Still Waiting....

Not a contraction. Nothing.

Luckily, due to the previous false alarm, I have been off of work. Which is good since I have been exhausted.

Today we went to the girls school and got their books and classes sorted out. Tomorrow we pick up Catherine's iPad. We went to the bank. We went to Jack In The Box. We got Carolynn's hair cut.

All that and still, no baby.

Stubborn. That is what she is. Tomorrow I have an appointment to see about inducing this.

If she doesn't come tonight.

Which I doubt.

Today Is The Day

But it's not.

Today is the day the baby is due. But she isn't here. Nope. No baby for us. We had some false alarms. They felt pretty real to me, but the doctors say no. And they are right, because then it stops.

So far today, nothing.

But the bags are packed and in the car. The car seat is installed.

Come on baby.

At this point, I would like her to wait until tomorrow night or later. I have appointments to meet with the girls new teachers tomorrow morning.

Which is probably when she will come....

Soon....

And I Am Not Even Blonde

It all started one Tuesday morning. I am always off on Tuesday and Wednesday. But our dog Drizella thinks that she needs to get up when the sun comes up.

No. Not on my day off. It's 6 am. She is whining to go out.

So I sit up to yell at her to shut up.

And the room is spinning. Whoa. I must have sat up too fast. So I lie back down to wait until it stops. I doze on and off until 9 am waiting until it stops. It never does. Eventually I try and get up to go pee. I fall onto the bed. David gets up to help me. It is awful. It's spinning and spinning....

So I call the midwives office. She thinks it may be anemia. She tells me to take an iron pill and drink some water. Then take a nap. I should feel better later she says.

I do what she says. I take the pill, I drink water, I sleep until noon.

And I feel a bit better. Still woozy, but at least I can walk. David takes me out for some tacos. I watch TV. And later than night...

It's back. The dizzy. So dizzy I throw up. And it continues all night and into Wednesday. So I call the midwives office again. Now maybe she thinks it is the flu or even just dehydration. She says get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids. If I can't keep anything down for 24 hours, come in.

So I sleep. I drink. I finally keep down some toast. But the dizzy never stops. I wobble around the house. This continues...

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday...

Finally on Monday they run a bunch of tests.... No dehydration, no infections, no anemia... nothing...

The dizzy continued....

Tuesday, Wednesday...

Finally I go back to work on Thursday. Still a bit wobbly, but slowly getting better. By Saturday it was mostly gone.

Two weeks almost of being dizzy.

Why?

Who knows?

Just over a week until the due date.....

The Hilarity

So my sister Nicole wants to get into law enforcement. She spent months applying to the police academy. She had to track down so much information for the application. She was working out and trying to eat better. My niece Carter, who is two, was finally old enough to go to day care in my sister's opinion. Everything was ready. She finally got the application all turned in.

And so she waited....

And then they called her in for a physical and drug test...

My sister is not going to the police academy...

Not yet anyway.

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I can't even believe how many of us there are!!!!
July 2011
Apple Valley, California
Picture Taken By My Cousin Wendy

So Freaking Hot

We moved into this house in March. When we moved in, we knew the air conditioner didn't work. But it was March, so we had time.

Or so we thought.

It got to be the end of May and I called to remind the rental company that the air needed to be fixed. They said they would contact the home owners and get it done.

Three weeks later a repair man came out to give the estimate.

Then nothing.

So I called the rental company again. They said the owners didn't want to pay for it.

Oh hell no.

I wouldn't have rented a house with no air conditioner. Not here. Not in this summer.

So I remind them of this. I remind them I pay rent. On time. For 4 months in the house and 4 years with the last house. (Same rental company.) They remind the owner.

Finally, on July 2 they consent to have the swamp cooler fixed. (This house has both an a/c and a whole house swamp cooler... Neither of them worked.) They say they will send someone out right away to fix that and then see if they could get a lower estimate to fix the a/c later.

So someone came to fix the swamp cooler. Turns out, it was not fixable. It would be cheaper to fix the a/c.

Then nothing again.

So I call and I call and I call.

Finally, this passed Tuesday they consent to fixing the a/c. And they come and repair and it was amazing.

For a few hours....

Late that afternoon the thermostat went out. It has a digital display and it was blank. I laughed.

Figures.

I call, they send the repair guy back yesterday and he says there is a short in the house fan. (It blows the heater too.) That blew a fuse and then the thermostat. He can fix it and he has the part. He says he will return in the evening to do it.

I never see him.

Now I am hot. Last night, after dark, we open as many windows as we can. (We are missing screens on a lot of our windows. A whole other story...) We have 8 fans going. 6 ceiling fans and two table top fans. And it is still 92 degrees inside the house.

We have taken a million cool showers. Drank gallons of cold water. It doesn't matter. We are still hot. We aren't eating because no one feels like cooking. It's just too hot.

I haven't slept in two days. It's just too hot. I have enough trouble sleeping with the baby and having to pee every five minutes. And my feet and ankles swelled up. So did my fingers. This is ridiculous.

I worry about the guinea pigs. They are not meant to live in the heat. And heaven forbid this had happened after we had the baby. Hot babies are no fun.

So I stayed home from work, wasted one of my sick days, to try and get this done. I called the repairman fist thing this morning. He never came back last night because the owners wouldn't approve the repair. He thought the rental agency had told us.

Serious.

I call the rental agency and was told the same thing. They approved the $800 to fix the air conditioner, but had not approved the $110 to fix the electric short.

So I asked them if I could just pay for it myself. Then take it off the rent. She said as long as I had a receipt.

Let's just do it.

So now I am waiting for the repair man to come back. He should be here soon. He is having a busy day. His office said they had 18 calls so far today. An air conditioner repairman is a wanted man in July in the desert. But they assured me they would be here today. David is picking up the cash on his way home from school.

Then finally..... FINALLY... We will be cool and comfortable.

Thursday Thirteen

So I haven't done one of these in a while and I figured I might give it a go. I have a bunch of random things to say so...

1. The air conditioner is broken and it's June. They sent a guy out on Tuesday and he said he'd have to order parts.

2. To make it worse, the screens on the house are missing. They sent a guy to measure for them on Saturday, but we haven't heard back yet. So we can't open the windows either.

3. David has gone to school full time this summer and is gone all day 4 days a week. It's so weird. But better now than when the baby comes.

4. Speaking of baby, we are just over 9 weeks until the due date. That is single digits people.

5. Also, the baby has no middle name yet. We are still working on it.

6. David got his purple belt in tae kwon do this week. He is now at the intermediate level. Which is nice since that is what Catherine is and now they can go together. That is less time they are gone every night.

7. Catherine got her orange belt a few weeks ago. They have their graduation on Saturday. I will make sure someone gets pictures.

8. Our garden is looking amazing. Another week or so and we will have actual edible food. Probably zucchini or tomato.

9. My sister is coming next month for a baby shower. As much as I love me some baby loot, I will be even happier to see my family.

10. It must be in the water, because I have three friends who are also pregnant. I have a feeling there will be more baby showers in my future.

11. So You Think You Can Dance is back!

12. Carolynn got her driver's permit this week. Please stay off the roads. Of course so far she has only managed to stall and leave tire marks in the driveway.

13. Why did Matthew McConaughey make a movie about strippers? And why am I not watching it right now? Wow.

Wordless Wednesday

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Taylor... High School Graduate!
YAY!
May 2012

A Loss Of A Friend

Approximately two weeks after we purchased David's new car, I found someone online who was selling a dresser/changing table. They only wanted $40 for it. What a bargain! So Carolynn and I went to get it. We took my car, as it wouldn't have fit in David's. We drove out to the ladies house, right behind my friend Adrienne's house. The seller and her hubby loaded it up in the car, we paid her the $40 and off we went happy with our purchase.



Things really went down hill from there.

Not too far away, we were stopped at a stoplight. Then BAM! SMASH!





Some lady hit us. Hard. The back window shattered. The sun roof flew open. We were pushed into the car in front of us. It scared the heck out of me and Carolynn. I get out of the car and tell Carolynn to dial 911. My whole back end is smashed. My front end is a bit tweaked too. The lady who hit us is a mess. Her whole front end was smashed. Her air bags had deployed. She seemed disoriented. The man in the car in front of me was fine. His 1984 Oldsmobile barely had a scratch.



We move our cars to the side and I tell the police where we are. A very nice officer comes and we all exchange information. Despite the damage, my car is still drivable. So the guy in the Oldsmobile and I drive on home. The lady and the officer wait for a tow.

I took the car to the collision center a few days later. I couldn't wait to get my car fixed and back.

But there was bad news.

The car was totaled. The frame was bent. It would never drive again.

WHAT?

It was my car. And it was gone. Luckily I had insurance and the money they gave me was really a blessing.

But my car is gone.

It seems silly, but I don't own a car now. (Technically, I own David's but it's his car.) It makes me sad.

I have the worst luck with cars.

Like An Adult

When this year started, we had three cars. We had our old truck. Okay, so it was old and leaked oil. And it wouldn't pass smog. But we had it. We had the loser cruiser. It was running fine, but needed new tires. Then at Christmas, my ex-husband gave us a car for Carolynn. It began falling apart almost immediately. But we had it. It even ran occasionally.



But when we found out about the baby....

Well, David driving his old truck wasn't going to cut it. No back seat for the car seat. And I really couldn't have my teenaged daughter driving a car that was unreliable. So...



This is David's new car. We traded the broken down car we got from my ex-husband for it. (And for those of you wondering, he was fine with that. He didn't want Carolynn driving something unsafe either.) And we gave Carolynn the truck....

Which has since finally passed smog and had the oil leak repaired. YAY!

Anyway, back to David's car.

It's a 2010 Honda Civic. It's his first car. Well, second, but the first car he ever bought.

His first grown up car.

He really wanted a Hummer or an FJ Cruiser, but he got realistic. And he almost got a Kia. But the Honda was a good choice. He can drive the girls around in that. It gets great gas mileage. We drove it up to my dad's in Fresno and it did great.

We sure are moving on up around here. New house, new car, new baby...

A Lover Not A Fighter

Our dog, Bubbles, is an intimidating force. She is large. Being part mastiff it was bound to happen. And also being yellow lab, she is a bundle of energy. She loves to play in the water. She fetches. She chases birds. She is funny.

Then of course is our other dog, Drizella. She is so serious. She thinks she is in charge of everything. She doesn't play.

And she hates when Bubbles gets excited.

And sometimes, when Bubbles gets excited, Drizella feels like telling her to shut up.

And then the fight is on.

And Bubbles always loses.

Last time they fought, Bubbles ended up in the hospital. And $600 later, she was as good as new.

Of course, she did have to wear the cone of shame for 3 weeks.



To combat this, we have started crate training Drizella. She has taken to it pretty well. By putting her in the crate, I am in charge, not her.

So far, it's working.

Of course, last week, our old beagle, Elvis, managed to beat up Bubbles a little. He had knocked the grease trap off the barbecue and was happily licking away. And Bubbles tried to get in on it. Elvis only beat her up a little. Bubbles got the heck out of the way in a hurry.

Victory Is Close

Our victory garden is coming a long nicely. Pretty soon we should have food. Like real food that we can eat.

Take that Nazis!

This is what our garden looked like last week.



Pretty awesome.

This week....

We have food!

Well, sort of.

Look at this.



This is a tomato. A TOMATO! We weren't sure this plant was even going to make it. And now, it bears food.

Now look here.



Do you see that? It's a squash blossom! You know what that means? Soon there will be zucchini. I love it.

And this....



This is basil. Tons of basil. Basil to flavor yummy stuff.

Victory will soon be ours!

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This is David's tree.

This is David's tree after the wind storm Monday night. He raged.

A View Worth Driving Forever For

In April we went to visit my dad for a couple of days. While we were there, we went to Yosemite.

And why don't I live there yet? OMG!

Look at this place.



The trip to was rather long. The south entrance isn't too far from my dad's house. But that one was blocked by an over turned sulfur truck. Seriously. Who drives a sulfur truck though here anyway?

So we had to go around.

But....

LOOK AT THIS PLACE!



It was worth it.

We took a ton of pictures.

However, due to a small malfunction, all of the ones my dad took were erased. All the best ones. He has an awesome camera. And coincidently, all the ones with us in them. So he raged hard core.

When we were ready to leave, the news guy had said the sulfur would be cleaned up by noon. They lied. We had to go all the way back around again. I thought we were all going to die from sitting. But we made it.

And it was worth it.

2/3 Of The Way

Or

WHY ISN'T THIS OVER YET?!?!?!?!?!

In only three short months we will be bringing baby Michelle into our family. (Yep, she has a name. Well, a first name at least. Don't let me get started on a middle name...) And despite the fact that my pregnancy has been perfectly normal and relatively easy as far as being pregnant goes, I think David needs to carry her around for a while.

My back hurts. My ankles look swollen. My feet hurt. I can't sit or stand for very long. I get up all night to pee.

He needs a turn.

I need a good night's sleep.

Of course it doesn't work that way.

This last three months should be the best part though. We get to start off tomorrow with a delicious blood glucose test. My midwife has changed my appointments from monthly to bi-weekly. The baby's room is almost done. In July, my sister is giving me a baby shower. And then finally us four will be us five.

But not six. Seriously people. Stop asking me when I am having the next one. I am old. Duh.

Now I have to pee. Of course.

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Driving Through Tehachapi
April 2012

A Day In The Life

Liquored Up

I knew it was going to be a bad night when I was driving to work that evening. As I came around a corner, a fluffy bunny ran out into the road. I swerved to avoid it, but it swerved too. Next thing I knew, I felt a little bump and saw a cloud of fur fly out from under my tires.

A bad omen.

I get to work and it is count time. Another officer and I begin counting in his unit. We finish and head over to mine. We both notice the overwhelming odor of homemade intoxicants.

Great.

We start counting. We make it all the way around the bottom tier with no trouble. We get started upstairs. Just a few cells in we run into the first problem of the night.

The inmates are required to have their lights on and be standing up for this count. I had been in this unit for several months so they knew my deal. Which is why when I got to this cell and found it dark, I was surprised. I could see the inmate in there.

Sort of.

I wasn't sure if he was asleep or hurt or just had his headphones on loud or what.

So I banged on the door.

Nothing.

I kicked it and banged on it.

Nothing.

My partner, who was a big guy, pounded and kicked.

Nothing.

So we made the decision to open the door.

I unlock it and we go in. My partner gives the inmate a shout and he jumps up.

And falls over.

The inmate smells strongly of alcohol and can not stand up. He is insisting he is fine and had not been drinking.

Sure.

We lock up that cell and finish our count.

After we finish the count, my partner and I are deciding how to handle this situation. Th inmate in question is a guy who usually is quiet and causes very little trouble. And he didn't seem violent. Just drunk. Probably sleeping it off would fix him. But I did what I was supposed to do and called a lieutenant.

Usually drunk inmates are sent to the Special Housing Unit. But it had apparently been quite the day and the Special Housing Unit was a bit full. Since that inmate was alone in the cell, we decided to just leave him there and check on him frequently.

My partner and I decided to go have a chat with the head of the drunk inmate's gang. We just wanted to let him know what was going on so he wouldn't think something else that started another thing and in prison.... Every little thing could lead to something bad.

We go to that cell and open it. The inmate is sitting on the bed and stands up as we open the door.

Then he falls over.

Oh good. He's drunk too.

So I laugh and tell him I am locking him and his buddy in for the night and shut the door. He is good with that.

As I start to unlock the other inmates, I check each inmate for drunkenness.

I find two more white guys. (The first two were white guys.) I find two black guys. I find three Hispanic guys. All drunk.

I call the lieutenant back. I let him know. All drunk inmates are to remain locked up. Incident reports are written. They will be going to Special Housing Unit as soon as there is a space.

I decided to call the SIS. (Special Investigations) and let them know of my situation. I find out all the drunk inmates are gang leaders. The SIS guy is a little disturbed by this. So they decide to lock down my whole unit to investigate.

I knew it was going to be a bad night. I just knew it.

Showing Those Nazi Jerks Who's Boss

Several weeks ago, David and I were watching a show on the Smithsonian Channel about Iwo Jima.

No, I don't know why. These are things we watch when David has the remote.

Anyway, after that came a show about World War II Victory Gardens and how the Smithsonian still grows one. Then it had another show about Native American gardening. We watched that too.

Then we decided we too could plant a Victory Garden.

It took us a few days to get the area ready. We weeded it. We threw bags of manure on it. We put up fencing to keep certain fat beagles out. Then two weeks ago, we planted.

We divided our garden in to 4 parts; 2 large rectangles and 2 smaller squares. In one rectangle we planted things that spread- zucchini and watermelon. In the other large area, where Catherine is planting in the picture, we planted alternating rows of corn, green beans and peas.

Corn.

Green Beans.

Corn.

Peas.

Repeat.

We got that idea from the Smithsonian show about the Native American garden. Green beans and peas need a place to vine up. Corn stalks give them a place to go as well as keep the corn moist.

In one of the smaller squares, we planted various herbs, onions and peppers. And so far nothing in the other square, though we will probably buy some tomato plants to go there.

One week later, we had our first sprout. Zucchini. Yum.

Now it has been two weeks. Yesterday. And this is what the garden looks like.

This one is the corn, beans, peas.

This is the Zucchini patch.

So far so good.

Take that Nazis.

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Bulbs Sprouted!

Top Picture- Gladiolus
Bottom Picture- Dahlia

May 2, 2012
Apple Valley, California