Parker Strikes the Laundry Room

Part of the basement finishing project includes our laundry room. The carpet will be installed into the main portion of the basement later this month so before that happens we needed to address the laundry room. Matt worked hard on cleaning everything out, extending a concrete ledge so that the washer and dryer will fit perfect and then just today, applying a nice gray coat of paint to the floor.

We left to do some errands and came back to check on the floor to see how it was drying and found this. Paw prints leading all the way to the drain. This isn't dirt, it's the dark floor underneath showing through. The evidence is stuck to Parker's feet. Unbelievable. Never does Parker ever explore our house without us beside him and why oh why did he feel the need to go check out the drain in the laundry room? We will never know.

Parker- do you have any idea how many times I have defended you when your Dad said he was up to here with you and wanted to give you away? You are clearly not helping matters.

Meet Steve

We would like for you to meet Steve, the new watcher of our backyard. Steve was an impulse buy from the garden area at our local hardware store. He saw me, I saw him, it was love at first sight and Matt quickly picked up our little nugget and put him in the cart.

We took him home and set him out on our back patio so he could be properly introduced to our dog. Okay, really we knew we were going to laugh our asses off when Parker freaked out over the little goblin just staring at him from the patio.

We brought Parker to back patio doors and asked him to look outside. He started barking ferociously while Steve just sat there and smugly smiled back at him. We slowly opened the door to let Parker meet him. He raced out with hair standing up all along his back and got close enough to Steve to realize he wasn't giving off any kind of scent. He'd been had! He looked back at us as if to say, "Alright guys, you go me... Ha... Ha...jerks."

Steve will be making guest appearances here and there so stay tuned.

Father's Day Surprise

Matt and I made a last minute decision after getting a positive report from our doctor to head to Indiana. We stayed in Brown County with good friends of ours, the Torres' and then stopped by my parents place in Dietz Lake for a little surprise! My brother and his wife were in town with Ella whom I had not met in person yet so it was time well spent. I look forward to hanging out with the whole family again in July when we have more time.

I'm 20 weeks and 5 days. Those 5 days mean the world right now. I've never made it past 20 weeks in a pregnancy and I feel great and confident at each visit to the doctor. I'm looking forward to spending more time with family and friends over the summer. You can see all the pictures on my Flickr page.

C.B. Moves!

I am almost 100% better from my last post. I've been taking new medications and feeling normal again! With all quiet down there I had a monumental moment yesterday. I finally felt the baby move! I was relaxing on the patio rocking back and forth in a chair and thought I felt something odd. And for once it wasn't gas! Then I felt it again, then again and again! I couldn't help but smile. The feelings are much more pronounced then I have ever felt. First thing this morning I was greeted by the same thing. It gave me a sense of confidence that Cocoa B. is doing great.

I had another cervical check on Monday and there were absolutely no changes. Unbelievable! Last year about this time I was in the hospital stunned that we were losing yet another baby. Fingers crossed- this time is different! I'll be 20 weeks on Friday and I couldn't be more excited.

Bringing in the Big Guns

WARNING: This entry is about poop. Yes, poop. If you are modest or do not want to think any less of me then I suggest you don't read any further.

Matt has a joke about my brother and me always thinking any story that begins or ends with poop is funny. In fact the word "poop" is funny! If you ever want to shake me out of a bad mood just walk by and yell, "Poop!" I don't know what it is but I will start rolling.

I remember when I was little I would be sitting on the toilet with the door closed and my brother would run in, make a funny face and run out. I would laugh and laugh and stay on the toilet until I had a ring around my butt. See, pooping was fun and entertaining!

Here's what's not funny... when you can't poop. Or how about when you get shooting pains up your butt so strong you can't walk? Yeah, not funny. Never in my life have I experienced this issue until now. My brother told me about how he hadn't pooped in 14 days and went and bought a laxative called Fleet. Yes, it did "flee" to the point where the toilet wanted to flee the house. That's another story for another day. He'll have to tell it. It's way funnier.

So pregnancy has been fabulous except for the medication I need to take up until I deliver. These lovely little pink gum balls of meds cause a HUGE backup in me that I can not deal with. So I brought in the big guns. I changed my diet, stocked up the medicines my doctor suggested and crossed my fingers. I know some of you are wondering why don't I just try something natural? Because I don't have 8 days and time off work to figure it out! And I am NOT an office pooper. Didn't you ever get that chain email about the type of office pooper you are. Hilarious! I digress.

So with a little patience and the right mix of food and medication I should have this worked out soon. I hope this clears the air (ha!) for everyone out there who is embarrassed to say "poop" or is constipated and wants to shout it out to the world or make it their status update in Facebook. You go!

Yours Truly,

Proud, Pregnant & Constipated with heartburn, acid reflux, short of breath, growing out of my pants and loving it.

Sassy Hershey Wife

I just came across this photo. If you were not one of the lucky ones to get our holiday card this year you missed this photo along with a great depiction of Matt the tourist. We are already scheming for this year. I hope it includes a baby!

Is it a girl or boy?

Oh, don't get too excited. We are not finding out! I am now at the point where the ultrasound technician can see the sex so we just always have to remind that we want to keep it a secret. Secrets are fun!

My appointment with my doctor went great. No changes in my cervix, baby is on target in growth and weight and all is well! I go back every week for the next month to closely monitor me to see if there are any cervical changes. Matt and I are checking off the days in June and keeping positive.

Thank you for all of your positive thoughts and prayers!