So.....most of you who read this already know, but I guess it's time to "put it out there"-- I am currently 12 weeks pregnant.
1. No, it wasn't planned
2. Yes, we know how this happens, and believe- you- me, it's been taken care of.
3. The kids are excited-well, Max and Al are, Jay is a mama's boy and doesn't want to share me.
4. It's horrible timing..baby will be born in April, right about the time Eric has a couple trips, long trips.
5. I'm flippin' old....too old for this shit.

I am at the point, now, where I can talk about it without a pit in my stomach. No, it's not some metaphor for the seed in me, but literally, a sinking feeling regarding what we are in for.

I received immunizations in May for the trip to Brazil. The nurse told me not to get pregnant for 3 months......"Yeah, ok, no problem".....oops! The perinatologist said she thought I was ok on that front. My advanced maternal age, however, seems to be more of the concern. I will have testing done on the 10th.

We have nothing. Not one stitch of clothing for baby or my growing belly. No crib. No room for a crib. I was really excited to go back to work this fall as an LPN. I felt good contributing financially to the family. Now, I doubt anyone will hire me given I only have about 6 months to work.

A newborn mixed in with all the activities, homework and craziness that is our family is pretty overwhelming. Max may be starting travel ball this spring that will take us all over central Ohio. Poor babe will only know the inside of the van!!!

**************Now, for the positive*****************************************

I am starting to get to the part where I can get excited. It's taken me a long time. It's just not what I had planned.

As it is now, Eric gets home at night around 6:30-7. He misses out on a lot with the kids. We have some changes coming up that will allow him to be around more (hopefully) He will have more time to spend with the kids and new baby. When Max, Jay and Ally were young, he also had to work a lot and commute. He feels he missed out on stuff he will be able to be there for with #4.

With the older three, it was a lot of baby/infant/toddler in a small amount of time. With the older kids pretty much self-sufficient, I'm hoping it will be a little easier. Being on the move all the time is the only physical drawback I see for now. The kids are excited to help out with the baby (at least NOW they say that :)

I have an opportunity to do things differently this time around. I will use cloth/reusable diapers to keep from destroying the planet. I feel I will be much more laid-back....how can you not with the fourth??

All in all, this happened for a reason. A reason I do not fully understand, yet. I have heard many times, people having "surprises" like ours and feeling it was very much meant to be. A wonderful gift they would never have expected. I feel this will be the same with us.


* Mom said someone she knows described the baby at this point as looking like a gummy bear. That's exactly what it looks like!!!!
Seeing as how I have been much sicker with this one, than the other three combined, I was glad to see only one on the ultrasound! I will have to open my mind to the possibility of a boy. I keep feeling it's a girl, given how sick I was. I am feeling much better this past week. Tired, but no longer nauseated and barfing. It was a long 6 weeks!!!

I'M SO HAPPY!!!!
For quite awhile, now, I have been badgering..(ahem).....encouraging Max to start reading Harry Potter. I just want to spread the love, ya know? Well, he has finally given up/conceded. He read the first chapter last night. I think he was a little less than enthusiastic about that first chapter, but he's in to it. He's opened the can of worms.......hopefully initiating a love for Harry.

FALL TV!!!!! After last season's writers strike, I am looking forward to tv even more. Some of the shows I am grieving for are Journeyman and Life. I thought they were really good, but apparently no one thought of asking me.

Before I talk about my favorite tv shows, I have to give a big shout out for Tina "Genius" Fey for her role as Sara Palin. SPOT ON! She was sooo good. So funny. I want to be her in my next life....... Very sad this is the last season for SNL. It's an end to an era. Yes, it's had it's very dry years, but can you imagine how hard it would be to come up with fresh material all the time? When it was good, it was really good.

Some of the exciting shows this season - if not new to tv, are new to me and I like 'em!

I am so excited that FNL is back on this season. I was afraid it would be cancelled for good. It's such a great show. Yes, there's football, but it's not a football show. It's the best show you're not watching. Isn't that an actual award at the Emmy's?? I have to say that Tim Riggins......so hot. Yeah, I said it. I'm old, not dead.

Megan, Abby and Dawn got me hooked on Army Wives. Love it. Although, Kim Delaney needs to lay off the collagen!

I heard the critics rave about Fringe, so I tivo'd it and I do like it. It's kind of an "X Files" meets CSI. (the CSI sans David Caruso - that man drives me crazy..ick)

I think I'll tivo Pushing Daisies. It sounds really good and it has a very loyal following. I'm also excited for my favorite stand-bys.....Grey's Anatomy, Samantha Who, 30 Rock, The Office, Private Practice, Brothers and Sisters, Without A Trace, Women's Murder Club(Is that coming back? Not sure), Supernatural and Paranormal State. Whew! You'd think I actually have time to watch all these shows. What will inevitably happen, is that many will get deleted before I get to them. It's all about survival of the fittest, baby. You're good, you get watched, you're mediocre, you get deleted. That's just the way it is...................

It's no secret I love, love, love fall. One of the many reasons, is all the great apple recipes.


One of my favorite apple desserts, is Taffy Apple Pizza. Because I'm a giver, I'll share it will you all :)

1 18oz pkg softened sugar cookie dough
1 8 oz pkg. softened cream cheese
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 med. apples, peeled,cored and sliced
1/4 c. caramel (sundae topping) * I use Mrs. Richardsons
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into ball. Place in center of stone or cookie sheet and roll out. (It doesn't have to be perfect, I use my fingers to push it into corners) Bake according to package directions. Cool completely before putting toppings on. Mix cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar and vanilla in bowl. Spread over cookie. Arrange apples over mixture; sprinkle with cinnamon (optional). Drizzle caramel over apples. Sprinkle nuts on top.

I don't have a picture right now, but will soon. VERY yummy!!






This recipe I stole from Ree (confessionsofapioneerwoman.com -website definitely worth visiting. It's fabulous.) Ree stole it from The Naked Chef, but whatever the misdemeanor, it's awesome salad.

linguine or spaghetti - cooked el dente( I use the whole box, because I usually make a big batch)
red cabbage
scallions
bell pepper
cilantro
bean sprouts (wash!)
Napa cabbage
spinach
jalapeno (optional)
cashews (optional)

DRESSING:
8 T olive oil
8 T soy sauce
2-3 tsp sesame oil
1 lime, juiced
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 cloves garlic
3 T ginger
Mix all dressing ingredients together in a bowl, then add to veggies.
* Many of these ingredients can be varied. I don't use as much ginger, but may put in a little more garlic. The veggies are all according to taste, too. I use as much cilantro and onion as I can and less of the cabbages. Add more, add less, it's up to you and your tastes. You basically just mix it all up in one big bowl and grab a fork.

MEET ALFALFA!!!
Even though Jay was resistant to the idea of getting a new lizard, he got excited when we went to look. He chose a yellow/tangerine leopard gecko. He looks like Spanky in the face, but he's a beautiful orange. He's getting ready to shed, so he's a little faded, but we were told he'd get a really bright orange with stripes.
Jay visits Spanky's grave every day. He introduced the two and assured Spank that he would never be replaced, but that he was soooo loved, that he couldn't bear the hole Spanky left.
It's kind of hard to look at Alfalfa, because he does remind us of Spanky. We even call him Spanky, sometimes. However, I think he will fit in just fine. *Really, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence by explaining the whole "Little Rascals" theme we have with the naming of the geckos. Some people may not be familiar with the movies. God help us if Alfalfa dies, but the next lizard's name will be Buckwheat or Petey. Hopefully, it would be an addition to the family, rather than a replacement!!

I posted earlier that we lost and found Spanky. We knew he wasn't eating and tried many different things to get him going again. I finally called a place that does reptiles and does it well. Apparently, our set-up for Spanky was all wrong. I set out for Columbus Monday morning to get a new set-up. I checked on Spanky, and the poor guy wasn't looking too good. I broke many speed limits getting there and the woman at the store was great and very knowledgeable. She said it sounded like he was stressed out after being out for so long. I got a new tank, heater, sand, vitamins, etc. I fly back home and I was too late. I couldn't believe it. Now, my reaction could have been highly hormonal, however, I'd like to think of it as true grief for a beloved pet lizard. I was sobbing and heaving with a little hyperventilation thrown in for good measure. A hot mess. I had to call Eric to tell him and barely got the words out. A few friends called (poor Ann and Michele) and I had to keep apologizing for crying. It was unbearable. It wasn't only my own sadness, but I had to tell Jay when he got home from school. He knew Spank wasn't doing well, but I had told him we would do everything we could for him. When he got off the bus, I went out to him. As soon as he saw my face, he said, "Uh oh." Then it occured to him what exactly it was. *Yes, little child, I'm about to break your heart* He cried and cried. Ally cried, and Max tried to be strong, but there were tears. Jay then made sure he found a peaceful place to bury him. I asked him if I could take pictures of the process, but his reply nearly killed me. He said, "Well, I really don't want to see this again." Well spoken, little man. However, I did take a couple photos of Jay painting Spanky's tombstone and making sure it was perfect.



Rest in peace, Spanky. You were possibly the most loved reptile and will be greatly missed..........

First day of school, 2008. I think Ally was the only one truly excited, but they put on a good front for the camera.

Just the first installment of football pictures....This was their first scrimmage, so not even a game yet. This particular night, our team got 8 touchdowns and four of them were Max.
I really have no shame when it comes to bragging. I can't help it. Max absolutely loves this sport and is really good. It is so much fun to watch him play.
I have to say that the coaching staff this year is phenomenal. Last year, Max forgot gear all the time. We would be halfway (or all the way) to practice when Max would ask if I remembered to put his helmet in the van. Umm..nooo. This year coach made it clear that this was the player's responsibility, not the parent's -water bottles, gear and game/practice times are on the player. I love it. As of yet, no mad dashes back home for forgotten things.