No News To Report

I suppose you could say no news is good news. Nothing going on this week. Work, cook supper, water my flowers, watch a movie with Todd, sleep. We have been watching some real crap too. Last night we watched American Kickboxer 1. Not good, but it was free on cable. Todd has been working in the basement, tracking down records for the SBA, and nursing his back. Real excitement at the Stein House.

Round 1 went to my Sworn Enemies, and here is one of my Sworn Enemies. They may be small, but they are mighty! The oyster shells did nothing to stop them from chewing on the hostas But I shall never surrender!! Now I am fighting them with an entire box of Escar-Go. Die enemies, die. 

Slow but Scary Weekend Winds Down

It has been a slow weekend except for one scary spot. I was really sick late Friday night and Saturday morning (intestinal problems again). Anyway, my inability to keep anything in me led to a blood sugar of 32!!!! (one step away from a sugar coma) on Sat morning. It is supposed to be 90. It came right up when I chugged some juice and some chocolate cake, but I was very lucky that I woke up. Needless to say, I will be calling The Diabetes Center first thing tomorrow morning. If I had any left in my body, it would have scared the crap right out of me!

Saturday afternoon I felt good enough to do my stint at the MG Garden Tour. We had over 250 people come through the Ferrell garden during my shift, and 475 total throughout the day. It was pretty easy. Three of us took turns taking tickets (got to sit down then), counting people, and milling around answering questions. Most of the questions I got were plant identification questions, and they were almost all for plants I couldn't identify... oh well, the homeowner was there, so I just passed the people on to him. Aftwards I just rested and watched Iron Chef America, and then when Todd got home from Burke's party we watched Into the West on TNT and The Terminal. Not bad.

Today I have my spunk back. This morning I got my weeding and watering done by 11 am and then I made banana bread and beer bread. I forgot how nice it is to smell something baking in the oven! Now I will just have to not eat them. I also cleaned the kitchen and did some more sorting in the baby's room. My Goodwill pile grows larger every day and I filled up another waste basket. Other than that, I have been reading this month's Vanity Fair, and carefully monitoring my blood sugar. No more 32's for me!

You'll never believe this one.

Last month I turned my cell phone off and it wouldn't turn back on. Todd took my phone in today and they said that my particular model of Nokia phone has a software glitch in it. It can only be turned on and off 100 times, then the phone is dead forever. What the #$%^? So now I have a picture phone. Maybe I will use it more than the 8 minutes a month I used the other one. I guess I could use it to take pictures on the sly.....hmmm.

Losing Everything but My Mind

I have a terrible habit of losing things in my own home, and then I spend hours tearing the house apart looking for it. This is a bad side effect of 1) living in a cluttered house and 2) my constant effort to clean and declutter. I still end up with the same clutter, it's just moved to where I can't find it.

So far this month I have lost the baby name book (which we have had for 5 years "just in case" and kept in the same place the entire 5 years), Mom's coffee cake recipe (I'm on my third copy), my Home Depot flower book (I just saw it the other day), and the big mystery - my loaf pans. I bought bananas last week and have been letting them turn black so they are perfect for banana bread, and BAM! my 3 loaf pans have disappeared. Also, I never made Jen's beer bread like I posted last week, because I couldn't find them then either. Luckily, I was able to borrow some pans from Diane.

One good thing did happen though, I found my deviled egg tray that has been missing since last fall when I was looking for the loaf pans!

Eating with the Yuppie-Schmuppies

Tuesday night we went to Boston's to eat for Todd's birthday. It is one of the few places in town that he actually likes to eat. He always gets their chicken and rib combo. Well, we got there and lo and behold, they have changed the menu, so they don't have chicken and ribs anymore. Disaster! We had an appetizer, then split and went to Perkins. But not just any Perkins. We went to the Perkins on Jordan Creek Parkway. Compared to the Perkins on Merle Hay Rd, this was the Ritz. We should eat over with the yuppie-schmuppies in West Des Moines more often. The server wasn't skanky, the food was actually hot, and we were in and out in 25 minutes. Only Mr. Stein would be happy eating an Everything Omelet with no mushrooms, onion, or celery (I'm serious - but how can it still be an Everything Omelet?) for his birthday supper. Then we came home and watched Hildago. We are working our way through the cheapo section at the video store. Last night we watched Cold Mountain.

My Chrysler Imperial floribunda rose is blooming like crazy, and they smell wonderful! The best $6 I ever spent at Wal-Mart. 

The Big Reveal

I forgot to mention what we found out Friday and what happened last night. Last night, I finally felt Mr. Stein#2 moving around. I think he may have been moving around earlier in the week, but I have had such bad gas all week I wasn't really sure if it was him or the gas. Now if he would just flip around so he's not breech anymore, I would appreciate it.

Can't Think of a Funny Title Today

Well, I can't think of a funny title today. We are now on the boring side of the weekend. Friday we had the ultrasound, and now I think I have officially bored all my family and friends to tears with the details. Jen and Heather were very good sports about it yesterday! Mental note to self: next time I don't think I want to find out the sex early. Now there are no surprises left!

Friday night my dad stayed over, so I actually put some effort into supper. If you can call heating up frozen green beans and tater tots effort. Guess I did cook porkchops in the George.

Saturday I went to the Scrapbooking Extravaganza with Jen and H. It was pretty cool, but there were long lines for the make-and-takes. Then we went to Memory Bound and dropped some cash there, then came to my house to crop. Afterwards Todd and I splurged and went to J. Benj down on the corner, then walked across the street and rented a movie ($1.75). It actually cost us less $$$ for the pizza and movie then it would have cost for movie tickets and popcorn. They screw you on the popcorn you know.

Today I slept in and read the paper. I have the MG Garden Tour Pre-Tour this afternoon. They take us around town on a bus so we can see all the gardens on the tour next Saturday (the 18th). I hope it takes forever so I can rack up the volunteer hours. Then on the 18th, I am volunteering at the tour, and then on the 26th I am working at the garden booth at the Arts Festival. Makes for a lot of gardening this month, but I am trying to cram my 40 hrs in while I can still bend over.

Just Dying To Find Out

In less than 24 hours we should know if we are having a boy or a girl. I am so excited to find out that I am just about ready to go crazy. This week has been the longest week ever! I always said that when I got pregnant I wouldn't want to know, so it really surprises me how eager I am. Maybe it's because the rest of my life is so dull. Maybe I need a new hobby. hmm.

My Sworn Enemies

I forgot to mention that Mom got me some organic slug killer. It is called Escar-Go!

Perennial Bed - everything to the left of the tree is new (except birdbath). 

Gardener Todd has been working hard in the garden. 

I'm so proud of this clematis! 

Gardener Todd

Todd has also been working really hard in the gardens. Tonight he has been out there for several hours finishing the lawn timbers around my perrenial bed. Being Todd, he does a very thorough job. He secures all the pieces with rebar and everything is measured just so. I ventured out for a while and weeded (those darn baby maple trees are everywhere), but I am sick of being eaten alive (I read somewhere that pregnant ladies are more attractive to skeeters), so I came in. Last night we were out there for two hours together. He helped me plant the last of my seeds, and he put up a picket fence around my icky pile of yard waste. He also put in a soaker hose in my tomatoes and peppers. This should prevent water from splashing dirt up on the leaves, causing blight. I weeded, fertilized, and put oyster shells around my hostas. I am experimenting with the shells this year to kill my sworn enemies, The Slugs. I have tons of slugs and they chew holes in my hostas. Supposedly when they slide across the oyster shells, the shells will slit their stomachs open and suck all the juices out of them, causing them to dehydrate and die. I say Bring It On! I hate the little monsters. I shall never cease in my mission to kill all the slugs in my backyard. Todd just squished a big fat one for me tonight.

Well, I need to go check on the lasagna. We are in a food rut and nothing seems to appeal to TMS, so tonight I made him some lasagna and some ham salad for his lunches. I might make some of Jen's beer bread too as long as the oven is heated up.

Waste of a Beautiful Day

Wasted a totally beautiful day yesterday. I spent the entire day sick in the recliner with stomach issues and a fever. Todd talked to the pharamacist about what I could take and bought soda water, medicine, and snacks for me. He also brought home some movies and babied me all day. We watched some weird sci-fi movie and The Aviator, which was really good, but long. I am much better today. I am even showered and dressed! Whoo-hoo. Feeling a little hot though, so should probably take my temp again.

Nothing to Report

Nothing new to report. I had a good time cropping last night and got a lot done. Other than that, we are staying in all weekend to conserve money, and I'm not feeling the best (gastrointestinal issues). I do have the urge to bake though, but my oven is so dirty it stinks when you turn it on. May need to use the self cleaning setting, but that stinks too!

A Good Weekend

I am all messed up. Since I didn't work Monday or Tuesday, I keep thinking today is Tuesday so I am not that far behind on my blog. Not!

We had a good weekend at the farm. Saturday we hung out and ran to Manchester with mom to buy anniversary cards and gifts. We also went to the scrapbooking store, which wasn't that great. As proof of its mediocrity, I only spent $6. Saturday night, my mom served us ham balls for supper, which is one of my all-time favorites. She even baked plain ham separate for Todd since he is a "Non-Ball Eater" (her words). I had a follow-up comment, but it was probably too nasty to put on a family blog.

Sunday we barbecued with the Hansen-Schweitzers and grandpa. I was driving my dad crazy while we grilled because it took forever and I was extremely antsy. I kid you not, the flame on his grill was only one inch high! It took 45 minutes to cook hot dogs! He definitely needs a new grill. After lunch I played poker with Alex and Kurt while the other bonus children were at the park. It was fun, but it is not as fun to play poker with boys as it is with gossiping women. Todd went back to DSM that night.

Monday I went with the 'rents to the aquarium in Dubuque. It was nice, but certainly not worth the $9.75 admission fee. We had lunch at a brew pub, and on the way home Dad took me past the Field of Dreams so I could finally see it. Yep, looks just like it. Took about 3 minutes.

Tuesday mom drove me back to Des Moines and we went to Red Lobster, Harvey's greenhouse, and Lowe's. I only ended up buying 3 more plants thank goodness. Harvey's is huge. It actually has over 14 greenhouses for you to go through. When we got home, I was thrilled to see that Todd had weeded and mulched my gardens by the garage and put out my fountain for the summer. I made an-oh-so-original supper of macaroni and cheese, Stovetop, and chicken breasts. Todd had mac and cheese only.

Last night after work Todd and I gardened (together - gasp!) for about an hour. Then I made pork chops, glazed carrots, and french fries. Pat myself on the back. Then we watched the Bourne Identity. Tonight we are going to garden some more and watch National Treasure.

Tomorrow night, I crop with Jen, and Sat/Sun we may go to the Mall of America - dunno yet.

Just Like Rachel on Friends

The dr. did a quick ultrasound of the bambino today. It was a low-tech one, not the 4-D one I am having in June. I was just like Rachel on Friends. I couldn't tell what the heck we were looking at! We came home with two pictures, but I'm not sure what they show. Turns out Todd couldn't see much either. I am relieved to know for sure that there is only one baby eventhough we took Clomid. I would have loved twins, but I'm glad I'm starting with just one.

PS. Todd thinks we should name the baby Chloe in honor of the Clomid. What a nut.

PPS. Todd was robo man today. He mowed, cleaned the gutters, and sprayed my Roundup for me. Unfortunately, he sprayed one of my new rudebeckia plants I ordered, but I will forgive him.

Not much new

Not much exciting happening at the hacienda on Allison Avenue. I am getting nervous about American Idol tonight. Bo clearly should win, but I bet Carrie does since she is so cute. Darn you America! I did my duty though and cast two votes for Bo. I am still thinking about the surprise ending of Navy NCIS last night. I was shocked. Anybody watch that one?

Was out there 6 hours on Sunday and got my big perennial bed re-done. My thighs are still killing me! Planted my tomatoes and peppers right in the dirt without weeding. Need to weed before I can plant my green bean, cucumber, and zinnia seeds or I will never find them when they come up. It is raining today, and we are going to the farm this weekend, so I may never get it done. Oh well, at least I will have tomatoes.