Unclear on the concept

So the other day I was cutting the grass with my old-time-style push-mower when this guy comes walking down the street raising money for something.

He: Hey, I haven't seen one of those lawn mowers in a while.
Me: Yeah, I like it, it's cheap and quiet.
He: And it doesn't pollute anything!

I gave him a coupla bucks, accepted his freebie token gift (a giant Pixy Stik) and watched him walk down to the corner...

...and light up a cigarette.

Um. Yeah. Good thing I don't pollute, dude.

Baby room progress

I'll have pictures up when it's done, but I'm making some progress on putting the Old McDonald scene in the baby's room. The sky and clouds were really easy - I was reminded of the Far Side with God rolling snakes out of clay, saying "Boy, these things are a cinch!"

Grass, rolling hills and trees were a little less easy, but the cartoony appearance I'm going for means there aren't...well, "mistakes." In the world I'm drawing, anything can happen!

I have pictures of animals on transparency that I'll project on the wall and trace, then paint. It should be pretty simple to finish. But for now, all you get is a teaser.

Not much going on lately

We've been mostly on autopilot lately. I've had some flu-like symptoms, so Tina's been taking care of me for a change. I don't like it. It's my job to care for her.

Tina did go all day yesterday without her nausea pill and seemed to make it OK. So maybe there has been some progress. She's still asleep this morning so I don't know her plans for today. I'm thinking she'll try an every-other-day weaning off the pill. That would be a good thing.

Amanda (friend and prior owner/beautifier of our beautiful home) brought over some maternity clothes...Tina was overjoyed that some of the cute pieces fit. So thanks to Amanda for that...very thoughtful.

And Tina was able to take apart a bit of prime rib for our anniversary at Lonestar. Odd thing: apparently Lonestar has some sort of automatic cooker that was putting out medium-rare prime rib and we couldn't have it any other way. But it was good stuff - not chewy at all, even though it was quite pink. Well-seasoned, too. Mine ended up slightly crusted with the cup-and-a-half of cinnamon sugar they poured on my sweet potato. Not bad, really.

Overheard at Olive Garden

The worst snippet of conversation I can imagine coming from a woman (and this not a week after Mother's Day):

Self-centered vainglorious middle-ager 1: "When my ex-husband left me, my son was six years old and he couldn't sleep for three years. He kept calling out for his Daddy all night long."

Self-centered vainglorious middle-ager 2: "That must have been traumatic for you, too."

Self-centered vainglorious middle-ager 1: "Well, I got the house."

All: Laughter, of the "you're-so-naughty-clever" type.

Me, under my breath: "Ever wonder why he left you?"

Now, the issue isn't whether she got the house from him. That's just stereotypical divorcee stuff. The issue is that she completely totally ignored the opportunity to express even the slightest bit of distress that her young son suffered. Instead, it was an opportunity for her to focus on the one thing that matters most to her: her.

Dear Father in Heaven, I beg of you that I never ever ever act or think that way.

Not to say "I told you so," but...

Tina's first trip to the chiropractor was something of a success. One of her two pelvic pains seems to be gone, and her ever-tense neck seems to be somewhat looser.

For the record, I have never, ever, ever suggested she see a chiropractor for her back and neck issues. Never. Ever. Um, yeah.

Seriously, I'm just happy she's feeling better. She has a followup on Monday to see the results of a computerized exam thingy she took and to get a readjustment. I guess the first one is sort of preliminary and then they see how it worked.

Our Bible study group prayed for healing and it seems to be on the way.

Chiropractor

Tina's been having some lower-back sort of pain, so on Friday she's going to a chiropractor for some misalignment-readjustment stuff. Should help. She's been shuffling lotsa books around at the library and generally suffering quite a bit.

On the positive side, the baby's been kicking up quite a placental storm. (I'm not sure what sort of visual that brings up...sorry.) And her first Mother's Day is approaching. That'll be fun for her. (I bet something makes her cry. Not sure what, but something will.)

Not too much else going on here. She's pretty tired and sometimes gets a bit...well, sharp. The doctor said the second trimester brings a boost of energy. I'll let y'all know if it happens.

But there are some periods of happiness. The thought of a donut brings smiles. (Thanks to Todd & Amanda for the gift of Dunkin' Donuts! and the tulips. Quite thoughtful, those folks.)

Also, we're slowly getting around to painting the baby's room. We're reprising the Old McDonald theme I put up in the room in our house in Lansing. (The Yi family is enjoying that room now.) If we ever disappear, investigators will be able to track us by the trail of farm scenes in bedrooms.

See ya...God bless.

Ultrasound pics

Following are some of the ultrasound pics. We got a few more of the side view and one with a foot that isn't all that clear. We could clearly see the heart beating. We got a videotape too. Didn't see anything that would have given away the sex. I'm sure the nurse woulda tried harder had we wanted to know.

It was nice to see two of each limb and only one head. Not that we expected anything different, but things happen and it's nice to know that big-picture stuff looks OK.

This is amazing stuff, y'all. I mean, I know everyone else in the world has babies too. But still, it's amazing stuff.

Here's an annotated pic of the face, just because I felt like it. 

Here's a close-up of the face. 

Here's another picture of the side view. You can see the thigh bone really clearly at the left.

Here's the baby. His (her, whatever) right hand is up by his face.

Names

Boy's name du jour: Isaac Walker. Walker is a family name (Tina's grandmother's name when she got adopted, I think), which is fair enough. We're traditional folk who believe in a family having one clearly identifiable family name, rather than hyphenated names or two last names or different last names. So Tina's taken my last name but by using her family's names in the middle we can keep them around. So that's cool.

Plus...well, George W.

I'm still holding out on Reagan as a first name for a girl. Tina thinks it'll be mispronounced "Ree-gan" but I really doubt it. Look, our last name is Mastilak. I think we just need to give up the idea that we'll have an easy time with names.

I've given thought to changing my last name to Matthews. Not really. Usually when I've just ordered a pizza or something.

UPDATE: Walker was Tina's grandma's birth name. Davis was her adopted name.

Sickie pills, part 4,578b

Well, Tina still needs her sickie pills. She had a pretty rough time of it Saturday - had to come home from work. She learned two things that day: first, she still needs the pills. Second, next time she tries to go without them, she should still have some on hand in case she needs them.

She actually figured out on Friday (the day she tested) that she needed them, but we didn't have any of her regular pills and she wouldn't let me get them. So she tried some of the pills she'd gotten earlier, which were only human-strength instead of buffalo-strength. Those didn't do anything except knock her totally loopy. So she was sick in the belly and woozy in the head. Fun for all involved.

Anyway, she's back on the pills and is doing fine. She actually came to see me play guitar and mandolin at all 3 services in church today. That was cool to do - and really great to have her there for it.

Ultrasound this Friday. Updates as they happen. Thanks for reading!

Boy's names

We're still thinking about names for a boy. Isaac ("he laughs") seems to have entered the fray.

Tina wants a name that sounds like a baby's name as well as one that fits a man. I tend not to worry so much about whether a name sounds like a baby's name. Assuming the regular course of life, he'll be a baby for a few years, then a child, then a teenager - then an adult for three or four times as long as all that time (baby-through-teen) put together. So 75-80% of his life will be adulthood.

When I think of kids, I think of them as future adults. So every minute ought to be preparation for a life of adulthood, responsibility for others, etc. Maybe I shouldn't do so much of that, so I can help my kids enjoy being a kid. I never really enjoyed being a kid, because it seemed like all it was was restrictions and having to wait. It doesn't have to be that way, and I don't want it to be that way. I suppose I'll just have to learn to balance preparation for adulthood with protection from the evils of the world and with immersion in the joys of the world.

And boy, do I want to home-school. But that's a whole 'nother argument.

No major news lately

Blogger has eaten a couple of posts lately, so I've been annoyed at it. But really, not too much has happened. Tina has some aches and pains and refuses any sort of medical treatment, preferring to hobble around like a hobbling person.

Our ultrasound is next Friday.

We also registered at Target for baby shower stuff. (Click on the Baby menu at the top, then Target baby Registry at the bottom of the Baby menu.)

And Tina tries the no-anti-puking-medicine thing again this Friday. We'll hope it works, of course, but we have no idea.

New wheels

Well, Benjabeth has a new ride. We just signed a too-good-to-pass-up lease deal on a Toyota Sienna LE. (I think the one on the picture is exactly the same as ours - same light blue, 8-passenger seating, LE model.)

It's really amazing the cool stuff they put into cars these days: Lotsa power, 5-speed auto, traction control, 3rd-row seats fold into the floor or come out, 2nd-row bucket seats that flop forward or come out. The middle seat slides up real far, just behind the first row, so you can smack...uh, feed the baby when he cries like a baby.

A little pop-down mirror so you can see the people in the car like a school bus driver.

Tire pressure monitor.

Snazzy adjustable armrests.

Folding table between the front seats.

Eight cupholders just for the front seats. More in back. Many more. (OK, I'm a little tired of all the cupholder nonsense.)

Separate radio for the back seat - with remote. (I bet those never get lost.)

Plus, Toyota-smooth engine and quality. All that for $269 a month. Really really amazing.

Experiment failed again

Tina can't go without the anti-barf pill. So say results this morning. Specifically, so says barf this morning.

Latest cravings updates

Hawaiian Punch is definitely in.

Pasta back from banishment, but not too terribly often.

Oatmeal: out.

Milkshakes still in.

The occasional salad is in.

Roast beef is in, sliced and on a sandwich.

Big ol' hunks of meat: out. Meat sliced up and mixed in rice: OK.

Sausage McMuffin with Egg: in. Hashbrown: iffy. Hot tea: in.

Heartburn pills: good.

Stouffer's grilled veggie French bread pizzas: probably out, and she's not taking any chances.

Nick-naming nonsense

So we got a thank-you card from our nephew Nicholas today, for a birthday gift we got him (he just turned 5, I think). Kathy (the tyke's ma) had him sign his own name. He signed it, in large, cautious and somewhat unsteady script...

"Nick."

Tina was apoplectic. Just absolutely bonkers. She rationalized that it was probably just easier for his little brain to write four letters than eight, but deep inside (OK, not so deep) she was fuming at the poor little guy - well, more at his poor mum.

I just kinda giggled.

See ya...

UPDATE: I don't think there's acutally anything on here about Tina's hating nicknames. Well, Tina hates nicknames. Absolutely hates them. So that's why this was funny. Or wasn't. Sorry if this makes no sense. It was funny for me and that's all I know.

No news is good news

We had an appointment this morning. Nothing significant happened, other than the obvious fact that we got one day closer to having our baby.

We heard the heartbeat again, about 150 beats per minute. We're gonna switch the kid to decaf.

Tina's going to try the experiment again where she doesn't take the anti-nausea pill on Friday. We'll see how that works. The doctor said one of those doctor things: the pill's totally safe, but we'd prefer you didn't take any medication.

Um. How can those both be true?

Anyway, we'll do an ultrasound in 3 weeks. Pictures to follow online somehow. NO finding out the sex, that's for dang sure.

Friday will also be a day of minivan-shopping. Now we gotta baby on the way, so we gotta getta minivan.

Talk at ya later.

Another failed experiment

Tina's been taking a really strong anti-nausea drug. She decided to
see if she ca go without taking one in the morning.

...She can't.

The rest of the day has been pretty puke-free, though, which is good.
And she can eat a wider variety of foods. Any sort of meat has to be
cut up, though - no slabs of flesh on the plate. Pasta seems to be
kosher again, having worked its way back into favor via mac & cheese.

She thinks she's been having 4th-month symptoms: forgetfulness, a
little dizziness, some odd pains here and there, that sort of thing.

Our next doctor appointment is on the 29th. Updates as they happen.

Best wishes and God's blessings. Thanks for reading.

Amazing stuff

Well, Tina's 12 weeks along now and we heard the child's heartbeat. Sounded a lot like Tina's on the little monitor, only a whole lot faster. I guess he was excited about hearing it himself, too.

It's truly amazing...Tina's not showing a bit; other than the sickness (which a prescription seems to have taken care of) and an unexpected lack of interest in chocolate, you might never know she's pregnant. (Well, if you're reading this, you'd know because all the posts only make sense if she is. Whatever.) But yet there's this whole little person in there...see here for more info and a picture from the State of Texas. (Of course a red state would have pictures of babies before they're born.)

So it's all really cool. Our Bible study group and a couple of other friends have been praying for us, which is really comforting to know.

I'll keep y'all posted as things happen. Next doctor appointment is March 29th. Thanks for reading!

Comments

I think comments are easier to post now, so anyone reading can post comments...well...more easily. Feel free to try it!

Just click on "comments" then on "post a comment." You'll get a window to type your comment. To put your name on it, click the "other" button at the bottom of the comment window and type in your name.

Go ahead. No, really, try it.

Experiment

I think running the water-boiling humidifier at night makes Tina sick in the morning. She was better the last few nights, after forgetting to run it. This morning, after I'd run it last night, was not good. She missed another day at work. Plus, she's been helped by cool or cold things: milkshakes, Icees, ice cream, etc. Warm moist air is probably not helpful.

 

I will report results, with tests of statistical significance, when they are known.

 

Thanks for reading!

No updates here really

Not much has been going on. Tina's been getting sick a little more regularly, and we've been struggling to find a diet she can tolerate. But otherwise, all's going about the same. She seems to be good from early afternoon to early evening, and about bedtime she starts feeling bad. I think she's mostly just dreading the impending morn.

 

We keep hearing about how symptoms of morning sickness are a good thing. That is actually quite reassuring for me. I'm not sure how much it helps Tina right now.

 

We've also determined that she probably ought not come grocery shopping with me anymore. She starts feeling bad, using the cart as a walker and making me feel like I'm shopping with...well, somebody who doesn't walk very fast. That's all I'll say.

 

I'm probably making things sound worse than they are. We're getting by pretty OK - she goes to work most days, I get my classwork done. We're not actively having much fun, but we're not in the dumps.

 

And it's all for a good reason. The best reason there could be.

off topic

Perhaps we can all disabuse ourselves of the notion that Donovan McNabb is a great quarterback. He's overrated and relies on a stout defense to overcome his many errors. If you don't buy the hype and just watch him play, he's merely competent.

And isn't it heart-rending that the Iggles make the Super Bowl without TO, then when he gets back (and, admittedly, plays a great game), they lose. My heart goes out to him. He's truly a class act and a team player all around.

UPDATE: Apparently the stark-naked sarcasm of calling TO anything remotely like a team player was lost on some people. So, for those people, I say this to assure you: I could not be happier that things happened as they did with regard to TO. He was supposed to be what got them a Super Bowl win. Well, they got to the Super Bowl without him, mostly because the NFC pretty much stank, and then when Terrell "it's-all-about-me" Owens comes back, they lose, and I didn't see him doing the first thing to get the team into gear when they were down by 10 points with a few minutes to go and the great quarterback McNabb was lollygagging around like it was the 3rd quarter. That's what I hoped would happen - he would be exposed as the overhyped, self-absorbed not-quite-superstar he actually is.

Of course, Joe Buck and the rest of the Fox announcing crew would never admit that. That'd be racist or something.

Conception vs. adoption redux

For what it's worth, our bible study group was the best in this regard - they all appeared geniunely disappointed when Tina said we weren't adopting. Then she said why, and all the women squealed in delight, as women are wont to do at the thought of a new baby.

Pretty good idea

Someone in our bible study suggested that if our child is born on
Sept. 11, we should name him or her Victor or Victoria. I kinda like
it. It's more up to Tina at this point, of course.

I could see using a name from the day, to pay tribute - like Barbara,
for Barbara Olsen, an author and journalist who was on the plane that
hit the Pentagon. She was married to Ted Olsen, the solicitor general
- the guy who goes to bat for the administration at the Supreme Court.
She was, by all accounts, good people.

Or Todd, as in Beamer, he of "Let's roll." The guy who quite litrally
led the first fight back in the War.

Tina's still pretty big on Benjamin. Maybe we'll use Reagan as the
middle name if he's born on 9/11.

I still think George W. would be a good name for a 9/11 baby. Or, as
he would say, a "September the eleventh" baby.

Not a fun week

The last week has been a bit of a bummer. Tina's been up and down
nausea-wise, ending on sort of a down note. We had to miss our bible
study group on Thursday because she was feeling pretty rotten, and I
wasn't going to leave her alone.

Also, the dog has gotten an infection on her tummy. She's been bored
lately, cooped up in the house without getting all the walks she's
used to because of an arthritic hip. So in her boredom she started
licking her tummy, and gave herself a nice raw spot that got infected.
So, to prevent her from licking it, she has one of the big ol'
collars on. The word "tragicomic" must have been invented by somebody
looking at such a dog. The sight is the perfect balance of funny and
sad. She keeps knocking into the backs of my knees with it.

So not only has my wife been in the dumps, but so has my dog. It's
been a pretty not-fun week. It should be warmer this weekend, though -
around 50 - so Snickers and I will probably get some longer walks in.
(I do take the collar off when we walk!)

Dates

Speaking of anniversaries (see post below), Tina has an unfortunate streak going, which she's brought me unwittingly into.

Her birthday is January 28 - the date of the Challenger disaster. Our wedding anniversary is May 17 - the date of the beginning of the Mt. Saint Helens eruption.

So we have some history on our side (or against us, really) predicting a Sept. 11 birthday for our child. Maybe we should induce on the 10th.