Make an Entrance

37 weeks today so the baby is full term now which is especially important for babies born during flu season. Also of note, Sean is home from here on out which will be helpful. I picked up a few last items for the baby and for the first time for a delivery, I got a pedicure like everyone else seems to do (one part of me will look decent). Had to be cheesy and get pink and the name of it is "Make an Entrance". Yes, any time now baby! I told Patrick I had to go to the doctor today for the baby and he apparently understood because when I got home he was asking where the baby was. Yes, still in my big belly, sorry.

The girls have been off school for a couple days so the house is trashed. Waiting for the nesting instinct to kick in so I can get it cleaned up. It would probably be just enough stress to put me into labor so we'll see. If not, I think going trick-or-treating will do it. Happy Halloween!

Oh My Word

I think I am speechless, except to wonder what is more offensive-- the price or the style of this item? $3450 for those of you who want to laugh along.

Time to pimp the van

For the first time since we've owned the van, ND has beaten BC so it is time to stop being so embarrassed. Ever since they ruined our 1993 season most alums my age have held a grudge (and contrary to media reports-- have never, ever overlooked them on the schedule). Of course there is still the problem with this being a non-ND friendly area and my driving skills are offensive to many I'm sure, so I won't be helping that cause.

Sean figured out that difference in cost between 16 years of ND tuition and 16 years of in-state tuition at a state university and it wasn't pretty. So we need to start talking up the state schools more... maybe I should rethink the pimping. Compared to what I've seen in the parking lots at ND games, I don't think a simple license plate actually counts as pimping though... I think perhaps alums in the Chicago area are a little more proud. Strength in numbers. (no, I did not order this crazy stuff, just a license plate and a magnet emblem).

Sean Does Work Two Jobs

Yes, yes, fine, I need to point out that Sean does work two jobs and thus has earned some fun time. It was mostly a coincidence that all his trips were so close together and so close to the baby being born. I did encourage him to go on each one, back during the 2nd trimester when I felt great. I have already told him to get planning another golf trip next year and I'm sure Vegas will be in there too. In a few years the kids will be old enough to stay with a sitter so we can both get away. In the meantime we get out to dinner alone once a week.

When Sean is home and not working a shift, he does do a lot with the kids. In what is most surely a sign that he has brainwashed them, they beg him to play his video games so they can cheer him on-- even during the golf one. And they are so proud of him, come and tell me that he beat Tiger Woods and so forth. Hopefully this makes up for my video game aversion...

The kids seem back to normal now that he is home and Patrick even woke up an hour early in hopes of spending time with him this morning. At least I hope that is the reason he woke up early because we do not need to repeat that. Or is he getting me ready for newborn schedule? Either way, there better be a good nap scheduled for this afternoon. He is still insisting on wearing only a summer t-shirt and when he was crying that he was cold at the bus stop this morning I couldn't convince him that the coat I had for him would help. It will be May before he gets that concept I fear. Oh well, perhaps we won't need a college fund for this one.

In the home stretch

Well, Sean did wait until he got to Colorado to tell me what time he would arrive home today. Hmm, a lot later than I think was insinuated when the ticket was booked. For some reason I thought that direct flight into Manhattan would get him home much earlier. Oh well, Patrick went down for his nap easily and the girls are watching a movie so I can't complain right now.

Now Andrea did ask me what Sean's punishment would be for missing the birth of the baby due to one of these trips and she suggested that I then get to have another baby so he can be there for the last delivery. Whoa, I'm sorry, WHO is that punishing?? Ah, let's recall that my nephew was born 3 weeks early and my niece came 5 weeks early. So Andrea has never experienced the glory of the bitter end of a pregnancy. Who knew there were so many ways to be uncomfortable? My doc asked if this baby feels bigger than the other ones did. Clearly I don't recall how big those babies felt at the end, otherwise I wouldn't be having another. I just don't know how I can be carrying so low and yet have a hard time breathing. I predict she will be smaller than Patrick since boys are usually bigger and I predict that to keep my mind off the fact that going by history, she would be 9lbs. Megan was 6lbs, Anna was 7lbs. and Patrick was 8lbs...

To burn time this morning I got all the kids bathed, no small challenge with the shampoo fearing crew. So they at least looked clean for church, which was really our only outing for the long weekend. What can I say, Patrick loves going in the nursery to play, who am I to deny him an hour away from me?? The girls did pretty good except for every time we had to kneel Anna would put her mouth on the part where you put your hands. Yummy! She just could not stop doing it, so to her vast surprise, I dragged her out to the lobby for a quick chat. Seemed to do the trick. While I did get my flu shot, the kids aren't eligible yet so that means when the rest of the family gets sick I will be the only healthy one to take care of them all. Fantastic.

Well, I suppose I could go clean up around here before Sean gets home, but then again, when I had my 28 hours in KC in September, I did come home to find dishes in the sink that were there when I had left...

Weekend #3

Now I realize many many people endure up to 15 months with their husbands deployed so I cannot whine about Sean being gone 3 out of the last 4 weekends. But let me assure you, he is having way more fun on his trips than he would in Iraq, so only one of us is suffering. People have asked where I get to go since he has had his fun and I guess the answer to that is, to the hospital to have a baby! I am hoping it will be less painful than the loss to USC last weekend, but still, it's no spa weekend from what I remember of previous deliveries (much has been blocked).

So far the girls have been very whiny and angry that Sean is gone again, and on a day they are off school. They are also mad that I haven't given in and gone to Target to let them pick out a toy. Yeah, we don't need any more of those. Ever. Patrick however has been extra sweet today, proving that he too can get into the good kid/bad kid dynamic that the girls perfected years ago. Is it too much to hope that this behavior game will work out to 3 of them being good kid whenever one of them is bad kid? Yes, I'm afraid that will go the other way.

Anyway, Sean is in Denver for his annual Nightrays meeting/party and for some reason took his golf clubs along. I'm shocked they had room for them on the tiny plane out of Manhattan (which took a stop in Dodge City on the way to CO, in case anyone wants to do a weekend get-away to there, Kitra??). I'm sure they will have plenty of great food this weekend while I once again plot ways to get myself some take-out that doesn't involve taking the circus into a restaurant. Mmm, Wendy's! How I miss the curbside service at the Cheesecake Factory in San Antonio. I know, probably for the best as someday I hope to wear real jeans again.

Successful Day by 8am

I put flaxseed in the pumpkin muffins this morning and no one noticed, so the day is a success. On top of that, Patrick decided it was cool enough to put on a shirt AND pants today. Of course, not in time for the school bus to come, so we watched the girls from the porch in his diaper, but still, he is currently dressed which is better than yesterday. We'll see how haircuts go this afternoon. He heard me making the appointment on the phone and when I got off he started saying, "no haircut" and patting his head. He understands way more than I expect. So we'll see how this battle goes...

1 month to go!

I am feeling good now so I think she will stay put until the end. Unless there is too much "Mama ho-ho Pat-Pat" which I hear requested over and over. Patrick of course wants me to hold him to he can rummage through the higher cabinets, having decided that the lower ones are boring now. He is especially fond of the gummy vitamins and gets very angry when I limit him to the recommended dosage. I have tried giving him gummy candy afterwards but he doesn't fall for it. Apparently nothing is as delicious as a gummy princess! And as for it being a child-proof bottle, no dice. Megan gets so mad that Patrick can open it but she can't. I really have to watch him every minute as he is at a terrible age and into everything. He is currently distracted by the lawn guy though so I have a moment to relax.

I am able to put him in his room for time-outs though and the worst he can do there is empty his dresser and bookcase. He missed going to the school bus yesterday morning because he wouldn't get dressed, so instead he had to watch it from his window. He did better today so perhaps he has the ability to learn from his mistakes. Probably not though. I suspect he will have his share of time-outs once the baby comes too and I will have to put her in the safe room (Sean's office with glass doors we can see into) or hold her the whole time he is around. There is still too much talk about "kick baby". He does ask if he can "kick Pat-Pat" now and I give him permission to do that. Then he kicks his other leg and thinks it is hilarious.

I told him we could go out and do something today but I can't imagine doing more than driving him around. Chasing at the park is out of the question and we did the zoo yesterday. I can walk slowly for short amounts of time. Well, looks like I did another stellar job on the yard, but Patrick is going to need something else to entertain him now. No more Elmo...

The Game Is On

Well, I was a little worried that Sean was going to get a baby for his birthday tomorrow but I went and had some tests today and everything is fine and he is cleared for travel. Only 35 weeks which is what niece Julia was born at 3 years ago, but I am hoping for a baby bigger than 5 pounds. I am supposed to take it easy from now on so that should make for lots of TV for the kids this weekend until Sean gets back from South Bend. I suppose I should actually wash some baby clothes and pack a bag since she may come sooner rather than later. But first I need to finish this exciting episode of Sesame Street....

Cold Sunday

Why, what does one do when it is too cold to go golfing? (Unless you are a friend of ours who golfs year round and has special hand warmers... he is a special kind of obsessed). What Sean does is buys some golf video game and relives Pebble Beach from the comfort of the couch. Who knew there was something more boring to watch than professional golf on TV? I need a nap just thinking about it.

Instead I am baking to warm up the house. And yes, I do look like Dom Deluise when I wear an apron. How much will I gain before my next appointment?? Good thing I will have 6 months before the pool opens after the baby is born... Apparently wearing Spanx under a swimsuit is a bad look.

Megan seems to have recovered from her post-sleepover behavior, which was funny to us only in that she used the exact phrases that children have always used after a sleepover... oh the whining and denying that she was tired. Anna is happy to have her home though. She had to sleep upstairs in the nursery when Megan was gone.

Patrick is a big fan of baths these days and whenever we ask him if he wants one, he is very enthusiastic about saying yes. But then he will rub his hair and say, "NO NO NO". If I am too tired, I will oblige and skip the hair washing... easier to get away with for a boy. He loves going to church now because we put him in the nursery and there are "new toys" for him to play with. The girls are not as happy to go but they at least get to go out for the children's readings. Why yes, that gives us 20 minutes without any kids! And yes, I will be making the effort to go the next two weekends when Sean is gone, better than listening to them fight and mess up the house at home...

The Perfect Storm

Yes, this is what we are calling the events that will lead up to all 3 kids waiting in the hall while the baby is being born. Similar to when Anna was born in Texas on a Sunday and everyone was at church meetings all day... except for our poor neighbors who had a newborn of their own. They were kind enough to take almost 2 year old Megan until backup got out of church. Anyway, I now know that the baby will come on November 7th because I just booked a birthday party for Anna then and not only is one sitter out of town but everyone else we know will be at the K-State vs Kansas football game. I'm wondering if we can even get a doctor to show up to deliver! That means 4 weeks to go so I should unpack this bedding and set up the nursery. And yes, tomorrow we WILL go tour the hospital. Unless we forget again. Probably a sign that we are too busy and tired for a 5th?

I did have an appointment today and am measuring right on (everyone adamantly claims that I am too big or too small). I was also complimented on my weight gain which I think was just a really nice way of saying, "did you eat that entire pan of Barefoot Contessa brownies yourself?" No one can resist those and I did make an effort to pass them off on people I ran into... There's just not a lot of room in my stomach these days so I don't want to fill up on food that isn't delicious. I mean, I am eating so healthy for this baby...

More shots from the trip

Looks so much like the par 3 public course we used to play during the med school years...


This is what $26 million will buy you. Is it just a vacation home, that is my question.


I also want to know how much this caddy cost... I am guessing about 3 sweaters and 2 pairs of boots.

Let. It. Go.

Not sure how long they let you search for a lost ball at Pebble Beach but even Anna is guessing that one is in the water.

Ready for a chilly weekend

Forecast is calling for low temps this weekend and Patrick is practicing what I predict we will do to enjoy it. Works well with my current wardrobe which is a sweats outfit. I do manage to put on something dressier for our weekly date nights and church, but most all my pants are too tight which means I have those fake contractions the whole time. I'll have to see if those put me into real labor in a few weeks, then I could at least plan it at a convenient time. I've been lining up my middle of the night emergency help, which is difficult when everyone has small children and most husbands have a call schedule to adhere to. Bad enough I am working around Sean's TWO schedules, ugh. I do not want to be induced but I can understand why people do it...

I deserve some credit

I didn't call Sean once this weekend pretending to be in labor.

Score!

I finally got around to placing my order at Sundance that I started while Sean was packing for his trip. Just before I submitted it I decided to search for a coupon code. Didn't think it was a company that would have them, but never hurts to try. Well, I found one that saved me 20%! Probably best I didn't find it before I finished shopping, otherwise I would have bought more. FYI, the code is DELIGHT and is good until 10/12.

The code is quite fitting as I'm sure Sean would say golfing Spy Glass yesterday was a delight and Pebble Beach today may be even better. And in 7-10 business days I will be delighted I hope!

Looks like a nice place to move...

Sean might be convinced to do West Coast now... this is from where they had dinner last night, by the tee box at Spanish Bay. Something like that, with the bagpiper of course.

My Favorite Intern Year Story

Megan was born during Sean's intern year in El Paso and when she was a few weeks old he ran out to get us a movie to watch. When he got back he told me this story and I just kept thinking, "why are you telling me this??" I was all lumpy and frumpy and postpartum. So he tells me that this young gal kept checking him out in the movie rental place and then she waited for him in the parking lot where she started chatting him up. She was asking him questions, trying to figure out why he looked familiar, were they in the same unit, etc. Well, after a couple minutes of this he says that he works at the hospital and then a look of horror crosses her face and she says, "you were my doctor". Oh yeah, when the interns are on their ob-gyn rotations they just have them do pap smears all day long and this was apparently where he was her doctor. Of course they herd them in like cattle for those appointments so he doesn't remember his patients. But if someone hasn't had a baby, those appointments are quite traumatic for the patients and they don't realize it's no big deal to the doctors who have seen it all. Anyway, that ended the flirtation to say the least. Now Sean only sees a few patients for procedures now and then so this stuff doesn't happen anymore.

It is a good thing that by the time you have your 4th baby you have lost count of how many people have been up in your business and it just doesn't matter anymore, because this is a small town. Now I realize my doc belongs to the club, goes to our church, and knows many of our friends. One of them wanted to introduce me to his wife recently and I declined. Yes, I'm sure the last thing she wants is to meet yet another one of her husband's patients...

Oh and Sean's favorite story from intern year is how he was so sick of doing his ped's rotation that he lied to his staff and said that I thought I was in labor and he had to go home at lunch time. Lucky for him I did go into labor that night and he missed the rest of that rotation.

Day One

Yes, we have entered October, also known as Sean's month long birthday celebration month. He kicked it off with a 4am drive to the airport to meet his Dad at Pebble Beach, where they will donate many golf balls to the Pacific Ocean. They have checked into the resort and made sure the golf clubs made it in one piece. It's on the way home that Sean is hoping his driver gets damaged so he can upgrade again. Yes, I am beginning to see why golf expenses never really slack off, always something new to pine for. They will play a round tomorrow and another on Saturday and I expect he will be emailing photos from his phone to show me how nice it is. Now, I did pay $10 once to drive through Pebble Beach with some friends so I know what I am missing out on. If only I had known that if you stay at the resort (required to play the course) then they waive the $10 fee. What a deal!

I am waiting for the call from the credit card company as usually happens around this time.... they notice the charges from someplace fun and then some charges from Wendy's in Kansas... and then a whole bunch of online shopping charges. I really don't see where the confusion comes in here. Let's see if they notice that the bill from Sundance Catalog is the exact amount as the plane ticket to California. Hard to pass up a few sweater coats that I can wear now and after the baby comes. I just can't stomach (haha) the thought of buying more maternity clothes with only 7 weeks to go, but very few things fit and are warm enough these days. My apologies to the people of Kansas for having to see my exposed enormous belly because my shirts aren't long enough to cover it all.

Anyway, up next for Sean is the ND vs USC game with his brother and then he will brave the small plane from Manhattan to Denver for a work party that I seem to miss every single year. That will bring us to 4 weeks before the baby is due and hopefully we will have time to tour the hospital then. What will they do if we forget to pre-register? Make me deliver in the lobby? Hey, if Keely will meet me there, no problem! It's only been 7 years since Sean did his ob-gyn rotation, he can pitch in too. This reminds me of a good story from intern year... I will post that later. Now to go do dishes, I mean throw away the bags from Wendy's and Panera....