Nov 1st

WOW! Is it really the beginning of November???

Must be. The clocks are changed and there are piles of sorted Halloween candy on my table.

While the kids spent the weekend w/ Dad, I attended one my classes this term... Rhythm-based communication. AMAZING!!! I had the honor of participating in a drum circle for the very first time! Can't wait to do it, again! and to get the boys involved.

I finished and delivered a Dodger's b'day cake today. Turned out great! and was my first vegan one, as well. It was yummy!!

Time to work on math homework and prepare for the coming week.

The crud

"You are sick, but you are not sick enough for meds. You might be later this week. Come back in then" said the nurse practitioner on Monday. It's Wednesday night. My ears are worse, cough is now "textured" and there is the occasional rattle when I breathe. Oh, and best of all... the fever.

I was commiserating with a friend on FB. We both have been "sweating it out."

Today I had an unusual nap experience. I woke up drenched with sweat. I rolled over and went back to sleep. This pattern continued until I had no more dry spots on the bed. Cracking myself up, actually.

Now the sheets are clean, dry, and ready to be put back on the bed. I wonder if I'll have the same experience during the night? hm.

A throwback to my days growing up, "Time to doctor up and get to bed."

A Day to Celebrate

I got a phone call around 8:30am October 7, 2002.

The nurse said "Dr. Robinson wants you to come in for a stress test. Can you be here by 10am?"

Having had an ultrasound the week prior, I assumed they found something they wanted to check out. I wasn't due until the 17th, so I didn't think much of it. I did not call Dennis at work. I just went to their office.

I had experienced Braxton-Hicks contractions for several months and didn't think this was any different. They strapped me in and hooked me to the monitor. I was told to push the button on the device in my hand whenever I felt a contraction. I pushed it rather often.

The Dr came in and explained that they called me in because of a concern about the amount of amniotic fluid. The results were read wrong and there was no problem. She then said, "I cannot send you home in good faith. You are in labor."

OH my.

I was a few days shy of the hospital's safe-to-deliver date in regards to the lung development. So they moved me to a "holding area" and monitored my contractions until they could officially admit me.

Priceless phone call was made at this point...

"Hey Dennis! How are you? What are you doing around 2pm today?"

"Um, I'll be at work, why?"

"Any chance you could swing by the house and pick up a few things then meet me at the hospital? Looks like we're having a baby today."

silence.

stuttered sounds in an attempt to find the words

"uh, sure."

After being moved to the holding area, I called my best friend, Lisa, who was the Occupational Therapy supervisor at that hospital.

"Hi Lisa! What are you doing during lunch? Will you have time to swing by the OB floor and visit me?"

"WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?"

more stuttered sounds trying to find the words

Just after 8pm that night, Benjamin Lucas Dirren arrived!!

For several reasons he was delivered C-section. One of which was him being breach. He made a unique and surprising arrival...as being pulled out my his feet, he peed as soon as it hit the cold air. =)

At age 7, I can attest that experience was a foreshadow of his life. He does not pee anytime it hits the cold air, but he certainly is unique and surprises us.

thank you, God, for this amazing being and the opportunity to be his mom!

bio/psycho/spiritual integration

that is the title of the course I am taking this weekend.

wow! WOW!

I believe everything is connected.

I believe every experience affects us on each level, to some degree.

I believe I shall finish my lunch break and get back to class.

Ben 1 sink 0

The sink in my bathroom had a clog. Ben leaned under the sink the other day to "listen" to the water and try to figure it all out. He said, "Mom, let me know when we have time to fix this. It's just dripping here" (pointing to the P trap).

Tonight I handed him a plastic bin, towels, and a long screwdriver.

We set the towel and tub under the pipes. I loosened the nuts and he

removed the P trap. "eWW! this is stinky!" he complained.

I had him release the stopper assembly and take out the stopper.

He refused to use the screwdriver and push the clog out.

But once it was out, he put everything back together.

woo hoo!

He knows he can clean a clog (prep it for mom to push out) but does not want to be a plumber. He informed me he wants to be a police officer.

When I told him he'd be dealing with a lot of other yucky stuff he said, "it won't be this bad."

I'll let his Dad explain that one later.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Fall term 2009 started today! woo hoo!

count down to June 2011 has officially began! (as a full time student, that is)

I will be stretching my mind, creativity, and body.

Math, communication classes, drawing, and yoga.

Yep, yoga. No, it's not for credit.

The transition from the end of ICYM to being a full time student is complete.

I am looking forward to this "routine" for the next few years.

It's official! I am the parent of a teenager!!

Today, Sept 25th is Wil's 13th birthday!!

Although he has been acting like a teenager for several years, it is now for real.

He just went to bed (yes, midnight on a school night) after having gone to The Killers concert w/ his Dad. Tomorrow night I will host a co-ed party (the girls will go home after the movie and guys spend the night).

Our culture does not have many rites of passages.

The best we can do is love them though it.

He's a great kid! I am having so much fun being his mom!

He seems to be having a great year, so far, too. The other day he says to me, "I don't know about you, but my social life is rockin'!"

more blogging AFTER the party