I'm a mother to be... of stones.

Yes its true. I am now in the last trimester of my first and hopefully only experience with giving birth to stone babies. I thought I was going to deliver but no, my babies are not ready to come into the world. Here's what had happened...

I woke up having a nice morning, on time to work, didn't have to iron, pretty ok hair day without too much effort and my battery was dead. I won't start of the trek of anger that happened after that since JIFFY LUBE is at fault and it will send me off and that's not good for the babies.

So I called a co-worker/BFF to pick me up and take me to the office. I got there and started trying to get in touch with Jiffy Lube to give them an update on their customer's disappointment. No one answers the phone at the particular location. I had a quick meeting and started to feel some pain in my back, side, lower abdomen. Within the hour, I reminded myself that I no longer have an appendix. The pain continued and I informed my new manager that I would have to leave and have a ride to the urgent care. Within a few miles I realized I need to go to the EMERGENCY ROOM NOW. Its great having friends that you work with that can drive you but also know where stuff is.

She, Amelie was worried and I was getting worried. I was sweating and shaking and it was the first time I've thrown up from pain. It was not funny at the time but now I wish there had been a video camera in the ER room. I was upside down on the bed - writhing (my new favorite word) while 3 people helped me strip and get me turned around. Amelie has the worry gene and we all know its hard to watch those we love in pain so I was very thankful she did not see how much worse it got. Dang that was the worst feeling ever. I kept thinking how much worse can it get before I'll pass out. I am a dramatic person at times but I think others that have had these will confirm I am not being dramatic. For Real!

So, I got an IV of morphine QUICK and I was complimenting the nurse that put the IV in whilst I was writhing and screaming - "MAKE IT STOP!!!". "Wow that was the best IV I've ever gotten." "MAKE IT STOP!". "Please get something in the IV - she did a great job now put something in it." "MAKE IT STOP!!!!!"I never saw the exorcist but I believe I have lived it. Yes a video would have been fun.

They informed me that I was having a text book case of kidney stones and they would confirm with a CAT scan as soon as the drugs kicked in.

The Good News: They are all small enough to pass on my own
The Bad News: There are multiples and still some up in the kidney
The Good News: With the level of pain you should be passing them soon
The Bad News: You will be passing them at home which means no more morphine
The Good News: We will give you some good drugs
The Bad News: They may not be strong enough
The Good News: You can come back and we'll hook you up

Ok - well its been 3 days and no stone babies have been delivered. I thought for sure my mucus plug had come out and my water must have broken so what is the delay? How can I induce this labor and delivery?

I have aches and at times pain but not the extreme pain so I guess that means they have stopped moving around. I can't feel them kicking anymore. I know its going to hurt but I really just want to git it over with.

No my babies will not be cute, smooth little stones like you find at the beach. I hear they are the equivalent of barb wire without the fence post. I don't really care. I just want them out of me. I've got all my drugs ready and I have been drinking enough water to kill a fish. I have peed in a strainer so much that I'm a pro now and will soon be attempting to pee on a tree through a strainer.

I will be registering at Stones R Us so get your credit card ready.

Hippo Sighting

It was strange to see a hippo at Sweetwater Creek. Coco did so good especially considering how out of shape he is and that we went out further than we planned. There were some areas that he really had to climb rocks and stuff. The only thing that saved him was the water breaks. He would just sink in, rest and drink. He doesn't do well with heat. He has been sore and we've been giving him little massages so he's doing better. We met a lot of other people with their dogs. He gets a little alpha but did good when meeting his canine friends. People kept asking what kind of dog he is and after saying it over and over we decided to just say he is really a bear since he looks like one of those more than anything.

He's a mutt but shows the signs of a bull mastif and a chow. He weighs about 90 lbs and is really sweet. Needy but sweet.

Ohh yeah and very territorial. He will kill anything that comes in his yard that is smaller than him (except for his boxer girlfriend, GiGi). He has 5 acres to his name and he walks the perimeter on the regular. There is a sign in the drive that says BEWARE OF DOG. I wish I knew how to write the sign for the true audience that needs to know but I don't know how to speak or write, rabbit, bird, mole, squirrel, etc.

Sweet

We went to Sweetwater Creek and it was beautiful. There will be another state park coming next year. We love state parks and hope to see many more. You have to watch Bentley thought because he will bite off more than I want to chew.

Love the smell of freshly cut grass...

and i thought I liked freshly cut grass. Maybe not since I'm not going to roll around in it. I don't know about you, I have loved this summer and the cool mornings reminding me that its going to end soon make me sad. I sit in air conditioning so cold I have to wear a sweater and turn on a little space heater at times so I don't suffer the heat very much. I dread the dark afternoons and the cold. I miss having summers off to sleep late and watch The Love Boat. Recently I borrowed a copy of a Carol Burnette show special from the library and laughed till I cried. I love that show and I want the box set. I started reminiscing the other shows and how much tv has changed.

My daddy would watch the Muppet Show with us and loved the two old farts that sat in the balcony. We would laugh and I would try to karate chop my brother like Miss Piggy did Kermit. Ohh the good ole days. Bentley and I went through a list of our old favorites and it was funny how many good memories they brought up. Now its hard to find shows that everyone can watch and enjoy. I can't handle the shows that start with a dead body. There are so many of them and its a good sign that something has gone wrong.

I know reality shows are silly in many ways and people act like you're dumb to watch them but I love watching - So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol, Whatever that one is that has stars dancing. At least its something positive that you feel good when you watch these people do something that requires work and talent because some of these other shows make you feel bad.

Example - Sitcoms are all about a stupid man and a wife that is mean to him. Just cause that can be reality for many and people can relate (its even funny sometimes) I don't ever really feel good watching them. Some of the shows like Lost cause a bad reaction because I get so freaked and anxious with all the mysterious music that I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. Plus I just want to know the end and it better be good and they drag it out too long. Like Hero - that started good - save the cheerleader - god - do it already. What happened I just gave up.

I have @10 channels and 3 of them are PBS. There is always something good on. Did you know that the terracotta soldiers in China were built for the King to have an army in his after life and it was a secret and was never meant to be found and the people that built them were buried with the soldiers. Yep.

Nesting

My girlfriend Amelie recently had a screened in room added to her house. I went over to check it out and while inspecting our new nesting ground, I was pleasantly surprised when is saw this nest. Sweet - right in the middle of a rose bush. I hear its all about location. Obviously it has been vacated but its a cute little home.

I love the addition and we sat outside listening to the night, watching the candles flicker and catching up on our points of interest.

I think birds nest are really interesting creations. Its funny how similar we are in our instincts to pick a good location for view and security, add soft materials and ensure food is close by.

Pass Test...Check

Bentley completed 2 test in 2 months and didn't take a course or have an instructor of any kind. I tried looking at the materials and it was way over my head. Yep, he's smart. We are really relieved and I'm so proud. Now he can relax a little and stop studying. There has been a huge weight lifted. YIPPEEE

Last Beach Post - Promise

Before and after pictures.

The first one was the first night and I was tight and pale and trying to relax on the dock, listening to music drinking my first margarita and squeezin my lil Page.

The second picture was taken a couple of nights later hanging out listening to my lil brother strum some tunes on the porch and beyond relaxed with a little bit of pink. No worries.

My mom and daddy ROCK for making sure we always get a trip together. They make it so easy for us coming from different places and we move in and make the little cottage home. There are so many places on this planet I would love to see but this place is hard to beat and I think it has a lot to do with the company.

The only thing missing was my Bentley. He couldn't switch his vacation and he's in the middle of studying for qualification tests. He was missed and it sucks being a grown up but he'll plan to come on a future trip.