Seven

Today is my son AJ's 7th birthday!

He was born at 4:01 PM after I was induced early that morning. It was just 2 days after his due date, but my doctor chose to induce me for several reasons, including Gestational Diabetes and being Group B Strep positive. I had back labor that felt like my low back was being ripped apart. I was stuck at 4 cm until I finally decided to get an epidural. Relief from the pain relaxed my cervix, it opened right up, and less than an hour later our baby boy entered the world.

He gave us quite a fright at first, being slow to catch his breath. When he did, his little cries were so soft and sweet. It felt like forever before I got to hold him. But the moment he was placed into my arms I knew our family was complete.

Today AJ is pretty much the life of our home. He is happy and energetic and so funny! He makes me laugh daily. He can also be a bit self-absorbed and have anger issues. But for the most part, he is bright and curious and quick-witted and I am very proud of him. Oh, and just so cute!

Goofy smile because he was self-conscious
about lost teeth.

Seven Reasons Having a 7 Year Old is Awesome

1. First grade - it's all day, they learn SO MUCH and AJ seems to really be enjoying it.

2. I don't have to go out to the bus stop anymore.

3. Learning to get some of his own food - although he really doesn't want to.

4. He has developed a great sense of humor.

5. No longer have to have several kinds of snacks handy.

6. He can play games grown-ups like.

7. Has made lots of neighborhood friends whom he plays with A LOT.

Linked with Monday Listicles.

Angry Jennifer!

Things that make me angry include:

• Mother Nature jerking us around - all I want is 2 little months of sun. Why is that so much to ask?
• Whiny children - why can't you just speak in a normal voice?
• Spills - the child spills something, but it's mom who has to clean it up.
• Pimples - especially at 38 years old. This is making me angrier and angrier. I mean, my face is behaving better lately, but who knows when it will freak out again, and don't even get me started on body acne!
• Completely inconsiderate people who won't give their seat to a pregnant woman.
• Parents who stubbornly refuse to leave a public place with their screaming child.
• When my children won't acknowledge that I've just spoken to them.
• Lying (except for little white lies; that's usually just being nice)
• When things don't work the way they're supposed to.
• Entertainers who completely mess up their lives and waste their talents.
• When a TV show I love is canceled without a decent ending.
• Looking forward to eating something only to discover that someone else got to it first.
• The phrase "I can't".
• Anything negative (intolerance, war) in the name of God.
• When a restaurant takes my favorite dish off their menu.
• People who complain all the time.
• Those who think they're better.

Inspired by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.
Edited and linked up for:

Stasha, the #1 sound I hate the most is
the sound of my phone ringing in the middle of the night
when Mark is in the hospital.

What makes you angry?

A Simple Gratitude Post

Gratitude is a huge thing. Oprah once encouraged us to keep a gratitude journal. Now there's an app for that!

My labels tell me I have written something about gratitude over 40 times right here.

I do like to live with a grateful heart. I believe it's one of the keys to happiness.

My next tattoo will be the word "Thankful".

But I have not written a simple gratitude post in a long time.

I am grateful for....

1. Summer! It has been so nice and warm and just....ahhhh. The last three days not withstanding.

2. Gardening - I am so happy to finally have some plants around the house. But, not INSIDE. I mean literally AROUND the house.

3. Mark being OK right now - he's OK enough to work a little bit.

4. Dialysis schedule change - I think the change in Mark's dialysis schedule is good for him. He no longer has a 2 1/2-day stretch between treatments each week. That's gotta be good for his body! Still getting used to it, though.

5. Motivation to walk - being a part of Run. Blog. Give. has me getting out for a walk almost every day.

6. Doing good with my blog - I am currently running a giveaway that will help feed the hungry. This is something I care about so I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity.

7. Instagram and the #PHOTOADAY challenge - both have shown me this little layer of creativity I didn't know I had, and that even a partially blind girl can tap into. PhotoADay makes me pay more attention to the world around me, and I love seeing others' takes on the prompts.

8. Switching back to streaming Netflix - the same price as the one-at-a-time DVD plan, but INSTANT. I know not everything one might want to see is available instantly, but that's what Redbox is for. Also? It's perfect for summer.

9. Getting rid of some crap Selling some stuff at our garage sale.

10. #SummerSlackers - hose of us who have decided that cleaning is NOT a priority during summer break. Still doing my regular maintenance, but you know what I realized? There are actually times when I want to clean something, so I do. I wonder if taking the pressure off has something to do with that. Hmmm, the reverse psychology of a SAHM?

10 Words for Home

My fellow Washingtonian and our Listmaster has tasked us with listing 10 Words That Describe Home. I wonder if any of hers and mine will be the same?

I live in Western Washington, about 40 miles north of Seattle, straight up I-5, in a bedroom community called Marysville.

I guess it's a small town, but it has grown a lot in just the 9 years we've been here, and it's growing still. We now have our own Costco, Taget, Olive Garden and Mark's favorite new addition, Cabela's.

We like it here. It's very family-oriented with lots of nice people. It's not perfect, but where is? I was born in the next city south, Everett, in the same hospital as my son (new building). You may remember that I lived in Lake Tahoe from 12-19. I consider that home too. But I live back in Washington now, so here is where I will talk about.

1. Wet - it rains spits steadily 10 months of the year.

First day of school, day after Labor Day. Mother Nature just knows.

2. Clean - all that water.

3. Green - once the sun comes out and combines with the water. Also, lots of crunchy folks here.

Snapped these photos on Saturday when we took a drive with my dad north along Chuckanut Drive, into Bellingham, stopping at this lookout in Mt. Vernon on the way home. See how green?

4. Coffee - Seattle is Starbucks headquarters and Marysville has no less than seven stores, not to mention a myriad of corner coffee huts.

5. Volcanoes - Washington boast TWO mountain ranges, the Olympics and the Cascades, many of which are volcanoes. Anyone remember the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980? I had just turned 6, slept through it and was greeted by a blanket of ash outside my front door.

6. Strawberries - My house sits on land that used to be strawberry fields. The annual Marysville Strawberry Festival is held every June. I love living in a town that still has old fashioned parades and carnivals.

7. Community - I don't know if it's just us, but we have managed to meet some of the kindest people here. From our personal friendships to Girl Scouts, our kids' teachers, various health care professionals and Mark's co-workers at Home Depot. It's very cool.

About my actual house....

8. Condo - our dwelling is zoned as a condo to justify the tiny lots, but it is a fully separate house. We have barely enough room to turn around in our "backyard". Just enough for a BBQ and a small garden, which Mark has recently begun purchasing supplies for.

9. Cozy - our house is just big enough for the 4 of us, not too big, not to small. Sure, more space would be nice, but like my mom always says, "the bigger the house, the more there is to clean!"

10. Ours - before two years ago I didn't think we'd ever buy a house. I was used to renting and was really comfortable with it. Now I'm so glad we took the plunge.




PS: I have taken over my BFF's blog, Mom Rocks Mealtime, for this week and next. I would love it if you went and checked out my first post!

How to be a Good Husband

As of yesterday, Mark and I have been together for 18 years. In July, we'll celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary.

So I think I know a thing or two about husbands. Or at least, what I like in a husband.

Mark is really a good guy. I mean, there are always a few things I could complain about like his socks, but he doesn't do anything out of maliciousness or spite; he never intends to be a jerk. He knows me better than anyone, and loves me anyway. He's also a good dad.

For the most part, I think being a good husband (or wife) is about wanting your spouse to be happy. If you both want the other to be happy, chances are you both will be.

Also? Communication. I have come to the conclusion that communication is the most important thing in a marriage. You have to talk to each other. Which is not something men particularly enjoy. In fact, it can be like pulling teeth. But, it simply has to be done.

10 Things Husbands Should Do (based on what Mark actually does)

1. Change light bulbs and hang pictures.

2. Exceed the speed limit on the shoulder of the freeway when his wife is in labor.

3. Be capable of doing domestic things. Moms of boys: teach your sons to cook and clean!

4. Take care of all things related to automobiles.

5. Be in charge of the garage. Seriously men, don't complain about the garage getting messy or unorganized. We women do not care! I view the garage as a utility room. I'm sorry.

6. Make sure his wife has her favorite coffee creamer and wine on hand at all times.

7. Rearrange plans he had with a friend so his wife can go meet her bloggy friend.

8. Ask how time spent apart was, and actually want to hear the answer.

9. Take how ever many family portraits his wife wants with a smile.

10. Make her laugh!

Yep, Mark does all of the above. I know, I got a good one. He's good at making up for all the crap he makes me deal with! Just kidding. Maybe.

Question Me #1

Apparently I didn't have enough brain power to try to come up with 10 things I wish I could delete.

Or denial.

Either way, I'm a Listicle topic rebel today.

I think I'm ready to put the disappointment of my blogoversary Q&A post somehow being eaten by Blogger behind me, and re-answer the questions that were submitted in bright and shiny fresh, new posts!

I'd like to start with the light, silly questions since things in my life have been so not light and silly as of late.

Cool? Good.

1. Do you sleep in the nude?

Um. No. No I do not. And frankly, I cannot understand how anyone can. I ask you, oh anonymous questioner, what if there's an emergency in the middle of the night? How do you not freeze? You gotta put something on when you get out of bed, right? Why not just sleep in something??

2. What color is your bedspread?

It's a duvet over a down comforter and it is green with darker green leaves.

My bedroom and bathroom colors are greens and blues. Very refreshing and calming. At least I think that's the way it's supposed to work.

3. What is your worst habit?

I get confused between habits and vices. Because I could say, my addiction to Coffee Mate. But that's a vice, isn't it? When I was a kid I shewed my fingernails, hair, necklaces, pens and pencils. But I kicked that habit as a teenager. I have a fidgety habit of playing with my fingernails if I don't have anything in my hands. If I do have something in my hands, I play with it. If it's a remote control, I turn it over and over in my hands as I'm sitting there. I've even been known to toss a remote because I got a little overzealous with my turning. This is why knitting and crocheting are good for me.

4. What was your first job?

I worked at my local movie theater which is the best job ever for a teenager!

5. What kind of camera do you use?

Well, I have a Kodak EasyShare Z650. But I don't use it anymore. I don't like how big it is. I tend to just use my phone and edit the crap out of the pictures. I want an awesome tiny little digital camera. Any suggestions?

6. Do you like bacon or sausage better?

Sausage. However, now that I need to watch my cholesterol, turkey bacon or sausage will be my breakfast meats of choice from now on. Good thing is, I actually really like them.

7. What kind of band-aids are in your cabinet right now?

I think we might be out, lemme go check..... We have a few large Curads from a value bonus pack.

8. What do you collect?

Angels!

9. What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?

Jem. And Looney Toons. And Fraggle Rock, except that wasn't a cartoon.

10. What fashion trend would you like to see come back in style?

I don't really think it matters if I would like something to come back in style. It seems they just will, whether I want it or not. Also, I'm a firm believer that if you wore it the first time around, you shouldn't the second time. This is why it's good to have a daughter, because I can buy her the stuff I'm not allowed to wear and live vicariously through her!

I am, however, still trying to force myself to finish knitting the legwarmers I promised  my friend The Sarcasm Goddess I would knit and wear in public and blog about. Maybe by next Fall....?

Hospital Hour

On Thursday, May 3, 2012 from 4:45-5:45 PM:

1. Sitting in the cath lab waiting room, after getting the details of the procedure from Mark's doctor, my father and I wait to be escorted to where Mark will be staying for the night.

2. As soon as he sees me, Mark reaches for my Starbucks cup because he's so thirsty. And hungry. The nurse starts pushing his bed toward the elevators and I hurry to keep up asking, "Hey, where you going with my coffee?"

3. Up on the third floor I am pleased to find that Mark gets a private room. 336. I watch as he moves from the OR bed to the room bed, wanting to help somehow, but there are already two nurses right there.

4. The nurses adjust the bed, fluff the pillows and give Mark an ice pack for the incision site. I'm leaning on the wall at the foot of his bed and when I step away, I cause a plastic body board that was also leaning on the wall to fall over. Oops.

5. Over at the large window I place my purse and Kindle on the sill and listen as the nurses buzz around doing their duties, admitting Mark to the floor. One tells him to do something and he flat out says no. I may or may not have scolded him a little to not give them a hard time.

6. A round, grey-haired nurse enters to do the intake. Or as it's more aptly described, ask you every question under the sun making you feel like you're selling your soul. Do you drink, smoke, do recreational drugs (isn't drinking and smoking recreational too?), have regular bowel movements or ever exceed the speed limit? How many surgeries have you had? Um, how much time do you have?

7. Mark is starving...TO DEATH. He really wants to call an order in for food but this woman keeps asking him questions. Finally she realizes this and tells him to go ahead, that she can ask me instead. Oh yippee! Mark scratches his head for a few more minutes trying to figure out what someone who's on a diabetic and heart healthy diet will be allowed to eat. Turns out, a French dip sandwich and fries without salt is alright. Go figure.

8. The nurses finish their tasks and food arrives promptly. I am relieved Mark is getting to eat because his blood sugar was only 74 and we already dealt with a low that day. As he eats, I flip through a brochure about the device that now resides in Mark's chest. Looking at the illustrations I can see why the shape of a love heart is what it is; real hearts do somewhat look like one. In an abstract sort of way.

9. I check the time. It's nearly 5:45, going on 6:00. Thinking about the kids, and my dad's yawning next to me, we should leave soon. But I hesitate. It's gotten easier over the years, but I will never like leaving my husband at the hospital by himself, while I get to return to the comfort of our home. It's hard in a different way now, though. Now I am traumatized by terrifying middle-of-the-night phone calls that something scary is happening to Mark.

10. I shake the scary thoughts away. Literally shaking my head a little. Mark sounds perfectly alright with my leaving. I tell him to be good and that I love him. Love you too....bye....call if you need me....I'll have the kids call to say goodnight....one more I love you....

Inspired by "An Hour in a Day" at Stacey's Mothering Moments

Submitting this to the Yeah Write #56 Challenge Grid.

It's My Birthday!

AND this is my 400th post!

Holy blogging, Batman!

It's also Monday Listicles so I will present to you a list of 10 Things Birthday. Sound good?

Well, it's my birthday so I say what goes.

1. I was born exactly 38 years ago today, at 5:12 AM. My mother's onset of labor was marked by hurling her spaghetti dinner.

2. I was named after Jennifer O'Neill. Or so says my father. I wonder if all the other millions of Jennifers were also named for her. Something tells me no. My mother says she liked Jessica and Jennifer, but preferred the nickname Jenny over Jessie. She's never called me Jenny.

3. My astrological sign is the first on the zodiac, Aries. I have spent all of my life disagreeing with much of what is said about Aries, as relates to me. I'm told that both your sun sign and rising sign matter. According to a Free Instant Rising Sign Wizard mine is Pisces. Apparently: "This peculiar mix is more like a multiple personality disorder." Huh.

Aries Traits

Adventurous and energetic - No & No

Pioneering and courageous - Not pioneering

Enthusiastic and confident - Iffy

Dynamic and quick-witted - Not really

On the dark side...

Selfish and quick-tempered - not usually & a little

Impulsive and impatient - when I was younger

Foolhardy and daredevil - NOT EVEN

4. I spent my 16th at Disneyland, my 19th in Florida, 21st in Reno (legal, baby!), 25th in Orange County and another in San Francisco. I got engaged on my 23rd.

5. I thought my 30th was all big and important and invited all these new "friends" I had met right after moving to Washington out to lunch with me. There were 8-10 women at my table that day. I felt so special and important and liked. Eight years later, I know it's not the quantity of people, it's the quality of the people. Also, most of them were moms with young kids and probably just wanted an excuse to get out of the house!

6. My 31st was only 4 of us, but it was one of my most memorable.

My very happy friend there is Jessica!

7. I got pregnant with AJ shortly after the above photo was taken, so by the time my 32nd rolled around, I had this little cutie to cuddle:

8. I've shared my 33rd birthday photo before. My 34th didn't yield a good pic, but it was a fun night of homemade fondue and Friends on DVD. Um, my 35th...don't seem to have any pics. Probably did dinner and a movie. Oh! I got my tattoo for my 36th birthday! And last year on my 37th, we took a day trip to Leavenworth, WA.

9. As this birthday approached we met a new heart specialist, an Electrophysiologist, who diagnosed Mark's arrhythmia as Ventricular Tachycardia. This is more serious than Atrial Fibrillation and means Mark's heart could freak out and stop again at any time before he has a defibrillator implanted. I thought about cancelling plans to go to dinner an hour away from home.

10. But I didn't cancel and everything was OK (except Mark let the kids stay up really late). Here are a few pics from dinner at The Melting Pot in Seattle. It's an amazing fondue place. This dinner was from my dad for my birthday, and also to thank my besties for being so awesome while Mark was in the hospital.

Carin and Jessica - Carin brought extra lighting for me

Me and my Dad

The Flaming Turtle chocolate fondue

Dessert bits to dip

My s'mores martini - crushed graham cracker around the rim of the glass!

Tonight we're hittin' Red Robin for my free birthday burger! Hmm, which one should I get...Blue Ribbon, Banzai, Whiskey River, Guacamole?

I think I like my late 30s. Mostly. I like not being young and dumb anymore, but I could do without the aches and pains. Seriously, my lower back PITA decided to act up this weekend. Why? Just to mke me feel me age? Probably.

Well I say Pfft! to my back.

Oh, my kids let me sleep in until 11:00 yesterday morning! I don't think I've done that since I was in my early 20s. The next logical thing to do after sleeping the morning away is stay in your pajamas all day. Yup, pretty nice Sunday, I'd say.

Day, say...that rhymes!

PS: All my fave bloggy friends contributed to a special post as a gift for me over at The Sarcasm Goddess' For the Love of Writing!

Family Photo Fun

I'm rebelling against the Listicles topic today.

I just have to share 10 great new pictures that were taken of us this weekend!

At the first of this month my husband Mark suffered another health setback and we are now in this strange limbo sort of place where we're moving on with life, while ever mindful of the possibility of death because his heart is seriously compromised. This is what prompted our fun photo session on Saturday. My bestie Jessica was our photographer.

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