Second Born - KER

Second Born Share: Here are my answers to a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about my second born! Let's see how much I remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? yes, we knew we wanted someone for Ashton to play with



2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? yes



3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Wow, that was fast. We only tried for a month! (Ashton & Kate are 22 months apart - we were going for more like 24-30 months)



4. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 24



5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Pregnancy Test



6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Paul, then Paul's mom this time



7. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Absolutely



8. DUE DATE? September 2 I think, Kate was two weeks late!



9. 9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Yes, all the time for the 1st 4 months



10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Milkshakes and spicy food (Mexican, Thai, Cajun, etc)!



11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Morning sickness and maternity clothes and Kate coming two weeks late in the dog days of a hot NC summer!



12. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX? girl



13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?no



14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 20 on top of the 20 I still needed to loose from my first pregnancy.



15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?Yes, two



16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew



17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS? She was two weeks late. Also, when Kate came out she had her umbilical cord wrapped around her throat in what the doctor could only describe as a knot he'd never seen before. She almost was a stillborn baby. Thank God she came when she did!



18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Presbyterian Uptown in the same birthing center



19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 3 hours. Pushed for 5 minutes.



20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Paul



21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Paul, she came so fast there was no time for anyone to get there!



22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural



23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? yes, an epidural and I regret it



24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8 lbs 4 oz



25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? September 15



26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Katherine Elizabeth (Kate)

Grandmas, Grandmas, Grandmas Everywhere!

Some people may not be aware that my mother has been suffering from a mystery illness that has caused doctor after doctor to run inconclusive test after test. Seeming to have come to the end of the road with treatment options, her last resort was seek out help from an traditional Chinese doctor. While she did not believe, not even for a second, that this was what she needed, she never the less decided to give it a try since there was nothing really left. And...amazingly...the treatments seem to be working!
For the past 12 months I have seen my mother become less and less active and unable to be the grandmother she longed to be to her growing grandchildren. And, suddenly, she seems to be making a comeback! Today she stopped by and played "Hi-Ho Cherry-O" with Kate and "Candyland" with Ashton. One month ago she would not have been able to bend down to play. Woohoo! I hope this treatment stays on track and I get my mother back. (And FYI - Kate absolutely LOVED Hi-Ho Cherry-O, she thoroughly enjoys sorting colors and counting the little pieces.)
Also, more good grandparent news! Paul's parents will be arriving in a few short days to spend Halloween with us! Ashton couldn't be more excited and filled with anticipation, while I'm sure Kate will be thrilled when she realizes what is going on. We are very happy they will be coming and, by the frost warning posted for later this week, know they are on their way! ;) (Coming from Detroit they ALWAYS seem bring the cold with them, be it Spring or Fall.) My one wish while they are here is to make sure we get plenty of good photos of everyone together for Darlene's scrapbooks. Either she or I are always behind the camera and never in any of the shots together. HINT HINT Paul.

Bad Economy = Time To Rethink "Wealth"

As the economy stumbles and slides, I've observed the stress levels of people all around me inch upward. As the overall financial health of this country is beyond my power (other than making sure I cast my ballot in Nov), I've decided to turn my eyes toward the things in my life I can control and the happiness I get from them. Here goes!

• Picking up Kate from preschool every day and the always getting a big hug and even bigger smile followed by "Mommy's here!" (as if we've been away from each other 4 months as opposed to 4 hours)


• Hearing Ashton always ask for seconds, not for himself, but to ensure Kate gets whatever it is he is getting


• Watching the leaves change on the trees and realizing how wonderful fall is in NC. I'm thankful that nature takes no notice of the NYSE!


• Buddy, the coolest cat of all time, is mine and always has time for me to pet him and cuddle with him.


• Having a good man for a husband. One that is patient, even keeled and a good father to our children.


• Meeting new and always interesting people in my job and seeing them insist on having fun, no matter what type of day they had


• Loving my neighbors and the fact that we all know each other by first name


• Listening to my niece's voice over the phone. (It's so adorable and tiny)


• Having both my mother and father alive and around for me, but also for my children to know their grandparents (Both of my grandfathers had passed away before I was born)


• Talking to my grandmothers, both of them, and realizing what huge impacts they've both had on my life and how lucky I am to have to help me parent my little ones


• Having a great mother-in-law that truly loves her grand kids and who's grand kids love her


• Thinking ahead to how this will be the first halloween both of the kids will really be into it and how much fun it's going to be to take my little red dragon and fair maiden princess out to trick-or-treat!


• While we have little left over, I am happy that both Paul and I have jobs and are able to pay all our bills each month and on time!


• Realizing that myself, my husband and my children are all healthy

I mean, really, happiness come not from what happens to you in life but how you react to it right? So, while my retirement savings circle the drain (remember, my background is in the financial industry) all I can do is look forward to working the rest of my life and raising kids that will do well enough to support me in my twilight years! ;)

Hurricanes Haunt Me (Partial Party Cancelation)

Hurricanes are famous for ruining my special days. This year is no different. For those of you who don't know, Hurricane Wilma wrecked my honeymoon and left Paul and I stranded for many days in Mexico. (See photo to the left of downtown Cancun).

As the song "One way or another, I'm gonna find ya, I'm gonna get you, get you get you" springs to mind, Hurricane Ike is (brace yourself for a bad pun) going to rain on my parade tomorrow. No, we are NO WHERE NEAR the path of this monster storm, heck, it's supposed to be 90*F and sunny! But as the Texas gulf gets pounded and oil refineries have shut down, the price of gas in our area has shot up so high (over $1 per gallon in the past 24 hours) we must cancel the driving part of Kate's party tomorrow. Of course, only because I wanted to visit the drive through ranch does this happen. Oh well, the new change of plans involves having Angelique and rest of the NC mountains branch of the family (Mom, Freddy, Auntie Karen and Dominique) come down earlier than the 4pm party to hang out in our neighborhood pool. It's predicted to be stiflingly hot tomorrow and the pool is open weekends so the party will go on, but man oh man. What did I ever do to anger the hurricane gods?

SIDE NOTE: For those of you who have never lived through a hurricane, pray for those unfortunate souls who are in TX and SW LA. Their property will be water and wind damaged, followed by the mold and mildew that erupts from the heat and moisture. They will be without power or food for who knows how long, but the one thing that really stands out in my mind about the aftermath of Wilma is waiting for the water to recede. You may not realize it, but not only is the saltwater/flood water everywhere and destroying most things it touches, it's full of sewage, oil, gas, trash, dead bodies of animals and whatever disgusting things there are about. And to get anywhere - you have to wade through it, sometimes through waist high levels. The stench is something I will never forget and chances are it may be a while before there is clean water for them to wash it off. Those poor, poor people. I hope FEMA has it together this time around and they can get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Birthday Party Fast Approaching

I don't know who's more excited about her birthday party this weekend...me or Kate?!?!





The theme is "Jungle/Zoo Animals" and I've worked it in to everything I can. In the morning we are going to the Lazy 5 drive through exotic theme ranch. Then we are heading home to a house decorated with monkeys, lions, zebras and tigers and pink, fusicia and green! The guests get pink camouflage gift bags filled with jungle themed things and the cake will have jungle themed animals on it.





I do hope to play at least 1 game - musical chairs and then let the kids play and the adults eat. If you are coming, great! And If you can't make it, pictures will be posted soon!

At school, for her actual birthday, since she is such a fruit lover, I'm going to core apples and fill them with strawberry cream cheese and sprinkle with raisins and sprinkles in lieu of cupcakes. (Last year I brought sweet potato cakes). YES..I KNOW... I am that weird mom. ;)

Also, on a side note, my mom is sharing the party with Kate and I hope she feels well enough to enjoy herself.

I Know, I Know...

I know, I know... I have not been the best with my posts and writing as often as anyone would like, so apologies are in order! We actually have been busy with the following projects-

1. Cleaning and re staining our deck
2. Landscaping and finishing touches on yard
3. Visiting mom two weekends in a row (This past weekend was Angelique's 2nd birthday party!)
4. Paul's brother Ron was in town for a week
5. Getting ready for our yard sale this weekend
plus our camera was temporarily lost (but now is found)

Also, FYI mom is having her gallbladder removed this week, so if the postings don't come this week, they will be there next. Love you mom and hope you feel better soon!
And Dar, looking forward to seeing photos of your cross-country trip soon!

What Happens When Mommy Has a Tough Week?

I tell you what happens when a Mommy has a tough week...EVERYONE has a tough week. What's the old saying "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? Yes, chalk that one up to fact vs. fiction.