Pond Hopper

After a long and painful wait, we had our follow-up appointment with the specialist on new year's eve.  It wasn't a happy new year for us because he scheduled Ethan for surgery the following Tuesday to have the lump in his neck removed.  He'd be admitted in the morning and would even have to be put under anesthesia.  This was no small procedure for a year and a half old baby.  I was a mess over it and wasn't exactly in the mood to ring in the new year with any celebration and went to bed before midnight. I couldn't believe we went from ear infection to biopsy with literally nothing in between.  We have been just sitting on our hands for the last two months with not even a blood test or urine sample.  The specialist (Ear Nose & Throat specialist) never even examined Ethan to any great extent.  I wanted to scream.  The doctor assured me this was necessary which to me, made me think he made his mind up on what it was which didn't require a test....

Last week, my husband informed me that I'm miserable.  He said the only time I smile any more is when I'm with my son.  I got defensive and very woe is me like and asked is that why I can't make any friends here - because I have an air of misery?? Followed by a quick exit of the room to go and clean something (that's what woman do.  We clean things when we're upset).  Later when I was ready to talk, I asked him, 'Is that really how you see me?' He said, 'yes, but I know why you're miserable and I know what I have to do to change it.' So, we're going back to the States.  Wayne hopes to do it next summer, but there is a lot to be done before then so as long as it doesn't take another 2 years, I'm just glad the decision has been made. We've talked about doing it before, but then the recession hit and our businesses suffered and the plans had to be nixed.  We're doing better now and we're goi...

I've been on both Facebook & MySpace for quite some time. When I first joined, I couldn't understand the appeal. I just didn't see what all the fuss was about. Then one day my best friend called me and told me to check something out on Facebook (a photo of someone from days gone by). While having a peek, I noticed that people where using their maiden names to make it easier for people to find them. I figured this was a good idea and I did the same. That's when it all became clear because before long, I had over a 100 different people on my friend list. It was a mix of people from throughout my life that I had friendships with, knew casually or went to school with (and some that knew me, but I honestly didn't remember them). It was quite the phenomenon - at my fingertips, there were over 100 people from throughout my life that I could see pictures of & catch up with! There is a downside to this phenomenon though. Actually, there are many downsides. Some I won...

As of today, I have 4 weeks to go until my due date - unless we go by the US doctors who put my due date a week earlier.  It will be interesting to see who's closer.  I'm hoping for sooner rather than later.  I had what seemed like false labor over the weekend & I've had a lot of pains and twinges ever since that are different than I've had before and I'm hoping it's my body preparing for labor.  Even if it's the 4 week due date, I have to say that it's wonderful to be on the home stretch and starting month 9.  I feel like I've been pregnant forever and can't wait to get to the end! I am finally at the point that they say to pack the hospital bag because it can happen at any time after 36 weeks (I'm 36 weeks today).  I've shopped for packing the bag but wanted to wait to pack it.  I think I'll do that later today.  It will make me feel like I'm actually getting somewhere.  The baby's room is just about finished.  I have so...

I just did the most ridicules thing! I went into the baby's room to get something out of the wardrobe and when I opened the door, I was confronted with a very large spider sitting on the sleeve of one of the baby's sleep sacks that was hanging there.  I am really bad with spiders - it's an awful phobia.  Looking at it there I thought, if I leave it there and run - I'll lose it somewhere in the baby's room!  I can't leave it in the baby's room!  What do I do??  I looked around for my options and thought I just need to get it out the window somehow.  I couldn't get close enough to grab the sleep sack to shake out the window - every time I moved the hanger the spider moved and it was too much for me to deal with.  The spider could have fallen into the wardrobe and then I'd have to search for it.  Worse - it could have fallen on me!  I started to panic and then I saw the curtain rod against the wall.  I stood far enough away so that if it fe...

Everything is a struggle these days.  The bigger I get, the less I can do.  We hired cleaners to do the heavy cleaning around the house for the last weeks of the pregnancy and the first weeks of recovery after the baby comes.  They're here now and I have to say it feels very strange having people clean my house around me while I sit here typing away.  I guess I should just feel grateful we have the means to hire help because with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms - it's just too much for me to take on any more.  Still, I feel like a spoiled housewife... The baby is still breech.  The teacher from my prenatal classes came to my house last week to show me maneuvers and positions to get into to help encourage the baby to turn.  The thing is that you can't move a sleeping baby so I have to wait until he's active to do it.  On top of that, it's pretty strenuous to do so I also have to be feeling well enough to do it.  10 minutes a position for an hour - ...

The last couple of weeks have been really lovely pregnancy weeks.  Last week, we started our pre-natal (antenatal in the UK) classes.  It's a very small group of us that meet on Thursday evenings at the teacher's house.  It's really nice because it's very casual and quite social.  Because there are only 3 other couples, we cover what ever it is we want to cover (although the teacher does make sure she covers the essentials).  It's been lovely for me because I certainly don't have a social life and having other couples to share and discuss things with has been really enjoyable. This week, my midwife was on vacation and her replacement was wonderful.  During my examination, she showed me the babies head between her two hands on my belly.  She showed both Wayne and I by directing our hands as well - it was amazing.  She was so enthusiastic about it as well (my midwife has no personality and doesn't seem to enjoy her job in any way).  It was the ...