Oh, happy day!

Oh, happy, happy, joyous day! This has been a WEEK! It's hard to remember the last time I was this ecsstatic to see Friday.

We received some fabulous news on Wednesday, March 1, at my weekly doctor's appointment. Sweet baby girl has TURNED and is no longer breech, so no c-section! Hooray, hooray! I am so proud of her for making the big move southward and to know that a c-section is not at least scheduled makes me feel sooooo much better.

Doc now wants to induce next Wednesday. I am protesting that with everything in me. I go back to him on Monday to see if I have progressed at all (which I hadn't on Wednesday) and he said we will discuss being induced then. I know he wants to induce because it is way easier on his schedule, the baby is a big, healthy girl, etc., but a huge part of me wants to let HER decide when she arrives in the world, rather than fit into his schedule. Yes, it would be easier to schedule and coordinate the children, etc. if she arrived next Wednesday, but to force her into the world before she's ready? I had a problem doing it with Lilly Grace (but bent to the pressure because of Christmas), and really don't want to do it this time around.

Went back to hospital for another flawless fetal stress test and then to Angelina College to get measurements. I got so tickled--to get the weight estimate, they have to take three measurements--the head circumference, the length of the femur, and the belly diameter. They tried THREE times to get her belly measurement, but she is now "out of range," on that. Like her momma! A big bellied gal! Based on the head and femur, they estimated 9 lbs. 9 oz., but Casey said the bigger the baby gets, the less accurate the estimates are, and without all three, it's pretty difficult to guesstimate. Casey couldn't imagine that baby girl had gained a pound in a week!

The other big huge sigh of relief comes from the fact that the AJLI President, Delly Beekman, has completed her Lufkin visit. She was in Lufkin from Tuesday night until Thursday morning visiting a community project; dining with actives, sustainers, and provisionals; leading a general meeting; and having breakfast with past Presidents. It was a wonderful visit, and I am so grateful that AJLI sent her, but it's a big relief to have that behind me and not have to think about Junior League until March 28th.

Kevin just headed to Dallas for the first of his three weekends in March. At the end of the last weekend in March, his trips to Dallas on the weekends for school are OVER! It will be a marvelous day for us all! Happy weekend!

The Day that Changed . . .well . . .a lot

So now that I'm beyond 35 weeks, my doc has enforced weekly appointments, along with weekly non-stress fetal testing. Last week, at 36 weeks and 5 days, I went ahead and decided to donate my time and my baby's gorgeous body to the Angelina County sonography department one last time. The AC sonography students learn how to "do" an ultrasound by working on live bellies two afternoons a week. I have loved being a guinea pig and this was my fourth time to be up there for the fun.

Wednesday's doc appointment went as planned, except that I was expecting him to tell me SOMETHING was happening to indicate I was closer to labor and the only news he had to share was, "Well, man. I don't know where that baby's head is but she is way, way up there. She's nowhere near coming out at this point, Momma!" I was a little disappointed that no progress had been made, because starting on Monday, the 21st, I was feeling a little uncomfortable for the first time and I was SURE it had something to do with thinning out or dilating or something of the like.

Went to he hospital afterwards for my non-stress test. It went beautifully, as it had the week before. She was a busy girl during the test and her little heartbeat sounded like heaven. I am a huge fan of the test--it is such a soothing quiet time with little Miss. Oh, I also went ahead and paid for the delivery that morning at the hospital so that we would be "pre-paid" and I went to Dr. Kim Procell's office and turned in our paperwork and payment so that Baby Girl's pediatrician would be prepared for her arrival.

After leaving the hospital, I went to Angelina College for my ultrasound. Sweet Casey Davis, the program coordinator and lead teacher for sonography, is a friend of mine. I told her that Dr. Haskins wanted to get an approximate weight, if possible, so she insisted on doing it herself rather than leaving it to the students. We did have her students play for a while, and, of course, the baby pointed her left index finger (which she has done every ultrasounds--I consider it my gift from Granny B) and she also flashed a peace sign!

Casey was a little quiet, and then said, "Allyson, you do realize that her head is um, up here and her bottom is down there, right?" Um, no. Hadn't realized that. Had thought I was patting her precious little bottom right under my boobs and instead, it was her head! Baby Girl turned into a Frank Breech position sometime between weeks 31 and Wednesday, February 23. Well, I figured, she's got time to turn . . .this will be okay. Then Casey did the measurements to predict current weight. She did it the first time and said, "I think I'm going to do this again." I asked her what she came up with and she said, "I really don't want to scare you. Let me do it again." So she did. And the second time, the weight prediction came out a whopping 3 ounces lighter. The first time, baby girl measured at 8 pounds 12 ounces. The second time? 8 pounds 9 ounces.

So, the room went wild--everyone was so excited that she is already such a big girl, AND I have three weeks and two days to go until due date! I am soooo thankful that I know about Casey and the program!

I called Dr. Haskins as soon as I left to let him know that the reason he couldn't find the head was because she is BREECH! And, she weighs almost 9 pounds. I talked with his nurse, as he was in surgery. Thursday afternoon, February 24, he called me and told me that we needed to schedule a c-section on Wednesday, March 9--less than two weeks away. We will check again next week to ensure baby girl hasn't turned again and we'll check before surgery, but he feels that for her safety and mine, it will be best to release her into the world 9 days before she's due. He's too concerned about cord placement to try to turn her, and I agree with that one hundred percent. Oh, I forgot to mention that during the ultrasound, they all commented about how beautiful the cord is--it has "hardly any calcifications," which is rare at this stage of pregnancy!

So, my plan all along--which was to absolutely, positively, not know when she was coming and let her arrive at her own pace--has been changed significantly. My plan to have a third vaginal birth has been changed. And I'll be holding her in my arms in less than two weeks! It's hard to believe that she'll be here so soon, and we are now trying to figure out sleep arrangements, etc. for her because of the c-section. I actually bought a co-sleeper yesterday, based on Hilary Haglund's recommendation, because Hilary said that I'll be too sore and she'll be too heavy to lift for nursing the first few weeks, and I really, really don't want to give up nursing this baby girl. Another thing that has changed? My ability to sleep through the night! I've been up several hours a night since learning this news on Wednesday.

The good news is that God is in control. There is still a chance she could turn on her own. Millions of people have c-sections and I will be just fine, as will she. I'm going to see my baby girl soon!

36 weeks--the countdown is on!

Yesterday, I was 36 weeks pregnant. Big, huge sigh of relief. If baby girl decides to arrive at any point now, she will be safe, she will be developed, and she will be ready to face the world. I have always (despite two previous pregnancies) thought that 40 weeks was full-term, but read yesterday on babycenter.com that full-term is any delivery weeks 37-42. I am so grateful that we have made it this far, and hope for a few more weeks with this precious one in my belly.

I started weekly doctor's appointments on Wednesday, and because of my "elderly" status as a Mom, Dr. Haskins has ordered weekly fetal non-stress tests at the hospital, as well--just to ensure that she isn't in any distress. Two days before I was 35 weeks, I had a little "leakage," and I think it freaked him out a bit. Praise God that it wasn't amniotic fluid and that she was safely enclosed in her little world.

My first non-stress test was on Wednesday, February 16, the same day we pre-registered at the hospital and signed up for our payment plan. I was completely shocked at the cost of having a baby/staying in the hospital. For a regular, normal, uncomplicated delivery that includes 48 hours in the hospital and care of both baby and mom, they charge $2500 if you are paying out of pocket. For some reason, I was expecting it to be much more. Of course, that's not the only expenses--we have already paid the doctor upfront, paid for the epidural ($750--and worth EVERY single penny), paid for the Level III ultrasound in the Woodlands, and now we get to pay for these weekly non-stress tests, which are $178 a pop and scheduled for 5 weeks. Anyway, it's good to know that whenever she decides to join us, all the paperwork and negotiating is out of the way and we can get straight to the epidural!

I liked the whole non-stress test experience. You have to go to LDR and lay down on two gauze strips, which they "button" around you with monitors. Then, you hold a "clicker" and every time you feel the baby move, you punch the button on the cicker. Once mom is hooked up, all I had to do was stay still and click away. It was so peaceful to have 25 minutes of just listening to her heartbeat and nothing else. The sweet, Barbie-looking, 22 (at the most) year old nurse handed me the remote to the television, but I really wasn't in the mood for any noise at all. I loved being in an LDR room and NOT being in labor, too. I hope that I'll get to take all of the stress tests--he has me scheduled for them up until 2 days before due date. It is just a peaceful bonding experience that I didn't get to have with my other two--so an advantage of an "advanced maternal age" pregnancy I hadn't planned on!

We are still waiting on her bedding to come in and her changing station to be completed, so her nursery is still functioning as a guest bedroom. It's a good thing, because the guest bedroom currently houses the only working downstairs television. Our TV in the great room decided to retire the Friday of SuperBowl weekend, and I asked Kevin to wait until April to replace it, as that is when you can get the best deal on a new television. We have had some major family bonding time in the "sunshine room," (named by the kids because of the yellow walls painted in there November 2009) watching movies and snuggling up on the bed. Until baby girl's "things" arrive, I just hate to give it up!

I did wash some of her clothes last Sunday. Oh, how I had forgotten about the heavenly scent of Dreft. There is no sweeter smell in the world and sniffing it just made it all the more real that a precious little yummy smelling girl would be arriving soon.

Everyone asks if I think she's coming early. I honestly don't have any idea. She is staying busy, busy in utero, which is supposed to indicate that she's happy and staying for a while. She has descended somewhat, as there is constant pressure on my "nether regions," but based on all of her movement, I think we're still a ways away from meeting her. I love this part of pregnancy where you can see visible body parts floating across the abdomen, watch as she has hiccups, and really feel that body when you pat the belly. This pregnancy has been just awesome and I couldn't feel more blessed!

Who knew?

Who knew that my last blog in June, when I was feeling oh so reflective, a precious third little life was starting in my belly?? I most certainly didn't have a clue. And I can promise you that 18 years ago that night, I never imagined myself as a 38 year old with a newborn. But God is good, God is gracious, and He decided that our family needed another member, so He gave us a blessing baby in the form of a little girl.

To say I was shocked by the news would be putting it mildly. Kevin started grad school in August 09 and is scheduled to graduate in May 2011. I accepted the job of Junior League President for the 2010-2011 year (June through May) because my precious Lilly Grace would start kindergarten in the fall of 2010 and I would have so much time on my hands. My two "babies" were entering 3rd grade and kindergarten, and I was about to have a lot of free time on my hands, after all.

Then, on the day of Friday, July 10, a day that Kevin had gone up to Dallas for class and Luke and Lynda went to Dallas to spend a weekend with Kelly (Lilly Grace and mom stayed home because Lilly Grace had been sick), my always on time to the hour period didn't arrive. That was odd. I waited a dutiful 24 hours and then decided it was time to do a test, just for the heck of it, although there was really no way possible for me to be pregnant. But a late period?? Weird. After going through two boxes of sticks that all came up positive in a matter of about 30 minutes (lots of water intake), I concluded that I was growing older and my hormones must be off.

Kevin arrived home on Sunday and I sat him down in a recliner that afternoon and told him I had to tell him something really, really big. News that he needed to be sitting down to hear because I wasn't quite sure how to break it to him. His first response: "Did you lose your bracelet?" (my 10th anniversary present). No--bigger than that. Then fear struck his eyes. What could be bigger news than that? I pulled the sticks out from behind my back and shock registered in his eyes at first, followed immediately by elation. Then I bawled. Then we tried to figure out how on earth . . . . .the conclusion? It was probably a hormone imbalance. The only time she could have possibly been conceived was 2 days after the end of my last period. And that just isn't possible. That was it. The only time. 12 days before I was supposed to be ovulating. Apparently, no one explained that science to my body.

So, I called my doctor's office on Monday. Laughingly told Jennifer, the world's best nurse, that for some reason, I had positive pregnancy sticks, but there was NO WAY I was pregnant. When I explained the timing of events, she concurred. As I was heading to Chicago for our annual summer trip in a few weeks, she concluded that I should wait until I was at least what could have been 10 weeks along before coming in because at that point, we would either hear a heartbeat or know it was some funky hormones.

I did my best to push it to the back of my mind, but, of course, it was at the forefront of every thought. Three children? Kevin would be 40 before this baby was born! Our house isn't equipped for three children! No, it wasn't possible. It was hormones. Plus, I displayed absolutely NO signs of pregnancy. My boobs didn't ache like they did with Lilly Grace, I wasn't crazy emotional like I was with Luke. I didn't crave sleep all day long like I did with Luke. I wasn't remotely nauseated at any time of the day like I was with Lilly Grace. Yes, this was hormones. Plain and simple.

On July 27, the kids and I departed for Chicago. We arrived early that evening after a very uneventful flight. Mom and Dad picked us up at O'Hare, as always. Dad dropped us and our luggage off and then he headed to go get Gino's East pizza for my first night dinner. As I lifted our big suitcase onto the luggage stand, Mom put out her arm and told me to stop--that I shouldn't be lifting. I looked at her like she was nuts and lifted away. As we arrived in the kitchen, she casually asked me when I was due. Tears again ensued. I wanted to wait until that night to tell her and dad together that everything was fine, but I was having some hormone issues. Um, couldn't wait that long--she said she knew the second she saw me on the curb at O'Hare. After we put the kids to bed, I told Dad. They were thrilled, but truly as shocked as we were. They had a late in life miracle in my sister, Ashley (mom was 39 and dad 44 when she arrived on the scene), but I had been an only child to that point. I told them that I really didn't think I was pregnant because I didn't exhibit any of the emotions or feelings of pregnancy. My only symptom was a late period, and with my other two, I had way more symptoms than that.

On the morning of August 9, while still in Chicago, a family friend for the past 25 years, Beth Nagel, offered to meet me at her volunteer organization where she did ultrasounds for women with unplanned pregnancies. Mom and I went. I had felt great our entire 2 week trip and fully expected to either see a molar pregnancy or an empty uterus. Instead, there was a heartbeat. It was real, and apparently, a really, really easy pregnancy. My only symptom was the sticks and a belly that looked really bloated by that time.

On August 17, Kevin and I went to Dr. Haskins in Nacogdoches. When he did an ultrasound, the little one's arm "buds" were waving like crazy. It was like she was so excited to say hello! We both cried tears of joy. We had a true miracle on our hands and it already had such personality! Of course, he talked to us about all the risks associated with pregnancy over 35 and the possibilities of complications with both the pregnancy and the baby. We told him that we would not do either the protein test or amniocentesis, so he said we needed to have a level III ultrasound and genetic counseling.

On August 19, Kevin brought lunch from Bodacious home to myself and Luke and Lilly Grace. Towards the end of the meal, we asked the kids if they like surprises and unexpected gifts. Of course, that got their attention. We told them we had a very special gift and their enthusiasm continued to rise. We then shared the news that our family would be growing around Spring Break. Lilly Grace's jaw literally dropped wide open and stayed there for about 3 minutes while her eyes continually widened. Luke was convinced we were just teasing. When we showed them the ultrasound pictures, Luke still thought we were kidding--that we were showing someone else's baby. They were both tickled and thrilled once they realized we were actually quite serious!

That night, I had girl's group, and it was a cooking class. We were supposed to bring a bottle of wine and wear an apron. I went to Hobby Lobby that afternoon and purchased a black apron and pink and blue paint. I painted "Bun in the Oven Due March 18, 2011" on the front of the apron. This was Kevin's suggestion, and it was a brilliant one. I arrived a little late with my sparkling cider after running in Lisa Griffin's house to tell her the news on the way. The first few girls didn't say anything--Suzy Childers even said, "Oh, cute apron." After about maybe 6 minutes and getting started on food prep, someone finally noticed and said, "What is that on your apron?" The few who had glanced at it assumed it was an old apron from another pregnancy--so to say there were a lot of screams and "No way!" exclamations would be putting it mildly. Several of the girls took pictures of the apron and me to send to their husbands. Suzy Childers took the picture at the top of this entry and posted it on Facebook with the caption, "Guess who's preggers? And it's not me!" Within three minutes, the fourth comment identified me--it was a woman I still don't know!--and there were 23 comments within less than two hours. The word was definitely out and spreading like wildlfire!

Lilly Grace and Luke started school the following Monday, August 23. Kevin and I headed to the Woodlands on October 21 for our Level III ultrasound and genetic counseling. We were blessed to hear and see that everything on this precious one was absolutely perfect and just the way God intended. Our blessing miracle was a blessing in every way! I absolutely lost it during the ultrasound because that precious little one held up her left hand and pointed her finger. My Granny, Susan Jeannette Blailock, was notorious for pointing the finger on her left hand towards us when she had a very important fact to share. In fact, she used to laugh and tell us to bury her with her finger pointing towards heaven just to ensure there was no confusion! To see my baby with a pointed finger that early in the pregnancy was like a nod from not only God, but also my Gran. In every ultrasound since, that precious baby has had a pointed finger at some point. Every. Single. Ultrasound.

Going into the October 21 ultrasound, Kevin really didn't want to know gender, but I did. I decided to look away whenever they were looking for "those parts" and stared into Kevin's eyes telling him how much it was killing me not to look. At the end of the ultrasound, the nurse handed Kevin a sealed envelope with a picture inside of it and told us we could do what we wanted with it, but that it had the gender written on it. On the drive home, we decided to save the envelope for Christmas morning and open it as a family--after all, this baby was such a gift that it seemed perfectly fitting.

I had a couple of ultrasounds at Angelina College (playing the role of guinea pig for the sonography students) prior to Christmas. It was such fun to watch the baby and its activity. Although I know it's not "possible," I first felt movement at 14 weeks. I frequently told Kevin that I felt like the baby was dancing inside of me, and the ultrasounds showed a very active, dancing baby. It would come up and "kiss" the ultrasound wand, do knee lifts to its elbows, and always point a finger. The last present we opened Christmas morning was our envelope and we were overjoyed to learn that the baby is a girl!

It has been such a fantastic pregnancy. We have traveled to Chicago and spent the week before Christmas at DisneyWorld with the kids. I've had a few colds here and there, and the week after Christmas, Lilly Grace had flu B, and Kevin and I got some yukky crud associated with that, but aside from that, easy, easy pregnancy. She is already such a joy!

On January 12, I went to Dr. Sheila Hill's office in Nacogdoches and had a 45 minute 3D/4D ultrasound. I was 30 weeks along. The precious girl has the most gorgeous lips you've ever seen, big round, pudgy cheeks, and she was already sporting rolls on her thighs. She looks so much like Luke and Lilly Grace! On Wednesday, January 26, I went to another ultrasound at Angelina College. Based on the measurements, they concluded that she weighed 5 lbs. 15 ounces. The "projected weight" for a baby that age on Friday, January 28, is close to 4 pounds. She is definitely a healthy, big girl, and for that, I am so thankful.

I was 34 weeks pregnant last Friday, February 4th and am definitely "livin' large." We as a family have had such fun watching this little one stretch around in my belly--she is a busy, busy girl. When Kevin was at school a couple of weekends ago, on January 22, the kids and I watched the DVD of Luke's arrival. We were all in tears at some point, as Luke realized how much we adored him from the start, Lilly Grace realized that newborns have to undergo shots (she is totally outraged about this, people, and it will NOT happen to this baby!), and I realized just how blessed our family is by this gift from God.

The official due date is Friday, March 18. I will definitely be better about keeping up with this blog, as my time up in the middle of the night is extending to a little time on the computer! Who knew last posting that a beautiful blessing was in the works? God is so, so good.

18 years ago tonight

I was sitting in a cafe in Paris, no doubt very sophisticatedly (it's a word--I made it up) sipping on a Kronenberg 1664 biere, enjoying all the festivities of Fetes d'Ete while listening to an enormous amount of street musicians playing. Each corner was littered with a different act, all sharing their gifts (or what they supposed were gifts) with the pedestrians of Paris. I remember it like yesterday. It was a Sunday. Joy and I woke up at the deVilleneuve's and decided our plan for the free day. We were going to Musee Rodin as soon as it opened--it was just a short walk down from our apartement and we were ready for some sculpture. We had spent the previous day at Centre Pompidou and were in desperate need of some traditional art. When we arrived at Musee Rodin, (after perusing the fruites and vegetables at the farmer's market just down the way) the back garden was absolutely magical. No other word for it. There was greenery hanging from the tops of the tent, and an enormous centerpiece of gorgeous lilac flowers. A harpsichord concert was happening, in honor of Fete d'Ete and it seemed like a glorious little gift, just for us. We, as typical Americans, didn't know that the first day of summer was ushered in with song throughout the magnificent Paris. I'm glad we didn't know--I think the surprise made it all the more magical.

I didn't know 18 years ago that someday I would be married and living in Lufkin,Texas with two absolutely precious little blondies for children. I didn't even know that Kevin Langston existed. I didn't know that I would work part-time for an art museum, or that I would have ended up with two masters degrees from a state university I had never heard of in Nacogdoches (which I had also never heard of), Texas. I didn't know that I would be able to say I had taught students in grades 5 through freshmen in college about English literature and French, and I certainly didn't imagine that I'd be sitting at a laptop with a Bichon Frise at my side writing about this night 18 years later.

I did know, 18 years ago, that my baby sister was turning 7 years old on that very day and would be going into the 3rd grade. I did know that my parents loved me. I have always known that. I did know that God was working through me, and in me, and that I was coming to a better understanding of Him. I did know that the boyfriend I had at the time was NOT "the one," as I had secretly fallen crazy in love with a boy on my trip and, as a result, realized that my boyfriend back home was not what God had planned for my life. I did know that Joy Creel (now Liefeld) was NOT one of the "Triplets" a popular singing group back then, but she was one of my friends and one of the most grounded people of faith I had ever encountered. Also, she knew a heck of a lot more about art than I still know today.

I didn't know that a thing like the Internet existed, although I was introduced to Minitel by my family in Lyon. I didn't know that people would be watching movies on DVDs, which had yet to be invented. I didn't know that people would have cell phones that went everywhere with them and were miniscule in size, as my "car phone" was in a rather large bag.

I didn't know that almost all of my "best friends" would be Christmas card correspondents almost 20 years later, and I sure didn't know that a thing called Facebook would bring us back together again virtually.

I had no clue at all that 17 years later, I would permanently lose my hearing in one ear. I didn't know that 18 years later, I would not have made a return trip to Paris, one of my favorite cities in the entire world.

I found myself in Paris. It's cliche, it's old, it's been said by many, but it is my truth. Wandering and meandering through all those streets, trying desperately to learn and speak a language that was almost completely foreign, spending hours talking and eating with a girl from Los Angeles and a girl from New York, spending more hours with a boy I was completely smitten with who had a girlfriend waiting back home, walking through countless galleries and being exposed to some of the world's finest art, some of the world's most beautiful cathedrals (just the thought of Sainte Chapelle and Chartres can almost bring tears to my eye), eating grapefruit ice cream in Lyon, having a memorable night at a French family's country estate filled with wine and liquers, learning that salade is the last course of a fine meal instead of a first--it all made sense. My reliance on God was essential, my faith that He had angels guarding and guiding my travels was certain. Paris changed who I was, and oh, how I long to go back and walk those streets again--on the night of Fetes d'ete--to relive some of the magic. . . .

Time to get serious

In 236 days, I will be attending my 20th high school reunion. I started working out last August to get a true head start of getting my body "perfect" a year in advance. Here I am, 5 1/2 months later and I haven't lost an ounce. Not one. Despite doing 6 a.m. workouts for months, sweating like crazy, burning 400 + calories each workout. So, at the beginning of February, I started rebelling. For the past two weeks, I haven't exercised. Have eaten crap! Have drunk Dr. Pepper. . .and now, I'm sick of it.
I think this binge was a good thing for me, actually. I am disgusted with myself--completely disgusted--and I think you have to get THERE for make serious changes in lifestyle and diet. So today, tonight, I publicly commit to the following:
For the next four weeks (Starting tomorrow, February 15), I will:

• exercise 5 times a week, burning a minimum of 400 calories per workout
• drink no liquid but WATER during the week--on weekends, I am allowed a total of four glasses of wine
• keep away from sugar (this will be super easy with the Girl Scout cookie order coming in last week--but my body is more important than cookies)
• try to make healthier eating choices
• try to eat every 3-4 hours

It may not make any difference, and if it doesn't, I'm getting my thyroid checked AGAIN! I'll keep you posted on the progress . . . .

Ch ch ch ch ch changes . . . .

So many changes at once can't be good for the soul, but I am trying to hang in there. Of course, the obvious change is that school has started once again this year. I am now the mother to a 2nd grader and a 4 year old. I find that so very hard to believe!

With the school year finally under way, I decided that it was time to work on this old body once again. So, on Tuesday morning, my dutiful workout buddy (and former Miss Texas), Tara, and I decided to take on Elvis. Elvis has a reputation in Lufkin. A reputation for nearing killing you, but for getting unbelievable results. As a former NFL player, he knows how much a body can take, and he seems content to push his clients to the absolute limit. Our first day with him, we did 100 lunges with a bar across our shoulders, 100 squats, boxing, and then two ab exercises for, oh, 100 reps. Honest to God, I have NOT been able to get in and out of a chair, get in and out of bed, get in and out of my car, get in and out of the tub (where I've been trying to soak with Epsom salts), get up the stairs, etc. since Tuesday morning. I have NEVER been in so much pain. Ever. And I've tried a lot of trainers and techniques through the years. We returned this morning, and he decided to work upper body, since we were limping into the gym (seriously). So, we did 20 reps on a 5 circuit training regimen the first time through--then 30 reps the second time through. After that? More boxing. We did figure something out this morning, tho . . . there is a REAL difference if you are a left handed person trying to box like a right handed person. I was having the worst time--no coordination, no movement, no nothing. I was the whitest of white girls. Finally, I said, "Well, I've always been a little different--being left handed and all" "What? You're left handed? Why didn't you say so?" "Why didn't you ask?" Once I got the "stance" right, I was a boxing machine. Watch out, Lufkin--Miss Texas and I are coming for you! Of course, I probably won't be able to grocery shop for a month . . . .Oh! And I forgot to mention--I am now the proud owner of blue 16 oz. Everlast boxing gloves and black Century wraps. Who would have thought that the future President of the Junior League would get her jollies from beating the crap out of some little pads???

One of the most difficult changes for me emotionally has been my 2nd grader's new do. We went last Friday to get it cut, and my angel looked like this on the first day of school:

Here he is with his sister (who was so thrilled to have been awakened to bring brother to school)

He had complained all weekend long that he wanted his hair cut short. On Friday, he told his stylist to cut it short and I gave that the red light. After hearing him complain and complain and complain some more, I gave in. So, on Tuesday afterschool, my precious boy with the thickest, most gorgeous blonde hair in the world transformed from looking like the child who came out of my womb to this:

Here's a picture of the top, just in case you can't tell that my son is BALD now:

He came out of the WOMB with more blonde hair than this, people. It is just KILLING me!

Other changes: fall baseball for the first time, soccer for my daughter for the first time, my husband in school (and having study groups meet twice weekly online), and many, many more. I'll post more very soon--am going to need this as an outlet if I plan to survive the next two years!