Saturday is a special day...

This morning Dave woke around 5:30am to go to work....then he came back in the house at a quarter till to tell me our yard was flooded and to get up.

Apparently sometime during the night, or even a few days ago, a pipe burst in our front yard. It is now completely flooded. Gallons upon gallons of water. Our water meeter read 243,500+ gallons. Hopefully that's not from all the water we lost....if it is...heaven help us that bill will kill us.

So in the midst of this, Dave is trying to call the water company to come turn off the water - and it being 6am on a Saturday, they didn't answer. So he's peeve cause he has to go in to work up in Rome and all this is going on at the house. Eventually he just told his brother he'd get there when he could and was about to leave to drop a clamp off with one of the guys, when the garage door decided to break in half on top of his head. Luckily he's still with us. But, it broke his phone. And mine was dying, needing to be charged.

So Dave takes my phone and heads out to meet up with Justen to drop off the clamp...meanwhile I'm freaking out in my hormonal rush and balling my eyes out. I can't call anyone. Our house phone we got through tmobile isn't working and Dave's cell phone was dead.

So what else do you do in one of those helpless situations? I prayed. And within seconds Dave's phone was working just fine. Thank you Heavenly Father!! So I called my parents at 6:30 in the morning and left a sobbing message on the answering machine. Then I got my wits together and called the water company again. They finally answered and said they'd send somebody out there to turn off the meter.

While I'm out in the front yard pulling my hair out, just watching the water spurt from my yard, a neighbor appears at her bedroom window and offers to come and help - but neither of us know what to do.

Dave finally gets home and manages to get the water turned off - who knows how long it was going to take for the water company to get out here. More money for them, right? And he starts digging away. Two feet later, we find the lovely polybuteline pipe spouting water.

About an hour later, Rocky and Kate come (my in-laws) and save the day. This same thing had happened to Rocky a few years back, and they ended up replacing all their poly pipes - which is something we will eventually have to do. So Dave and Rocky fixed the pipe while Kate and I weeded the flowers I had planted weeks earlier - it was all I could think to do at the time.

Then we moved on to the garage door. Long story short - it's back in place, but it ain't goin' anywhere. We'll have to replace that, too. But we got everything fixed by 10am. Not too shabby. Just not how we planned on spending our saturday!

So for the next little while we'll have a nice hole in our front yard till we know the pipe isn't leaking, and we won't be able to use our garage door anymore (unless someone feels like handing over $5-600 dollars). I feel a black cloud looming over us.

(Kate helping me weed in her Hooter's shirt)

(the garage door...this is half-way being fixed)

(Dave fixing the pipe)

(The effing pipe)

(the fixed pipe)

Baby Update

So today I went in for my 20 week ultrasound. Can you believe I'm already half way through? Crazy!

I wanted to post some pictures...but the scanner seems to have a mind of its own and won't save any of the pictures. It's irritating the heck out of me (this is me trying to stop swearing...don't want little Cletus spouting at the mouth when he pops out). I took creative liberty with my last post.

Anyway. So everything looks perfect with little one. He already weighs a pound (little heffer!) and is about the length of a banana. He likes to suck his thumb, and evade the probing eyes of the ultrasound tech. I guess he was a little shy about his goods. He did, however, cooperate when Dr. Allen walked in to take a few more shots. I know he'll kill me for this later - but I can see why he was being shy. His goodies are really nothing noteworthy. I just reassured him that it was okay - he has plenty of time to let things grow. He responded by kicking me with his big ole feet. He probably gave me the bird, too, but we weren't looking that high.

In any case, everything is going well. I am FINALLY starting to develop a little baby bump. Maternity pants are DIVINE.

After the appointment I joined my mom and dad and Papa for lunch. Then we went to Kohl's since their baby clothes were 50% off. It's hard turning away from all the cute girlie clothes and dresses. One day. But we managed to find some darling clothes for my little man. He's gonna be so cute!

We're going to hit up the outlet malls sometime in July when things will be easier. Can't wait!

My Husband Makes Me Cool

While sitting in church this past Sunday, struggling to pay attention to a way awesome lesson, I couldn't help but think of how much my life resembled the movie Never Been Kissed. I don't know where the thought originated from - but there it was.
I am not the "cool cat" of the crowd. My very existence is riddled with social anxiety and feelings of inadequacy, all while trying to stave off the ever-present pink elephant of depression. I wasn't always this way. I used to be social. I used to be good enough. I used to be happy-go-lucky. But that all changed when my life took a rather decisive nose dive in middle school.
I went from being this:
to this:
which eventually morphed into this:
And I pretty much stayed that way - oh, I would try to hide it with makeup and hair and new clothes - until he came along.
Rob. After nine years of metallic pink dresses riddled with lace and braces to match, my whole life force changed.
Remember in the movie where Drew was at absolute rock bottom, with no hope of survival, struggling to fit in? Then Rob walks in the door, dusts off her knees, and picks her very being up until she's finally "cool"?
I feel like Dave is my Rob. I was at my rock bottom - called off engagement, no there-for-you-when-times-totally-suck friends that call at 3am because they KNOW you're up crying. When in walks Dave. Happy-go-lucky-I-don't-give-a-sh!t Dave. I went from this:
to this:
and am trying DESPERATELY to morph back into this:
With Dave I know I can do it. It seems like a futile struggle at times - like now when my body is morphing into the unknown and I have the self-esteem of a kumquat. But I know I will get there. Dave keeps dusting off my knees, keeps struggling to pick me up when I tear myself down - but he never gives up. He's my Rob.
And someday, when I'm ready, I'll rip off my crown and and yell for all those to hear - that d@mn it, I am back. And I refuse to wear anything metallic.

Oh, sweet heaven!

It seems all I post is food and pregnancy mumbo jumbo. But I guess that is what my life is centered around at the moment.

Today I went shopping at Kohls for a new bra...because yes, my boobs have nearly doubled in size (and they weren't exactly tiny to begin with). After trying on at least 20 different bras, I decided against buying anything since my boobs happened to be growing at that moment...I swear! I tried the EXACT same bra on in different colors by mistake...and my boobs were popping out of the 2nd one. The straps were in the same place, I measured them. I'm so fed up with bras and bra shopping I may just start going loosey goosey. Ugh.

But I did have some success today...I just thought I'd poke through the maternity section since everything was 40% off...and I thought, what the heck? Why not at least try them on? I thought you actually had to have a belly to wear maternity pants. Apparently not.

I cannot even put into words how glorious it felt to pull that stretchy band over my "bump". For weeks I've been struggling with pants - I just can't quite get the zipper or button to go. I've been using my belly bands - but those don't come ANYWHERE near to the comfort level true maternity pants bring. I wish I could have worn them out of the store.

So I start combing the racks and picking up every pair of Ms I can find. It's like my new addiction. I think I ended up with 7 pairs of pants/capris. HEAVEN!!!

Even better was checking out....because apparently 5 of those items were on CLEARANCE! Who doesn't love getting a pair of jeans for $7.60? That's like thrift store happiness! And on top of that, the sales lady gave me 20% off my bill! And I earned $30 in Kohls cash--so now I can pick up a coulple sports bras (hoping they'll fit longer) next week.

Today was a good day.

SURVEY SAYS.....!

It's a BOY!!!!!

I cheated and snuck down to L&D the other day - because nurses Danielle and Angela are THE BOMB! I was in between rounds, things had calmed down there a bit...so I thought, "WHY THE HECK NOT?" I'm not a very patient person. I couldn't wait till the 27th at the Doc's....

So the first thing I see on the monitor? Little ole Cleatus' butt and GOODIES! Can't really deny he's a boy. And he's proud. He knows to listen to his mommy and cooperate. A few of the nurses from the floor came down to witness. Dave says he was just showing off for the ladies. I pretty much believe it.

So the shopping fest will soon begin. I'm so excited to have my own little man! He'll be pimped out and dappered up!

P.S. - No, his name is NOT going to be Cleatus. I just needed something to call him till we figured it out. And what rhymes better with fetus than Cleatus? I know some of you were worried if the deep south had gotten us that bad. No worries!

Chicken Pillows

Chicken Pillows

3-4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
6 oz of cream cheese, softened
2 -4 tablespoons green onion, diced

1/3 cup chopped mushrooms (I hate mushrooms, so I leave them out.)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
¼ teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 cans of crescent rolls (I used the new crescent creations)
Bread crumbs
1 stick melted butter

In large bowl, mix together cream cheese, green onion, mushrooms, 2 Tbsp butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Stir in chicken and set aside. Open crescent rolls and carefully unroll dough. Separate each tube into 4 rectangles. Seal seam in center of each rectangle. Place one heaping tablespoon on half of each rectangle. Fold over other half of roll dough and seal edges, creating a pillow. Dip each pillow in melted butter and then bread crumbs. Place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with cream sauce.

Cream sauce:

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1 tablespoon mayo
Milk (to desired consistency)

Combine ingredients in sauce pan and cook over medium heat until heated through.

Sleep at last...

Last night I finally got a full nights sleep. It'd been the first I've had in weeks. My hormones have been wreaking havoc on my once-pleasant dreams.

A couple nights ago I had to wake Dave up to walk me to the bathroom in the middle of the night because I was too afraid to get out of bed. I'd been dreaming of weird people lurking outside and inside my house trying to kill off family members. That, combined with my ever-present fear of body snatchers under the bed made for a long night. I never went back to sleep.

Last night I was crying on Dave's shoulder because I was too afraid to sleep. He said a prayer for me and immediately I felt calmed, rolled over, and fell asleep. Woke up to pee, and went to the bathroom in the dark with no fears. Fell back asleep with no issues. It feels sooooo great to finally have a night's sleep under my belt. I know my days are numbered.

Thank heaven for answered prayers!

Sweetness all around

So my prior post led me to this post....
I think this was from a year or two ago but I remember watching it then and crying...I'm just crying a little more now thanks to hormones. I love little kid voices more than any other sound. When the kids sing in church I'm usually drawn to tears because of their sweet innocence...
So here's another video for you to enjoy while I sop up this mess I've made of myself.

One of my all-time favorites....

I loved this movie growing up...and I love it even more now. Maybe because I sing just as well as they do??? =)
Have you really ever seen anything cuter than this??

Green with Envy

I am totally IN LOVE with these shoes.

Price tag? $1,244.00.

It's a sad day.

Delightfully Delicious (and frightfully nutritious) Lemon Bars

(Lemons are healthy....right????)

1 cup butter (softened/room temp)
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
5 tablespoons flour
2/3 cup lemon juice (I used the bottle stuff...think 3-5 lemons)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, blend together first 4 ingredients (until it resembles corn meal, or such). Line 9x13 inch pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray (soooo much easier to get them out looking like bars instead of lumps of goo). Press mixture firmly into pan. Bake for 15-20, or until light golden brown.

Whisk together sugar and flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Poor over baked crust. Return to preheated oven for 20 minutes.

I let them cool for 10 minutes before attempting removal - pull up sides of aluminum foil and remove from pan. Sprinkle with powdered sugar (if desired). If aluminum foil doesn't pull away easily, use a small, sharp knife to loosen the edges around the foil. Let cool completely (if you can - I couldn't). Cut into bars. Refrigerate until eating.

Diaper Cake

So I made my first attempt at a diaper cake - I must say I'm pretty proud of it! I think it's cute. I might make it my baby shower tradition. Once I feel more comfortable with my skills, I'll add toys and such. For now, I've just wrapped some onesies in with the diapers.

I'm scheduling this to post after Pomai's baby shower so the cat's not out of the bag, so to speak.

Ugh.

I think my boobs just grew.





Again.