Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Torturing the Dog
For some reason, my daughter asked Santa for a Jack-in-the-Box for Christmas. Lucky for "Santa", he knew she had seen them at Cracker Barrel so he knew where to send the elves! She was glad to get it, but other toys have won out as favorites. The Fairytopia dolls really won out, as did two new sets of markers (if you can believe that... she loves to color). But anyway, last night as my daughter and I colored in her playroom, the Great Dane plodded in. The Jack-in-the-Box just so happened to be sitting right next to me. I couldn't resist. Somehow, even before I turned the crank, I knew that it would totally freak him out. Sure enough. When the weasel popped (or the evil clown in this case), I thought the dog was going to come out of his skin. He reacted SO strongly, I thought my daughter and I were going to split our sides laughing. Of course, chasing the dog with the toy didn't help matters, either. That elicited deep guttural barks. We usually don't allow that sort of barking in the house, so we won't make a habit out of the torture...for everyone's benefit.
I don't know what it is, but Great Danes are notorious for getting freaked out by the dumbest stuff. I clearly remember one of our childhood Great Danes getting completely worked up by a stick poking up out of a creek we lived by. I'm sure he thought it was the horn of a monster that was surely lurking in the murky depths. Idiot. It's good comedy relief, though. If that's the toughest thing he has to work through, then I still think he has a pretty good life. Now if I can just keep my daughter from making the dog's life a living hell, we'll all be one big happy family for the New Year!
For some reason, my daughter asked Santa for a Jack-in-the-Box for Christmas. Lucky for "Santa", he knew she had seen them at Cracker Barrel so he knew where to send the elves! She was glad to get it, but other toys have won out as favorites. The Fairytopia dolls really won out, as did two new sets of markers (if you can believe that... she loves to color). But anyway, last night as my daughter and I colored in her playroom, the Great Dane plodded in. The Jack-in-the-Box just so happened to be sitting right next to me. I couldn't resist. Somehow, even before I turned the crank, I knew that it would totally freak him out. Sure enough. When the weasel popped (or the evil clown in this case), I thought the dog was going to come out of his skin. He reacted SO strongly, I thought my daughter and I were going to split our sides laughing. Of course, chasing the dog with the toy didn't help matters, either. That elicited deep guttural barks. We usually don't allow that sort of barking in the house, so we won't make a habit out of the torture...for everyone's benefit.
I don't know what it is, but Great Danes are notorious for getting freaked out by the dumbest stuff. I clearly remember one of our childhood Great Danes getting completely worked up by a stick poking up out of a creek we lived by. I'm sure he thought it was the horn of a monster that was surely lurking in the murky depths. Idiot. It's good comedy relief, though. If that's the toughest thing he has to work through, then I still think he has a pretty good life. Now if I can just keep my daughter from making the dog's life a living hell, we'll all be one big happy family for the New Year!
Friday, December 24, 2004
Oh, Yeah...the Ultrasound!
Forgot to give the update on that! It was, well, just OK. Since I had my glucose test scheduled for the same time, that meant I had had a big glass of sugar an hour prior to the ultrasound. This meant that the little guy was wired. He was practically spinning in there! This does not make for a successful 3D ultrasound. They have to get some good "still" shots for the computer to then translate the images into 3D. So we got a couple of fair face shots, but it was blurry for the most part. I watched the video for the first time last night. I'm sure my in-laws will be interested, but anyone else...not so much.
We also asked the ultrasound tech about my overall vast stomach size, wondering if the due date could be off. She said it was apparent to her, based on ultrasonic measurements, that I had a high volume of amniotic fluid. "Oh, really? What does that mean", I ask. She says "Well, sometimes nothing, but some birth defects are associated with high levels, too." OK, is it just me or is it NOT her place to say something like that? She didn't know that we had an amniocentesis, and that everything was fine. If I were one of those patients prone to alarm, you can guarantee that my doctor would have been getting a phone call. As it stands, I will be mentioning it at my appt. with him next week. She should be referring patients back to the doctor if she thought my levels were high. One of my friends that also goes to this doctor had less-than-pleasant experiences with this ultrasound tech, too. Her bedside manner in general sucks. Any smile or warmth is so obviously forced. My friend nicknamed her "Susie McDumb Bitch", which I thought was hilarious.
To make matters worse, my daughter acted more or less like a jackass during the appt. She whined about wanting to go home and watch "Spongebob" almost the whole time we were there. I almost had my husband take her out of the room. Oh, well. Sometimes my expectations for a 4 1/2 year old may be a bit high.
So there you have it...my lukewarm review of the 3D ultrasound experience!
Merry Christmas!
Forgot to give the update on that! It was, well, just OK. Since I had my glucose test scheduled for the same time, that meant I had had a big glass of sugar an hour prior to the ultrasound. This meant that the little guy was wired. He was practically spinning in there! This does not make for a successful 3D ultrasound. They have to get some good "still" shots for the computer to then translate the images into 3D. So we got a couple of fair face shots, but it was blurry for the most part. I watched the video for the first time last night. I'm sure my in-laws will be interested, but anyone else...not so much.
We also asked the ultrasound tech about my overall vast stomach size, wondering if the due date could be off. She said it was apparent to her, based on ultrasonic measurements, that I had a high volume of amniotic fluid. "Oh, really? What does that mean", I ask. She says "Well, sometimes nothing, but some birth defects are associated with high levels, too." OK, is it just me or is it NOT her place to say something like that? She didn't know that we had an amniocentesis, and that everything was fine. If I were one of those patients prone to alarm, you can guarantee that my doctor would have been getting a phone call. As it stands, I will be mentioning it at my appt. with him next week. She should be referring patients back to the doctor if she thought my levels were high. One of my friends that also goes to this doctor had less-than-pleasant experiences with this ultrasound tech, too. Her bedside manner in general sucks. Any smile or warmth is so obviously forced. My friend nicknamed her "Susie McDumb Bitch", which I thought was hilarious.
To make matters worse, my daughter acted more or less like a jackass during the appt. She whined about wanting to go home and watch "Spongebob" almost the whole time we were there. I almost had my husband take her out of the room. Oh, well. Sometimes my expectations for a 4 1/2 year old may be a bit high.
So there you have it...my lukewarm review of the 3D ultrasound experience!
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Ho, ho, ho!
Happy holidays, everyone! Yeah! I'm FINALLY done with the wretched Christmas shopping. All in all, I hafta say is wasn't too bad this year. My daughter is super-easy to buy for. My husband was kind enough to make out a nice long wish list, and everyone else just fell beautifully into place! I haven't even prepared the Christmas meal yet, but it's going to be easy too! Spiral ham, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. My sister is making an ice cream cake roll with chocolate cake and peppermint ice cream. Killer.
Last weekend was our annual Christmas party. Every year we average about 30 friends and family. I made some short cuts on the food preparation, but all in all, I'd say it was a success. Of course, by midnight, my feet were swelled up like sausages and I was exhausted, but that's just par for the course. My husband had to work most of the day, so I ended up cleaning the house by myself, and two of my "helpers" that were to come over early showed up extra-late. Whadayagonna do?
This happens every year, but after this year's party, I've decided to make some revisions to my future guest lists. Many of you probably already know that flaking tops my list of punishable-by-death offenses. But worse than flaking is completely ignoring an invitation altogether. Not a peep..."F-you! Thanks for the invite, sucker!". This problem has effectively eliminated one set of neighbors from future invitations completely. I will subject myself to their rudeness NO MORE. Hell, they live 2 doors down. They could've sent one of their grubby KIDS down to tell us they weren't coming. But, no. Nothing. I could go on...but it will just end up irritating me.
So, it looks like I have about 10 more weeks of maternal discomfort (before the post-partum discomfort begins). Still no names picked out...and the baby's room is still a playroom. Guess we have our New Year's work cut out for us, huh? With the second, there just isn't that fervor that there is with the first. No fire to put out, I guess.
Well, I wish everyone the happiest of holidays (unless you're a flaker, in which case I wish you nothing but ill will) and I'll keep the world updated on the many new dramas that are just BOUND to be unfolding.
Merry Christmas!
Happy holidays, everyone! Yeah! I'm FINALLY done with the wretched Christmas shopping. All in all, I hafta say is wasn't too bad this year. My daughter is super-easy to buy for. My husband was kind enough to make out a nice long wish list, and everyone else just fell beautifully into place! I haven't even prepared the Christmas meal yet, but it's going to be easy too! Spiral ham, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. My sister is making an ice cream cake roll with chocolate cake and peppermint ice cream. Killer.
Last weekend was our annual Christmas party. Every year we average about 30 friends and family. I made some short cuts on the food preparation, but all in all, I'd say it was a success. Of course, by midnight, my feet were swelled up like sausages and I was exhausted, but that's just par for the course. My husband had to work most of the day, so I ended up cleaning the house by myself, and two of my "helpers" that were to come over early showed up extra-late. Whadayagonna do?
This happens every year, but after this year's party, I've decided to make some revisions to my future guest lists. Many of you probably already know that flaking tops my list of punishable-by-death offenses. But worse than flaking is completely ignoring an invitation altogether. Not a peep..."F-you! Thanks for the invite, sucker!". This problem has effectively eliminated one set of neighbors from future invitations completely. I will subject myself to their rudeness NO MORE. Hell, they live 2 doors down. They could've sent one of their grubby KIDS down to tell us they weren't coming. But, no. Nothing. I could go on...but it will just end up irritating me.
So, it looks like I have about 10 more weeks of maternal discomfort (before the post-partum discomfort begins). Still no names picked out...and the baby's room is still a playroom. Guess we have our New Year's work cut out for us, huh? With the second, there just isn't that fervor that there is with the first. No fire to put out, I guess.
Well, I wish everyone the happiest of holidays (unless you're a flaker, in which case I wish you nothing but ill will) and I'll keep the world updated on the many new dramas that are just BOUND to be unfolding.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 13, 2004
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Have I mentioned that I HATE the cold? It's this season that really makes being a drug rep (and a pregnant one at that) be a BIG challenge. Let's see...I could snuggle up with hot chocolate and watch TIVO all day....or I could go out into the blustery, frigid weather and hand out some brochures to some doctors...oh, and by the way...nobody REALLY knows or cares which route I take! Plus, the only "work" pants I have are a thin polyester-type of material and the wind goes RIGHT through them. I feel naked in those pants when it's really cold outside. And, no, I DON'T want to go buy other pants. I only have 3 months of this crap left and I've already spent enough maternity money!
Y'know how some people like to blow off work when it's warm & sunny outside? Not me. Those are the days that I actually WANT to work! It feels good to be productive and NOT suffer horribly at the hands of Mother Nature. When the wind is blowing like it is today, PLUS it's two degrees, well, that's just a recipe for productiveness disaster for me. Whatdaya gonna do?
We'll be heading to the doctor for two reasons this Thursday. First of all, I get to take my Glucose Tolerance Test. If you are not familiar with that, it involves drinking a big bottle of extra-sugary goo and then having your blood drawn an hour later. Since my odd grocery store episode, my doc wants to do that test 2 weeks earlier than originally anticipated. Then after that whirlwind of fun, we're doing a 3D ultrasound. Always the salesperson, I managed to get my doctor to do one for me for free, even though they normally cost $125.00. Damn...sometimes I AM good! We're bringing my daughter with us. She's old enough to get a kick out of it (I hope), plus they videotape it for a keepsake. My doctor didn't have that equipment when we had my daughter, so the whole 3D thing will be a first for us.
Anyway...my TIVO is beckoning me as I type, so it's off to execute Plan A. Now if only the sun would peek out...
Have I mentioned that I HATE the cold? It's this season that really makes being a drug rep (and a pregnant one at that) be a BIG challenge. Let's see...I could snuggle up with hot chocolate and watch TIVO all day....or I could go out into the blustery, frigid weather and hand out some brochures to some doctors...oh, and by the way...nobody REALLY knows or cares which route I take! Plus, the only "work" pants I have are a thin polyester-type of material and the wind goes RIGHT through them. I feel naked in those pants when it's really cold outside. And, no, I DON'T want to go buy other pants. I only have 3 months of this crap left and I've already spent enough maternity money!
Y'know how some people like to blow off work when it's warm & sunny outside? Not me. Those are the days that I actually WANT to work! It feels good to be productive and NOT suffer horribly at the hands of Mother Nature. When the wind is blowing like it is today, PLUS it's two degrees, well, that's just a recipe for productiveness disaster for me. Whatdaya gonna do?
We'll be heading to the doctor for two reasons this Thursday. First of all, I get to take my Glucose Tolerance Test. If you are not familiar with that, it involves drinking a big bottle of extra-sugary goo and then having your blood drawn an hour later. Since my odd grocery store episode, my doc wants to do that test 2 weeks earlier than originally anticipated. Then after that whirlwind of fun, we're doing a 3D ultrasound. Always the salesperson, I managed to get my doctor to do one for me for free, even though they normally cost $125.00. Damn...sometimes I AM good! We're bringing my daughter with us. She's old enough to get a kick out of it (I hope), plus they videotape it for a keepsake. My doctor didn't have that equipment when we had my daughter, so the whole 3D thing will be a first for us.
Anyway...my TIVO is beckoning me as I type, so it's off to execute Plan A. Now if only the sun would peek out...
