A Not So Normal Day

(I meant to post this yesterday, but that just didn’t work out. So, here it is now….)

So, what did you do yesterday?

I worked, went to visit with Mom after work while the carpet was still being laid, saw a guy get shot and then beat up, went home to have dinner with Chris and Jonathan, and then unpacked a few boxes while they brought the rest of the stuff up from the U-Haul. Pretty normal day, right? No? Really? You don’t usually see people getting shot and beat up? Me neither, but there it was.

I was sitting in my parent’s breakfast room when I heard a shot outside. I got up and looked out the window. There were three men across the street, one with a small handgun. He was shooting at one of the other guys. The one being shot tackled the shooter, and then the shooter and the third man proceeded, in the middle of the street, to beat up the one who had been shot. Before I knew it the two attackers ran off one way, and the guy who had been shot disappeared down the alley. A few minutes later I heard sirens. The whole thing was quite surreal; I felt like I was watching someone filming a scene in a movie or some cop show. I was shocked and had a hard time reconciling in my mind the fact that I had really just witnessed such a violent crime.

On to something less dramatic… the carpet in our apartment looks very nice. We had no idea what we were getting as our landlord ordered it. It’s a warm chocolate brown. When Chris called to tell me what it was, I was very skeptical about it. However, it gives the apartment a very welcoming, homey feeling.

Anyway, here’s hoping that the rest of this day is low key and closer to normal.

Slow as Molasses

The time just drags on. I sit here fielding calls, retrieving and delivering the mail, and completing various other tasks that are dropped off on my desk. I read educational books, devotionals, and novels. I check my email and people’s blogs and the Scots network. I listen to the radio or CD’s I’ve brought with me. I keep myself pretty busy, and yet the hours still pass slowly.

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am so uncomfortable. I have to keep switching positions in order to try to find a few moments of comfort. But as soon as one part of my body is relaxed, another part starts feeling sore or swollen or just painful. Yeah, ok, I’m complaining a little. Sorry.

Last night my sister’s husband, Matt, came and helped Chris pack the U-Haul. He even called us last week to volunteer to help! How cool! And now, Chris is home while the carpet is being laid. Later, his brother, Jonathan, will come to help unload the U-Haul and put everything right again. Maybe after that we can decrease the chaos for a while… at least until the baby is born.

Last night I think that I was having some mad Braxton-Hicks contractions. I didn’t tell Chris because I didn’t get him all riled up if I wasn’t sure if it was the real thing. After a little while they dissipated, and I was glad that I hadn’t made a big deal about it. I think he’s nervous enough as it is. Honestly, though, I don’t think I’m going to make it to that due date. I just need her to wait another two weeks. I’ll be a little more ready for her then. I realize that you can never be totally ready, but I just need enough time to put a few things in order.

Just in case you want to know…. Among other things, right now I’m reading:



This it the devotional I’m going through. It has a companion workbook that I am completing. Since I’ve read most of the other stuff by John Eldredge, this one hasn’t been as difficult for me emotionally, but there’s still some stuff that it’s helping me to work through.



I just finished Inkheart, and this is the sequel. I just started it today and am enjoying it so far. I enjoy fantasy and juvenile literature, so this is a good fit. Chris has already read them both and loved them. He reads so fast, just devours books, and his literary interests are so limited. It’s so hard to find enough books to keep him reading.

Stacked Up

We have been caught in a flurry of activity as of late: various outings with the nephews, baby showers, doctor appointments, packing the apartment, painting the nursery, general errands, family visits, and of course there’s our jobs…. Most of the hard stuff has fallen on Chris. I am not allowed to do much, or someone will fuss at me. Mostly the fussing comes from Chris or Mom when I try to do a little more than they think I should. (They’re right, by the way, but I’m stubborn and want to be Super Woman.) I’ve also gotten a little fussing from the doctor as well. (Yes, I’m resting and elevating my feet and staying off of them. Yes, I’m drinking my water and sleeping on my left side.)

I’ve been very busy for the last several days with writing thank you notes for the baby showers I’ve had as of late, three in the last three weeks which meant about 75 thank you notes! This baby is going to be well cared for. We now have almost everything we need and more blankets than we will ever need. However, all of the stuff is with Mom or Donitta, my mother-in-law, because our apartment is still in a state of chaos.

We’re finally having the new carpet laid tomorrow. Thank God! That really, really needed to happen before the baby arrived. All the stuff in our apartment has been mostly packed up and is ready to move. We’re getting a U-Haul today to put a lot of it in, and the rest of it is stacked in the hall bathroom. I know it seems crazy to get a U-Haul when we’re not actually moving, but there’s just not much else we can do. There’s nowhere else to put all of the electronics and boxes of stuff that has to be moved before the

Last night Chris spent a few hours painting the nursery. It’s a lovely soft green, and it looks perfect! I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to get all of the furniture and décor in there. He got up early this morning to start working on the trim but ran out of time and will have to complete that little task later tonight so that it will be done before the new carpet arrives. He’s putting a fresh white coat on the window and the floorboards.

I have finally conceded to the wishes of my family and agreed to stop working earlier than previously planned. I was going to work right up until I had the baby, but I have now given my two weeks notice. They were trying to get me to make this week my last one, but I feel like I’ve compromised pretty well with just two more weeks. My last day at work will be on July 20, which gives me two weeks before my due date even though I think this little girl will be ready to come a little early. Yes, I’ve seen people roll their eyes or try to hide some little knowing facial expression when I say that I think she’s coming early. I know these things can’t truly be predicted and that many first-born babies come late. It’s just a feeling I have. And if I’m wrong? Oh, well, I’ll just be wrong. No matter when she comes, I’m just thrilled that she’ll be mine.

Last Leg of the Journey

You’re on a bicycle having just crested a hill that seemed interminably long and nearly impossible to ascend. When you started out on that journey, you had no idea exactly where you were headed, but you knew that you were ready for an adventure, and that’s just what you got! New twists and turns and discoveries appeared with each corner you turned, some met with delight and others with hesitation and dismay. And now, looking down the other side of that formidable hill, you see that though it’s mostly downhill, there are still a few smaller hills to climb. Near the bottom, the road curves sharply to the left, and there’s no way to tell just how it ends. It’s sure to be challenging and exhilarating, but there are so many possi. Of course, to experience the thrill and to feel the wind rushing against your face and through your hair even taking your own breathe away, you must go on. There’s no turning back.

Yep, that’s where I feel like I am.

Just a few more weeks to go…. This really is the hardest time, with the waiting and anticipating. We finally were able to get the carpet layers to come earlier. They will be laying the carpet next Tuesday; our previous appointment had them coming just two weeks before my due date. That was cutting things a bit too close for my comfort. To make things run a bit more smoothly, all (hopefully) will be packed up in the next couple days, and we’re planning on painting the nursery this Saturday. I think it’s a better idea to go ahead and paint with the old nasty carpet in place rather than risk ruining the new carpet. If anything happens to a wall, we can do a little touch up. But it finally feels like things are coming together. Thank God!

I have the last of my baby showers this Sunday. Once again, I will have to store the baby gifts at my mother-in-law’s house, but it won’t have to be there very long. Just after we have the carpet laid, I’ll bring all my little treasures home and start arranging things until it feels just right for welcoming our little girl. I can’t wait to be able to do this.

The only real problem with all of this happening right now is that the doctor has told me that I need to both keep my feet elevated and stay off my feet as much as possible. Yesterday I spent the majority of the holiday reclining with my feet propped up on three big pillows. For the first time I can remember, I didn’t go watch the fireworks from downtown; I actually sat in front of the TV and viewed them that way. Not at all the same! Still, it’s a part of taking care of this baby and myself, so it’s totally worth it. At work I have a crate or a chair I’m using depending on what the task I’m working on. I can’t help with packing up the apartment to make ready for the carpet layers, but I will not be robbed of working on the nursery once all the other stuff is done. I will do it in little spurts with lots of time keeping my feet elevated in between, but I want the joy of that part of nesting.