You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch

So...yeah.  I officially hate Christmas.  I'm done with it.  And I know that makes me the Grinch.  What can I say, I'm extra grinchy.  Here is the recipe for making a grinch out of someone who generally loved this time of year for her whole life:

Start with my package to the Mos in beautiful CA getting manhandled in the post.  Probably my fault but I thought the word "fragile" meant something.  I think it's an illusion that the postal service grants us to make us feel better.  It really means something like "please drop kick this package all the way from Ohio to California, oh and make sure you run it over with a vehicle at least twice as well", exactly the opposite of what I thought it meant.  Strange.  I guess sometimes you use a word for years and no one ever tells you that the word doesn't mean what you think it means. 

Add to that the fact that we end up traveling to five different places to do Christmas at each one.  Seriously, I did Christmas for four days straight.  I'm so tired.  The kids are tired.  Asher looked at Ryan on actual xmas (our last day of running around doing the whole condensed 12 days of xmas skit that is our yearly ritual) and said he was tired of opening presents, that he just wanted to go home and play.  My child, tired of opening presents.  That has to speak more loudly than anything I can bitch about on here...

Stir in a heaping helping of gifts.  So many gifts.  Please don't take this the wrong way.  I appreciate that all the grandparents love their grandchildren and want to make them happy.  But more isn't always better. Seriously.  They don't each need more gifts than we gave them at home from each grandparent.  I've been trying to get the grandparents to cut down on the gifts and they pretty much just laugh at me.  We have more toys than my children will ever play with in their entire lives.  I don't have the time to figure out where everything came from and return it, and if I were to ask the grandparents to return stuff, then feelings get hurt.  When I was a kid my grandparents got us one article of clothing and maybe a book or a toy.  Those were the good old days.  I really don't mean to bitch about presents but...it's just too much from the grandparents.  Also, it makes me feel like shit that they give my kids more than they open under the tree at home.  Oh, and of course I don't want my children to turn into self entitled little assholes, too. 

Shake up vigorously with all the trash and children's toy packaging and mountains of junk. 

Add a dash of too many people smoking around me and my family. 

Just a pinch of too much driving with a screaming, teething baby.

3/4 a cup of little to no sleep.

2 TBS of general holiday stress combined with exhaustion due to the fact that I absolutly hate the consumeristic-ness of the holiday.  Yeah, I made that word up, deal with it.  I'm adding it the English lexicon. 

Bake for 4 days of christmas travel and  you get the perfect grinch recipe.

Oh, and add to all of that...the first present I got for xmas...was my period.  Thanks world.  Thanks a lot. 

I officially hate the holidays.

Hello, it's me. I've thought about us for a long long time

So, yeah.  I missed two months of blogging.  What a bad girl.  I've really thought about blogging a lot.  But...I take for granted that you're always there, I take for granted that you just don't care. 

Thanksgiving was par for the course.  I liked the food.  Got to see my Korea cousin briefly.  The fink was supposed to come hang out with me but was too busy with her friends from Kent, understandably so, I mean, she was  only here for such a short time...but it was a little sad for me anyway.  Now it will be a whole nother year before she comes back and I'm sure I'll only see her for 15 minutes then, too.

Oh well.  It is what it is.  And I never want to make you change for me. 

Someone had Todd on the mind...

Asher had the flu, like the real official flu last weekend.  It was rough.  Half of his class was out with it.  Seiry didn't get it, thankfully. 

I ordered this thing from foodie cleveland, it's a coupon book for a bunch of local restaruants.  JJ suggested I blog about it, and I think that's a great idea, so I'm going to try really hard to do that. 

I need a hobby.  I need to feel like a real person again.  All I feel like is a care robot.  And it's my own fault. I know this.  But I still can't stop myself.  So I need a "non" parent thing to do, something for me.  Maybe after we get through the holidays. 

I'm feeling disillusioned with the holidays this year.  I'm not sure why.  I just can't find the holiday spirit.  I hate the consumerism of the holiday and yet I feel dragged into it and responsible for the commercial happiness of my children.  How do you get out of that?  Also, how do you make the grandparents stick to a 1-2 gift limit for their grandchildren?  I'm tired of the grandparents giving my kids 50 presents at each holiday, it's sick.  It's too much.  It makes them expect shit all the time.  And I don't want my kids to be self entitled assholes.  I mean, any more than most 3 year olds already are naturally...

Sorry, this is a bummer blog post.  I'll work on it...

So I'm changing my lines and going into it blind

Hello.  Long time no talk.  It's so hard to find a few minutes to myself in which I can spend doing something that isn't personal or household hygiene related.  It's been a hard transition back to work for me and the kids, too.  So, frowny face on that.  I think Asher held the award for the most accidents in one week at school last week.  Four in one day.  I was sooooo mad at his school last week, too.  I'm not going to get into it right now, let's just say there was a complete breakdown of communication and it ended up in one really pissed off mom and an angry phone message for his teacher.  I'm waiting to hear back.  Maybe if I get a chance I'll write about it after I hear from her.

Gotta love City holidays, I got Asher off to school (you should have seen him go in, Ry told me about it because I had to drop off Seiry at Granny's house and then drop my car off for service), all hunch backed and glum.  Ry said if there was a can to kick he would have done it.  I have no idea why he's having such a hard time...he tells us he loves school but then when we take him he's all whiny.  We are planning on playing Borderlands today for more than an hour at a time, it's gonna be crumpets.  Cause crumpets are CRUNK!!!

By the way, terrible twos is totally an incorrect misnomer.  It's the "wish you could bypass the whiny misery" threes.  For real.

For those of you who don't want to know this, tough luck.  I had my first encounter with mastitis and it was freaking awesome. And by awesome I mean it felt like someone had used my breast as a punching bag for hours and when I nursed it felt like I nursed hot lava.  As if there is some other type of lava.  I mean, I was kind of quoting the Chapelle Show but still, hot lava?  I mean, cold lava is just igneous rocks, right?

My mom is getting married the first weekend of next month.  It's all been kinda whirlwind.  I got my dress yesterday. Seiry had a total meltdown in the dress shop and we hadn't even been there for 20 minutes.  I had to call Ry to come help.  And of course the minute he gets there she is totally cool.  I don't get it but it had me frazzled the rest of the time.  I did get a really beautiful dress for $99 though so that was cool.

I'm taking my water II license test next month, too.  And I haven't even begun to study for it. I'm going to try really hard to study for it this week but my calendar at work fills up so fast it should be in NASCAR.

And the first two haunted houses this year were both pretty good.  The first week we went to Spooky Rocking Ranch in Columbia Station which was fun and had some pretty great puppetry (also, if you go, play the "how many rocking ladies can you spot" game.  It's pretty boss).  Over the weekend we used our groupon for the Hinkley Cornstalkers, which was good again this year.  That one is pretty worth it, especially when you get the groupon.  Good times.

Thinking about taking Asher to the "shoot zombies" hayride thingy this weekend....he's pretty keen to go. Anyway, time for Borderlands...

Haunted house schedule....whooo scary ghost!

Yes!  It's time!  I already bought a groupon for haunted houses.  I love this time of year.  We will be starting Friday Sept 28th.

Here's some tentative travel nights, no particular order..

Night 1
Rockin R Ranch Spooky Ranch, Columbia Station.  $20 for 4 houses and a haunted hay ride.
Hinkley Cornstalkers haunted corn maze.  $10 with groupon discount.

Night 2
Fairvew Graveyard, Fairview Park.  $8 for one.
Hudson Haunted House $13.

Night 3
Haunted forest of carousel, Sheffield.  $13.

Night 4
Haunted orchard, wooster.  $15.
Nightmare in the wilderness, lodi. $15

Night 5 will be Pennsylvania...

I also started a google map with all the locations on the map, check it out, yo!  Also, if you have any suggestions or want to change anything make a suggestion.  Thanks!  This year is going to rock!

Maggots strewn about that crawl

No song title today.  Fact title. Maggots on the floor in our garage this morning.  Not even on anything, just crawling about according to Ry, the master maggot killer.  I killed a few, he got the majority.  Gross.  It actually just adds to all the dumb shit happening to Casa Glow like an ill omen.  

First, a few quick pics from the Second Annual Birthday Massacre Nerf War.   I'll post more as I steal them from facebook, these are some I took on my phone.  

Prepping for battle

Pre game

Post game spoils

Where'd it go?

So, cleaning up the mess the next day we discovered the sink was all plugged up, which sucked because even though we had plastic cups everyone wanted to use a big kid cup and so I had a sink full of dishes to wash.  We draino-ed it.  Then we draino-ed it again.  No dice.  Called my mom and she and Geoff came over and helped ryan snake the drain.  No dice.  Then Geoff came over again with sulfuric acid drain cleaner.  I should have questioned that it came in a plastic sealed bag with the terms "CUIDADO!" written on it in all red caps.  It said WARNING! really big on the other side, so don't fret that it was some weird foreign draino.  It was plumber strength.  I have no idea of the concentration, it probably would have helped later last night.  But I didn't even want to touch the stuff.  It did finish the job the draino started, though.  The job of burning right through the pipes to drain out on the concrete slab in the crawlspace of our house.  Shortly after discovering this awesome fact, we also discovered that when mixed with draino it creates H2S, or for the layman, hydrogen sulfide gas.  Which smells like rotten eggs.  And is an irritant to the mucus membranes. Did I mention it filled the whole house?  We ended up opening all the windows and putting out fans to aerate the house.  Awesome.  Then we dumped a ton of baking soda solution down the drain to neutralize the chemical reaction.  It actually worked as far as I can tell, my house isn't on fire, the smell is gone and there isn't anything else weird happening that I can tell.  Hopefully.  I guess I'll find out when the plumber comes later today. Yup, had to hire a plumber.  Lucky us.  

The second awesome homeowner event to happen this week: I called and found someone, Mad Hatter Chimney Sweeps, to come clean out our fireplace and fix it so it stops acting like an open door in the winter. He came out and cleaned yesterday.  And cleaned and cleaned.  Then told me I needed like $700 more in repairs done to the fireplace.  A new damper, replaced mortar and flue tiles, a new cap.  He said there was a chimney fire in there at some point which ruined some of the internal workings and that it hasn't been maintained even though it's been heavily used.  Awesome.  So, grand total so far for fireplace: $850, probably.  For a fireplace we aren't even gonna use.  But...it needs done.  

So, now I'm waiting for the third thing to go wrong, because things go wrong in threes, right?  Isn't that a statistical fact? I hope it's cheaper the the first two...  I wonder if I initiated something if that would work?  Like if I got the one broken window fixed?  Or the carpeting ripped out of the kids rooms and lamanent put down?  Does that count?  

I guess I'm glad these things happened while I'm still on maternity leave and I don't have to take off of work to be here to wait for the repair guys.  

Also, look forward to a post of the haunted house schedule this year...it's coming soon.  Post suggestions if you have any.  

sing a song that crawls

Hi again. Its been a while since I last wrote. Had a baby and all that jazz. It has been pretty boring and sleep deprived here, not a whole lot to report on other than having beautiful Seiry. I did have a successful VBAC, by the way, which im pretty proud of myself for doing. Perhaps I'll post my birth story here, I'll think about it. Unless you all vehemently protest.

 Today is Asher's first day of preschool. He seemed interested, I wouldn't go as far as saying he was excited. Oh well. I'm sure he will have fun. Ry and I are volunteering at his school's wine tasting fund raiser in September, hit me up if you're interested in attending. Its September 23 from 5-7. I'll be pouring wine and Ry beer from 6-7. It is in Hudson.

Some things I hate about being parents is unsolicited and unnecessary advice everyone seems to think you are in dire need of receiving. For example, don't tell me how to calm down my almost 2 month old daughter. I think I know her better than you do. Also, don't tell me how to dress her. She isn't too hot or to cold. Trust me, I think I know. And if I'm wrong, I'm the one who will deal with the crying till I figure it out so shut the fuckup thank you very much. Everyone is all of a sudden a professional baby whisperer one you have an infant, and they must, absolutely MUST tell you their every thought on how to care for your bundle of joy. Because obviously I am mentally incapable of reason and common sense when it comes to miniature human beings. I don't need breastfeeding advice from someone who's only experience with it is something they read once in a magazine. I don't need advice on sleep schedules or for people to criticize me for leaving the house with my newborn. Fuck you very much. I don't mind chatting about babies but when you are directly criticizing my parenting skills because you are so much better than me then fuck you very much.

Wow, that didn't sound bitter at all....

I lived through the 80's and that shit was crazy

Stole the title of this blog from my darling husband today.  Cause it was awesome.  It was in reference to this song, which I think is pretty awesome, compliments of Dave. 

Anyway...not much to put into a blog today that is worth reading.  I'm super done with gestating this child.  That's about it.  Unless you want to hear me complain about pregnancy ailments, which I don't think you do.  I don't even want to hear myself complain about them and poor Ry, he must be beside himself with how much complaining and whining he hears from me.  He's really been a trooper. 

The worst part is that I really want to go out and walk a bunch but walking in this heat makes me nauseous and then I am ruined for the rest of the night.  And that's no fun, either. 

I want to say something funny here but...I can't.  I really can't.  I think it's partially due to the exhaustion and partially due to the fact that I'm not a really incredibly funny person.  I think it would just sound forced and trite. Is that the right use of the word trite?  I can't think today.  I have no idea.  I should look it up but I'm not going to do it.

I am going to be on a boat in about an hour.  And I'm taking T-pain.  Actually, I'm not.  I don't know T-pain.  I am taking some minions, though.  Still, not as good as if I took T-pain.

See androids fighting Brad and Janet

I've noticed a trend.  If I post pictures on my blog, I get more people looking at my blog.  Oh, and if I wrote more consistantly, that would probably help, too.  But pictures!  So, I probably should just post random pictures all over this post and maybe people would be like, oh, I'm gonna check out that blog! 



Take that, Janet...

Actually, I don't really care if a bunch of people read my blog or not.  Cause I didn't make this for you.  This blog carries the Charles Atlas seal of approval.

Okay, I don't have the seal of approval.  But I will,
in just seven days. 

You know what drives me crazy?  People who complain about everything but never listen to anything anyone else has to say (no, I'm not talking about myself here... :/  ).  For example, I went blueberry picking with my mom, my mother in law, Asher and my mother in law's dead friend's daughter, Donna.  I happened to borrow a cooler thingy from her for Asher's party and she needed it back by Wednesday but I had left it at my mom's house.  My mother was bringing it to blueberry picking but ended up running late.  Do you think I heard the end of it?  Even after my mom gave it back she was still complaining and asking for it back. The whole time.  Even after we already gave it back... Also, she is a bit of a hypochondriac....and has to always be sicker or mroe allergic or more anything negative than anything you are talking about.  You know, I actually think it's really quite a feat to be that negative and pessamistic and verbally insulated.  She's like a level 15 complainer casting spells of irrationality and annoyance in an almost unlimited abundance.  Seriously, I think I took like 50 hit points of psychic damage just from being near her for an hour.  It took me two days to recover enough just to write about it.  Or maybe I've just been either lazy or busy or tired.  I'm blaming it all on that psychic damage either way.  It's hard to tell the difference with psychic damage.  

I'm pretty sure this has something
to do with dealing a lot of crippling
psychic damage.

I should have taken pics of Asher picking blueberries, he was doing such a good job.  He really had a good time, too.  I'm pretty proud of him, I was worried he'd get bored but we made an adventure of it and he seemed to have a great time. 

Asher's 3rd Birthday Pics, finally!

Playground Casualty.  She was really mad at Ry for taking the photo.  He told her she should tell everyone that you shoulda seen the other guy.  She was not amused.  

Asher's face at the size of his amazing dinosaur cake.  

Asher's friend Addy chowing down on some cake.  The insides are appropriately colored for internal anatomy as well. 

Their future's so bright, they have to wear shades.  Cool cop shades, too, if you're my brother. 

I needed directions for carving this cake.  It was challenging.  And delicious.  You can't even tell I'm 9 months pregnant here, either.  Nice. 

Happy Birthday!

One of our favorite toys was from Patpat, the grabber claw. 

Sampling the goods before diving in...

There was a definite spiderman theme for this birthday.  I wonder if someone likes spiderman? 

Nothing to see here, just inspecting the rocks. 

That's one happy birthday boy.  

He rights the outlaw wrongs on mars

I'm currently in love with a new (new to me) podcast I found on Nerdist the other day, Thrilling Adventure Hour.  It's a live taped radio drama.  My favorite episodes on the show are the Nevada Sparks Martial on Mars series.  Hilarious.  I highly recommend you check them out.  It makes me laugh so hard.

Had a small mostly family birthday party for Asher over the weekend. At least, I wish family birthday parties were small.  This one wasn't very small but it was fun and hot.  We had it at my mom's house, outside.  And it was hot.  But other than hot the weather was really nice. I'm waiting for Ry to put up the pics on his g+ account so I can steal them and post them on here, so please be patient.  I'm so tired, though, from the party.  Friends made the cake and it was super duper awesome, once again be patient for the pics.

My only complaint about the party was that my dad didn't come.  Or my step brother and his four kids.  I can only assume it was because it was at my mom's house.  It really kind of hurt my feelings. I'm glad Asher didn't notice he wasn't there, he can be pretty perceptive about that kind of stuff.  Asher's new friend Addison was there, though, so that made his day.  I really am glad of how well those two hit it off, and right away at that.  Asher needs more friends close to his own age.  Katya's really getting to be a horrible influence on him.

Anyway, I'm glad that's done and over with.  Now I'm just waiting on this kid to decide when she wants to come out.  I've got my fingers crossed for earlier more than later (but you know how kids are so uncooperative when they don't want to do something...).  I've already gained 31 lbs...I was doing so well keeping it off, too.  I was hoping to be at this amount of weight at delivery, not right now.  I gained 41 lbs with Asher so I was hoping to stay skinnier this time, I really really don't want to do beach body insanity again.  But...I'll probably have to do something. It makes me a little sad, though.  It's all the sweets this girl makes me feel the need to eat.  Ry had to start running again because he put on so much pregnancy weight with me this time.  Poor ry.

That's all for now.  Pics soon I hope.  

You treat me like a stranger and that feels so wrong

My annoyance level and my discomfort levels at work are directly proportional.  I'm so uncomfortable today.  And annoyed.  It's pretty awesome.  I'm actually not sure if it's coincidence or coincidal. 

Anyway.  Still sick.  I thought I'd be better by now.  I had hoped I would, at least.  And now Asher is sick, too.  It's really just a ton of fun at Casa Glow.  I'm almost better, I guess.  Asher is just starting.  I didn't sleep very well (insert much at all) last night, I was uncomfortable, I couldn't breathe, and I wasn't tired.  I'm ALWAYS tired.  So, I was super frustrated last night and about ready to have a hissy fit.  I felt entitled to my hissy fit.  But then I fell into a fitful sleep, which I woke up from a bit later due to not being able to breathe again. 

Nevermind, too much complaining. This weekend was rough. I'm ready to be done.  Can someone convince Seiry that it's time to move on to the next stage of life in the next two weeks or so? 

I'm pretty ready for Asher's birthday party, too.  So is he, by the way.  He has told me a million and a half things he wants for his birthday presents.  It's sad how young children become consumers. 

I was particularly annoyed this weekend when Rosie told me that she bought Asher craft desk/easel at a garage sale for $5.  Good deal, I guess, but she knew that we bought him an easel for his birthday, I showed it to her.  I am so tired of her buying shit for him at garage sales every single day.  EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I am not exaggerating.  I wish I were.  I was especially irritated that she bought him this desk since we had expressed that that was what we were getting him for his birthday and then after I bought it I showed it to her.  I understand she wants to do things for him and stuff like that but, seriously...she has issues.  I told her yesterday that there are support groups for people like her and that she really needed to calm down the garage sale purchasing.  I've told her this about a thousand times now, it doesn't help.  She drives me crazy. 

I have my last birthday present today, a mani-pedi that I couldn't get an appointment for any closer to my birthday.  It's at a super fancy place in Hudson called Solaire (which is also a wine bar but I will not be visiting that side of it today...) that I got a groupon for half off. So, hopefully I'll have shnazzy finger and toe nails for delivery.  Cause you know, that's what everyone will be looking at when I'm delivering Seiry.  At least, that's what I'm going to be telling myself.  It's better than thinking about all of those people looking and my lady bits expectantly. What a visual.  What color should I get?  I have purple that Ry painted on for me now (I can't reach my own feet comfortably right now, Ry took one for the team for my toe vanity). 

Anyway, back to work. 

I'm on the pursuit of happiness

This coming Friday starts month 9 of my pregnancy.  I'm feeling pretty good considering.  I'm super tired and kind of achy all the time but it's not too bad.  The heat is difficult, though.  It really takes it out of me.  Like yesterday, I worked and of course yahoos had to be out waiting for me to get there to yell at them.  And confiscate their tents.  In 92 degree humid heat.  It was super awesome.  Then I got harassed by my dad last night for not coming over to hang out with him while they were drinking in the heat.  No thank you, I was super hot and tired (and I really don't like being around my dad when he drinks...).  I went home and conked out on the couch for a while then made dinner and just chilled out with my family. 

Strawberries are ready to be picked.  I need it to cool off just a tad so I don't kill myself, I'd like to go and pick soon though! I was thinking about 10-15 lbs of berries.  I'm ready to make some pies.  I have plans to make about 10 pies this year, give out about five of them fresh and freeze about five of them for later use/distribution.  How much would you pay for a strawberry rhubarb pie made by yours truly?  I'd like to make jelly, too.  Maybe this weekend.

I had a super awesome low key birthday party this weekend.  It was really nice. Asher was also pretty good this weekend so that was a nice birthday present from him.  He made a new friend, Tom's girlfriend Ashley's daughter Addison.  It was so cute, we were trying to get them to fall asleep in front of the TV well past their bedtimes and they instead were building a fort/castle out of blankets on the floor.  While they were doing this, Asher crawled up to Addison, kissed her on the lips and then ran away.  It was super cute.  We told him that he had to ask a girl before he could do that and so he said, "Oh, I'm sorry.  Can I come in your castle?"  So cute. 

Anyway, back to work.  Lots to do.  

You starve and near exhaust me, everything I've done I've done for you

Asher has hit his "terrible twos" just in time to turn three.  Everything is a battle. 

"Asher, let's go to the park"

"No, I'm not ready yet" 

"But you want to go to the park"

"NOOOOOO!!!! I SAI D I'M NOT ready!" 

"When will you be ready?" 

"Later, mama, jeez...just go away, okay?  Wait, where are you going?  Don't go away!  DON'T GO AWAY!"

 

Everything is uphill.  It's so stressful.  He literally spent more than an hour fighting us and more than half an hour (not all at once) in time out just over a nap.  Which he didn't ever take.  It wasn't worth the battle anymore, you know?  After you spend an hour and a half fighting with him you are both tired and sad and depressed and it's just time for something else.  I went shopping.  Asher "drove" daddy's car.  I needed a break.  And then, I got into a nice conversation with my mother-in-law who pretty much just spent the time berating my parenting skills and decisions.  So, that helped me get less depressed.  You know, words of encouragement about how much better everyone else is at parenting than I am.  That totally would make me feel great, I mean it did.  I really have a lot to work towards.  Like learning not to answer my phone when any of my parents call me. 

 

I'm pretty sure my new nickname for asher is "whine-ocerous", it was very appropriate this weekend. 

 

He dumped a ton of bath water on me yesterday because he didn't want to be washed.  He did it three times, the third time he soaked me intentionally, the first two times he was just throwing a fit.  Without really thinking I flicked the water off of my hands at him, which of course were covered in Cetaphil...which is not tear-free...and of course I got it into his eyes.  And then he cried, and Ry came in and made me feel guilty (not intentionally) and I wanted to cry and it sucked.  I sucked it up, though, and finished the bath and washed the soap out of my child's eyes.  It was just too much of a stressful weekend.  And of course, I had to end it on a horrible parenting move of getting soap into my child's eyes in a knee-jerk reaction.  Still, it's not an excuse for what I did.  I feel really bad about it. 

 

And, the nightmares are horrible, too.  We spent all last night comforting him due to his scary dreams of the "zappy thing in daddy's car".  When I asked Ry about it, ry told me he stopped Asher from putting a penny into the cigarette lighter the other day, he said he didn't really make a big deal about it.  But...it terrified Asher all night long.  So, only a little sleep for us. 

 

It's been a tough weekend.  I hope we get this out of the way before Seiry is born.  I doubt it, though.  I have to be realistic. 

 

I'm not ready for my birthday, either.  :(

 

I guess I'm just not happy about anything right now.  Sorry. 

All I needed was love, sordid details following

I am so full of person right now.  It's hard to breathe.  Yesterday I seriously hiked around a humongous water plant in Cleveland, up the hill and up the steps.  It seemed  like they only had one direction there, up.  And then we walked about a mile to the next place downtown.  I did a whole lot of walking downtown yesterday.  I was beat.  I tried to go home and take a nap but I couldn't get comfy (thanks stupid cats).  We took Asher to Preston's Hope yesterday, a pretty cool park for younger kids.  He was ecstatic.  Seriously, his face was full of pure joy and bliss.  We packed a picnic lunch and went out there and he was in little kid heaven. 

Last night kind of sucked, though, he had nightmares so he came in and slept with us, meaning he laid diagonally across the bed trying all night to push me and ry out.  I tried to leave to go sleep in the other bed at one point and he freaked out massively.  So, need less to say, my back hurts more than normal today.  And I have my very last dam inspection of the season today.  I'm so tired and achy, I really don't want to go.  But someone must, so it must be me. 

At least once it's done I can work on my grant proposal which is due on June 1st...which I haven't even started.  I can't keep up.  Oh well, one thing at a time.  Oh wait, I have boat training, sampling and monitoring training to do yet.  Gah.

I had something to write about today which I thought about at like 4 am this morning while being kicked in the back by my son and in the bladder by my daughter. But, now I don't remember.  I'm so tired.  

New Spacehog album was supposed to be out yesterday but I can't find it.  I'm sad.  I also want to buy the MGMT album, I just haven't yet.  I'll get it for myself for my birthday perhaps?  Perhaps. 

Well, I thought about the army, dad said son, you're f*cking high

There was a time when I was going to join the army.  Honestly.  Bet you didn't know that.  Or, perhaps you did.  It's kind of ironic (coincidental?  I always get those two wrong, me and Alanis Morriset) because I was going to train in the army to be a water treatment officer or something like that, it's been 13 years don't hold me to remembering the exact terms, and now I am working in local government in the water business some time later.  I guess it's full circle.  It makes me think that perhaps this is always what I was supposed to be doing.  If you believe in that kind of thing.  Which I don't, but sometimes this kind of thing makes me wonder.

I took today off of work even though I can't really afford the time right now.  I just needed a day.  Asher has been super bad lately, I don't know what is wrong with him.  Every. Single. Little. Thing. Is. A. Battle.  I put periods behind each word just to emphasize how much I am stressing each work.  Everything out of my mouth is a challenge for him to fight.  Asher, put your shoes on.  NO! Followed by a tantrum.  Asher, do you what do you want to eat for dinner?  "Pez and cookies."  You can have those for dessert.  NO!  NOT DESSERT!  NOW!  GO AWAY MAMA!.  you get the idea, right?  Rosie cannot get him to nap.  She does things that are counter productive when I'm trying to discipline him, like offer to give him what he wants.  (Who's in charge of whom, eh?)  It got so bad yesterday that he bit me in front of Rosie and Richard and Katya.  It was partially Rosie's fault and Katya's fault, katya's for being bad and Rosie for giving in to Asher when he wanted to be the same kind of bad.  He bit me hard, too.  I have never wanted to shake my son as much as I did yesterday.  Instead, we went to time out in the middle of the driveway with me holding him down until he calmed down and the whole crew just watching in embarrassment.  It was super awesome.

Work is also really stressful right now, trying to get all of my work done, wordsmith some grant applications by June 1st, get the WCP going and ready to roll without me, train new people, learn my new job, research some property stuff, continue to monitor the watershed and get the WMP finalized before I leave.  All in just about 8 weeks, give or take.  So, no stress, right?

Yeah, I think I deserve it, I am taking a "me" day.

Originally I wanted to use a groupon I had bought a while back for a Mani-Pedi but I waited too long to schedule it and they were booked.  So then I wanted to go see Dark Shadows since it came out today but...the first time it plays is during my Dr.s appt and so I can't go see it, either.  I don't want to just stay at home, I will totally just do housework all day and not relax.  I don't know what to do....  This is turning into a wasted day.  I did get a nice long blog typed up.  And I read the news.  And did my social media stuff.  Do I want to go shopping?  Not really....I always get depressed shopping alone.  Or just shopping.  And I don't really need anything.

Anyone want to go see dark shadows with me?  Ever since I heard about it on This American Life I have kinda wanted to see it.  Also, has anyone read 50 Shades of Gray?  I heard it's supposed to be good but I don't know if it's the kind of book I'd like, and there are about 1000 people on the library waiting list and I don't want to buy it unless it's really good.

By the way, Ben Folds Five is back together and putting an album out using Kickstarter.  You should check it out, you can download a free song there, too.  I haven't pledged yet because I don't have an account, perhaps I will later...

Oh, and I got a bunch of emails from Jason's old site I used to write for, www.unsoughtinput.com.  I used to write as Alouette on there, check me out.  Here's some of my old favorites of mine: Career Advice: Do Not Listen to Crazy People, An article about water before I even worked in the water biz (has it always been about water with me?  Geez...) and an article about nerd parents.  You know, as I go back through this stuff, I can't believe how much I wrote.  I'm impressing myself.  Anyway, I should probably let you get on with your day, this might be my longest blog on here ever.

Yeah, it's overwhelming but what else can we do?

You know, I didn't really like MGMT that much when I first heard them but this album has really grown on me.  It's subtle like that. 

It's been a tough week for me.  No more ticks so far, but I also haven't been out too much.  I've been super stressed out at work and at home, everything irritates me and I can't seem to relax or calm down, which causes lots of braxton-hicks contractions.  I decided I'm taking Friday off of work this week even though I don't really have the time (I want as much at home with Seiry as possible, you know?) because I need a "me" day.  I have a mani-pedi that I bought on groupon a while back which I was saving for right before her birth but I think I need it now more than I will need it then.  I also have a dr's appt on Friday so it works out well.  I'd like to get a massage, too, but I don't know if I'll have the time.  Maybe just a nice soak in my mom's huge bath tub. 

Ah, the heartburn is back.  I think it almost never leaves me now. 

The doula thing has been a hassle, too.  My doula never talks to me.  That's not right, is it?  I didn't think so.  I need one who is actually a real doula and isn't just using me to get her certification.  Why does the Cleveland area suck for women's care?  I don't get it. 

I really don't have time to be writing this blog.  I had so many things I wanted to tell you guys, too.  I'll leave you with this one tidbit from the weekend.

So, we are at Little Gym on Sunday with Asher and another mom comes up and chats with me, asking me how far along I am.  I told her I'm about 8 months and she was all like "Oh, you don't even look like it, you're so small!" Which was nice of her, I feel like I've just participated in one of those "eat a bajillion hot dogs as fast as you can" contest.  She asks if we know the sex, we tell her it's a girl.  She asks the name and we tell her "Seiry" and she immediately (way too quickly and loudly) responds "OH MY GOD, I LOVE IT!!!!"  The enthusiasm never reaches her eyes, though.  On our way home Ry and I both have a pretty good laugh because we both caught that she hates the name but she had her pre-planned response ready.  It was refreshing, actually, I'm so tired of people telling me that "we still have time before the baby is born to change our minds" or "Don't you mean Suri, like Tom Cruise's daughter?". 

Anyway, I really need to get a bunch of work done today. I'll miss you all until next time.

I'm seriously done with ticks already

Hello nasty, where you been? Probably in someones
body crevices.

I'm done with ticks.  I'm tired of having them.  I agree, they were novel in the beginning, with their disgusting habit of sneaking onto my person and trying to make me host more than one obvious parasite at a time.  I mean who doesn't want to hang out with tiny little creepy creatures who make it a habit of spreading an incurable disease and likes to spend their time in what one website called "body crevices and folds"?  I know I do.  Oh, wait, I meant the opposite of that. 

I have had three ticks in the last 8 or 9 days.  I am now on a tick Jihad.  I have never had ticks this often in one season ever, even when I worked for Davey Tree.  I must be delicious or maybe it's the sweet blood from Seiry forcing me to practically have an IV of sugary substances at all times.  That and the fact that we had such a mild winter. 

The message today is fuck ticks. You know how ticks eat your blood?  They use a little scalpel mouth part to cut you Emo style and then stick their entire head into your skin rooting around until they hit some pay-blood.  And then they hang on until they have gluttoned themselves so much on your blood that they literally have to throw up extra stomach contents back into your skin.  Yes ticks, you are one of the most disturbing creatures that I deal with.  You are like tiny little buffet eating serial killers, but just without killing but definitely with the fat family at a buffet problem.

I probably shouldn't use DEET so I've been looking into other treatment options.  I think I'm going to try to make this recipe for homemade bug repellent (specifically for ticks): http://www.ehow.com/how_5566738_make-eucalyptus-tick-repellent.html

I'll probably just smell like an old lady's house, but if it keeps the ticks away, well, I'm cool with that.  I've also read that tea tree oil and NEEM oil can be useful as well.  I guess I'll find out. 

Do I really seem this innocent?

So, over the weekend I was kind of being playful on Facebook and here is the corresponding conversation.  Those of you who know me (insert all of you who read this blog) know, I would hope, that I was being facetious.  I was going to continue to follow up on this thread with Chris but...I just couldn't do that to Mr. Way-too-serious.  I had internet guilt.  I guess I'm just not cut out to be a troll.  I just thought you'd appreciate this.  I know I did. 

Male Birth Control, an unorganized rambling

So, as I sit here eating second breakfast I was quick reading some articles on break.  And I thought about a conversation that Ry and I had about male contraception last night that was spurred on by this (rather poorly written) article. 

Personally I'm all for birth control that is non-hormonal.  Having been a user of several different types of hormonal birth control for years (9 of them if anyone's counting), I can safely say that they do change you as a person.  They alter your moods and your body.  I feel much more in control of my emotions and my weight not taking them.  I am also for the most effective form of birth controls being cheap and easy to get. 

It seems like this male form of birth control is pretty cheap, easy, non-hormonal and REVERSIBLE, which should make it practically perfect, right? I think the reversible thing is a big deal. This is where Ry and my conversation really began. 

So, imagine that Planned Parenthood made this procedure easily available on college campuses.  Seems like a good idea, right?  Guys can get the procedure, not worry about getting their partner pregnant, both boys and girls graduate from college baby free, and when they are ready, boy can get procedure reversed and they can make new little people all they want. 

So, why isn't this the case?  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs, they aren't STDs anymore.  I'm not sure when that changed but it did).  The fear is that since after the procedure there is no worry about getting pregnant (this procedure touts a hard to believe 100% success rate) that the unprotected sex rates will run rampant and the spread of STIs will increase. 

The author of the article seems to feel that the reason it won't catch on here in the states is due to the issue being the control of women's bodies.  I know there's been a ton of stuff in the news, legislation and what not, about control of women's bodies from birth control to abortions but I feel that it's not what this is about.  This is about the fact that women get pregnant and men don't.  A woman knows if she's on the pill.  A woman knows if she's using some other type of contraceptive.  A woman is the one most at risk if a pesky little sperm finds it's way to her ripe and fertile egg.  A woman doesn't know if the guy has actually had this procedure.  She also doesn't know if he is preparing to become a willing donor of an STI. 

Now, I understand that there are different situations.  First off, if you are in a monogamous relationship, this is perfect (hoping you don't cheat).  It's cheap and easy and requires no surgery and no hormonal augmentation and is reversible.  I wish this existed when Ry and I were younger.  But if you are not in a long term relationship and you tell your date that you can't get her pregnant you are going to have to accept the fact that she should be skeptical.  How many times has a girl heard that one in the past?  I actually don't know, but I assume that douchy guys who are hitting every kegger on campus use this line. At least, that's what I've seen in movies, which is where I get all of my information about kids these days. 

I probably have more to say about this but...not right now.  I'm all for it, don't get me wrong.  My point is not about unprotected sex or STIs but that this is not a body control issue concerning women.  You know what I mean?

And I'm watching every move she makes

Welcome, me, to the third trimester.  I feel like I've been pregnant forever.  I just want a glass of wine.  I always want Ry to order some so I can have a few sips but he never does.  Cause he likes beer.  And I don't.  So, that makes me sad.  I need to go someplace with people who like wine who will let me lick the bottom of their glass, just for a taste.  Man, that makes me sound desparate.  I'm not.  Honest.  I just would like a little.  And I like the idea of licking the bottom of another person's wine glass.  Sexy. 

I hope you realize that was an attempt at making a joke.  A poor attempt.  Yet, my poor attempt. 

Something that has been bothering me a bit lately.  I've been reading a lot of "crunchy" mom sites.  Basically, from what I can gather is, that this meas you are an "all natural, medicine avoiding going back to the earth" kind of hippie lady and you are taking your family with  you.  The reason I'm reading these blogs is basically because it seems to be the best place to find good support for VBAC births and birth stories, as well as unmedicated birth stories, both of which I am considering for Seiry's birth.  My last pregnancy reading any birth stories at all made me terrified.  I felt that it would be much better if I just let the hospital and my doctor do what I was paying them through the nose to do and had a lot of faith in the system. 

Now, don't get me wrong, they saved Asher's life and probably mine, too.  But...I feel that this time can be different and maybe if I do it differently we won't end up in a similar situation.  I don't want to have a major surgery (C-section) as I've mentioned before.  I want to try to do this the "old fashioned" way. 

Anyway, I deviate.  This was about what ticks me off about crunchy moms, not about my birth desires.  Basically, most of these women (at least the ones who blog) are stay at home moms.  And I read over and over again the same basic feeling: if you are a mom who goes back to work, you love your child less then a crunchy mom who sacrifices a career, a life and showering on a regular basis.  Sometimes they don't come out and say it directly, and sometimes they do.  It drives me crazy.  Just because I NEED to make money, I have to go to work.  Do you think I don't want to spend the time with my child? I like to be able to support my family (insert feed and clothe) and live where I live (in my nice middle class house) and send my child to Montessori.  And you know what?  I like that I get to go to work. I get satisfaction out of my job and out of my home life.

So, basically, fuck you, self rightous jerk face crunchy mothers.  You have no right to judge me.  Also, please wear some fuckin deodorant when you leave the house.  It's (probably) not going to give you breast cancer. 

Na na na na na, I've got to go it alone

Good morning.  I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable today, too tight on the insides.  This baby is making it hard to breathe! 

It's been a tough weekend.  I hate holidays.  I really don't think I'm going to get into it other than the bullet points:

• All of the grandparents hate the name we picked.
• I think I'm changing the middle name a bit but we are still sticking with Seiry.  Maybe Seiry Rosali or Seiry Rosalind.  Rose isn't sitting right with me. 
• Ry is totally against my choices for the birth of this child and would prefer a C-section but....he said he'll support my decision even if it terrifies him.
• Asher is turning into a horrible little mean monster.  We are working on it. 
• Easter sucks and sugar makes a boy mean.
• I hate holidays.
• I'm overwhelmed at work (which is obviously why I'm writing a blog today)

So...I'm also sorry that my blog has turned into a diary.  A kind of public diary.  So, to make it a bit less diary-ish, here's some stuff I think is interesting.  Perhaps my fave five like felicia day?  Sure.  We will actually start with that. 

1.  The Flog on Felicia Day's new youtube site, Geek and Sundry.  Check it out. 
2.  I'm currently reading the 9th book in the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.  This book is soooo good.  Actually, they just keep getting better.  I love it.  Check them out, too.  It's good stuff. 
3. I haven't started yet but I just bought the new Mario game for my 3DS...I'm looking forward to starting it this week.  I just need to finish my book first. 
4.  I'm not in love with this song but I really think the video is pretty awesome: Turn me on by david Guetta featuring Nicki Manaj.  I'm a sucker for steam punk, what can I say.
5.  Another book recommendation, since I mentioned steam punk.  Check out the Cherie Priest series that starts with Boneshaker.  I've only read the first two so far, the next two are on my list.  Very good.  I mean, what's better than zombies and steam punk?  Not too much that I can tell... Also, her other series, Hellbent, is pretty awesome, too. 

There you go.  Five things I'm digging right now.  Sorry to steal from Felicia Day but...it was fun.  I'll do it again sometime. 

Spiders explode in your kalidscopic eyes

Just a quick post today.  I've been so super busy at work this week that since I didn't really have anything planned for work today (just a few small things) I feel a little unmotivated.  I've still be super busy but i kind of have been just zombified the last half hour or so.  I'm going to get back to my invoices soon, I promise.  I just wanted to talk.  And you know, it's not even about much of anything. 

I've been starting to have lots of achy back-ness.  That's not too fun.  But that's not a huge deal.  Jeh came over last night and chair massaged me, no lower back or anything, just upper back and shoulders.  But it was so nice.  And then I heat padded the lower back so things were all in all pretty nice. I told him to expect at least bi-weekly calls but maybe even weekly calls.  He's pretty inexpensive, if you are interested in getting a massage let me know and I'll hook you two up. He makes house calls. 

Getting ready for a busy weekend of family Easter visits.  I'll be glad when I'm through, I hate all the obligated visitation and going to my dad's when it's a zoo.  I'm sure it will be crazy.  I'm sure I'll have some good posts for you next week. 

Do you get that Seiry would be pronounced the same as Ceri?  I'm playing with names again.  Not changing the name, just the spelling and maybe making it a nickname short for Ceridwen.  Which i discovered today.  And am in love with.  Doesn't it look beautiful?  Ceridwen Rose Glowczewski.  And Ceri for short.  Ceridwen was the Welsh goddess of poetry.  And, you know, I think my parents will hate it even more.  But...it's in the vetting process.  Ry is rolling it around, deciding how he feels about it.  (the long version and changed spelling, I mean)

Anyway....only rougly 14 weeks to get lots of stuff done, her room is still in massive disarray.  We are going to paint it soon....hopefully....if ry ever gets over this stupid cold he has.  I've been sleeping on a cot in her room all this week because his sick snoring has been driving me crazy waking me up.  I'm not complaining, I'm sure I'm pregnancy snoring every night and he's kind enough not to pick on me about it...maybe he finds it endearing?  Uh-huh...sure he does...

Blip blip, blip blip blip, blip blip

So, wish me luck in my first day as Watershed Superintendent.  It really happened so quickly I'm still reeling honestly.  I'll take it one day at a time.  I have interviews all this week.  I really hope we have some good candidates. 

Had easter with my mom this weekend.  I didn't take photos because I was too busy helping my child spill easter egg coloring liquid  all over the place.  We had a grand old time.  Poor Ry, though, he's been so sick the last week that he was miserable and just sat and catnapped on the couch while Uncle Mike and I just kinda did all the fun stuff with Asher. 

My dad hates the baby name, too.  He asked my step-sister-in-law if we just put random letters on a dart board and threw darts to make up baby names.  He's closer with mine than hers, honestly.  I didn't use a dart board, though.  I'll tell you honestly, full disclosure, Seiry is the name of my dungeons and dragons character.  Yeah, we went there.  But it's a good name so who cares. 

I've decided to hire a Doula for this birth.  I'm very nervous about the whole thing, and I'm kind of going against Ry's wishes to just have an elective C-section.  My mom, too.  But...my body and I'm doing what I think is best for me and the  baby.  I don't want to have another C-section.  They suck.  Massively.  I know, I know, evicting a 40 week 8 lb.  parasite from your uterus via the vagina is also pretty un-fun...but...maybe less unfun then surgery?  Especially when you also have to take care of that parasite in addition to the 3 year old parasite you also already have after the fireworks are done and hubby has gone back to work. 

I'm currently looking for a doula.  I have had some recommendations and put out some feelers on Friday but I haven't really heard anything back yet.  I really want to find someone soon, I think it would make me feel better and reduce my stress.  I also need a massage.  I'm working on that, too.  I don't want to share the gory details of my last traumatic birth with you all on here, just know that my first birth was like a scene out of movie Aliens and I'd rather not make a sequel. Doubly so because I've never looked as good as Sigourney in my undies. 

Okay, back to work being a big bad superintendent.  Actually, I'm going to lunch now, but you know, gotta feed my lovely parasite. She's asking for a baked potato in case you were wondering.

Am I sure you are what I think you are?

So...good news turns sour sometimes way too soon. The announcement was made at work yesterday.  here's a direct quote: " Jessica Glowczewski will assume the responsibilities of Watershed Superintendent (similar to work previously performed by Mr. Collin Coy)." Now, keep in mind, this is supersedes the promotion to Watershed Supervisor I just got about two weeks ago. So, that's a bit quick.  And, well, according to the City qualifications, I'm not qualified.  The technically of it is that I will get a temporary class change to Assistant Watershed Superintendent (which I am qualified for) and eventually the position will be posted and I can apply for it rightfully so.  Then I will spend the next four years earning the experience I need to be eligible for the Superintendent position. 

So, some quick facts...I am not getting paid superintendent pay and I am not an official superintendent.  The idea is just to put someone in this "slot" so that work can get done.  It's not always easy to get the things you need to get the work that needs done accomplished in the city, so though it seems a little...odd...it's kind of how it has to go.  I'm very happy with this turn of events, honestly.  This is where I want to go with the city and now my path has been clearly defined.  I know exactly what I need to do to get where I want to go, which is also something that is hard to do in the city. 

But...like I said, sour....so, instead of people here being supportive and congratulatory...well, people were normal petty City workers.  They yelled at me, told me I wasn't good enough for the position, that I didn't earn it, other choice terms and phrases, and these are just the ones they angrily blurted in my face, not even the ones that they said when I wasn't around.  They say that I should have turned it down and gone straight to the union!  As if.  Like any of those whiners would have done any differently.  And you know what?  Where were they when I was doing all the extra work for no additional pay?  They were calling me a dummy and saying that I shouldn't be doing extra work without compensation for the city because it was a waste of time and effort and that they would never go above and beyond for the city.  And who ended up doing all of that work?  Me.  So.....how'd that pay for all of you petty, bitter city employees who refused to pick up the slack or even help me when I did? 

I'm sorry, I didn't want to get angry about it.  It really hurts me, though.  I'm nice to everyone here.  I work really hard and try my best every day while I watch  people who do the bare minimum and get paid much more than me.  I fight with these people every day to get just the things I need to do my job from their complacent petty claws.  They are condescending to me (even before this announcement) when I do the extra work.  The one guy said he's going to report it to the union.  Do it.  What do I care? 

I don't know.  I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but it's hard.  I work hard, I feel like I deserve this.  

To top off yesterday I told my mother the name Ry and I have decided on, Seiry Rose Glowczewski.  And she was totally supportive and wasn't mean or demeaning at all.  Not one bit.  

Oh, wait, did I say it that way?  I meant that she totally hated it, made fun of it and made me feel like garbage in general.  Thanks mom.  I really appreciate the support and respect. 

So, the two things I was really happy and excited about just a few days ago...both of them are causing me some sorrow today. 

I feel like throwing some music in here today.  Have some Roni Size and Bahamadia. 

You can kiss the ring but you can never wear the crown

So, today is great.  Just great.  Not an ounce of sarcasm in that statement as well.  Ry and I have pretty much settled on a name for #2 that is not #2.  I'm not telling yet, though.  Not yet...  Asher had a wonderful first day of school and has already made 2 friends.  We found out that we can drop him off early and not make Rosie do it so that is good, too.  It costs more (of course) but if it makes life easier...well it's worth it.  And then when I got to work got some really really really really fantastic news.  (I'm not posting that yet, either, not until it's completely official...).  It's a beautiful day in march even if it is only 45 degrees out.  I don't care, it's beautiful and sunny and life is good and I'm happy.  I'm going to try to send my good feeling vibes out to all of you, as well.  I'm not going to just keep these to myself.

Sorry to be so vague and so short but....yeah....

Bad bad boys come with me, come with me

Morning.  Ry has been out of town both last week and this week.  He's coming home again today.  I never sleep well when he's not home.  I had nightmares about getting snowed in in Chicago (where I've never been except for O'Hare International) and then driving around in the snow trying to find someone.  Then we had fireworks and I kept hitting them out of people's hands with a sledgehammer because everyone was being dumb and I thought someone would blow their hands off.  Also, Asher kept trying to pick them up and I was freaking out. 

So, yeah, that's the kind of night I had.  I'm doing dam inspections today.  Insert your dam jokes here.  Only two more after this and I'm done until fall.  So that's nice.  I really don't like doing dam inspections.  I'm cool with it until we have to go down rusty ladders into the dark dank abyss of 60-100 year old underground structures.  Then, I'm not so fond of it at all.  At least I'm pregnant this time so I can make others go down and do my bidding.  It doesn't always work out that way, though, I mean, I don't always want to be pregnant.  Cause you know it's so much fun.  Or maybe you don't.  It's tons of fun.  And I mean that in the most sincerely sarcastic way possible.  Some parts are cool, but not having your body belong to you for almost a year is not a picnic.  But...the end result is good and that's what matters, right?  And I'm more complain-y than normal because I'm tired and grumpy and my back hurts and I feel fat but I'm starving but I'm also full. 

You know, that's enough of that.  I'm sorry.  I just wish I could decide on a name.  It's not even Ryan really holding it up at this point.  Just nothing feels right.  I know we will get there but...

I have my 6 month OB visit on Friday.  I'm pretty sure that my OB is just a vampire with how much blood I've given this pregnancy.  I'm doing the diabetic glucose testing on Friday, more blood work. Honestly, though, I think she's just sweetening up my blood for her own diabolical purposes.  That stuff that they make you drink is gross!  I wish I could just eat something, think a fist full of sour patch kids or something like that) and that would work.  I mean, they could be special medicinal sour patch kids... Actually I want them to be these, these are my current obsession:

Anyway.  I'm going to get ready for the inspection.  It's beautiful 80 degrees and sunny here again today, I'm glad I get to get outside.  You should pick up some vitamin D as well, through your sunblock of course.  Safety first.