the sky is pink

I started sewing a little on Friday. My first time in over a month. It was so nice. On Friday I started two pairs of capris for Spenser using the front two fabrics . They are too large for her. She was sleeping when I cut the pattern and fabric, so I couldn't measure her. I figured, since she wears 18-month clothing, I should make size 2, thinking size 1 would be too small. WRONG! When I actually sewed the pants on Saturday (while she was sleeping again) and saw the finished product, I realized that they are huge . She wore one pair, with legs rolled up, but noticed that she was 'taking' them off often -- or maybe they were falling off of her ... So on Saturday, I started "the dress." I loved how it turned out ... Here she is in her dress. (I plan on making some matching "panties" or "bloomers" -- as Christy would call them.) Jack is peeking into the picture. Look at my very fingerprinty window. (I wish I had noticed that before I took the pi...

I was so busy obsessing over my new fabric , that I forgot that it's "Corners of My Home" day. After five years, the cabinets are still missing the crown molding and handles. Where are they, Joe? A few more pictures here .

Yesterday I went shopping and, at the top of my list: fabric ! I've been yearning to sew since my bedrest began. Now I am a free woman! This is what I bought. I think the bottom two fabrics ("pucker prints" like seersucker almost) will be shorts/capris for Spenser. I envision the top ones to be bags/totes, maybe a skirt. The green polka dot on the end may become a dress for Spenser . Isn't that such a cute dress? Not sure about green on Spenser. After 4 boys, I usually dress her in pink, and a little purple. Although I should broaden Spenser's wardrobe horizon. Then, the new Amy Butler pattern "Betty Shopper" came in the mail (I bought it on ebay). The bag is so large. It didn't list the dimensions of the finished bag on the auction, but it will be gi-normous (as in the words of Buddy the Elf). The other pattern was like $2, so I thought I could try the "boxed out" tote.

Yesterday, during lunch, Spenser had a diaper explosion. Out the top. The sides. Everywhere imaginatively possible. So, she needed a quick bath. It was the first bath I have given her in a month. I have still been making Joe give her baths at night. But this one could not wait. It hurt my stomach to put her in and take her out of the deep, old clawfoot tub. After putting her in, I let her play to let my stomach recuperate. Anyway, I had to wash her outfit and decided to change her crib sheets, too. When I came downstairs, she was on the deck with the boys having a blast. Riding in her car. Playing soccer. Running free in her diaper. Then she wanted her dishes. I did not give her the idea for a tea party. This was all her. Girls must be born with something different than boys, other than the physical features. During Spenser's nap. Jack and Mason started to fight. They wanted to play with play-doh (man, how I hate this stuff!). I suggested they play outside. They played very nic...

1. The smell of baby's breath (not the flower, the actual smell of my nursing baby's breath). 2. The sound of rain on our metal roof. 3. Long, hot showers -- uninterrupted, of course. I don't have time to soak in the bath. 4. Lilacs and Lavender. 5. A clean house. Especially clean floors (and bathroom). 6. Clean bed sheets -- only on the first night. 7. Homemade soap. 8. My children's smiles ... and accomplishments. 9. Wet kisses from my children. 10. Knowing my family will be together forever.

This morning, as I was enjoying my breakfast of garlicky green beans, I was reading the newspaper. I was reading an article about proposed hikes in water and sewer fees for our small town. As I was reading it, the name of our mayor "jumped" out at me. Could it be? After several sessions of karate, I'm just realizing that our mayor assists in teaching my boys karate! How funny is that? I never met our mayor in person (as our mayor), so I never made the connection. Carter loves him! I love small towns. Mayors teaching children karate!

Last night I went into the bathroom. When I was washing my hands, there was a spider near the towels. I tried to kill it, but it kind of "jumped" towards me. I screamed. Joe ran in. I think he was thinking I started to bleed again or something. He was relieved it was only a spider. I'm happy to know he can move so quickly. *** Today was my first day back to my "normal" routine. Joe dropped Jack off at preschool so I wouldn't have to be in town for almost 3 hours. It was the first time I have driven in over four weeks. My Expedition seemed so large and tall. I had forgotten how monstrous that thing is. Jack had an appointment with a dermatologist after school. It was an appointment I had scheduled months ago, so I hated for him to miss it. I had taken him about six months ago for a white spot on his cheek. I was afraid he was developing vitiligo, a skin condition that all of my sisters have. The doctor does not think it is vitiligo, but pityriasis alba , a te...

Jack: Mason: Taylor: Carter: Spenser: Spenser before church: I have a quiet morning. Joe took all the children to church. I pleaded with him to stay the entire time this week. Last night some yummy goodies came my way. Missy brought over homemade cinnamon rolls (yum!), some wonderful-smelling Summer Apricot soap by Asquith and Somerset, and a nice card. I think while the house is quiet, I should start my next round of thank-you notes. It seems I have a lot to be thankful for! I have such wonderful friends!

Joe had to be at work by 7:00 a.m. this morning. Wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have to drive 60+ miles (1 hr. 15 mins.) one way ! He left before the rest of us even opened our eyes. The boys played quietly this morning, allowing me to stay in bed until about 8:00 a.m. Very nice . After breakfast, I got a little too brave. I did something dumb. Really dumb. I vacuumed my dining room and formal living room. I could stand it no longer. It was like an obsession. The hardwood floors in both rooms literally had stuff all over them. It wasn't fair to such pretty floors. The oriental rug in the "red room" had lots of shedding. Anytime anyone walks into that room, that happens. It drives me buggy! Plus, I think my dyson vacuum cleaner was missing our very close relationship. We were both going through withdrawal. After my vacuuming, I wanted to dump the canister, but the trashcan was full. I had Carter help me lift out the bag (it was super heavy). So, with that all don...

It doesn't seem possible! This morning I went to my OB. I saw Dr. C. today and she seems to think I can resume most normal activities, except running and jumping ... wasn't planning on doing that anytime soon. She said I can drive, go places, etc. She said (very casually), "If you start spotting, start doing less." Kind of makes me nervous that I would push myself to that point, to then back off ... I would think it would be smarter to not push myself so much. Joe is still concerned. He is afraid that I'm going to go wild and do lots of crazy stuff. He doesn't want me doing too much. I told him that at least I can drive to get milk and bread. I can drive the boys to school if they miss their bus, which they almost did on Tuesday! I may not be doing the marathon shopping I usually do (while Jack is in preschool) buying cases of juice boxes, and cases of everything thing else from the wholesale club that is part of my life as the mother of five (plus one). I st...

So today was my Hopkins appointment. It was exhausting. The sonogram lasted about 1 1/2 hours. This was a followup to my complete placenta previa and subchorionic hematoma from three weeks ago, plus they did a level 2/level 3 sonogram to check for obvious birth defects (because I am "old"). The hematoma is still there, but there is no active bleeding. According to my last sonogram (3/27/06) the hematoma was 5 cm long (width unknown). Today it was 7 cm long, but very thin. Because they didn't do the original sonogram, they really couldn't compare it. They told me to expect to continue to spot. The placenta is still completely covering my cervix and hasn't budged. I am still in danger of hemorhaging because of it. I am to go to the emergency room if I have any bright red bleeding or watery discharge (not sure what that is, but I'm thinking like amniotic fluid ?). The baby is looking great. All measurements are showing that the baby is 18 weeks. So, lucky for...

is about to come to an end. That girl! I tell ya! A little bit ago she was upstairs with the boys. I realized Taylor, Jack, and Mason were downstairs, which only left Carter upstairs to keep an eye on her. (Of course she snuck up the back set of stairs while the baby gate was down temporarily. She's so freaking sneaky.) Anyway, as usual, she was a little too quiet, so I sent Jack up to check on her. Thank goodness I did. Seems she went into the upstairs bathroom (the door was open) and got into my makeup and put at least three of my makeup brushes in the toilet. The boys' toothpaste was closeby, which made me nervous, although it didn't appear wet. AND, yuck ... she had gotten into the trash to play with used sanitary things! When I walked into the bathroom, she was about to stick her hand in the toilet to retrieve some of the brushes. Something told me it wasn't her first attempt! I love that girl more than life, but, man, you gotta stay on her. I think she...

So Jack comes downstairs to tell me that Carter said the word "a$$." I call Carter down, who upon hearing my voice starts to cry. Carter tries to explain to me that he was telling Jack what words he should not say (of course while saying them himself). I persuaded Carter not to use those words and not to teach them to his younger brothers, all the while Carter is crying. Jack then continues, saying, "he said some other bad words, but he was just teaching me not to say them." I, again, told them not to say or use those words anymore and sent them back to play. A few minutes later, Jack is yelling down the back set of stairs that Carter said "one more" but that he was again just teaching him not to use them. I'm not sure what words Carter was teaching him. I think I was afraid to even ask, for fear he would repeat them to me. We don't use that language in our house, and I shudder to think what first-graders are really learning at school.

Tomorrow is my next sonogram. I am very anxious to see how things are going (or "growing") inside. My bleeding has either stopped (from my external perspective) or has slowed down greatly. I'm getting very hopeful ... maybe a little prematurely. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. So, at tomorrow's sonogram, I may be able to see if we are having a boy or girl. According to my last sonogram (3 weeks ago), I should be just over 18 weeks. According to my last period, I should only be 14 weeks. I am praying that they don't take away those 4 weeks tomorrow! I'm always overdue anyway, so I think after five very long pregnancies, I deserve a break! I'm concerned about walking so much for my appointment tomorrow. Since it's at Johns Hopkins, it will be a lot of walking. In the parking garage. To the hospital. In the hospital. Christy thinks I should use a wheelchair. I think I will be too embarassed to use one. I think I would look down and ...

No cars on my bumper today! (Oh, and did I mention that it was "accidental" that they parked so close? Notice the top of my hood is higher than the bottom of their rear window! Whatever! ) Anyway, Kim called this morning because she was heading into town and wanted to see if I needed anything. Christy called, too. She just returned from her trip to the beach. Lauren came in time to make lunch for the boys and put Spenser in her crib. Poor Spenser fell asleep in her highchair again. She was so grumpy this morning ... I was just hoping that she would stay awake long enough for lunch. Amy called and offered to take Jack and Mason, so Lauren walked them to Amy's on her way home (she walked to my house today). I urged Amy to bring my boys back sooner today than last time. I just felt so bad that she kept them for four hours. It was nice, but she didn't have to keep them so long. I know it must have been hard for her. Her little girls are only 2 years old and 3 months old. ...

Today, I had it. Absolutely had it. For the last time. I have a very rude neighbor who, for some unknown reason, started to park his car so close to my front bumper, that he would actually touch it. This has been going on since about October 2005. One night I looked out the window and he was literally up against the front bumper of my car. He backed right up there and sat all night. I actually took pictures, but because it was 10:30 p.m., they turned out kind of dark. Anyway, I have called the town office to complain (I thought I should do that instead of calling the sheriff's office). Unfortunately, the only person to work daily in the office is a lady, who is friendly with my rude neighbor (known now as "JW"). She called him and discussed the situation and he said he would stop doing it. Well, he's been back at it and today I had it. Joe's grandparents came up today to do some yard work. I looked out front before dinner to see if they mowed the front (they had b...

We had a nice Easter "vacation." Joe surprised me by not going to work on Thursday or Friday. He never seems to tell me anything in advance ... he claims the Army did not approve it until Wednesday evening before he left. Joe spent Thursday going grocery shopping. We were getting desperate! On Friday and Saturday he spent most of the day putting up vinyl siding on one side of our house. Since we cut down our giant tree, the side of our house was looking more visibly bad. We had done some construction on that side of the house (enclosed the second level porch and the small first level porch, and removed an outside entrance to enlarge our first floor bathroom) and he stuck up the asbestos siding that he removed from the front to cover our new renovations. Not the prettiest stuff. Actually, under the asbestos (on most of our house) is nice, old German wooden siding and we exposed that on the front and one side ... for now. The vinyl siding looks similar to the origina...

We were eating broccoli the other night when Jack asks, "Is broccoli good for your colon?" Five-year-old Jack asked that question. At first, I thought I heard incorrectly, so I asked him to repeat his question. Then Carter joined in on the question. Trying not to laugh, I answered, "Yes. Where did you hear that?" And they both answered, "On Fairly Odd Parents ." I guess TV can be semi-educational??

So I asked Jack the other day if his preschool teacher, Ms. Heather, knew where I've been for the past few weeks. (Joe has been taking him to school and either my mother or Joe's mother have been picking him up since I can't drive.) He said, "Yes. She asked how you were." I asked, "What did you say?" To which he replied, "She's a little bit fine." He's so silly ... So, in case you're wondering, I'm a little bit fine.

Perhaps not the most flattering picture of my house. This is the step from our family room up to the back set of stairs in our home. The top of this step is on hinges, which leads us to believe that it was a safe of some kind when the house was built (circa 1874). Unfortunately, no buried treasures were found (except a ticket stub and a little scripture on a card -- which are treasures). We found this safe as we peeled away the red shag carpet that was covering this room when we bought it. And I must say that we removed the red shag long before we started renovations. (We rolled it up with all of the dirt, mouse poop, and food that had been left behind from the former owners.)

Taylor & Carter received their new karate belts last night. Carter is a yellow belt and Taylor is a red belt. She looks like a majorette! I'm laughing at her outfit! She needs some summer/spring shoes. She has two pairs of church shoes, but she can't take a walk in those ! This is her "homeless" outfit from the other day. Hey! I had to just use what I had available! ***** Spring Break is here for the boys... Yes. Five children for six straight days with a pregnant mama on bedrest! This should be interesting. Yesterday was quite busy for me. Brinda called bright and early to offer her services to help me in the morning, but my mother was already planning to help. While waiting for my mother, Christy called and then Kim stopped by. Then my mother came, and Sandy called. My mother gave the children lunch, put Spenser to bed (who actually fell asleep in the highchair, poor babe), prepared dinner for us, mopped my kitchen floor again , took out the trash and recyclin...

Week three of bedrest begins today. It hasn't been all bad. Sometimes I think I'm overdoing it. On Saturday morning my long-time friend, Kathie, came to visit. Actually, she came to help . Joe had to work, which is usual for the Army, and I wasn't sure if I could handle all 5 kids all day long. Although Kathie doesn't have any children yet, luckily she is a teacher and has experience with crowd control. I loved watching her make four different sandwiches and cutting them just right for each boy ... even making the sound effects that Mason "requires" when cutting the sandwiches. I still laugh at that! She brought some of the most delicious chili I have ever tasted! Kathie, you can make chili for me anytime ! Even Joe agreed! Today presents it's own challenges. I'm having a lot of morning sickness already today. I'm fighting a fever blister on the middle of my bottom lip. (I only get about one every year or two. It's no wonder I would get on...

I've been pretty crampy today. Not a lot of blood ... yet. I keep thinking it must be coming with all of these cramps. I've actually been pretty busy today. I talked to my good friend, Kathie, for almost 1 1/2 hours this morning. I thought I was returning her phone call, but I wasn't. But she did the same thing a few weeks ago when I called her. She called someone else back instead of me. My mother came over to help with the kids' lunches and to put Spenser in her crib for her afternoon nap. She even threw in a load of Spenser's laundry. Then Brinda came to visit me today and brought some cinnamon muffins. And it was her birthday! And then, if more niceness could come my way, Christy brought me dinner and cheesecake ! And a sampling of her favorite Chinese food -- crispy beef. It was delicious. Plus I've had phone calls from Jessica and Kim offering to bring us dinner. And Kathie is coming over on Saturday to help with the kids and says she's bringing di...

I went to see my OB today. Instead of the 12 weeks I am "supposed" to be, I am actually 16 weeks! I can't believe I have escaped a month of pregnancy without knowing it! Morning sickness is usually my first sign. Usually within days. I started to feel sick the end of January and was sick a week before I took a pregnancy test. My due date is now September 19th (instead of October 15th). I had to go for bloodwork, also. They want to check my progesterone and blood count levels. Since I'm bleeding they want to make sure I'm not anemic. The progesterone is just a precaution. (They also did a basic metabolic panel. Not sure about that one.) I will need to go to Johns Hopkins for my next sonogram (in 2 weeks). I also will be going back to see the doctor in 2 weeks. She said the bleeding is more than likely coming from the placenta and not the hematoma. I am restricted from things until I stop bleeding. She is concerned about the amount of blood and the clots. I had a ...

At 2:30 this morning, I awoke to "the feeling." (The "feeling" of dripping.) So I scurried into the bathroom to discover that my bleeding started again. Luckily it is not the scary bright red of day one, but still scary. When I woke up, I just hoped it was morning. Then I tossed and turned wondering if I did too much on Monday. Worrying myself. Then I started singing a song in my head that would not leave . 99 Luftballoons . I'm sure it's because of this shirt I spied. Then I started thinking that I must order it. Large enough for maternity! Anyway I laid in bed until after 4:00 a.m. and could stand it no longer. I was getting hungry now. I know I should be on bedrest, but I just could not wake up Joe (actually he woke up when I jumped out of bed) for a snack. That's when I realized I would just have to come downstairs and get one myself. So I ate some cottage cheese. What I really wanted was some homemade chipped beef and gravy that my mother made me y...

Last night Joe and the boys watched King Kong . It was a long 3 hours, but they did it! When it was over, Carter came up to my room. He walked over to the other side of the bed and said, "Mom, we just watched King Kong . He died ..." then he started to sob and added, "I didn't like that." Then I had him come over to my side of my bed and climb in so I could snuggle with him. He sobbed. Joe came in and we tried to comfort him together. I explained it was only a movie and that King Kong did not exist and he was only a robot in the movie. That didn't help. Then I pulled out all the stops and told him the family story of King Kong . Sorry, Craig. Many years ago (too many to mention) we watched the old King Kong as children (I was about 7 and Craig was about 4 maybe). When it was over, Craig threw a temper tantrum and my mother pointed to Craig and said "King Kong! King Kong!" Well Craig misunderstood that Mom was calling him King Kong a...

So many yummy meals have been coming our way. On Thursday Amy brought over a broccoli and chicken casserole with desserts. Last night Darla brought pot roast with carrots & potatoes, green beans and homemade bread. Yum! I had lost a couple of pounds the last few days. No more. Those pounds are back! And with leftovers I can only imagine what will happen. My mother brought over taco stuff. She was going out of town, but wanted to make sure we had plenty to eat. Christy is coming over this evening or tomorrow to show me how to "smock." She's a southern girl and very talented. I'm excited. I was even dreaming about it last night. I know. It's sad. I know very little, if anything, about smocking. She showed me her pleater one day while we were hemming my brother Andy's fire-academy uniforms. I was intrigued at that point and she said she would teach me. There's no better time with all this "free" time I have now. So, again, I'm very excited. ...