"The Hidden"

It's that time again. This month's blog tour was for The Hidden by Kathryn Mackel. A supernatural/suspense novel. In many ways it reminded me of a Phyllis Whitney novel in that one of the stronger plot lines concerned the reuniting of a broken family. There were several plot lines that wove together nicely. The supernatural/spiritual aspect was not shoved in your face, but worked itself out quite nicely. It was a good read overall. I loaned it out to my sister and I am awaiting her response. Since I read a lot of supernatural/horror/suspense and she does not, I always like to know her opinion. Of course, she's been at the beach all week with my mother so I haven't had a chance to ask her about it.

On a personal note. My mother and sister went to the beach(and visiting relatives). They took all four of her kids. I hope they brought me back a devil dog from the Peter Pan Bakery. I got to go to my sister-in-laws pool today. I don't normally like to swim. But it felt wonderful. The kids had a good time. It was E.'s first real experience in a pool. I will spare you the horrors of having to buy a maternity bathing suit. I had to buy a very large size, knowing that I still have several months to go, and I already look full term. I am constantly being pummeled by four elbows, four knees, two heads, and two bottoms. It can get amusing at times. I've felt kicks in places I didn't know existed. But if the twins only weigh about 1 1/2 lbs now, I can't imagine what it will feel like when they weigh five lbs each.

Last night I was commenting on how good God has been to us this month(after splitcat came home with a $120 Walmart gift card to add to our tally). Then this evening I asked if anything exciting happened today since it was his last day of post planning. I knew he was getting Home depot gift card, and then he tells me he won a prize in a drawing. He won a week stay in Destin at a beach-front condo(when available over the next year). No, I'm not kidding. I laughed really hard. He said he was really hoping he wouldn't get it. But he did. God is so cool.

It's been pretty quiet around here. I sleep alot. Splitcat's getting my cold. The boy is officially Lego obsessed. He's quite good at making up his own buildings. We are going to need a bigger house if the twins like Lego. We'll need a whole room devoted to it. Like how some people have rooms devoted to their train set ups.

Just thought I should blog a little. But I really don't have much to say. I've been asleep most of this week.

Splitcat's Home!

Splitcat's back. At last. It was nice to have someone to talk to, or to take care of the children for a little while. I Learned this week that my body is no longer cooperating with my brain. When I feel that I can spend time working on my house, my body protests. It's very frustrating.

While sc was gone, my mother came over and we moved E.'s bed into P.'s room and painted the nursery. So now the nursery is almost complete. I just need a couple more things. I had a very lovely shower on Saturday. It was nice to visit with friends.

I still have a terrible head cold. But I don't feel as cranky. I'm just glad splitcat is home.

If you couldn't tell, I wasn't feeling very good yesterday. I feel much better today. My children didn't get back from their grandparents until 7:00pm. So I had a day of much needed solitude. And I finally got the energy to do some laundry.

My ultrasound went well on Tues. I think I forgot to post about it. Both babies are still well. Baby A weighs about 1 1/2 lbs and Baby B weighs a few ozs less. Baby B was head down, but A was still breech. I would post pictures, but I don't know how to use our scanner. They now have a fair chance of surviving should they come early. But I still have no signs of preterm labor. So that is good. This week will be week 25 out of 40. They get more real to me every day. I can't wait to hold them.

I posted over at splitcat's blog today. I don't have the energy to do two.

Mother's Day

We had a nice mother's day. I still find it weird that I am a mother. My best mother's day is still Mother's Day of 2000. That was the day I found out I would be a mother for the first time. We were in Pensacola visiting my family. We snuck out to the Walmart to buy more tests because we couldn't believe it. It had taken a lot longer than I expected to get a positive. But P. was well worth the wait.

Thursday I also attended "Muffins for Moms" at P.'s school. I was a little late, but the kids had not yet arrived, so P. didn't know. I learned that

I am special because I give him gifts sometimes
He likes it when I give him hugs in the middle of the night(I like that, too)
He thinks I'm best at making food for him(I guess because opening poptarts takes a lot of skill)
He likes to make me smile by singing to me
I am as pretty as a flower
I'm smart because I know how to make gifts.

The little program they did was cute. P. was very conscientious about keeping his feet on his piece of tape.

Sunday was pretty uneventful. The kids and I went to church while splitcat went to school to do lesson plans for his week away. When we came home splitcat cooked me lunch while I rested and then I was given my cards. My gift this year was a reclining lawn chair. I requested one last month because I didn't have anywhere comfortable to sit outside. It is perfect. I got to sit in it and we let the kids play in the sprinkler.

Friday night splitcat and I went to the movies and saw V for Vendetta. It was okay.

Splitcat left this morning for Florida. I think this is the longest we've been apart in the 10 1/2 years we've been married. He shall return on Saturday. I also have a shower on Saturday. I am excited about that.

I was going to post some pictures, but I'll do it tomorrow.
I Have an ultrasound tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

A Day to Remember

It's been quite a day. My mother called me yesterday and asked if I was up for an adventure. I said of course. But then she wouldn't tell me anything and I couldn't ask any questions. I was just told to dress nice and not look like I just got out of bed(she knows me too well). And we would be done by 9:30 or so. I could not figure out what we could be doing so early in the morning. So I dropped the kids off at my in-laws and met my mom. When we turned out of the parking lot after meeting, I knew we were headed to splitcat's school. I didn't know why, maybe the students were giving us a shower or something. We met one of his students outside and she told me they were giving him a special award and wanted me to be there. Oh good, I thought. He got teacher of the year or something. He was shocked to see me, my mom, and my sister meet him in the gym. I told him I didn't know what was going on. So we sat through the teacher character awards wondering what was going to happen. (Splitcat got respect this year). At the end all the seniors got up to give out the senior gift. They pick a teacher every year to give a gift to. Then they called both of us up on stage. I looked out the gymnasium doors as I walked across the stage and couldn't believe what I saw. So they presented splitcat with an envelope, and when he opened it, it contained car keys. Parked outside on the sidewalk was a minivan that the senior class bought for us. Yes, a minivan. A 1999 Ford Windstar.





It has all the bells and whistles including leather seats. We both cried. And inside the van was:

24 bags of diapers of various sizes
10 boxes of wipes
some misc. baby toiletries
several outfits
some books with stuffed animals
and the following gift cards:
Babies-r-us-$25
Dilliards-$25
Target-$60
Publix-$25
Outback steakhouse-$50
Cash-$15
Quiktrip-$500(no that's not a typo)



They had originally planned to give us a trip to Scotland. But when they heard about the twins, they wanted to do something to help us out. I'm not sure if they will ever really know what a blessing their gift is to us. We have both felt that we were to wait on the Lord for His provision, and we have been rewarded more than I think either one of us expected. Splitcat's mom(as well as my own and many others) have been praying for many months that God would provide a van for us. It's so good to know that He cares so much for us.

Also, I'm glad that splitcat has finally gotten the recognition he deserves. I've always known what an incredible person he is. But I can't imagine what it must mean to him to know that the entire senior class thought so well of him to do this. It's really just so overwhelming.

Praise the Lord!

Update: Splitcat came home with two more packs of diapers, 2 more boxes of wipes, another $65.00 in target gift cards, and $15 in cash. He counted the diapers, there are 1674.

My dr. appt went well. I've only gained 20 lbs so far. Which is amazing considering the amount of food I consume daily. My belly measures at 29 weeks, and I am 23 weeks. This is good for a twin pregnancy as they tell you to expect to measure six weeks ahead. I definitely feel 29 weeks. If this was my first pregnancy it probably wouldn't be so hard. But I remember feeling like this at the end of my other pregnancies, not the middle. So it's a little weird. Both heartbeats were just galloping along. But she didn't tell me the rates. I have an ultrasound next Tuesday.

Speaking of next week. Splitcat will be in Florida all next week. I was invited, but since I didn't know how I'd be feeling I declined. It's a good thing I did. I don't think I'd make it. He's going with the seniors at his school. Also, next week is P.'s preschool graduation. He seems ready for school to be out. This year has gone by really fast. I need Time to slow down just a little. We still have a lot to do.

Here is a rather fascinating opinion piece from First Things. I am not sure how to explain it, except that it discusses pregnancy somewhat theologically and mystically(in the Christian sense) rather than viewing it through medical terms or the earthy mystical view.

http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0603/opinion/howard.html

I have a dr.'s appt today, so I will try to remember to post tonight.

Friday, May 05, 2006

I am finally over whatever was making me ill. Except I seem to be having some more morning sickness. It's very annoying. I have too much to do to be sick.

I don't think it will be a problem for P. and E. to share a room. E.'s been sleeping on the floor in his room the past few nights, except last night when she got the bed, and he got the floor. I'd like to paint in there before I move her bed in, but I may just have to go ahead. E. seems to like sleeping on the floor. She has been sleeping on the floor in her room for several weeks. I've always had a thing for the floor, too. I like sitting on the floor. I also liked to sit under tables.

The Star Wars saga continues to be an active force in our home. I've found P. sleeping with his lightsabers on more than one occasion. I just heard him ask his sister if she wanted to be FireStar and he would be Spiderman, and they would defeat Darth Maul. "Do you want to play Star Wars Episode I?" He asks. He was thrilled when his father opened up the General Grievous character in his game. He has 4 lightsabers. I was the first to actually finish the game. I've almost completed it 100%. I need to find out when the next installment is out.

For a good laugh, wake up a five year old at 11 o'clock and take him to the bathroom. It's like watching a sleep walker. I have to position him just right, but he will suddenly turn to the side and stand there like he's aiming for the toilet. But mostly he just stands there scratching his sides and tummy. Then he'll turn around and try to walk without pulling up his underwear. When I get him out the door, he invariably turns the wrong way. Soon we're going to have to get the girl up, too. They seem to have inherited my sleep through anything gene.

May

Well, it would seem that it is May already. I was going to wish everyone a happy may day, but it would appear I'm too late. I seem to be having low grade fevers again. It makes my mind kind of mushy. I haven't been able to hold a thought long enough to post anything coherent, and I'm not making any promises about this post.

I got a call Saturday afternoon from my sister requesting an evening out. We went to the Varsity and to the Movies. We saw American Dreamz. It was pretty odd, very funny, but one of those movies you're not sure you could recommend. It was a very dark comedy. But I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard at a movie. Neither of us wanted to go home after the movie so we stopped by Barnes and Noble. Bookstores are so relaxing. It was nice to spend some time together. After four years of working together it is weird that we don't spend as much time together.

I don't remember much since then, except I fall asleep pretty much every time I sit down. It didn't occur to me to take my temperature until this afternoon.

This evening we had family clean-up time in the living room/playroom. For some reason we all like to clean to bluegrass music. When we were done, E. started dancing to the music. I wish I had a picture to show you, but you will have to use your imagination. She was wearing a white shirt with hot pink flowers, a pink disney princess pull-up(which is inevitably in a wedgie position on at least one side), purple plastic high heeled dress up shoes, a straw hat with red flowers on it and the matching handbag, and a strand of metallic green beads. She'd put one hand on her hip and hold the other one out and start shaking her hips. It reminded me of a flapper dance. We both wondered who she learned that from. It certainly wasn't me. We got a little bit of it on video. It was just a strange and funny dance. But while she was dancing, P. was trying to sing me the songs they are doing for "muffins for Moms" day. He was concentrating so hard on his songs, and I kept busting out laughing. I felt bad when he asking me why I was laughing at him. But it would appear there is some interesting entertainment lined up for our special day.

The twins seem to be doing well. I am getting lots of kicks and nudges, some are now visible from the outside. It's a very strange feeling. But Baby A has become much more active than Baby B. Unless Baby B has drastically changed position. Which wouldn't be a bad thing, since they were both breech at my last ultrasound. If they stay breech, I will have to have a c-section. Which I want to avoid mainly for cosmetic reasons, I don't scar well. Of course, I will go ahead with it if I need one, Since the babies health and well-being takes precedence. After all, it's not like I ever plan on wearing a bikini anyway.

Still no names for the babies. Maybe we should go with Ringo and George.