Apart

Yesterday we met up with Paul's mom, Darlene, and her friend Tracy at the Columbus, OH Zoo. We spent a great day exploring all there is to do at the Zoo (and there is PLENTY) then relinquished the kids to their Grandma. (More about the actual Zoo trip later).
I am sad, worried and miss them terribly, but happy to have some time to myself.

Photos -
http://the704reids.shutterfly.com/3873

Southern By the Grace of God

WOW! Ashton just said "Shucks!" when he didn't get what he wanted. LOL! Paul and I tried to keep moving along, like we didn't notice, but a few giggles did sneak out.
Also, as I type, he's helping Paul try out the new Waffle Iron we got him for his birthday. They are mix. Or, since Ashton just assured us in his best big boy voice ever while trotting over to the fridge to grab 2 eggs, "I'm the chef Daddy.". So, well, I guess Paul's assisting him. :)

Thankful

Two days ago I heard some tragic news that made me stop and be thankful for my own situation. Someone I know had a niece who gave birth this week to a baby that died due to strangulation by it's own umbilical cord during delivery.

This was horrible to hear, particularly since Kate, when born, had her umbilical cord wrapped and knotted around her own neck. I remember the doctor saying he had never seen anything like it and him likening it to a sailor's knot of some sort.

You see, it all started with impatience...mine. Being as big as a house and chasing around a toddler in the dog days of summer was just about more than I could handle, never mind that Kate was taking her sweet time arriving. After her due date came and went, I think it was around the 1 week mark after it I started pleading with my OB to induce labor and get her out of me.

He agreed and we scheduled an induction for Sept. 15, 1.5 weeks after her due date. We checked into the hospital the night before and I was given Ambien (sleeping pill) by the nurses so I would be rested and ready for labor inducing in the morning.

Around 4:15am I remember being roused from sleep by what I thought was labor. I woke Paul up and told him the baby was coming and to call the nurse. Two nurses came in and told me it wasn't time yet and to go back to sleep. I tried to, but the contractions were too strong.

I then made Paul get the nurses back in to check me about 15 minutes later. I remember the nurse was grumbling to herself that she was busy and I wasn't ready, but agreed to check my cervix. It was then that she lifted the sheet and yelled to me "Whatever you do, don't push yet! I've got to get the doctor!" She then hurried out of the room.

Frantic and dazed from the sleeping pill, I looked to Paul trying to figure out what was going on. He then checked under the sheet and screamed out "I see the baby's head! Where is the doctor?" I then looked to the door of our room just in time to see the doctor stumbling in putting his shoes/booties on. He hurriedly sat down on a stool and pulled up to my "area" just in time to coach me to push, the baby was in fact, as I had told them, "coming". (Why doesn't anyone EVER listen to the mother in situations like these???)

After the normal birthing process occurred, Katherine Elizabeth (Kate) arrived into this world and we received the standard "It's a girl!" (which we knew) and I waited for her to be placed on my chest so I could meet her. I guess I got caught up into hearing the nurses talk about her amazing strawberry blond hair, (me thinking she must be blond like her daddy but it was tinted with blood or some fluid) but, as the minutes ticked by, I became worried. As soon as I began to speak up, she was given to me and we were told of how lucky we all were. She did have her own umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and it had become tied, so had she waited until we had scheduled her for delivery, she may not have made it. The doctor also went on about the oddness of the type of knot it resembled and how unique that was. But, honestly, I guess I thought death in childbirth was a thing of long ago historical novels and surely it wouldn't have happened in the new high-tech hospital we were in, so I just shrugged him off thinking she was never in any REAL danger.

Now, two and a half years later, as I heard the awful story of my friend's niece's loss, I was reminded of how lucky we are to and how thankful I am that Kate is with us today, happy and healthy!

Kate's Worst Fear

Ever since Kate was a teeny-tiny baby she has been deathly afraid of car washes. She cries when we pass them on the street, talks about them with fear in her voice and runs away from things she mistakes for car washes. And, well, it's my fault.

When she actually WAS a teeny-tiny baby we took our new van through a car wash at our local Auto Bell and, as we went into the wash, I didn't realize her door wasn't shut all the way. I'm not talking about it being wide open or anything, but just enough so that when the high speed rinse came on she was sprayed some. My poor thing started screaming like there was no tomorrow! Next all the noise and giant mops dragging across our window didn't settle her down of course.

I was exhausted from mothering a newborn, sleep-deprived me didn't know what to do, because the way the Honda is, you have to open the door to close it and we were on a conveyor-belt deal with an un-maned car in front of us. So we had to just ride the thing through. Poor Kate apparently still has nightmares from when we rode through the dryers almost 3 years later.

She also hates getting water poured over her head at bath time. Weird coincidence or have I traumatized her in more ways than I know? God I hope not!

Looking back I think I should have been given and would have failed a parenting test, but hey, what can you do about it now. Needless to say, car washes are her biggest fear and I take full responsibility. Now the world knows why and you can come get me now with the handcuffs. (My poor baby girl!!!)

So, if you notice our car getting a little dusty, for Kate's sake, please don't write "Wash Me" on the back window.

Ashton-isms

Lately Ashton is trying out some grow up talk. Sometimes it comes out right, some times wrong, but usually unexpected either way. Enjoy!

• Ashton:"So, what's with the guy mowing Susan's lawn anyways?" (He inserts the word "anyways" anywhere in a sentence and often.)


• Ashton: "Kate can wear my Superman PJs, but not on Sat." Me mildly amused: "Why, what's going on Sat?" Ashton: "I don't know, Sats are just kinda weird. So no PJs for Kate on Sat." (He also thinks kinda and weird should be in about every sentence. )


• Ashton: "Is it tomorrow yet?" (Paul and I can't figure out how to explain the concept of tomorrow to him so he can get it.)


• Ashton: "I want $64,000 so I can buy a toy." or "In 960 minutes I'll be ready." (Numbers don't quite mean what they should I guess.)

Love this time with them!

Super Parenting...and What the Rest of Us Are Doing.

On Here and Now with Robin Young this segment caught my attention: "Bad Parenting - Literary critic Steve Almond joins us to discuss a slew of new memoirs in a hot new genre that some are calling “Bad Parenting.” Authors discussed in the segment: Diana Joseph, Robert Wilder, Rebecca Woolf. Find Steve Almond’s essays in the books, “Blindsided by a Diaper” by Dana Bedford Hilmer and “The Book of Dads” by Ben George."

I find myself laughing, thinking and sympathizing with this segment. Fascinating is the subject matter to me, particularly the discussion on where today's culture of "Super Parenting" comes from. Steve Almond talks about how, 40 years ago, parents were surrounded by extended family and were given advice and help by the experienced. Now, in our culture of high achievers and distanced families, parents project this need to be the best and least vulnerable upon ourselves and hold each other to impossibly high standards that may be tearing the fabric of our communities apart.

I hope that, through my honest and direct blog postings and stories I share with everyone I am single handily helping to change this stigma. I hope that my parenting is portrayed as rocky, but filled with good intentions; clueless, but learning; and filled with many emotions, but ultimately cemented by love and humor. Honest and true, it is what it is, a wild and unexpected ride filled with stomach lurching turns and thrill filled descents and climbs. As crazy as it is I wouldn't trade this part of my life for all the money in the world. But I would like more calmer days and less chocolate on the carpet mornings! :)

The Years Have Rolled Around....

Today Ashton, Kate, Paul and I took Scott and Gavin roller skating for Scott's birthday. Kate was so excited and couldn't wait to get her skates on. Ashton was amp'd up and was ready to go. Paul was nervous and mumbling things to himself along the lines of "It better be like riding a bike...". I was just happy to have the kids out of the house doing a physical activity. We had a blast.

Ashton looked like an octopus on wheels because at his skate size the wheels moved. Because Kate has smaller feet, the skating rink fixed the wheels so the wouldn't roll. She basically walked around the rink and danced to the music.

Gavin slept peacefully in his "wheels" (stroller) and when he awoke watched his daddy fly around the rink countless times, happy and smiling.

The afternoon took me back to the weekends of my youth, being dropped off at the rink around 7pm and being picked up at 11pm, spending time as an adolescent among my friends discovering who I was and where I fit in.

The most amazing part of the whole afternoon with my kids was laughing to myself how the Hokey Pokey song played was the exact same version that was played when I was a kid. Somethings never change!

Where Does The Time Go I Still Wonder...?

It's been so long since I've wrote, I'm not sure where to start! Here's a stream of conscience list of things that come to mind -

• Kate wakes me up most mornings saying "It's a beautiful day Mommy, wake up." She then locks me out of my own room to keep me from trying to crawl back in bed at 6am.
• Ashton blows me kisses when he leaves to go somewhere when I have to stay home.
• Ashton is VERY excited learning about plants/seeds this week at preschool. He rushes outside every morning in his PJs to check on our strawberries to see how they are coming along. He rushes to school to see how their seeds are sprouting.
• Now that we are finally out of the drought our yard and gardens are turning out beautifully! We are growing carrots, lettuce, strawberries, broccoli, peppers and watermelon in a beautiful raised box planter Paul built me one afternoon.
• Every day Ashton asks if it is December yet, eagerly awaiting his 5th birthday.
• Every day Kate asks if it is Angelique's birthday yet, eagerly awaiting the time when we will give her the inflatable pool we bought for her.
• Ashton is trying out small talk on the phone. He says things like "Hows it doing?" and "So.....what are you going?"
• Ashton got a medal today from his 1st extracurricular activity, soccer. He is VERY proud of it and tells me he will wear it every day for everyone to see.
• Kate is a wonderful helper, empyting the dishwasher and doing the laundry with Daddy's help.
• Kate is a tremendous artist and can draw a nearly perfect face and includes eyes, nose, ears, mouth and hair. It's her signature and appears everywhere - on the walls, on papers on my desk, on her toys.
• Kate enjoys painting and I'm currently searching for a gently used kid's easel to put out in the garage for her. Ashton's BIG time into tools and loves to fix things. I'm looking for a gently used workbench for him.
• Blue's Clue's is out, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob Square Pants are in on tv.
• Hide and Go Seek is the new favorite game to play inside or out and they are actually counting now and taking turns seeking and hiding.
• Ashton is very much into board games and tried to play "Life" the other day with us, pretending to get money and pay money. Kate just likes driving the pink car around the board across the hills making "vroom-vroom" sounds for now.

There is so much more, but that's all I can think of right now! I wish I could freeze this summer in time for eternity...but knowing I can't...will try to enjoy it as much as possible.

Earth Hour

Tonight at 8:30pm we will be shutting down our power for 1 hour. I plan to spend the time talking with Paul. I hope to help the Earth and our marriage all in one fell swoop! Ashton and Kate will be spending the time dreaming or we may head downtown to watch the skyline go black...

Where Does The Time Go?

I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend. I will work on updating my blog this weekend.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

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Good Genes

I just wanted to mention that my grandmother, Grandma Rossmeisl, just turned the big 9-5 this week! WOW! 95 years old!
Born in 1914, she has seen so many things change and so many stay the same. She told me today she remembers the depression and people running on the banks. She spoke of the lessons she learned to be careful with money and how they are as applicable today as they were 80 years ago! I mean, wow!
She used to fill an afternoon telling me of all the changes and advances she's seen happen to the world and I'm so glad I was able to listen.
The greatest thing of all about my Grandma is the youth she still carrys with her and the sparkle in her eye as she jokes and laughs with me. She still keeps busy and her mind is sharper than mine is today, always remembering to ask about my husband and children. I wish that I am half as active as she is at 52.5 and am just like her! She is firm and stern, but a big softy when it comes to babies and small children.
The most precious thing she has taught me was to leave the working world and to "hold tight to my little ones, because when they go to school, they belong to someone else for 8 hours a day and are no longer mine." She is soooooo right! I love you Grandma and I miss you! Until we meet again. ;)

Biggun'

Ashton had his 4 year old appointment earlier this week and here are his stats:

• Height - 44 inches (taller than 95% + boys his age) *He grew about 4 inches this past year
• Weight - 48.2 lbs (heavier than 95% + boys his age) *I was surprised by this, he seems so slim to me!
• Body Mass Index - 17.4 (not quite sure if 90% is a good number or not?)

Yes, yes he takes after Paul. But, if I remember correctly, when I asked Darlene about Paul as a child, she seems to recall him being slightly above average as a child then shooting up in height around high school. I wonder what path Ashton's on.

Snowy Night

The little ones finally got a chance to see snow falling, as the snow storm of 2009 began to blanket our area around 6pm last night. They thoroughly enjoyed it, throwing tiny snowballs made from tiny hands and helping Paul make a snow person on our back deck.

Kate, being that naturally girly-girl she is, was so funny grabbing an umbrella before she would venture out. Funny thing though, she did try to get out the front door without shoes! She was also so adorable, sticking her tongue out and telling me "I caught a big one Mommy, yum-yum-yum!"

Ashton was so excited, as he was the first to notice the all day rain change to sleet ("Mommy, what's that click click noise outside?") then to snow ("EVERYBODY COME LOOK! THERE'S SNOW ON THE CARS!"). He was the first one up this morning ready to play in it, having dressed himself all by himself in his jacket, shirt, hat, shoes without socks and running shorts. He was so mad I made him put his pants on! :)

I am so thankful for this March snowfall, happy Ashton & Kate got to actually see the magic of snow falling from the heavens.

PHOTOS HERE: http://the704reids.shutterfly.com/