Thankful Thursday

There is always something to be grateful for! - Unknown 

I know it has been far too long since I have posted something on either blog and I do apologize with greatest sincerity.  There is a reason for my absence, not an excuse, it just flipping hurts to sit at the computer for a long time to type.  And having my movie theater of a laptop on my lap hurts too. As does laying on my back to type out a blog on my phone!   If you really want to know, which I am sure you do,  this blog post is being brought to you via the bathtub! 

"Blogging From the Bathtub"

Maybe that will be the name of my blog once Lennon is here because I imagine that when I do have time for a bath, it will be the only time I can actually write something! 

My mind is filled with words to say constantly, gratitude to be shared, thoughts to be thrown around but it just never gets put to paper, if you will.  Then I realized that I'm not in pain when I am in water and  I can definitely use a good soak of the bones in some Epsom salt and a warm bath since I'm swollen like a blowfish from the neck down, I figured why the heck shouldn't I use my time wisely and reach out to you guys.  You deserve it! And I think it's time to spread some gratitude!!! 

Today I am thankful for...

Bathtubs - There are some days that soaking in the tub is the only way that I find comfort. I think back to my days in Liverpool where I only had a shower to work with and I just don't know how I could have dealt with that during this last trimester. It would have been the pits!  

Krissy and Stefanie - These two gals, that  I've know for quite literally most of my life, bent over backwards to help with my Baby shower.  Stefanie made all of the favors! Did you see them? They're the cute little hand scrubs in the mason jars! Freaking adorable!   Krissy not only helped decorate and prepare (which involved too many trips to Hobby Lobby) and watching me freak out over pinwheels, but also insisted on taking care of the "prize and game" section of the shower.  I am so grateful for these girls! The two of them made this shower business a little less stressful, even though the pinwheel making definitely made up for it! 

And also I must thank Jenn for making the most adorable cupcakes for my baby shower!  Everyone absolutely loved them!! 

Everyone Else - Although it sounds like a cliché  and I'm sure that you think that I could come up with something way better than this but I must say the following:  I am absolutely 100% grateful for everyone who was able to make it to the shower and celebrate Pip's arrival, for everyone who has sent us a gift, to everyone who sends a prayer, kind thought, or good juju out to the sky to help my little guy arrive in one piece and for every piece of advice that people offer me,  I sincerely thank you!  And shower-goers and gift senders, I swear I have thank you cards signed and sealed! The delivery part is what is taking so long, I suppose it comes with the territory! :-) 

The Boppy Pillow for Pregnant Chicks - You know I was always that person that thought I wouldn't need or want to get things like the Boppy pillow. I mean how helpful can it be? Stretch mark cream? Belly bands (thank you, Donna!)? Who needs all that stuff? Just have the baby and get over it!   Let me tell you who needs that stuff!  PREGNANT CHICKS! I do not know what I would do without my Boppy pillow. At this point I can't sleep without it because it just relieves so much pressure from different areas of my body.  Lolly got it for my right after I got home and let me tell you, it is the absolute best thing ever! I don't even know how I'll part with it after Pip is here! 

Ice Packs - A sure way to get a baby butt out of your ribs is to get an ice pack on the other side of them!  I'm sure he just wants to get close to my heart and cuddle right up to it but I do not need his arse anywhere near my heart and it just hurts after a while! So I get that ice pack on there and he gets all mad and kicks up a storm when I put the cold on his badinski but the pain subsides.  He's pretty cute though!! 

Anyway...

What are you thankful for? 

Thankful Thursday - Monday Edition!

Well, doesn't time just run away from you? It was somewhat of a roller coaster of week! The lazy (busy) days of summer.  However one thing remained constant:  gratitude.

The Staff at CMC -  On Friday my friend's brother had a heart attack while, I believe, he was getting a chest x-ray (not at the hospital).  When I woke up to see her messages I was shocked to say the least. I immediately called her and the news that she gave me was less than ideal.  But my yesterday, Father's Day, he was off of the ventilator and awake so good news was had by all.  The staff at CMC pull through once again.    Of course, it's still going to be a rocky road but I am glad that he has a road!

The Beautiful Sunday - Levi's christening was yesterday and there was a huge celebration for him... outside.  When I looked at the forecast on Saturday night for Sunday I was so sad to see it was going to be nothing but rain. For a moment there yesterday it did look like the sky was just going to open and rain down on us for 40 days but, somehow, it held off for the party.  I am grateful for this.

Levi's Cooperation - You know some kids just do not enjoy being quiet or having an ocean of water over their heads. But that Honey Bee of mine took it all like a champ.  He slept through mass, can't blame  him on that one, and then when it came time for the fireworks, he wanted to dive into that water head first.  Now, either he is really smart and knew it would cool him off because it was a sauna in the church or he enjoys swimming. At let's not forget that he did his signature move of chewing the towel when the priest put it on his head. Levi's wonderful demeanor made the experience fantastic.

Cereal - I have always loved cereal and that is a fact.  But now that heartburn is a staple in my life I must say getting a snack and some milk to cure this heartburn of mine is the cat's meow. Oh, except when fruity pebbles end up down my shirt stuck to my belly.  I do not feel gratitude for that but then again I laugh every time so maybe that is something to be thankful for!

Pip's Kicks- I know I have already been grateful for his kicks but his kicks are something I am grateful for every day. He can never kick me enough! I think of it as a "Hey Ma, I'm alright. I can't wait to meet you, and stretch my super strong, abled, straight legs!"


What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. " Marcel Proust 

Hey there! I haven't forgotten about you lot. But I've been tired and busy and busy and tired. I had a more than a few days to notice things to be grateful for so here we go.  

Krissy - She's my faux baby daddy, we already know this.  But she's also Levi's babysitter, which comes in handy around 9 am when I need to go back to sleep!  And now that Jacob is up for the summer, she also watches him while I go to work.  She's always finding fantastic deals on baby things for me! When I am hungry at 10 pm she will go with me to eat somewhere or if I want ice cream for the billionth day in a row, she comes with me for that too.  Micka also does things for me that I just don't want to do, like go to the post office to mail invitations! Play messenger for me and, maybe most importantly, tells me to take a nap when I clearly need it!

Jessica - is my newbie sister-in-law but she's been around for years.  I am sure you know that already too.  She was kind enough to help me for hours putting together the invitations for the baby shower and also cut papers for hours for a poem I included. She's helping out with the shower planning a whole big bunch too so I am grateful for that!  Turns out she is an excellent ice cream date as well!  

Amanda - I've been grateful for her before as well.  This time around I must express gratitude for her generous donation of baby furniture - the crib! It was hard for me to find a crib a liked that looked nice and was affordable while having the fact that it was going to be significantly altered in the back of my mind.  All of the cribs I loved were like no less than $300 and the cheaper ones were exactly that, cheap! I couldn't stand the thought of getting a cheap one and hoping it didn't fall apart when we go to adapt it.  However, this crib is also too beautiful to change.  Any ideas on how to make lifting Pip from the crib easier than sawing the crib in half?   Amanda's generosity will never leave the back of my mind. :) 

Levi! - You know I do love my Honey Bee.  He's always smiling and almost always happy!  He makes my mornings and I am so happy to know him.  He's rolling over now and he doesn't stop.  So now that he is on the move I'd advise you to lock up your daughters.  He seems to love the ladies already and with his smile, phew they love him! 

Jacob - My Love Bug is such a BIG help! He loves his Levi so Jacob is always eager to help with Levi whether is to feed or coax L into rolling over. He will not change Levi's diaper though! And also Jacob helps me so much.  He will pick things up for me when I drop them because I kind of can't bend over anymore because of my back pain.  If I leave something downstairs or upstairs Jacob will go get it for me.  And he is very nice to Pip already.  I am so very lucky to have my Love Bug. 



What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

 

It's about that time of the week, folks.   Let's us be thankful! 

That I Had  Birthday! I'll tell you why and I don't think I mentioned this when I wanted to because I was distracted that week like woah!   For the last two or three years I make it a point to not go on Facebook on my birthday.  So from 11.59 pm May 5 to 12.01 am on May 7 I am absolutely Facebookless.  And I love it!  I actually hate FB, or at least I hate how much I use it daily.  And I"m like those people who complain about the winter but never ever move their rear-ends out of Pennsylvania, so I don't delete my Facebook either.  So that one day a year - I love life without that non-social media network.  

 I Caught an Object Today -  I am probably more thankful for this than one person should be.  I was getting out of my car to go into work.  I had a whole grocery store with me because I had to work longer than normal today.  Then I had my bag, my drink and an ice cream cone.  You can judge me if you want.  I went to pick up my bag of food and the not even half eaten ice cream cone just tumbled out of my hands!  AH!  That's what I said too.  I had catlike reflexes and caught that cone, right side up (HOW?!). And I was so very happy about that!  Thankful doesn't describe it!

I Won a Facebook Contest -  I mean I hate FB but I do try to use it wisely!  I was delighted to learn the news that I won personalized (decorated) letters for this Pip of mine! It literally made me whole entire week! Woo!

That Pip Kicks When I Sing -  He could very will hate my singing but in my head I think he kicks because he likes it! I like when he kicks because I know he's alive and all.  Grateful for that from now until the end of forever.

That Levi is a Happy Baby! - From approximately 7:03 am to 10:53 am I watch Honey Bee.  A measly four hours is nothing to complain about except for when you are the exact opposite of a morning person. Thankfully the Leve isn't really a morning person either.  He sleeps for the first hour or two once he has his bottle and then it's pretty much smooth sailing.  Makes my mornings full of sunshine everyday he does!  

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

Be thankful for what you do not know. 

I've decided that since I have a minute where I am not supposed to be doing anything that I should TT.  I would like to say that I am doing it so that I know it's done this week but it's really just because while I have the minute now, I won't have the minute on Thursday.  Grey's Anatomy Season Finale is Thursday night and then I have to go to Baltimore for Pip's appointments early Friday morning which will require getting to bed early Thursday night.  As if you need a life story!  Goodness you're getting TT early be THANKFUL for that! :) 

It's been a relatively long two weeks and maybe things are starting to shape up in the background over here. I don't know but I do know it is looking better than it did last week at this time!  Woot! Woot!

So this evening I'd like to express my gratitude for... 

Things That I Do Not Understand - Maybe we aren't supposed to understand everything or know everything.  Maybe that is where people, like myself, go wrong.  I try really hard to understand others or to have a bit of knowledge about things. But then it dawned on me tonight when someone said that they didn't understand how someone can continuously act a certain way.  I responded with an "I don't know."  He repeated and I said the same and added, "Maybe we should consider ourselves lucky that we don't know." And at that moment, I was truly grateful that I am nowhere near close to understanding that particular situation. I'm not talking about Algebra (I WISH I understood that) but like things that are legit problems.  Why is this person a drama queen?  Why can't this person just kick a habit?  Why can't this person ever be thankful for what they have?  I am happy I don't think, live, or act that way and as consquence I will never understand it.  I am cool with that.  I'd also be cool if I could understand Algebra but you know... whatevs. We can't have all and I already have a whole bunch of goodness. 

That I Am (Almost) Okay with Other's Ideas and Beliefs -  I am, for the most part, cool with other religious and political views.  When it comes to politics I may think you're an idiot but I also respect the fact that you get to be an idiot. I dig other religious views.  Whatever works for you works for you and as long as you aren't hurting anyone, I am cool with it.  I am really glad that I think this way.  Meanwhile I am sort of a hypocrite because it bothers me that other people do not think the same way.  I don't think it should really matter to anyone whether I like strawberry or grape jelly or whether I pray to a God or just ask the Universe for a damn favor.  And I am also a hypocrite here because I do not enjoy that people do not or have not taken the time out of their lives to sort out the proper usages of too, to, and two; you and you're; they're, there, and their.   Next Mother's Day please do your mom a favor and sort that out. 

That Pip IS Moving Around -  I went for a Scranton check up Monday. Yes, I think they're a waste of time too but I've said many times that I'll do whatever they want me to do as long as Pip gets here safely.  Yesterday the chick was checking his heartbeat and she said, "Oh he moves around a lot!" and I agreed that that at every ultrasound he squirms around a bunch (but still won't let anyone complete the anatomy scan) but I still can't feel him move.  She was shocked. I said, "Well, what I feel doesn't feel like flutters..." and she cut me off and said, "Does it feel like gas?" I said yeah and she then told me that those feelings are actually Pipster moving around.  :) That made me happy I felt less than happy when people were all confused that I don't feel him. 

My Brother - Yes. I've been thankful for him before and I am thankful for him everyday. Yes, we can hardly tolerate each other.  Blame it on politics :).  And , yes, I love him like no other.  The truth is he drives me insane and I am sure I drive him insane.  I KNOW I do, but I am glad I have him as a brother.  Today, I learned that my abdominal muscles are torn (which explains the pain in my belly since Liverpool) and while I am happy that I know what is causing the pain, I am freaking mad as anything that it's another thing added to the list.  And as I've stated it hasn't been the shiniest week in the life of Autumn and I've been a crab apple to a small degree (I was still funny though) and Corey hasn't had the best two weeks either. So what do we do?  Well, we are both a part of the Taurus group so we acted like crab apples towards each other.  Both he and I were certainly not shiny towards each other, I can tell you that. Anywho, I ran into Corey as I came home from work tonight and we chatted for 64 seconds. As he was leaving he asked me if there was anything that I needed. I laughed and shook my head and said, "Nothing that you can help me with," as attaching my muscles to where they should be, making my back stop hurting,  etc etc going through my head.  He said, "Okay. I'll see you later.  Love you." and walked out the door.  Smiled but maybe slightly disappointed (relieved?) that there was nothing he could do.   I locked the door behind him.  And it dawned on me (I mean really, really) that if there was anyone in the world that could, Corey would go to the moon and back if it meant that I would get some relief for the next 18 weeks.  I mean I know that many people would do anything and everything to help me, but I am 100%  sure that he would do everything short of switching bodies with me to offer me some relief.  Not a lot of people have a person like that, I mean I hope you all do but I am not sure that everyone does and I am lucky to have him.   It's nice to think you have people like him around but it's even better to know that you have someone like him around. If he could make any part of this situation better, I know he would.   So for him am grateful.

What are you thankful for?

Oh and instead of the Incredible Hulk we all have the Incredible Pip! He tears through muscle wall with the strength of his 11 ounce body! Pip Smash! 

You know how I do.  Go big or go home.  

Thankful Thursday!

Gratitude isn't a tool to manipulate the Universe or God. It's a way to acknowledge our faith that everything happens for a reason even if we don't know what that reason is.  - Melody Beattie

Well this week has been quite beautiful! Even for the rainy day on Wednesday (?) it was still okay.  It was my birthday on Monday so that was delightful.  I spent the week hanging out with Levi so I surely have things to be grateful for! 

Let the gratitude continue!

I Made It Another Year! - Woooohooooo!  It's always nice to live another day, let alone a whole year! My birthday festivities were quiet this year but nice.   With so much going on in the background it's hard to try to get something together. And being that I can't get knuckled off of two drinks and listen to bad music at my favorite bar I just couldn't see another way to celebrate.  So we did a small dinner with my friends. Krissy and Lily even got some balloons and an ice cream cake for me which was uber nice!  Pip loved it cake!  If he could write, his first TT would be that he was thankful for that.  And well hopefully thankful for his mother who has been carrying him around for the last 21 weeks! So thank you to all of you who thought of me this year!

This Back Belt -  Now I don't want to jump the gun here but my physical therapist suggested to use this belt that basically puts pressure on my lower back.  I've only had it on for a few hours today (a few on and a few off)  and I already notice a difference.  I am so excited that there might be some relief I can just shout all about it.  Within a few minutes of taking it off I noticed the pain coming back. If this is the ticket for me than I am more than happy to purchase said ticket.

Pip's Nursery Set Came! - I just think it's the coolest thing that happened to me all week.  It's not together and I still have to purchase a crib to be modified but to see all of the bed stuff that he is going to use was pretty cool.   I'm excited to get it all set up for him.  He'll be pleased. The woman who sold me the set definitely helped me out with the shipping and included a present and that is always nice.  Goodness knows that I am always grateful random acts of kindness. 

Apple Slicers - I don't have a)the strength b) the patience to cut an apple up and I cannot bite into them.  The invention of apple slicers is as fantastic as the invention of electric can openers, which I will have one one day.  To whoever invented the apple slicer, thanks!

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thursday, Folks!  I suppose we are all off to a better weekend with the sunny sunny sunshine.  Even you guys in Liverpool are feeling it this week.   So if anything we can be happy about that. 

Although I am not having the greatest of weeks, or months, I can still find things to be grateful for.  This is important and I think that even when you are going through a rut or a most impossible pregnancy you must always look for the good things. So that is what I do.

This week I am thankful for...

Being Able to Brush My Teeth Like Usual -  During my first trimester I couldn't brush the back of my tongue.  I'd gag on my toothbrush and feel sick for hours.  I don't know if you know this but I am obsessed with brushing my teeth and having it taste minty fresh.  In no way do I enjoy my mouth tasting like butt.  So it dawned on me today as I was vigorously brushing the back of my tongue and not gagging that I was vigorously brushing the back of my mouth and not gagging!  I was so happy about this!  For real it was my first genuine smile of the day! So I am pretty stinkin' grateful that I can do that again and I'm also thankful that I noticed it when I was in a phunk!

The Amount of People Who Are Reaching Out to Send Their Support - I mean for real these are people that I haven't spoken to in years.  And they are calling, texting, messaging me their well wishes for Pip and I. I am grateful for it.  I appreciate every single good wish, juju, good vibe, and prayer that are sent our way. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

That People Buy Presents for Pip - It's not the fact that they are buying him things, it's not  a materialistic thing at all. I like it because when people give me things for Pip I think "oh, hey, they think he will make it too."  That might sound stupid and it's cool if you think it does but to me it's comforting. Thoughtful, of course, but the fact that they think he's going to stick around too is very, very nice to know.

Pip Gave Me Thumbs Up -  I know it's just silly nonsense and he has no idea what a thumbs up means but the Universe does! I am taking Pip's thumbs up as a sign of him telling me, "Chillax.  We got this. I'll see you in the fall."  The ultrasound tech was able to get a photo of him doing it (he did it twice) and whenever I get discouraged I look at that picture and just remind myself that every little thing is gonna be alright.

Dann's Plane Ticket is Booked! - Thank goodness!  I cannot wait to have him here.  June 26th cannot come soon enough.  At least I know when and how that is happening!


What are you thankful for?