"New" Tunes Tuesday

"Some Kind of Trouble" by James Blunt came out in the fall of 2010, so I'm a wee bit behind on reviewing it as new music. However, I didn't get it until Christmas 2011, so I've been jammin' to it this spring for the first time. Or well, as much as you can jam to some James Blunt.

We all know "You're Beautiful" from years back and probably got totally sick and tired of hearing that song. In fact, many of you probably wrote him off after that song and never listened any farther. Yet, for some reason, I picked up that album. And the next one. And then a third. It's a bit out of my typical musical genre to like something so, well, mellow. But I found that popping him on at work sometimes was great background music. And the longer I listened to the songs, the more I grew to like them. (The song, "1973" off his 2007 album is my all-time fave.)

And "Some Kind of Trouble" doesn't disappoint. It's smooth and relaxing music. But it's still poppy and cool. And some of the songs are even a bit more upbeat than his previous stuff. "Stay the Night" and "I'll Be Your Man" are my favorites from this release. They're a bit more upbeat and just kinda want to make you tap your feet.

 

I can't really say one album is superior to another, but I definitely would recommend trying it out. Just some laid back, cool, easy listening.

Project 52 - Week 1

Back in this post, I mentioned I was going to temporarily suspend Flash Bulb Fridays in favor of another project. Well, after being inspired by another blog's "Project 52" where they take a photo each week of something in their life, I decided to do the same thing with Bimmer.

Actually, I mentioned recently that Puff had bought me these awesome blocks that I planned to use. And while I don't intend to start posting photos of me and Puff or our friends or family, I will go ahead and post one year's worth of weekly photos of our little angel, Bimmer. My hope is to post them on Fridays, but as I have quickly learned, being the mother of a newborn who eats a lot and is otherwise very alert, having time for much other than her is difficult.

So... here's our sweetheart. Hope you pop back often to see our little one grow!

Bimmer's Birth

As you are well aware by now, Bimmer has made her debut. And we kinda, maybe, sorta can't get enough of her. But I thought I would share a bit of her birth story with you! Apparently, that's the thing for mommy bloggers to do. And since technically I am now a blogger that's a mom, I feel obligated.

 

So, "labor" technically started for me during week 37. The baby dropped super low, I dilated to 2cm. and effaced to 70%. By week 38, I was up to 3cm. dilated and 80% effaced. We were soooo certain she was going to come soon and put me out of all that uncomfortable late-pregnancy misery. Except, at my week 39 appointment, I hadn't increased any. Awesome. However, they gave us the good news that we could induce on May 24th. It was such a weight off our shoulders to be able to plan people's visits and get finished packing and get the house in tip-top shape. Then on the 23rd, something felt "different" to me early that morning. Not long after Puff left for work, I began the fabulous "bloody show" portion of labor. But I wasn't having any noticeably consistent contractions, so I spent most of the day on the couch, trying not to freak out.

Around 2:30pm on the 23rd, I started to have menstrual cramps. They were pretty strong, so I just curled up in bed and tried to get comfortable. I talked to several friends and tried not to let Rach's horror stories of 20 hour labors get to me. Not what someone petrified of labor wanted to hear!!! Around 4pm, the contractions started to come in 10 minute intervals. Puff was still at work, trying to wrap up loose ends for his upcoming time off. They started to come closer to 7 minutes apart around 6pm, but Puff was still at work. I took a shower, since the pain was going around to my back and the hot water felt good. Also, yes, I am vain enough to admit that I didn't want to go to the hospital without freshly washed hair. Puff finally got home around 6:30pm and we went to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner. I was writing down contractions in between eating a quesadilla and chips!

Round about 8:30pm, the contractions were definitely coming every 6 to 8 minutes apart, so we decided to pack it up and go to the hospital. Well, after we finished watching "Chelsea Lately" from the night before. I managed to walk myself into the hospital, but by the time they got me in a gown and into bed, I was definitely in a good bit of pain. They checked me and I was only 3 1/2cm dilated, but my contractions were then 2 to 4 minutes apart. The doctor actually said I could go home and sleep in my own bed if I wanted, but the pain was mounting, so I opted to stay. Around 10:30pm, after several painful trips to the bathroom and a few bags of fluid, I was able to get an epidural. It was heavenly. They were waiting to see if my toes would get tingly, but before that happened, I had a contraction and couldn't feel it, so all was good! I got to about 5cm by midnight and around 2am, they came in to break my water. When they did, they said I was 10cm dilated and could start pushing!

Apparently my epidural was working "perfectly" since I could still move my legs and feel the pressure of oncoming contractions, which helped with the pushing. It definitely took some getting used to and I got tired fast, couldn't catch my breath, and my arms were so sore from pulling my legs back. The doctor and nurse said they could see that she had a bunch of hair, but also that there was some swelling on her head. Cue two hours of strenuous pushing later and I was no closer to having the baby. She was stuck on my pelvic bone.

 

The decision to have a C-section was made right then and there and within 10 minutes, I was being pushed down the hallway to the OR. Puff was very nervous and I was trying so hard to be stoic. I was scared to death when they wouldn't let him come in to hold my hand while they prepped me for surgery. But I just tried to stay calm and keep my mind focused on other things. Puff came in eventualy, all decked out in his scrubs, and held my hand and rubbed my head. The doctor said I would have a baby in about five minutes. And sure enough, there she was! They held Bimmer around the drape quickly for me to see as I started to cry when I heard her cry. It was amazing.

 

As they were tending to the baby and Puff was snapping pictures, the doctor's started to patch me up. Someone asked me how I was feeling and I remember telling them I was having some pain on my left side, so they upped whatever was going into my IV. The next thing I know, I remember screaming "OW!!!!" at the top of my lungs. The nurse told me they were putting my uterus back inside. (Didn't need to know that, but thanks!) And that was the last thing I remember... they had to totally knock me out and apparently I was snoring within about 30 seconds. Since the C-section hadn't been scheduled, I only had an epidural and not a spinal.

And it wore off.

I remember sorta coming back when they rolled me from the operating table over to the bed to take me back to the room. They told me I had to hold Bimmer. I was so delirious. Although, I think I remember telling her that we were going to take her zorbing and white water rafting! I'm sure the nurses pushing the bed thought I was insane!

It wasn't until a few hours later that I was really coherent enough to hold the baby or do anything with her, thanks to the heavy-duty IV drugs I had been given. But that was OK... Bimmer and I still got to bond. I will definitely have more stories to come about the rest of the hospital stay, our visitors, our homecoming, etc. But for now... just know that Bimmer was born via emergency C-section on May 24th at 4:53am, and minus having a giant cone-head (that's what happens when you push for 2 hours before a C-section apparently) she is absolutely perfect. Our little chunkster weighed in at 8 lbs. 5 oz. and was 22 1/2 inches long.

Puff and I are over the moon. We love our little girl with all our hearts.

I finally have my family.

 

Feminine Hygiene

Ok, so yes, Bimmer is here. I promise I will update soon... once I have had a few more hours of sleep. In the meantime, here's a funny story for ya...

Stick with me here, as I take you on a monumentally circuitous route to get to how the best high school band ever was formed...

 

In early May, a story broke at my old high school about a 33 year old female teacher supposedly hooking up with a 15 year old male student. Shocker! I know! Apparently it can happen anywhere!

 

That topic led to me and Rowdy having a conversation via text early one morning about how it was probably a good thing there were never any hot male teachers in their early twenties when I was a senior. Because I totally would have hit on them.

 

That reminded us then of the hot California surfer dude of a substitute teacher we had in freshman Spanish class. And that Greek (I think he was Greek???) stud muffin of a long-term English sub from our junior year, whom we affectionally dubbed Dr. D.

 

One of my dear friends had a massive crush on Dr. D. And when I say massive, I really mean it. Like, we somehow found out where he lived and would sometimes drive past his house on the way home from a night out. He lived on a main street, so it wasn't hard. Plus, he liked to live with his blinds open and his lights on inside when it was dark out. One night, he appeared in the window as we were creeping past... and he bent over.

 

WE SAW DR. D'S ASS IN THE WINDOW!!!!

 

Sometime during that winter, we got an overload of snow. As bored teenage girls, a few of us headed out in search of something to keep us occupied on a dreary Friday night. Please don't ask me how this ever came to be our decision, but we found ourselves at Walgreens, buying the largest box of generic brand tampons they had. What did we do with said tampons? We drove around town and threw them in people's yards, so that when the snow melted, they would have tampons in their grass. (To clarify, they were NOT used. That's just nasty!) Several of those launched tampons ended up in Dr. D's front yard. The rest of them? Well, we drove down one particularly long residential street in the next town over, and did our best to land them in truck beds, on top of cars, in open mailboxes, and on people's front porches.

 

Sometime the next fall, after a football game, we were chilling at a local hangout diner, and were discussing my cousin's entrance into a Battle of the Bands competition in town. Four giggly girls decided to start coloring on the placemats to come up with our own fictional band. I'm pretty sure I played bass, because it's always been the sexiest instrument to me. I know Miss was on drums, because she "liked to bang things." We decidedly took it too far when we created a fictional website with band member bios and a few song lyrics too. (I never claimed to not be a giant nerd in high school!) Our second album was going to be entitled "Self-Titled Debut" because I found something ironic and cool about it.

 

And the name of the band, you wonder?

 

TAMPON NECESSITY

 

See... somehow, this story just came full circle.

Plumber's Crack: Do the Deux

Remember a few months ago when I had a nervous breakdown because Puff refused to double-flush and clogged the toilet late on a Sunday night? Well, perhaps you should re-read that first.

 

Now add two months more of hormonal and emotional imbalance and cue a recent Sunday morning, when I was 39 weeks preggers. In my 20,000 bathroom trips a day, I go through a lot of toilet paper. And I hate to change the roll. For some reason, it's just at a hard angle to reach, especially with this big ol' bump, and I try to leave it out for Puff whenever possible. Yet, like my dad, he always picks on me about not changing it. So, I sucked it up and went to change it after it was empty.

 

Since our toilet is cheap and our plumbing is old, we have a weird thing where the toilet flushes completely twice with each push of the handle. By the time I went to the hallway, got a fresh roll, and came back in, the toilet was still running. I hadn't put the seat down, and in all my pregnant clumbsiness, I managed to drop the plastic thing that holds the toilet paper to the wall... dropped it into the toilet.

 

The flushing toilet.

 

And since I'm so pregnant and awkward, by the time I was able to bend down to stick my hand in the water to grab it, the toilet finished flushing. And it took the plastic piece with it.

 

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!

 

I folded into a pile of tears and self-hatred, since I knew there was no way that would go through the plumbing and us just be able to pretend like it never happened. Puff flushed it with just water, and of course, it went down OK. But the second he tried to flush any paper down, it got clogged. After both of us took showers, we had to call the plumber. Again. They're beginning to like our stupidity.

 

The plumber was great and he told us as soon as he got here that he would have to remove the entire toilet and reach up into it to get the plastic piece out. Except, the first attempt, he couldn't get it. It wasn't in the trap. It was caught in the zig-zaggy part, so it would require a more heavy-duty tool and a lot more effort. At that point, we were informed that if he couldn't get it out, we would be talking about having to buy and install a new toilet. Yeah, that sounded like exactly what I wanted to hear as I was holding back tears and writing on my private blog about how I felt like a waste.

 

Thankfully, he was able to fish it out. And he even spent a lot of extra time reinstalling the toilet and trying to get it level (it had been a little wonky on our old, uneven floors) and recaulked the entire thing. He even replaced one of the pieces on the bottom for us at no charge. And even though some other thing to straighten out the toilet was recommended, he said if we were OK with it not sitting entirely level, the $400 for that would be better spent on our baby. Damn straight!

 

The lesson in all of this? I am not allowed to change the toilet paper roll ever again. I also should probably close the toilet lid immediately after use, so not to tempt fate and have anything else fall in there that doesn't belong. Also, it was good practice for when we have a toddler. Puff said he may have to buy a toilet lock before then, just to keep me from causing any more $300+ plumber visits.

 

Just a reminder that tomorrow will be Bimmer's birthday! So, my apologies for being MIA for a few days. I will be back as quickly as I can with updates on her arrival, plus, I have about 18 pre-written posts that I can pull from to keep you reading! Send lots of good thoughts and prayers tomorrow for an easy labor. Those exist right?

About Damn Time

Besides drinking castor oil, I think we have tried every wives tale in the book to get Bimmer to get this show on the road. Well, besides sex too. We haven't tried that. While Puff's love for me is unconditional, it is apparent that he is not unconditionally attracted to me. I can't say that I blame him.

You mean these 39 week cankles that suddenly appeared don't turn you on?

What about my "Pimp Hand?" I can rough you up with this carpal tunnel wrist brace just as well as anything from the S&M section at Hustler!

Alrighty... down to business...

Yesterday afternoon, Puff and I got the OK to schedule an induction for Bimmer... if we wanted. And uh... DUH... I wanted! I'm still just 3cm dilated and 80% effaced, but apparently those conditions are "favorable" enough for an induction to be totally kosher. So, I scheduled it for the earliest they would let me... this Thursday!

If I make it that far, I will be 39 weeks and 5 days, so this baby has definitely baked long enough. The date is extra special too, since it is my grandparent's wedding anniversary. (Awww...) It also gives my parents a great head's up as to when to start making the 8 hour (for them) trek from The Fort to come visit. Sure, Puff's a little bummed she didn't come earlier so we could hit up that cool British car show this Saturday with her, but there's always next year.

Plus, I have a pretty good feeling, that once he holds his daughter, he won't be worrying about cars.

At least not for a good 20 minutes or so.

Trying Times

Friday was a very scary day in our lives.

 

At 4:30am, Puff stumbled into the bedroom after receiving a call from his brother that his dad had been rushed to the hospital. They weren't sure what was wrong.

 

I knew with all my heart that Puff wanted to throw a bag into the car and drive to see his dad in the Great White North. Except, it's more than an 11 hour drive from here. And we weren't sure what was wrong. And I'm 39 weeks pregnant and 3 cm dilated. The thought of going into labor while he was out of town petrified me. The timing couldn't have been worse.

 

As the day progressed, we finally got more information about his state and after lots of tears and concern and frustration, it was determined it was not necessary for Puff to drive up at this time. As of Saturday morning, the FIL was off some of the oxygen and his blood pressure was back up. The meds seemed to be working and he was eating and talking. You could taste the joy in the air at our house. As of Sunday night, he was well enough to have a long conversation on the phone with Puff and seems to be doing 1000 times better! We hope to have him home this week from the hospital.

 

The amount of love and support and prayers that came in from all of my friends and family, as well as Puff's friends, was incredible. We are so blessed to have you in our lives, and so is the FIL. I truly believe that someone was looking out for us and keeping Puff here with me during the last few days of my pregnancy, as well as looking after the FIL to make sure he pulled through quickly. Your continued thoughts and prayers are much requested, so that we can get the FIL back home and we can get Bimmer here safely.

 

 

It really makes you appreciate the time you spend with your family. And it really made me think again about how great it would be to be living in The Fort, so we would be near my family, and 6 1/2 hours closer to the FIL. We lucked out, this time, that we didn't have to make any gut-wrenching decisions. Here's praying we don't have to make any of those any time soon either.