Improvement...But Not Much

Last year you may remember my whining from this post. Well, it was that time once again for the annual football banquet. This year we it was held at the ballroom overlooking Texas Motor Speedway. While the banquet hall was very nice, a view of an empty racetrack and parking lot left something to be desired.

This "event" ranks right up there with prom as my least favorite "companion accompanying events". Now before everyone thinks that I am a stick in the mud.....I think awards banquets are a good thing for the kids. But when the event is 4 hours long, I think that is a bit excessive. We did improve the length of time this year by 30 minutes. Hopefully that trend will continue in the future.

Highlights of the night included:

-watching a hour and a half highlight video of the season
-having two of the people at our table texting and surfing the internet on their phones for the ENTIRE time we were there
-recognizing all the freshman, JV, and varsity football players - 200+ players
-awards for the booster club members - lots of awards again this year....
-chocolate bread pudding for desert
-improved length in the awards and presentations
-a football player is going to be attending Harvard next year and playing football. He even turned down other offers from "big time" schools to play football and chose Harvard instead....smart kid.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed that I wasn't personally recognized this year for my support of the football program....But I guess somehow I will survive.

Birthday Extravaganza

Dave and I tend to drag out birthday celebrations for as long as we can around here. Birthdays that fall on a weekend, tend to be an all weekend affair. Birthdays through the week, go on all week. But Dave may have it the new record this month. Dave's birthday is on January 6th, we celebrated with a dinner out on Saturday prior to his birthday because we were scheduled to be in a birthing class on the sixth. So, we started on January 3rd. For Dave's birthday, he requested that we go to Houston for an autograph show on January 24th.

And that's precisely what we did. Many of the guys I work with think I'm the greatest wife ever because I "let" Dave get Terry Bradshaw's autograph for his birthday. I have really done no work for this gift. Dave came up with the idea, ordered the tickets, ordered the football, and did all of the driving. (I suppose I will pay the Visa bill when it comes.)

Dave has acquired several autographs by going to shows with his dad. He has great memories of a high five from Mohammad Ali. When Dave mentioned to Bob that he was going, Bob's eyes sparkled at the mention of Dick Butkus. So, Dave and I decided to splurge for Bob's birthday and get a ball autographed for him.
Butkus signs another fan's helmet.

He signs Bob's football, adding "HOF 79." (Evidently, adding Hall of Fame without us asking was a big deal to some other fans waiting in the authentication line."


Mr. Butkus pauses for a quick photo with Dave.

After getting Butkus' autograph, we waited in line and had the authentication sticker put on the ball. Then we had a quick bite of lunch, before waiting for Terry Bradshaw to start signing. Evidently Mr. Bradshaw was having a great time in the photo opportunity area (you had to pay extra), and he was late getting started. After waiting for all those who upgraded to "premium" status for signatures, it was finally time to start. We had ticket number 8; they called 1-5, so we waited some more: 1-10!!!! We got in line and crept closer. A lady about 3 feet in front of us took advantage of the "you-can-snap-a-quick-picture" rule and must have aggrevated Terry Bradshaw because when we go there, this was the only picture I got.

I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I blame it all on that stupid, pushy lady. But I suppose I should lay some of the blame with Bradshaw; when fans pay to get a signature and wait in line, the least you could do is look up and smile. I hear, though, that may athletes don't look up at all when signing. We do have a good signature on a ball that is now proudly displayed with Dave's Frasier and Ali boxing gloves and his Georgia Tech autographs.

Most of the autographed baseballs are down stairs on display. However after the show, Dave took this Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron balls off of display. He saw the going prices on these and decided they were too precious to have out for anybody to grab should our house be broken into.

We may have to amend our birthday extravaganzas when Baby Mac gets here-don't want to spoil him too much :)

An Icy Day at Home

Nothing gets more media attention or closes school faster than the treat of ice in the South. Monday, the predictions had started. I must admit was prepared for a late start on Tuesday. I didn't want to use a bad weather day, but a late start would be nice. While some districts north of us closed (and even the district where we live was closed), our district was open on Tuesday.

As I drove to work, the roads were dry, there was a bit of a mist, and the temperature was 32. No worries. As the day progressed, the temperature dropped to around 30. At noon we got word that we would release students who drive at 2:30; everyone else would stay until 3:40, our usual dismissal time. A call went out to parents that they could pick up students, but that we asked that they wait until lunch was over at 2pm. Needless to say, chaos ensued from 2-2:45. Parents flocked to the attendance office to get their students. Students sent text messages on the sly to be picked up. It was bedlam. Teachers were instructed to go home at 3:45 and all evening activities were cancelled.

Throughout the evening at home, Dave and I listened to freezing rain hit the ground. We had ice formed on some of the turbin vents on our attic, so the rhythmic thump of their rotation gave us something else to listen to. We watched the news, laughing at a report showing us ice on her hat. I wonder what transplanted Northerners think of the Southern overreaction to cold weather. Dave and I find it amusing, and we're from the South. I also must wonder what the state of Kroger and other grocery stores was yesterday afternoon as people headed home. In Georgia, all the milk, eggs, bread, and ground beef would have been gone from the shelves.

By 8pm last night, the district decided to go on a 2 hour delay Wednesday morning. I called my folks on the phone tree and settled in to bed about 11. The phone rang then with a message that school would be closed Wednesday.

So what have I done with my free day? I slept in until 8:30 and then had breakfast that Dave prepared. He was disappointed that I had gotten up, as he was planning to bring me breakfast in bed. I puttered around. I took a long, warm bubble bath. I've read some of War and Peace. I've done some more puttering. I've had a nap. Now I'm doing laundry and blogging. Next--more reading. It's nice to have an unexpected day at home, but I won't enjoy going to work on February 16th to make up today. Then again, going to work that day won't be bad: the ladies will be coming sometime that day to clean my house, and I have a doctor's appointment that afternoon.

The ice that kept us home. (I shoiuldn't make light, traffic was really bad this morning, but by 11, Dave felt safe heading into work. Everything is melting as the sun hits it this afternoon. It is crazy to think that it was 80 here Friday.)

Ice on my azaleas.


Ice on the candle sticks.

Lazy Friday

Even thought I was awarded with a 10% pay cut (company wide) at Christmas, the four day work week is still a pretty sweet perk. This Friday I did a few odd jobs around the house and smoked a pork shoulder in the afternoon it went something like this:

The Rub

Loaded up and Cookin'


Fire Control Area


Mason Supervising


The Results - falling off the bone pork shoulder.


mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Hiccup

Friday I felt Baby Mac hiccup for the first time. The funny thing is the afternoon before a coworker asked, "Have you felt him hiccup yet?" I was sitting at my desk working Friday morning; after a couple of minutes of repetitive motion, I thought, "What is he doing down there?" Then the light bulb went off, and I realized that he was hiccuping. I sat there for a few more seconds feeling his hiccups. Next, I was off to my assistant, Beth's office, exclaiming, "The baby is hiccuping." She put her hand on my stomach and felt him. Later that day, Baby Mac got the hiccups again.

All was quiet over the weekend, but then last night Baby Boy got them again. It's odd that it takes me a few minutes to figure out what is going on. I was sitting on the sofa eating my bedtime snack of Honey Nut Cheerios with milk when I felt him. After a minute or so, I called Dave over to feel the rhythmic pulse of the hiccups. Not long after Dad came over, Baby Mac's hiccups disappeared.

I'm sure there are more hiccups to come. Here's hoping they're the good kind--like these.

Birthin' Babies

"I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies." Prissy in Gone With The Wind

Up until Saturday, I shared Prissy's sentiment regarding child birth. I've purposely been un-inquisitive about child birth leading up to my pregnancy, figuring that the more I knew and heard, the less likely I would be to want to birth a baby of my own. Don't get me wrong, I knew the basics, but none of the details. I have read two chapters in What to Expect When You're Expecting about labor and delivery. So I've gotten to know more about delivery. Heck, I've even memorized some of the steps should I go into labor at home by myself: my favorite being to unlock the front door so that the EMTs can get in the house when they arrive.

But all of that changed Saturday after Dave and I attended our Prepared Childbirth class. I was fine with all the talking and the diagrams, but the videos were another story. I didn't need to see all that. The emotion of watching two deliveries plus a c-section was just too much. I don't know if I'm more prepared now or more freaked out.

There are several points I use to comfort myself. First, women have been doing this for thousands of years with less medical technology than we have today. Secondly, epidural. Third, teenage girls that I work with have delivered babies. If they can do it, then I can, right? (Then I remember that I'm like twice their age.) But, I keep going back to my initial source of solace, women have been doing this for thousands of years. Surely, my independence and stubborness can be channeled for a few hours into physical strength to deliver a baby.

So, in the meantime . . . I'll practice my breathing. I'm working on packing my bag. I'll depend on Dave to keep me calm and focused. I'll take comfort in the fact that Dave would bear this burden if he could. I'll keep taking those walks to keep my blood sugar in check and to build up my endurance.

And when this is all over in eight weeks or so, I'll still declare, "I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies."

Empty

My poor, sweet, long-suffering husband seems to always get into my car when it is in need of gas. Last night was another in the many instances that seemed to start last spring.

I borrowed Dave's truck to haul a grill or something for work. When Dave got into my car, it needed gas. For some reason he drove my car for a few days, when he got the truck back, it needed gas.

Late this summer after we found out I was pregnant, Dave didn't want me to pump gas. So, when we would be out running errands, we would stop so Dave could fill up my car. We've continued that trend. Actually, when we were going to church in Denton July 2006-February 2007, Dave and I would stop at QuikTrip on the way home for gas and fountain drinks. So, my sweet husband has always been a gentleman and kept gas in my car.

Last night we got in the car to head out to Cabela's. Dave had a gift certificate that he wanted to use for a fishing gear bag, and I needed to exercise after eating dinner. After a long day at work, I asked Dave to drive. About three miles from home, the gas light came on. Dave swore. I thought he was mad at traffic. Then he followed up in a mock, sing-song voice, "Why don't you drive? My car needs gas." Despite my protests, I don't think he believes that I truly did not plan this. Heck, if I realized my car needed gas, I would have told him that we'd have to stop and get gas while we were out.

Dave thinks he's filled up the tank in my new car more times than I have. I agree. In my defense, I have put gas in the car. Multiple times even. But, I think I'll start paying closer attention to the gas gauge and get gas every now and then so Dave doesn't have to continue to put the petro in my tank.

G*%^ D@#$

No, not that dirty word. But another one has been introduced.

Gestational Diabetes

My initial blood sugar reading was high, so I had to do a three hour glucose tolerance test. The results were a bit high. So, I've now attended a diabetes education class where I learned about what to eat and how to test my blood sugar. The diet and testing started today. As for eating, it's really not that hard. I have to limit my carbohydrate intake. I have to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks each day. Not that bad. The difficulty is the protein I have to eat with each snack. But, I've consulted my list of goodies and will be better prepared tomorrow. I'll go back on the 19th with my food journal and my blood sugar readings to see where to go from there.

Additionally, I have to test my ketone level with a urine test each morning. Do you know how difficult it is to hit a small strip first thing in the morning when you add in a very pregnant belly? Ketones are the waste by-product created when the body breaks down fat into glucose. While carrying a baby, you really shouldn't be producing ketones. And you certainly don't want to pass waste through baby's system. Ketones could be produced for one of two reasons: 1)body not producing insulin or 2) not eating enough carbs to be turned into glucose. Thankfully, I had no ketones detected today. I hope that continues to be the trend.

It took me 20 minutes this morning to test for ketones and to finally get my blood sugar tested. I had to prick 3 fingers to get blood. My index and middle finger yielded nary a drop of blood despite my massaging the finger to try to get blood.

I know I'll get more adept at my morning routine, including packing my lunch and snacks.

I look at it this way--just more practice in getting ready for Baby Mac: eating on a schedule, taking more time to get ready and out the door in the morning.

Baby Mac Update

We rang in the new year with a trip to the doctor on January 2nd. We had another scheduled sonogram to take a look at my placenta; thankfully, the placenta has moved up and out of the way so a C-section won't be necessary at this point. Realistically, I know other conditions could necessitate a C-section, but I can mark this from the list.

After the business part of the sonogram, we got another peek at Baby Mac. You can see his little eye lid in the bottom picture. (If you need help, this is Baby Boy's head only.) He still has a good, strong heart beat.

I'm still feeling good. I move a bit slower than usual, and it's hard to get up off of the sofa, but other than that, no complaints. We go back to the doctor on January 23.

Happy New Year

Dave and I traveled to Austin for New Year's. Our friends Josh and Sara are preparing for a move to London, with their six month-old daughter, Avery. Since we haven't yet met Avery, we jumped at Josh's invitation to come down for New Year's Eve.

The usual 3.5 hour drive to Austin took 5 hours. Tack on an extra 40 minutes because of 2 accidents that we encountered before ever getting to Fort Worth. Add in a Quik Trip stop for drinks, a bathroom stop because of the drinks, a stop at a Bell County rest area for pictures (Dave's company did the interior of the buildings), a lunch stop, and a stop at HEB for juice and ginger ale, and you have a 5 hour trip to Austin. The ride assured me that there was no way I could have ridden to Georgia and then South Carolina for Christmas. After about an hour, I was ready to stretch, and so was Baby Mac.

Despite the fact that Georgia Tech forgot to show up for the Peach Bowl, we had a great visit. Avery is such a good baby. She slept through 11 people shouting at the TV and then just talking loudly because we'd totally lost interest in the game. She was in a great mood Thursday morning at Rudy's for breakfast, even though we woke her up from her morning nap to go eat. She played in her Exersaucer, she did some leg exercises on Dave's lap, she showed us how she could eat her bottom lip to make her cheeks even rounder. Dave and I hope we are blessed with a baby with such a sweet, easy-going disposition.

Not only did we get to visit with Josh and Sara, but also we got to see our friends, Pete and Lisa, who are just moving to Austin. We hope to see more of them now that they're closer than Atlanta.

I even made it up past midnight--actually, I was up past 1:30, unheard of these days since I'm usually waking up around 2:30.

Sara, Pepper, and I await the stroke of midnight.