Runner

 

I jogged 2 miles in 18 minutes. Not a good time I know but still I did it. It's been months since I've done any jogging/running. I think I can work up to a 5K in a couple of weeks.

My lesson learned from my pumpkin disaster is to involve the kids in projects like that, so when it turns out poorly, you can just say, "Oh, the kids 'helped' me!"

Halloween Fail

The Concept:


The Reality:

 

 

Orlando Sucks

 

 

 

Orlando sucks unless you are there for the sole purpose of visiting the theme parks. If you weren't sure whether or not you wanted kids and you took a business trip to Orlando, you would become one of those annoying people who is totally anti-kid. So if you get to go somewhere on the company dime and you are looking forward to this trip because you will have six glorious days and five wondrous nights without your kids, don't go to the conference being held in Orlando. Otherwise I totally rocked the session that I conducted. We had a room of over 100 people and I had every person in the room laughing at a self deprecating comment I made at one point and it wasn't polite laughter. For the next two days, we actually got stopped walking around the conference and while eating lunch by people who wanted to thank us for all the great info they got in our session. We were awesome and I think I deserve a big fat raise.

On another note Ella just told me that when she grows up she wants a limbousine. Dream big kid. I like to do the limbo and ride in long cars also.

On another note again, Julia told me that a boy in her class told her that he likes her. My kid is getting big.

On another note yet again, I know I have identical twins, but I think it's a little weird that they poop at the same time. Seriously, within an hour of hearing the first "Mom, I need you to wipe my butt," I am sure to hear it again from the other one. Bizarre.

And I'm Off

 

Last week someone asked me if we were surprised when we found out we were having twins. The answer is of course yes, but the emotion I felt most was relief. I've told this story before, but I started thinking about it again after that conversation. We went in for the first ultrasound of the pregnancy. It was done at 16 weeks and we were going to find out if we were having a boy or girl. I think we both were secretly hoping it would be a boy so we would have a boy and a girl and then we could consider ourselves done if we wanted, without feeling pressure later to have another. Everything about the pregnancy had been totally fine. We heard a heartbeat early on and there was absolutely no indication that anything was wrong or abnormal. We went into the ultrasound excited to find out the sex and see the baby. We even brought Julia so she could experience it with us. The technician squirted my belly with goo and started probing and swiping around with the wand. We were all looking at the monitor waiting for her to start pointing out body parts and making measurements and reassure us that everything looked great and the baby was just the right size and by the way it's a... But she didn't say any of that. She stayed very quiet and kind of frantically swiped this way and that, pausing for a few seconds, then going back the other way and pausing for a few seconds. I was just starting to feel concerned when she asked, "Is this your first ultrasound?" I started to feel seriously panicky. I thought the baby had died or was malformed or any other of a number of possibilities and here we were so confident that we had brought our four year old daughter in with us. Then she said, "Well I see two heads." OK, seriously? Siamese twins, what's happening? Then finally she said,"It looks like there are two babies. You are having twins." Big sigh of relief. Anything seemed fine after that. "Twins. Whatever!" We then found out they were both girls and there was no indication whether they were identical or fraternal. We were sent off with some film of the ultrasound to my OBGYN. When we stepped into the office, everyone was looking at us wide eyed waiting to see our reaction. I was still a bit freaked out about the whole experience and Mike and I had only had an elevator ride with our four year old between the big news and the Dr. appt. It was surreal, but we gradually got used to the idea and could not wait to starting freaking out our family and friends with the news.
So were we surprised? Yes, but any shock value from the news was completely overshadowed by the enormous sense of relief at find out the babies were in fact healthy and not joined in any way. Way to freak out the pregnant lady, Ms. Ultrasound technician.
And now I'm leaving for the airport for a week long trip, Alone. Pray for the members of my family who are staying behind.

Pandora

 

 

I got an ipod touch for my birthday. It's beautiful. One of my favorite features is the Pandora app. Tonight as I put the kids to bed, we all listened to Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. Perhaps 1940's and 50's jazz isn't the most soothing music and perhaps Lavay Smith is the reason the kids are still awake at 9:30 on a school night, but I still think it was a good choice.

Lightning Storm

 

 

 

 

Baton Rouge Riverfront

 

We went to a birthday party at one of the downtown museums. Afterward I took the girls to the river.

 

We explored the fountains.

 

We went to the river and walked through the weeds to the water's edge.

 

Then all three of us stepped in the mud at the same time. It was deceptively solid in appearance, but quicksandish in consistency. I talked the girls down from a possible meltdown the likes of which the peaceful riverside had never before seen. We washed our feet and shoes in the fountain we just admired leaving behind gritty brown swirls in the water.