Sunday, July 29, 2007

Back on the meds

Experiment 'Mrs. W. stupidly goes off her anti-nausea meds' met with abysmal failure. I'm back on, but at half dose. This seems to be giving me better relief than the full dose, but just barely. The doc had offered to write me a script for Zofran, and despite the expense, I plan to take him up on it. The Reglan he wrote me for is horrible. I need to just flush those pills.

On the bright side, S. is getting to watch just as much Rocky & Bullwinkle as she wants. Between my nausea and her strep throat, we're quite a pair this morning.

M.W.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Yet another indication I feel rotten

I received my long distance bill today. Total minutes logged in the past month: 9 Mr. W.'s family is all local, so he never logs in long distance time.

Since all of my family and my best friend all live outside my local calling area, this says quite a bit. It is very hard for me to talk on the phone when I feel *ahem* green, so I have pretty much stopped calling everyone. The phone conversations I have had have been very brief. Well, brief for me, who has logged in 2 hour plus phone conversations in the past.

I probably ought to call my mother tonight. She's probably a tiny bit worried.

M.W.

Flying naked

I am either really, really brave, supremely optimistic or very, very stupid. I skipped my anti nausea medication routine last night.

The vomiting worsened over the past week and a half or so, and I began to suspect that the meds were no longer working. I could be right on that assumption. In fact, since I have yet to yak today, I am beginning to wonder if the meds were actually exacerbating my symptoms.

I'll give it another couple of days before I pass final judgment. All I know with any sort of certainty is that my head is completely clear for the first time in 2 months. The vomitting may be a cheap price to pay for being clear-headed and capable of assisting Mr. W. in the evening. The poor man has had to handle everything from house cleaning to bathing the children to fixing dinner for the last 2 months. I feel rotten about it, and I want that to change.

M.W.

eta - changing my vote to very, very stupid. I began chucking my up around 8 last night, and I still haven't stopped...

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Angry!

This story: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/boys-face-trial-over-slapping-charges/20070724153509990001 has me seeing red. Two middle school boys went around slapping girls on their rear ends and are facing criminal charges.

I am angry that the yahoo district attorney started off swinging. Charging the boys with felonies, threatening to send them to juvie and requiring them to register as life long sex offenders. These kids are stupid 13 year olds.

Don't get me wrong, even if the girls did not mind this sort of touch, it was wrong. I would seriously question my parenting practices if my girls tolerate such behavior at any age! Nobody has the right to violate their person. I don't care if it is thought of as a 'handshake' as one girl is reported to have said. Just because the behavior is generally accepted, it is not necessarily right. The school was 100% correct in handing over these boys.

We have had too many generations of women who grow up thinking that being objectified is okay and normal. It is not.

I am angry that the choices for criminal punishment do not fit the crime. The article gets a little confused, but if I understand properly, the boys would not be permitted to spend time with their younger siblings should they accept a plea bargain Why can we not have a punishment that fits the crime?

Perfect punishment, in my not so very humble opinion:

1. Class time. These boys need a full-blooded in your face accounting of how women have been abused through the centuries. They need to be taught that what they were doing was wrong down to an emotional level. Slapping bottoms today can translate to worse later (Tailhook, anyone?) and even much worse.

2. Penance. Once class time has been completed, heartfelt letters of apology should be sent to each and every girl assaulted. It is up to the girl to decide whether she wants to accept. I feel as the victim, she needs to know that what happened to her was wrong.

3. Probation. These boys will need to keep to the straight and narrow until they reach age 18.

Should my 3rd child be a boy, and should he engage in this kind of behavior, I can virtually guarantee that he will beg the judge to send him to juvie. Anything the courts can dish out will pale in comparison to my wrath. I put up with this kind of garbage through high school, and I will NOT tolerate any child of mine participating in aggressive, demeaning behavior.

M.W.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

HP 7 Stats

When I received the book: 5:00 PM July 21
When I finished the book: 2:00 AM July 22
Number neglected people in my house: 3

Number of correct predictions: 3
Number of incorrect predictions: 3 (yes, I know that makes 6 when I only listed 5. One of my predictions falls in both camps, I think).

Overall: I loved the book. Rowling tied up enough loose ends that it was satisfying, but left enough open-ended that I can use my imagination however I see fit.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Oh, cruel world...

I checked the UPS site today, and my copy of Harry Potter 7 is in Waco. It is just waiting to be delivered tomorrow (please let it be morning!!!!!!). I don't know which is worse: not knowing precisely where my precious copy is or knowing precisely where it is and not being able to get my grubby mits on it.

To make matters worse, a former Stampin' Up demo I know is selling all her old stuff at half price. The sale begins tomorrow morning. On top of that, I am committed to a Stampin' Up party at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon. How, oh how, oh how, am I to get that book read and still get to sleep at a decent enough hour that I can drag my sleepy self in to church on Sunday...

Cruel, cruel world.

None today...

No balloons today. Hopefully tomorrow!!!!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Please, just shoot me and let me die now

Oh lord, someone has burned some popcorn. I think I'm going to die from the stench... Either that or spend the rest of the day worshipping before the porcelain goddess...

Whhhhoooooosssssshhhhhhh!!!!

Mr. W. and I were late to work this morning. This isn't so unusual, but today we were really late. As in 30 minutes late. Why?

Because we had hot air balloons in our backyard early this morning. Okay, not really in our backyard, but they floated right over our swingset and over our roof. I was hauling the garbage out to the curb when I heard a really loud whhhhhoooooooosssssshhhhh that sounded like it was coming from directly behind me. I whirled around and discovered a hot air balloon about 30 feet off the ground right behind our house. He was so low, I don't think he would have cleared our roof. The whoosh was from the driver lighting his gas, and up, up, up he went.

S. was in the garage getting into her carseat, and I called for her to come out and see the balloons. Behind the balloon that got my heart pumping came another dozen or so following near identical paths. Mr. W. came running out of the house with his belt hanging loose to see what was going on. L. wanted to see the bawoooooos too, but the sounds of them firing up the gas scared her a bit. She was fine so long as I had her on my hip...

Mr. W. took pictures and caught some video of the balloons as they sailed by. I'd love to post them, but (and I'm almost ashamed to admit this, LOL) I have dialup at home and it would take forever to load. This also explains why there are precious few photos on my blog. It is the work of 15 to 20 minutes to upload a single small one.

I'm beginning to hate YouTube. So much hysterical-ness, and so little bandwidth. Work internet speed is much faster, but the nanny program keeps me out of such sordidness as YouTube (and even The Leaky Cauldron sob, sob).

Back on task. It was too funny passing everybody parked on the side of the road to watch the balloons sail by (including the jocks at the high school). Our little town is part of a balloon race course this year. Here's an article from the Waco paper, I think you have to sign in (but it's free). http://www.wacotrib.com/featr/content/features/stories/2007/07/19/07192007wacnatballoonchamp.html

Monday, July 16, 2007

Could it???? nah

I keep feeling this faint little swirly waaaayyy down low in my belly and only when my bladder is completely empty. It's way too soon to feel the baby, right? Right?

ETA: I'm only 11 weeks (even though it feels like an eternity of puking)

Bad News

A dear PIM is dealing with a terrible, terrible burden right now. Her husband was diagnosed with a devastating illness several months ago, one for which there is no cure. I don't know how she continues to put one foot in front of the other each and every day. I think she is amazing.

Her story has brought and continues to bring me to tears. Please, take a moment and appreciate those around you that you love. Be grateful for them and be thankful they are in your life, because there are no guarantees...

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Pure Speculation...

I am so excited about 'Deathly Hallows' being released, I can't hardly stand it! So after gazing into my admittedly cracked crystal ball, I have the following speculations and predictions. I will be greatly surprised if any of 'em come true.

1. Hagrid is among the casualties in 'Deathly Hallows.' Makes sense as the rest of Harry's mentors have met untimely ends.

2. Snape is not evil. My guess is that Snape is the tragic figure in the series. His wants and realities crash, and he cannot find happiness in this lifetime. He loved in vain (Lily), he swore allegiance in vain (Dumbledore), he tries in vain to get past his grudge against Harry's father. Nothing in Snape's life has gone well. Harry comes to appreciate this and develop compassion for this lost soul. Compassion for those who are trapped in their own weaknesses is lacking in Harry as of the end of book 6. I hope Rowling grows Harry in this area of his character.

3. Pettigrew plays a key role in foiling Voldemort.

4. The locket Kreature hid is one of the horcruxes.

5. The book ends with the wedding of Fleur and I-can't-remember-Weasley-boy's-name. The series just has to end on a positive, life goes on and the future is bright note, doesn't it? Doesn't it?!

Any other takers?

I've been tagged!

I think this is the first time I've been tagged. I'm pretty clueless, though, so if you've tagged me and I didn't answer, I'm sorry!

Thanks, Jen for poppin' my Tag cherry, LOL.

1) I must post 7 random things about me:
  • I get a kick driving Mr. W.'s big honking red truck, even if it doesn't have air conditioning.
  • I've never been drunk
  • I learned more German in college in the US than I did the 5 years I actually lived in the Bundesrepublik
  • When I was in high school, I took electronics classes because I wanted to study electrical engineering and work on robotics with Jim Henson. I was a rabid puppeteer and spent many weekends performing in hospitals, kids parties, etc.
  • I have no sense of fashion and prefer to wear one color at a time. Yes, it is entirely possible you will see me on What Not to Wear.
  • My favorite tv series of all time is 'Babylon 5' followed by 'Star Trek: Voyager"
  • I think Hagrid dies in 'Deathly Hallows'

2) Tag 7 other bloggers :

  • Okay, everybody I checked to try to tag has already been done! pbbbttt on me for being so slow, LOL. If you haven't been tagged and you're reading this, then it goes to prove I'm a dork, and please consider yourself tagged. Just let me know so I can read the juicy bits.

3) Post Rules & the bloggers I tagged here.

4) Leave tagged bloggers comments on their web sites so that they know they have been tagged.

I totally Rock!

Thanks, EJ for giving me this (it took me this long to figure out how to insert the picture!).






You totally rock, yourself!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

It's a baby... or an alien.

For your viewing pleasure:




It's an alien!!! The ob I settled on (boy do I wish I could go to my family doc) just had to take his own pictures of the little bean. Isn't he cute? I think he looks just like me.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Tired, very tired

Mr. W. has worked every day since the tail end of May. This includes weekends and 4th of July. Not only has he been in the office every day, but he hasn't been getting home until 7 or 8 at night.

I'm tired. Very, very tired. I think maybe I'll ask the in-laws if they want the girls to spend Friday or Saturday night with them. The girls would really enjoy it, and I think Grandma and Grandpa would as well. I know I would enjoy being able to sleep in for once and not have to worry about feeding anyone but myself for a meal or two.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

This kid has expensive tastes

My first pregnancy, my biggest cravings were for Mac & Cheese out of a box and lemon drops. Everything was better with a lemon drop or some macaroni & cheese. Second pregnancy, it was Chick Fil A chicken biscuits and sour gummis. I would drag myself out of bed early in order to have time to swing through the drive-thru. This go around, I keep thinking I want lemon-flavored things, but then they turn my stomach. Chick Fil A just doesn't sound good at all. However, I think I could eat three meals a day of Outback's blue cheese pecan chopped salad (yes, I asked, and the blue cheese is pasteurized) and their bread this go around. We cannot afford to satisfy this craving as much as I'd like (plus the place doesn't even open until 4 pm).

I'm guessing this is going to be my caviar baby.

On the bright side, smearing ginger juice all over my belly really seems to help the morning sickness! I have not been sick since Monday. Nauseated, oh yes, but I've kept everything down for 2 whole days in a row!!! I thought I was going to lose it this afternoon, but 20 minutes after rubbing freshly cut ginger in my belly button, I felt okay. Hallelujah and let the angels sing!

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

True, false, multiple choice

You are given one crazy pregnant woman at the end of a long day at work. She is home alone with two high-energy little girls, one of whom is not potty-trained. Her husband is supposed to be home any minute. The girls fussed during dinner, and then stripped down to nothing afterward when crazy pregnant woman sat down for just one minute. The non-potty-trained child has had a massive, smelly, ooey-gooey poopy nasty diaper and removed it. Crazy pregnant woman (who is also extremely nauseated) tries to call her husband to find out where precisely he is so that she can perhaps avoid having to deal with the mess only to have his cell phone roll over to voice mail.

The crazy pregnant woman:

a) calmly deals with the poopy mess, cleans off the worst of it and begins bathing the two children.

b) not so calmly deals with the poopy mess, while wishing it wasn't raining so she could just turn the garden hose on said poopy booty.

c) extremely angrily dials and re-dials and re-dials her husband's cell phone, leaving messages along the lines of 'you need to come home now' and 'where are you, I need you home NOW' all while screaming WHERE IS HE!!!! causing her elder child to ask what mommy was going on about and then cursing under her breath while trying not to breathe, or look at the poopy mess while wiping it off her cherub's tushie, and dumps both kids in the shower while still trying not to breathe since the bathroom reeks of nasty poop and then, when her husband FINALLY comes home, yells at him that he has to change the trash out of the bathroom AND give the kids a bath, because she needs to go someplace and calm down and so she sits down and writes a random blog engry.

Correct answer: A, just kidding, it was C. *sigh* I do feel better now. And by 'better' I mean that I don't want to pack an over-week bag and just leave. Maybe I'll go to Sonic and get some fried cheese. Fried cheese sounds good...

Quack, quack

I live in central Texas (motto: we have gorgeous wild flowers and grass fires), and it is freaking RAINING AGAIN. This is July. It should be 100 degrees with a burn ban in effect, not 80-something and flash flood warnings. I'm really beginning to buy in to TJ's weather machine theory.

Oh well, at least I'm not scared to death of a wildfire burning down our neighborhood this year. The bog around our neighborhood is just too swampy.

On the lighter side, the lawn police were after us last month. Apparently our grass was just too tall and considered to be a fire hazard. Couple things wrong with that. 1) It has been raining so hard and so often that it's been difficult for Mr. W. to get the mower out (excessive rain=fire hazard?); 2) It's not like the grass was so tall we could hide anything worse than a bunny (and did I mention all the rain?). I figure if our grass is shorter than the grass in the medians, then we're not that bad, LOL. I also figure that people are less concerned about fire hazard than our little letter of warning would have us think.

I have a new rash around my belly button

You know that saying, 'Desperate times call for desperate measures.'? (how am I supposed to punctuate that?) Well, this girl is desperate with a capital 'D.' Desperate, desperate, desperate. The nausea has gotten worse in the past couple days, and I am willing to try out any whack-o, loonie home remedy that I haven't tried before (and which doesn't involve excessive illegal narcotics).

Last night, after taking my Unisom and vitamin B-6 supplement, I went to the kitchen. I lobbed off a small chunk of the fresh ginger that Mr. W. picked up earlier. That chunk was then diced into little bitty pieces. (and here's the good part) Then, I stuffed those little pieces into my belly button (go ahead and laugh, I don't mind) and put scotch tape over the little pile to keep it in place.

I am apparently, slightly allergic to the sticky on scotch tape (either that, or it's pretty irritating) because at midnight, I had to take the tape off and dump the little bits of ginger in the trash since I was itching like crazy. Because of the effects of the Unisom, I was too groggy to do a good job clearing off the left over sticky. So this morning, I woke with my pajamas stuck to my red, itchy belly.

On the bright side, I haven't thrown up today, and the nausea isn't too, too bad. Maybe my little experiment in desperation worked. I'll give it another go tonight, but I plan to use the medical tape we have on hand instead of scotch...

Monday, July 02, 2007

Actuarial, schmactuarial...

My latest professional development endeavor swirls around actuarial exams. These are really nasty exams given by really snotty, arrogant individuals who all think these exams are MUCH easier than the ones they had to suffer through. I have seen complaints that *gasp* today's candidates actually get to use financial calculators and aren't required to use slide rules. yeah...

Three years ago, I planned to sit for preliminary exam 2, Financial Mathematics. Lovely stuff about interest rates, IRR, put, call and assorted other financial gobbledygook. Lo and behold, I turned up pregnant and could not stop barfing long enough to study anything non-porcelain related. History has repeated itself to a certain extent. I am currently doing in-depth porcelain studies, but I will study for and maybe pass this exam come November. I will I will I will!

My new nearly-favorite website is this one: Actuarial Outpost Exam 2/FM - Financial Mathematics. For real entertainment, check it out on July 13 when the latest exam results will have been posted. I can guarantee weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Meanwhile, I'm visiting it because some of the individuals who hock study guides post practice questions (and their solutions!) for free.

I'm also visiting that site so that I can start feeling really badly about my chances of passing...
Degree in math? nope
High gpa in college? nope
Obscenely high SAT? apparently 1420 doesn't cut it (680 math, 740 verbal way back in the dark ages)
Degree in finance? nope
Any kind of advanced math? Does 1st semester calculus 17 years ago count? nope
No life, no family, no kids, no major morning sickness to distract me? nope

So far, I've logged in somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 hours' study time and can successfully work 5 sample problems pulled from previous exams. This sounds impressive until you realize the problem bank is somewhere around 300 problems. So it looks like I can work 1 2/3% of the problems. I need somewhere around 300 hours in order to stand a reasonable chance of passing. This is going to be verrrrrrry interesting.

I ordered a study guide last week and received e-mail confirmation that they are shipping my order. New definition for an optimist: Spending $130 on study materials for Mrs. W. to sit for an actuarial exam.

This weekend's topic: Simple and compound interest, present value and future value
Tonight I will be looking at discount rates... Fun!