Just when I thought I'd heard it all!

Having a blue tart on your roof is a magnet for contractors. They all basically say the same thing.

An example is this guy yesterday:

"So, anyone going to help you with your roof?"
No, we like it with a half torn tarp, thanks for asking.

"Well, we will get more money from your insurance company for you if we get the job."
They all say that.

We use the same software as the adjusters.
They all say that.

"We can get more so you don't pay part out of pocket"
We are happy with the settlement we received. It should cover the costs. We have already had a few estimates. (Especially if you deal fair- and I get the sense you won't.)

"Well, we have a guy who isn't a lawyer but he thinks like one. (What kind of sales pitch is that, ya moron!) I'll just ask you three simple questions and if we can get you more money we get the job."
Hmm, let me think....NO! Go away!!


Later that afternoon this other guy came to the door. Wow is about all I can say. Ken answered the door and I came halfway down the steps. Here's how it went down.

"Your mom home?"

"What?"

"I've got 12 crews of men ready and we can have you a new roof next week. Want us to get started?"

"Uh, we already have someone (we don't but this usually makes them back off). We are just waiting for the check to clear the bank"

"We'll start and you can pay us after you get the money. Why don't you tell your mom?"

At this point I pipe in and say, "This is our house."

He glances up at me and says, "There you are. I know. I was just telling him that we could get you a new roof next week." He glances back to Ken and back to me before he clues in.

"Oh, this is your house. You just look really young and there are a lot of retirees in the neighborhood. So, you want us to get started?"

NO! No, no, no, no, NO!!!!

Ken shut the door and we just stared at each other.
"Do I really look that old", I said.
"Do I really look that young?"

Still pregnant...
Still contracting around the clock...
Timing and intensity is always changing...
I am exhausted and now my body is fighting getting sick....
And no...we don't have a name yet.

That's what's going on here.

37 Week Doctor Appt.

I went to the doctor this afternoon. I had called them earlier in the day because around 2:00am I started having some intense contractions every five minutes for about 40 seconds each time. I couldn't even rest between contractions because I was having back labor and that does not let up ever! This went on for about 5 hours. I wasn't sure if I should go to the hospital because though the contractions were very regular and border lining on really painful, they were not increasing in intensity over time. They just stayed the same. I knew if I went to the hospital that they would just send me home. The contractions finally fizzled out around 10:00 in the morning and became more intermittent and pattern-free.

The doctor said I am between a 4 and a 5. Most women would be in active labor in the hospital by this time, but not me. She said my body is trying to go into active labor, but it just won't yet. If I were having a girl she would break my water, but baby boys have more trouble with under-developed lungs and she doesn't want to force him out if he isn't ready. If I keep up the pace I am going at and considering my progress thus far, I could easily have this baby at any time so I need to be ready to dash to the hospital. I could also stay in this state for another week. Who knows? I got a prescription for a sleep pill to help get me through the night and I should take a supped-up Tylenol to get me through the days when I'm working.

In other news, my sister-in-law Margaret had her baby girl last night- 9 pounds, 21 3/4 inches. They think her name will be Lila Grace. Congrats!!

Nathan Made Improvements

Nathan got some stickers with letter Ll and "L" words. He meticulously spent 20 minutes placing each one in the proper position on his sweater. He was very proud of his work and pranced around for about 10 minutes showing off afterwards. However, the novelty of being covered in stickers wore off and he decided that Piper was too plain looking with only a little bow in her fur.

He decided to spruce her up.

She sat there and let him sticker all over her. Nathan was very happy with the improvements. I can't say the same for Piper, but she was very patient.

Email conversation with Kenny's Teacher

I wrote:

The lessons you are teaching are certainly making an impact. Kenny was telling me about filling invisible buckets with kindness last night. Of course, in true Kenny fashion, he also reversed the logic. Every time I asked him to do anything he didn’t feel he should have to do- like clear his dinner dishes or go to bed- he would give me the meanest scowl and say, “Mom! You’re dumping out my bucket. That’s not kind. You have to be kind, Mrs. Wulf said!!”

Goodness, he sure can be creative. We are very grateful you are doing such a great job with him. He loves school and raves about you.

Have a good afternoon!

Chiara


Mrs. Wulf's reply:

Well as funny as that is, I wish I could take the credit. Our school counselor, Mrs. Dunn, came into read a story and talked about the bucket filling up with good feelings and that our bucket can get emptied when someone hurts our feelings or doesn't do what we ask them to do.

I, then, have been saying that my bucket is either filling up or getting empty based on their behavior. Hehe. I laughed so hard when I was reading it....

This is too cute. Can I forward this to Mrs. Dunn?

Mrs. Wulf

I replied:

I don’t mind if you forward this. Kenny uses a lot of things he learns at school to try to get his way. He tried to use patterning to get out of taking a shower over Thanksgiving.

She said:

You make me laugh so hard....I assure you that I did not have any thing to do with that one!

Christmas Morning Pics

Muppet movies!

This was taken last week.

Getting Ready for Baby

I reached 9 months!

We all went back to school and work on Monday. We spent last weekend getting ready for the baby. We went to a resale shop to get a changing table, a changing table pad, and a few little other things that didn't survive the other two kiddos. We went on to Target to register. I am having a a baby shower at work next week. Since I already have two boys people wanted me to register so they would know what I actually needed. We set up all the baby things, folded all the clothes, and organized the diapering stuff. We are ready!

I have spent the beginning of this week finishing prepping for my maternity leave at work. I made a little book detailing out every minute of everyday and how to teach my class. I wrote out where to find things and little tips about certain students. I also planned as much curriculum as I possibly could months in advance. I have written out my homework sheets until the end of March and I even typed out my Valentine's Day party list. I'm as ready in that area as I can be.

I went to the doctor today and I am 3 cm. I could stay like this for a few more weeks...or have the baby tomorrow. Who knows?!?

While waiting for the doctor, I got thinking. I have spent a sizable amount of the last two years pregnant. I has not been easy in many ways. I remembered all the visits to this same exam room that were filled with bad news. And now we are here- about to have the baby we have wanted for two years. What a wonderful blessing. We are so excited to have our new little man join us. And no...we don't have a name yet. But the list has narrowed down.