The Independence of a Three (Almost Four) Year Old

As most kids do, Emma has grown substantially since last season (darn kids!) and the summer shorts are just not going to last through an Indiana September-March, so yesterday was her turn for new clothes for the fall/winter.

My first feat was to figure out what size to buy her. She is a skinny-minny, but tall (which is the only reason why she weighs all of 33 lbs at "almost" four). She has always been plagued with needing longer pant legs by time she actually grows into the waist of them (yes, even the adjustable-waist kind). For the record, I have both extremes at my house - Xavier is the COMPLETE opposite.

I do a little on-line research (a.k.a. ask my facebook friends) on what the difference is between a size 4T and a regular little girls' size 4. My hope is that it is length instead of just wanting to allow baby girls to look much older than they EVER need to. I get some words of encouragement and we head to Sears to pick out some outfits. "Why Sears and not my staple Walmart?," you ask? I saw Sears was having quite a sale AND I earned a 15% discount when I bought Xavier's pants there last month.

I learnt from my attempt to buy her clothes last weekend that Emma is no more ready to have to try on clothes than I am for her to need to, thus, the reason why I did the sizing research. I was hoping this would be a quick and simple venture of running through, grabbing cute things all in the same size and leaving. It turned into a little longer experience than I was hoping because she has already decided that Mom has no style and she doesn't like anything I pick up. Again, she is only 3! But after much explaining why I won't buy the $10 t-shirt that comes with a mini-stuffed zebra, here is what we came up with (all for $189 + tax - GO ME!):

2 Three-Piece Outfits

The brown and pink jacket is a pea coat (too cute!) 2 pairs of PJs
A pair of khakis and 3 mix'n'match shirts
2 ADORABLE dresses!and 7 Two-Piece Outfits

I got her to finally try them on at home and when she tries the jeans on, which fit perfectly, she says "These pants are too tight!" I explain to her that she's just not used to pants actually fitting. LOL

After having all of those beautiful outfit choices to pick from, here is what she picks (insert independence here):

Well, at least the clothes fit! :)

Dr. Evil and 125 Days

I didn't blog about Dr. Evil before because, well, it was painful and stressful and I kind of wanted to move past it, or at least be able to kick it (her) in the butt.

Here's what happened:

At my 14 week appointment, Dr. Lupton (the complete OPPOSITE of Dr. Evil) tells me I need to have an intensive ultrasound around 20 weeks and it is so convenient because there is a doctor in the office that can do this. I say OK and he sends the referral to her. A few days later, I get a call from her nurse saying she wants to do an introduction appointment with me and wants to get me in as soon as possible, that Friday if possible. I think nothing of it and set the appointment. What I have since found out is that Dr. Evil isn't making much money for the practice or hospital, so it is really just a ploy to make money - she is one hell of a carney, let me tell you.

Jim and I go to the appointment, totally ready to possibly be able to get another ultrasound and maybe find out the gender of the baby. That WAY does not happen. The first words out of her mouth to me are "hasn't anyone told you that YOU shouldn't be pregnant?" WTH? First of all, yes - I am the one who almost died from the heart attack and secondly, this pregnancy has been CAKE. Okay, so yes, I am controlling and monitoring a few things, but that is exactly IT - they are CONTROLLED and MONITORED. I proceed to tell her I am aware of the concerns, but there is nothing I can do at this point, so lets just be happy it is going so well (right?).The appointment only gets better from there.

Then she tells me that the blood thinner, which she prescribed for me is not adequate at all; it is merely a profilactic dose. At that point, Jim asks where I should be with it then. Upon other things, she informs him she will answer questions "as appropriate" and then never answers the question. Now, it's not like he asked her who her favorite Spongebob character is. I thought it was a VERY appropriate question. After that, she proceeds to tell me how much she hates the insulin I am on because she "can't control it". I didn't know that was her job - besides it is working perfectly for me, better than it has ever in my life actually. And she tells me the only reason what I am taking is working is because, and I quote "you eat cake and crunch bars". At this point, I know my face just went stupid. I really didn't know what to say but I wasn't going to let this b*+@& get the best of me or see me cry, so I just don't say anything. The funny thing is that I really very rarely eat anything like that, I don't each chocolate or drink coffee or soda (haven't had a carbonated beverage in 5 months) AND I have only gained 7 lbs.

The last thing she does before the appointment is over is listen for the heartbeat. At least that is one good thing that will come from the appointment. I decided I didn't need Dr. Gloom and Doom to stress me out any more, so I told her where Dr. Lupton had found the heartbeat at the appointment the week before - it was a bit higher than he had expected so it took a little longer for him to find it than I would have liked - and I certainly didn't need her to push the tears button any more than what she already was. Obviously, she didn't like someone telling how to do her job, so when she did find the heartbeat, her only statement was that it was good "for now". I have never been so ready to leave the doctor's office ever in my life!

Once we were out of her office, I inform my aunt, who works there, that I will NEVER see that woman again! (Except I have to for the ultrasound in 3 weeks -damn insurance!)

I went to my "maintenance" (that's what I am calling the regular appointments) appointment with Dr. Lupton yesterday. It was a great appointment. I have only gained one pound since my last appointment, so he made sure I wasn't having any trouble eating, which I'm not. (I am sure I will gain like 5 before the next appointment :) ) We measured and listened for the heartbeat: 155 bpm, and my blood pressure and everything is going good. Baby is a little lower in my pelvis right now, which I am totally aware of. My back is hurting, so he thinks there are some little toes pressing against my tailbone (yay! not really). I had my blood drawn for the endocrinologist and my thyroid, liver function, cholesterol (surprise) and all is good. My potassium is a little low, but nothing a banana a day can't fix.

And I decided to talk to him about Dr. Evil, and word of the GREAT appointment had gotten around the office I guess. I told him that I didn't love her and he told me that he had looked into letting me see someone else for the ultrasound, but insurance won't cover it. I did tell him that I think she would be better suited for the morgue, where people don't care how self-righteous you are (yay, personal jab - score one for me!) And we talked about Dr. Evil wanting to double my blood thinner dose. I am already having quite a bit of fun with what I am already on, and I told him I really don't want to die on the table. I hadn't started taking the increased dose yet, and he agreed that I shouldn't (personal jab for Dr. Lupton - go him!). Apparently, she is not only mean, but she is trying to kill me, too. That's just GREAT!!!

So long story long, Dr. Evil SUCKS!!! Dr. Lupton RULES! and all is good in baby land!

<3The End<3

And here's a little bump

We're at 16 weeks. I just started showing at all about two weeks ago. Here is proof of my rounding-out belly (and yes, huge boobs)

Fun Saturday Out

The kids I spent a fun day out on Saturday.

First, we met Ronald McDonald (yes, the glass one in Greenwood):



Then we went to the mall to play.


Ta Da! She just jumped off the pink pig


And then we sat at the fountain (Take 1)

Take 2 (This one's a keeper)

First Day of School

Here are some pictures of Xavier on his first day of third grade (I'm not really sure what is up with his smile - maybe it was sunny?)

We Call Her Taylor Montana

As I have mentioned, our little Emma LOVES Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana (yes, she is still too little to understand that Miley has a career too). She is positive she is going to be one of them one day, and as you may imagine, can barely contain herself everytime she thinks it is time to go to the Taylor Swift concert (why yes, I am the world's greatest mom, thank you!).
Here is a picture of her with Papaw at her first guitar "lesson"



And here she is on her own (didn't take her very long I tell you!)

Thanks again, to Aunt Jeannie and Logan for passing along the guitar. Let's just hope Santa forgets the drums at the North Pole!

And here's her first music video:

Security? Who needs it?

So I had a couple of funny "security" (actually the lack thereof) moments this weekend.

The first one was Friday night. The kids and I were at Nana's and she wanted to buy us dinner since she didn't get to see me on my birthday. It's a back and forth thing with her and I on who buys dinner when we go out, so I decided "sure, why not?" We decide on Long John Silvers and I am going to go pick it up. She gives me her bank card and sends me on my way.

When I get there, the guy is checking ID's for any card that is not signed, which just so happens to be the case for me. Woo Hoo! So I order my food, get the total and hand over the card (which is not signed and is not my card...). As expected, the guy asks to see ID. Now at this point, I am starting to get nervous because my name is not Monica Hinds. Heck, even my maiden name was never Hinds. So what am I going to say when he questions me? "You can call my grandma, but she doesn't have a voice box, so I doubt you will be able to understand her." Oh yeah, and the dog ate my homework and my tire blew on the way in to work and any other crazy excuse you can insert here. If he rejects the card, do I pull out my bank card? How crazy will that look? Kind of like the people at the grocery store whose bank card gets denied so they write a check (been there done that, too, so not trying to judge anyone here).

So I hold out my ID, which has my picture, name (Januita L Koehl) and signature on it and I hold my breath, praying I am not going to be called in to the cops. And what does the guy do? He says, "OK" and processes the order! WTH!?! Not that it isn't scary enough that he WASN'T checking the cards that were signed, but this one OBVIOUSLY is not mine. Oh well, dinner was tasty~

Then on Saturday, Mandy and I went to the Brad Paisley concert at Deer Creek (that's right DEER CREEK). Anyway... the guy in front of me gets the complete check-over and has to empty all of his pockets, lift up his pant legs, show the insides of his cigarette packs, the whole deal. Then it's my turn. I am insulin dependent and always carry my insulin, syringes (usually at least one used-one) and my testing supplies with me. This trip, I actually have an entire bag of syringes in my purse. They don't even pat me down at all, and barely look into my purse, which is where all my "paraphernalia" is. And on through the gate they send me - no questions asked.

Now, not that I am complaining or want to be questioned every time I go somewhere with security checks, but come on now! Don't they realize that I could have ANY substance in that insulin vial? I could be one crazy AIDS or hepatitis carrying individual? I guess the cigarettes which could possibly be pot are MUCH more concerning than any of this. This is not the only time this has happened. In fact, I have NEVER been stopped - never at sporting or music events, not even at the airport one month after 9/11. Nope, not even then. Guess it's just a good thing I am not actually as maniacal as my imagination.