go get some Surefire Flashlights and finish your holiday shopping!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Nutcracker

Last night we went to see the opening night performance of The Nutcracker at Mountain West Ballet. We were dying to catch a glimpse of two young ballerinas who are very near and dear to our hearts: Sara & Rebecca.

The girls were AWESOME! So cute in their costumes, so LITTLE on that BIG, BIG stage, smiles that light up the room. (I'm not biased...)

It was a great performance and we are so proud of our talented ballerinas!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Good News, Bad News...

The good news is that I don't have to wear my heart monitor anymore! YAY! Good riddance!

The bad news? They don't know exactly what's wrong with me. Yes, I had an episode of tachycardia, they definitely believe me. But it hasn't happened again. And it's not something that I frequently deal with. And while they could give me medication, "just in case", I'm pregnant, and the less medication the better. Particularly because this medication can make the baby's growth slow down. (Sometimes I wonder if this is a bad thing...) So, if it happens again, I can try to make it stop by either bearing down, or putting my face in ice water. (I'm voting for bearing down!) I could also try sticking my hands in ice water. (This would be my 2nd choice!) Basically, it's an attempt to shock my heart back into rhythm. In the event that it DOESN'T slow down, I can head for the ER. BUT, if it goes back to normal BEFORE I get to the ER, I shouldn't waste my time at the ER... because if they can't do an EKG (and there's nothing for the EKG to capture), well, me being there won't do anybody any good.

On the other hand, if I pass out or seem to be having other problems, I should probably call 911.

Joys.

So, I will be in touch with my cardiologist throughout my pregnancy (meaning, if I have another episode, I need to call him and let him know, regardless of the outcome), but ultimately, nothing further will be done until I have delivered this baby. Then I get to have a stress test. With an echocardiogram. FUN STUFF!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Updates

Yeah, I know. I haven't updated in a long time. I want to write about HAPPY things, and frankly, the last month (and actually longer), has been exhausting and overwhelming, to say the least.

This pregnancy is the hardest yet. Is it because I am 35? Maybe. All I know is that in general, I am tired, cranky, and the morning sickness about killed me. Thank heavens *that* is over (for now).

I have been sick with bronchitis for at least 5-weeks now. I deal with this frequently, but being pregnant makes it that much worse. For example, I have peed my pants more times than I care to count during the last month. Every time I cough, I pee. I have actually taken to wearing the equivalent of "Depends" because it is the ONLY solution I have found to this stupid problem. I also feel like I'm not being treated very well by my doctors. My OB-GYN seems to think that I won't get over it until the baby gets here, or the weather changes (about the same time out here in Utah). Basically, he doesn't seem to think there's anything we can do about it - "It's asthma - tough luck!" My family doctor is trying to help, but I wonder if they are trying everything. If I WASN'T pregnant, I think they would be more concerned. And that's really bothering me because I AM pregnant, and to me, that's a reason to be REALLY concerned. I am taking Azmacort (a steroid inhaler), an albuterol inhaler, antibiotics, and a generic for Robitussin with Codeine. I <3 codeine.

Another problem that I have been having is with my gestational diabetes. It came back MUCH earlier this time, and I'm already on insulin. I am currently stabbing myself 8 times a day. 4 times to check my blood sugars, 4 times to give myself 2 different kinds of insulin. The good news is that I shouldn't ever have to stab myself more times than that. The bad news is that my insulin levels will likely continue to increase as the pregnancy progresses. Joys.

That should be enough, right? No... there's more. About 3-weeks ago, I experienced tachycardia. Tachycardia is basically when your heart beats abnormally. In my case, my heart decides to beat VERY, VERY fast. We were not able to measure the heart rate when it first started, but 8-minutes into my episode, my heart rate finally dropped to 160 beats per minute. I am fairly certain that it was around 200 beats per minute before that point. Anyway, my OB-GYN told me to go visit my cardiologist. I'm all, "I don't have a freakin' cardiologist!" (Why would I? Do YOU have a cardiologist? I mean, I have no history of NEEDING a cardiologist!) Anyway, I found myself a cardiologist and I've had to wear a heart monitor for the past two weeks. I hate it. Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I will go and see my cardiologist tomorrow to find out if I have anything else to worry about.

During this time, we also chose to have the NT Scan with Integrated Screening done. We've never done any kind of genetic testing with any of our other kids, but now that I am 35, well... I was a little concerned. This series of tests tells us our risks of having a baby with Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida (or other neural tube diseases), and Trisomy 18. I am happy to tell you that our risks for Spina Bifida and Trisomy 18 are something like 1 in 10,000. Our risk for a baby with Downs Syndrome is something like 1 in 3900. These numbers are excellent, and I am grateful that it appears we have very little to worry about. In addition, the ultrasound today didn't seem to indicate any other problems that would increase the chances of our baby having any of the previous conditions. A blessing to be sure.

So... the good news. We had an ultrasound today and we were able to find out what we are having. If you don't want to know, don't visit the above site. But after today, I'm not necessarily keeping it a secret from the readers on this blog, so you might find out unintentionally anyway. So yeah... click or don't... it's up to you.

 
 
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