Friday, March 28, 2008

Between the Lions

Nearly every morning, we watch PBS Kids, and in particular, we watch Between the Lions. Although Elizabeth can't even say her alphabet yet, she likes this show about reading. I like it for its sense of humor. For example:


I wanted to post a clip from one of their shows that would be perfect for copyediting, but it wasn't on YouTube. Yet.

Have a good day! We're cleaning house and taking a break before my parents come to visit.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Writing Chapter Two


The essence of this chapter...

Really, I've got to get my hands on some myrrh. It would totally help me get into the mood. I haven't burned any myrrh since I lived in Bahrain, and that's been eons.

Today I got to drop Elizabeth off at the church again. Last week, when I most needed a break, they didn't have "Kids' Day Out,"so I had to manage for myself. (Her gymnastics class was also cancelled, and so we were both left with too much time together and not enough to do.)

What do moms do when they get a break? I initially went to the new tea cafe, but it wasn't open yet, so I went to Target and walked around. In the clothing section, I ran into another mom whose daughter is in the same class as Elizabeth, and we laughed. Then I perused the shoes, almost bought a pair of clear-glitter jelly ballet flats (um, shoes), and then walked through the kids' clothing. In the end, I bought a new toothbrush for Elizabeth and some Goldfish crackers (I was getting nauseous and needed something to munch on). I did glance at the maternity clothes, but got mixed feeling when I did so. One, I've got a box of maternity clothes packed away from the last time, and two, I don't know yet if/when I'll need to wear them.

As for my pregnancy, I have a feeling that if something was going to go wrong in the first trimester, it would have already. I gave another blood test today to check my hCG count. When that comes back, and if it's good, then I'll be able to finally see an OB (pregnancy doctor). Within a week or so, I should get another ultrasound just to check on everything. They'll be looking for a heartbeat or at least trying to see something there.

There, now that I've written out my life and probably did not amuse anyone, I've got to do my real writing--chapter two!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Yellow Light

Essentially, there is no bad news. But the doctor also told me not to get my hopes up. (Isn't that nice?)

My hCG has gone up, but nothing matches the charts, so I've dumbfounded them.

Good news: I had the best-ever ice cream tonight--key lime pie, complete with bits of graham cracker crust swirled in.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Tomorrow

We should know by tomorrow if I'm keeping the baby or not. I was supposed to find out this afternoon, but no one from the clinic gave me a call. Funny thing is...I'm too tired to worry about it much. My house is a mess, but I'm just going to crawl in bed and let it take care of itself.

I wish brownies were real. (And I don't mean the dessert.)

Monday, March 17, 2008

Baby Worries

The surprising news is that I'm pregnant--but the bad news is that I can't get my hopes up yet...

Last Wednesday I got a test to ensure I was not pregnant before going to see the doctor for ovarian pain and a late period. Much to my surprise, it was positive. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I didn't feel pregnant. Not like the last time. I don't feel sick, I don't feel anything--except cramping and exhaustion.

The doctor told me to go to the emergency room to get an ultrasound b/c the clinic doesn't have one, so I did. Eight hours later, we had a negative urine test, a positive blood test, and an ultrasound that showed nothing out of the ordinary. Just a 4mm speck where the baby might be. They could not rule out an ectopic pregnancy, but I felt fine, so we went home.

Over the weekend, I adjusted mentally to the idea of having another one. Well, another baby isn't what I was having to come to terms with; it was going through pregnancy again, so soon. (Well, not that soon.) I was finally adjusted when the clinic called today and said they got the info from the hospital and that the doctor is concerned because my hCG levels are too low for what they should be (should have been closer to 2000, but they were at 81). Tomorrow I will give another blood sample, to be sent to the big hospital in Bethesda. Then I'll have to give another one the next day. After they get the write-ups, we'll know if it's truly going to turn out to be a baby or if we're going to lose it.

Just thinking that makes me cry.

I shouldn't be so upset. I mean, it hasn't been a reality for even a week yet, and one of my friends lost hers at 14 weeks, which had to have been more traumatic that this could be. But it's still sad and scary.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Spring Blossoms and Passing Out


Isn't the onset of Spring one of the most treasured moments in life?


It took hours of trying, but she finally took a nap.

And that's it for today...I'm exhausted.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Chapter One!

Elizabeth and my childhood doll, Molly:


I left Elizabeth at the Kid's Day Out center at 9:45 this morning (a bit later than usual) and went to the local coffee shop. After two teas, half a sandwich, a cup of mushroom and brie soup, and a small bag of chips, I had written the first chapter (and then some) of my new book. :-) Woohoo! Now I've got just enough time to tidy up around the house before I go pick her up.

Now, I'm totally psyched to share it with my trusted writing friends from San Diego--my old critique group. (Not that there's a new critique group. That'd be disloyal!)

By the way, in case you're wondering why I rarely post pics of myself, it's because I don't photograph all too well. She's a lot cuter to look at, too!

Monday, March 3, 2008

What We've Been Doing

First, Elizabeth and I had a splendid breakfast of Earl Grey and freshly-made scones while reading a book.
Then, after getting home from the gym to work off said scones, we read a bit of Chaucer.
Finally, to round out the afternoon, I worked on my book while Elizabeth spooned with her baby doll and Olivia.
After she wakes up, we're going to take advantage of the mild weather (it's a warm 64 degrees out today--yesterday was 35) and meet up with her best friend, Libby, at the playground.

An interesting website I encountered while researching Arabs in 1000 BCE: FaithFreedom.