Pregnant Matters

Thursday afternoon while picking Liam up from school, his teachers hand me a letter. It states that a student in Liam's class has fifth's disease, which is very common and not dangerous except it can be dangerous to a fetus, so the letter suggests if you are pregnant to contact your doctor.

I look up symptoms, many are cold like. And guess what, I have a cold and sore throat. So I think, well to be safe I'll call my doctor and see if I need to do anything.

I get a nurse and she tells me how it's very common and that most adults are immune, because if you've ever had it or have been exposed to it you will develop immunities for it. She acts like because my son doesn't have it, I'm probably fine. BUT she adds, "IF YOU WANT" you can get a blood test and it will tell us if you immune to it or not.

I don't have time to get blood tests done every week (which seems to be the case). She says "So shall we set up the paperwork for you to get your blood tested?" and I say "nah, it's okay" and she says "uh, you don't want to?" I say "well if it's not a big deal I don't really want to have to find a babysitter".

THEN she has the NERVE to get annoyed at me. Isn't she the one acting like I'm over reacting???? She says "well, it's HIGHLY recommended that you get a blood test to make sure". What the freak? Couldn't she say that in the beginning. She could have said "to be on the safe side we highly recommend you get your blood tested, but most adults are immune". Not play it off like it's not a big deal, then get all huffy when I think "okay maybe it's not a big deal". Sheesh. I'm not a mind reader or a medical professional. I think she is one of the ones who has the attitude like pregnant women always over-react to things, so she plays everything off like it's not a big deal, and when a pregnant woman actually takes her at her word she thinks "what? you aren't over-reacting, what the hell is wrong with you? Don't you know this could be serious?" Or maybe it's "uh-oh, if it turns out she has it and something happens to her baby I might be in deep-doo-doo". Who knows. I don't even know if this little rant made any sense. Long story short, I guess I'll be getting another blood test on Monday or Tuesday.

Soup Buddy

Violet is my little soup buddy. She loves soup. I guess it's strange to me because Liam won't even try it, but she loves it.

New Product

Today I was accosted in the mall by a Kiosk clerk. Usually when I walk around the mall with my daughter and a slight scowl on my face the kiosks leave me alone. This one had a huge smile on his face and just wanted to hand me a sample. BUT then he said "you have beautiful skin, what moisturizer do you use?" I knew this was a trap but I couldn't resist telling him that I don't use a moisturizer. I told him I've tried many different kinds for 12 years and they just make me break out. So he says "well I don't want to show you a moisturizer, give me your wrist please" I told him I didn't have a lot of time and pointed to Violet as if to suggest why... he said "no no no, this won't take any time". He put some gel like substance, all organic certified of course, and rubbed my arm, complementing on how clean my skin is. Ahhh but even with my clean skin, here look at all this dead skin that has come off of your wrist, now imagine what it can do for your face he says, and that he imagines I have sensitive skin. Ohhh how did he know I was looking for a new exfoliator? But I've learned my lesson from buying from these Kiosks, A) they are always a much higher price B) they are often just gimmics. I told him very sternly that I will do some research at home, and if people like the product then I will be back... in my head thinking, unless the price is cheaper online too. He did not want me to walk away of course. He kept saying "but I just showed you how it works", "I can show you testimonials". I just said "If your product is worth it, you shouldn't worry, surely I'll be back". He kept talking but I said "Sorry I have to go"

I did look it up when I got home. All glowing reviews on Amazon... except for many mentioned the Kiosk price being about $70+ and Amazon's price was $35.34... I just checked and must have gotten the last one because it now says $69 and it's sold through someone else and not directly through Amazon.

It's called Vivo Per Lei facial peeling, I can't wait to try it on my face!

Finally, Relatively Clear Skin

When I was a teenager until about 20 years old the only way I cleaned my face was with soap and water. I rarely broke out but I did have dry flaky skin.

At around age 20 or 21 my new friend Lisa told me I need to exfoliate more often and use a facial cleanser. I was thinking "what does exfoliate mean?". I did a little research and everywhere I read they said to exfoliate about once a week and cleanse twice a day, use a toner and a moisturizer. So I started to do this. It was nice to get all that excess make-up and dead skin off of my face, but my face started to break out all of the time. At first I assumed it was just because my skin wasn't used to being so clean. I tried lots different products promising different things. I finally went on proactive. My skin still broke out a lot but it was less than everything else I tried. SO I used it for about 5 years until a few months ago.

My break outs had started getting worse, lots of large ugly zits...possibly cysts, under my skin everywhere, everyday. David kept telling me to see a dermatologist but I am a little stubborn, I don't have good experiences with doctors helping me with my problems... only my obstetrician's have proven useful. And nobody can cure acne only "control" it, probably starting with antibiotics which I didn't want. I know my skin better than a doctor.

I did go as far as the Clinique counter and their only advice was to exfoliate more often... uhhh I was using proactive, which is like exfoliating everyday. I decided then to stop using proactive. This didn't help my skin much, but made me feel better about not putting so many chemicals on my skin.

I stumbled across a beauty blog and the writer mentioned reading recently how not everyone needs moisturizer so in February she went without using any and her skin did better than ever. Eureka! I tried the same experiment, I live in humid Texas after all, moisturizer taken care of. Yes this made all the difference. Finally no more small zits all over my forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, jawline. No more large cyst like zits cropping up in these same spots.

And I'm pregnant, usually my acne is terrible when I'm pregnant, especially in the first trimester. Now I only have a few small zits... which I can handle after the last few years of horrible acne. Not only is my skin mostly clear, it's also not as dry and flaky now that I know that I do need to exfoliate once a week and use a facial cleanser twice a day.

Liam's Easter Project

As I mentioned Liam started gathering the toilet paper cardboard rolls a few days ago and came up with a great idea to paint them and glue on ears and arms and legs to make a bunny rabbit family. I thought it was very creative of him and we had a lot of fun making it happen.

Violet's is the pink one, she painted the pink (good coverage!), I did the face, she drew one ear and I cut the other from it and she colored the inside. I made the holes for the arms and legs and she poked them through. I glued the ears and tails (not shown) on.

Mine is the blue one.

Liam's is the yellow one, he did it all himself!

The kids played with them until it was time to glue the ears and tail, then I put them up to let the glue dry.

More Easter Projects

Full Easter mode here... Even Liam came up with a project I might just post later (after we do it). He's been collecting the inside part of toilet paper rolls, he wants to paint them and add ears and legs and arms and make bunny rabbits. I thought that was a cute idea.



This one is a bead-and-pin basket, I got the idea from Design Sponge. I made one for my friend Lisa and one for each of Liam's teachers. Lisa's was the first one I made (not shown) and it taught me that I need to double the wire so it makes a stronger handle, and I should set the handle more evenly. Each one takes maybe 30 minutes, I had Violet help me put the beads on... so that may have increased the time. But very easy and pretty little baskets.

Easter Projects

I made these shirts for the kids to decorate. They are drying now and tomorrow they can decorate the eggs. I have a feeling they might go overboard :)

David is as Giddy as a School Girl

Just kidding. He is really excited though. Every couple of years he gets to build a new computer. This new one will have to last him 3 years though... that's the deal because he spent more than he usually does. He tells me "we'll see". He hasn't even built his new computer yet and he already plans to build another one in two years? Lol.

Last time a friend and his brother wanted to have David's computer, so they all ordered the parts together and David built them. He does a ton of research and builds the best computer for the money.

This year two friends and his brother want the same computer. David spent days picking out parts and figuring out what part would be most compatible with another part etc. What is the best price for the performance and probably a ton of other factors I hadn't considered. There is even a geek website that will evaluate your computer parts to tell you if you are building a good computer. They told David his was the best they had seen for the price. Good job baby.

Now every day David lets me know that the parts will be arriving soon, and even though he ordered me a new keyboard and mouse (I want a wireless set up in my sewing room) not to open any of the boxes! Haha, don't worry David, I'm not really that excited about my new mouse and keyboard. I mean I appreciate it, but I think I can resist opening any packages. His reason was because I won't know which ones are for me and which ones are the other guys. I think the real reason is he wants to be the one to open all the cool computer parts. I can't say that I blame him. This is his hobby after all.

Pretty Good Weekend

What really made my day Saturday is David (without any hints or asking) volunteered to go grocery shopping... hmmm maybe he wanted to get away from all the moaning and groaning? No that wouldn't be fair to his being so thoughtful.

Well he calls me from the store about 30 minutes into shopping to ask me what Gala apples are supposed to look like... and are they yellow? I said no they are reddish with yellowish highlights... I tell him they have the names of the apples printed on the price tag in front of them. He says "well this place doesn't have that great a selection, in fact none of the fruit here looks too great, of course I am at Walmart." whhhhaaattt???

I didn't want to complain, because he was doing me a great favor... But I have tried to give Walmart fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, milk a chance more than a few times. And I'm probably a spoiled brat for saying this, but YUCK. Fruit there is always (for me) bruised or old or mushy. Veggies, old and odd colored. Meat... poor quality, tough, no taste, just bad cuts. I only buy organic chicken, they don't sell it. Eggs OLD... even the Egglands Best. Milk... every time I've checked, close to expiring and more than once I have picked up a gallon and it's tasted spoiled even if it's dated a week from expiring. I mean there is a reason it's cheaper... I would just rather spend a little bit more to have better quality food.

My stomach was turning just thinking about it. I said "nevermind, don't get any of the fruit... or veggies... or uh any meat, they won't have the right chicken... and don't buy eggs or milk there."

David says "sooo I have to put all of this back and start over?"

Me "I'm so sorry David, I really am but I'm already throwing up all the time, I can't even stomach thinking about it... but you can get cereal and canned foods there."

David "No I don't want to do that. Okay, where should I go?"

Me "Any grocery store; Randalls, Krogers, or HEB."

I couldn't believe David didn't know how I felt about Walmart food. I'm not shy about it. I don't think he'll ever forget again though.

Sunday was very good too. I only threw up 3 times (rather than 7 or more) and not once at Church! I prayed a lot that I would feel good enough to teach my class. Prayer answered (check). In fact if I threw up 3 times each day, I think I could handle that (of course I wouldn't be saying that if I didn't typically throw up 7+ times a day, it's interesting what can make you more grateful).

Sunday evening I asked for David to help me make dinner. I was feeling queasy and needed him to cut and touch the raw chicken. He made us chicken nuggets with panko breading. I made rice and peas. We both made cookies. Kids loved it.

We had a Family Home Evening about manners (24 of them). Kids really need some help in the "not interrupting grownups unless it's an emergency" and the polite way to interrupt if they must (isn't everything an "emergency" to a preschooler?). They (really just Violet) needs help in NOT pointing out physical characteristics of other people... I have yet to hear a flattering one she points out. They were receptive to the lesson, but we will, no doubt, have to have it again.

Just Recording

Just want to keep a record of the kids personalities these days.

Violet will be three in June. She constantly tells me when her birthday is. That she will be three. That soon after she will be starting school.

Violet LOVES pigs. By far her favorite animal. Her favorite story? The Three Little Pigs of course. Her favorite colors are purple and pink. Her favorite Disney princess is Belle of Beauty and the Beast. She hasn't seen all the movies yet to pick, but she insists she is Belle. She also loves airplanes.

She is definitely a combination of a rough and tough little "tom boy" in the way that she plays, runs and jumps and loves to get dirty; and a girly princess in that she loves dresses, fixing her hair, flowers and other pretty things. She loves to draw and color, dance and sing. She can trace letters perfectly, she holds her pen just right.

We are working on potty training still. Another thing we work on is that she screams when she is frustrated, working on getting her to talk about what's wrong rather than scream.

Liam will be 5 this October. He is such a sweet sensitive bright boy. He is very obedient and listens very well (most of the time). He is so creative and loves to make up stories and inventions. He insists that he will build houses someday. I tell him he can do anything and he gets impatient with me and says "I'm going to build houses mom". He loves puzzles, playing games, reading and making plans (drawings) to build things. He has discovered action figures and has started to have fun playing with them. He does very well in school and has several friends.

There are a few boys at school who don't like him and tell him they are going to "kick his butt" and that "Liam is so stupid" which makes me sad that he has to hear that kind of thing, but that's part of life I suppose. I found out that they say it because Liam told on them when they were picking on a little girl. That makes me proud of him.

I have been throwing up a lot lately and Liam always comes up to me and pats me on the back. It's so sweet. Violet started doing it too.

I just love my kids and look forward to this new baby. I have a doctor appointment next Wednesday to finally "confirm" the pregnancy. I'll be very very surprised if it turns out I'm not!

Announcement

I am expecting baby number three! I am 10 weeks along on Friday and will be visiting the doctor soon. The baby is due in early November.

Me, David and the kids are really excited.

Every morning since Violet found out she says "My baby sister is in your tummy" or when I throw up "My baby sister doesn't like that food". I told her it could be a baby brother. Once in a while she'll say "my baby sister is a brother..." lol. She kisses my stomach every day. She has just been adorable.

Liam immediately said it was two babies in my tummy, both are his brothers. David told him "Liam it's just one baby" and I said "Probably" and David said "let's not confuse him"... good idea. But Liam kept saying it was two brothers. So I said "Well when this baby is born I'll have three babies! Liam, Violet and this baby!" I did end up confusing him. Liam started telling people I have three babies in my stomach. I think we have it cleared up now.

It's been good except that I'm starting to get really sick... pretty much all day. If my stomach gets empty I throw up...well I throw up stomach acid. If I take a prenatal vitamin, I throw up. It's hard to remember to eat because nothing sounds appetizing. Cooking food makes me sick. If I think about food I might just throw up. In fact, writing about this is making me a sick. I'll stop.

On the bright side I don't pee when I throw up! That sounds weird/gross/TMI I'm sure, but when I was pregnant with Violet, Liam was only 11 months old...so I hadn't given my body much time to get back to normal... so every time I threw up, I would pee :( Then I would cry. But this time I am good... I guess over two and a half years was better healing time for my body.

Refrigerating Tomatoes

Supposed to be a big no no right? Supposed to make the skins wrinkle and the inside fruit become mealy in texture right?

My mother in law ALWAYS refrigerates tomatoes and they ALWAYS taste amazing. So I try it. And mine come out wrinkled and mealy.

I FINALLY ask her how in the world she is able to refrigerate her tomatoes and have them still taste so amazing. She told me the secret. I tried it, it works! So I am passing the secret along. And FYI this has been tried and tested on Roma tomatoes only so far. She doesn't buy any other kind, and I haven't experimented with any other kind so far.

The SECRET: 1) take the tomatoes out of the bag so they are loose in the crisper.
2) add loose apples to the crisper with the tomatoes.

She doesn't keep any other fruit or veggies in that crisper. It helps that most refrigerators come with two crispers.

Also I've never seen her put a cut up tomato back in the fridge. But they taste so good you'll eat the whole thing ;)

It really does work! The tomatoes last longer then if they were sitting out. They taste crisp and cold and delicious. Bonus, no fruit flies.

I recall a science experiment I did for school back in the day. I had observed that my mom always put an apple in the large sack of potatoes she would buy. I asked her why and she told me the apple emits some sort of gas? that keeps the potatoes from sprouting roots so they last longer. SO I tried it. I had one sack of potatoes without an apple and one sack of potatoes with an apple. It really did work, the control group, after some time, sprouted roots. The experimental group with the apple, did not sprout after the same amount of time had passed (I don't remember how long). NOW if you google this fact, you will come across people who say that it makes the potatoes sprout faster. Except I DID this experiment and came with the opposite conclusion. I wonder if they ever bothered doing a scientific experiment with a control group? Probably not. I just found the Martha Stewart agrees with me.

My point, some people claim the apple gas promotes rotting, but in two cases that I've actually tried have worked in keeping the potato and tomato fresh... maybe it's because potato and tomato rhyme? haha, just kidding. My mother in law has been doing the apple/tomato refrigerator thing for about 30 years.

One of my Childhood Dreams

I just got an email from a lady who I once emailed about entering an art exhibit at a local library but then chickened out the day I was supposed to drop off my piece because it wasn't finished and I didn't feel like it was good enough. Well, I must be in one of her mass emails because she is emailing artists a request to submit photos of 5-6 pieces of their work with their artist statement. To be submitted for a possibility of their own exhibit, to a Curator associate of hers at a local Gallery. He likes to exhibit individual artists collective works rather than in groups of several different artists.

There is zero entry fee and no commission charges on any art sold. Of course ones work would have to be chosen for an exhibit.

I NEVER run across these sorts of opportunities. Especially being out of the art community loop. This is my dream. To have my own exhibit.

BUT I have nothing to submit. Although I have a great idea that I've had for a while for several pieces for an exhibit. I know exactly what I would say in my artist statement.

I might even have time to try to just get started and submit when I'm finished and hope for a future slot... but I also might not be picked, and I would have to spend quite a bit on supplies not to mention time with the risk of not being picked.

BUT IT'S MY DREAM!!! (besides becoming a mother)

But I'm afraid. So if this is my dream I should prove it right? I should at least try shouldn't I?