How time flies...

So, we have limited access to the 'net in our new digs, and school keeps me hopping from sunrise to sunset...so here I attempt to catch up on two and a half months of events!
1.) Yes, I am still pregnant...24 weeks and 5 days, as of this writing. After two boys...yep, it's a girl! We are calling her Shelby Celine...Cel from Cecelia, and Ine from Elaine. We couldn't decide on an appropriate nickname for her if we stuck with the original names, so here's our compromise! So far so good...she's growing like a weed, and we are looking forward to seeing her in February.
2.) We finally moved to Laurel! I have a ten minute commute to school, and it takes Scott and the boys about 20 minutes. It's not the best neighborhood, honestly, but it serves its purpose until we can get where we want to be.
3.) Brandon is SOARING in school- 815 on the SRI, which puts him reading on the sixth grade level (he's in third grade)...and well on his way to being identified as TAG, which gives him additional challenges and ideas, as well as on extra field trips. He's currently reading a series of books called "The Shadow Children", and he is on the second book. I ordered the first one so I can keep up!
4.) Jeremy is settling nicely into second grade...although he hates wearing a uniform to school! And he's also made peace with having a sister on the way. Every day he asks me how Shelby is...did I feel her move? It is so cute!
5.) Scott is on his way to China at the beginning of December for a week! It's a crazy plane ride...he leaves Maryland at 830 in the morning on Thursday, and lands in Beijing at 9:00 Friday night! He flies first to Seattle, then on to Beijing. He is excited and nervous...and I am keeping an eye on the bank account. This will be a great experience for him, and for his resume, but it sure has been an expensive trip.

As for me, I am the same as always...a busy mom, wife, daughter, and teacher. I am hoping to have some time for myself before the baby comes. We'll see about that. And I am also going to try to get on here more often to keep you all up to date on all of our adventures!

The clock is winding down...

and soon, we will be back to school!

The boys are excited- they will be going to a new school this year, and they are excited about meeting new people and making new friends, although they will miss their old Assistant Principal...which I think is so sweet.

L.B. is hanging in there. 9 weeks and 4 days today, and the only thing I would really complain about is the nausea, which is getting a little more intense. I really am grateful that I will be almost to the second trimester when it's time to go back with students, and hopeful that I will not be dealing with this particular symptom.

We've been talking a little bit about names. The boy's name is easy, as it has been set for years...but we have gone back and forth about the girl's name. Originally, we wanted to honor my mother and his mother...since in all their grandchildren, no one has used their names! But we've also talked about using his initials, since we are thinking it is highly likely that this will be the last Case baby.

I don't know. One thing's for sure...it won't be named after me!!!

A long overdue update

So...let's see.

Since I wrote last:
1) We finished the curriculum project!! Can't wait to see what other teachers think of it!
2.) We put in notice to our apartment complex that we are, in fact, moving. Now, we need to find a place to go!
3.) Had an ultrasound and first "official" ob appointment on Friday. The ultrasound tech (by now, it feels like we are old friends) laughed when I laughed at how my uterus looks like a huge mouth with one tooth stuck up in it. She said the tooth...is the baby!! She showed me the heartbeat...then we got to listen to it! Fast little sucker too...162bpm.
4.) We told the boys about impending big brotherhood. Jam's response, "It BETTER not be a girl!" was only slightly less funny to me than Bran sitting on the floor saying, "YES!! YES!!!" complete with arm pumps!!

So things are looking good in the Bears' Den. Now...if we can only hang on by our fingernails until we get paid!!

Stupid leave last year...still struggling with that. HOWEVER...this is going to be so different!! For one, I have disability (I LOVE that little duck!!) so will get paid through that. For two, PGCEA gives 2 weeks of paid maternity leave. So, look out world...!!

Thanks to all for the love and well wishes. It has made a difference!

And so it begins...

Today marks the first of what will be a long collection of days when I will be away from my family for the summer. My mom and sister are traveling with me to New York for my grandmother's services, so I will be gone today and tomorrow. Bran has already asked that I send him text messages!

Sunday, I have two rehearsals at church and an extra service on Sunday night (you should come to Emory Grove...there is something so spiritual about worship when it is outdoors).

Monday, I am supposed to go to lunch with a colleague.

Tuesday, I have a four hour curriculum meeting, with an hour commute each way (that is, if I am LUCKY...you know that Baltimore-Washington corridor is a bear).

Wednesday, I have an all day workshop at some place in PG County.

Thursday, I think I am home???

Friday I have two doctor's appointments and then a workshop (this time, it's a singing workshop...looking forward to getting some great music ideas!).

Saturday, I have part two of the workshop...and both days, I will be driving down to Alexandria Virginia and back!

Sunday, I "only" have church.

The good news is, since Scott is home, I don't have to find anyone to watch them.

The bad news is, we are running out of quality time for the family because school starts next month. The 17th of August is sitting on my calendar, a reminder that I have so many things that I WANT TO DO and I better get cracking!

In memory of my grandmother

Yesterday morning, my phone rang at 7:30. It was my uncle, calling to let me know that my grandmother had just passed away. I didn't have much of a reaction, really...I mean, when someone has been in your life for almost 40 years, and had been alive for almost 57 years before you came into being, it's a hard thing to really grasp. I think, even though I'd been expecting the call, my reaction was more to the grief in my uncle's voice than anything. My grief will come later.

My grandmother was an amazing woman. At a young age, she and her family sailed to the United States from Armenia. (I once selected a piece of music for my students to sing because it was based on an Armenian lullaby...perhaps this would be a good year to sing it again, in tribute.) They came with jewels sewn into their clothes, the only safe way to travel with any assets...and when they got to New York, they used the jewels to open a jewelry store on Fifth Avenue.

I remember a story that she told me once about famed musician Artie Shaw, who was a long time customer of theirs, buying a beautiful necklace for a woman he was seeing. Before he picked it up, their romance ended...but he bought the necklace anyway. Each time one of her sisters passed away, an inheritance of jewels was passed on to my mom.

So this week, as we celebrate the (hopeful) beginnings of one life, we also celebrate the longevity of another. We begin the process, and I am sure it will be a slow one, of closing someone's life...filing paperwork, cleaning and selling her house, dividing her belongings, finding homes for her pets.

In the dreariness of it all, I raise my invisible glass to you, Virginia Desteian Di Giacomo. You were an amazing person to know...and to love. Rest in peace.

An update...it's all in the numbers!

Yesterday's experience at Annapolis Ob/Gyn was much different in that I was more resigned to my fate when I got there, knowing I wasn't going to hear any news while I was there...but I was wrong!!

After my bloodwork, the doctor who saw me on Tuesday came out for a chat. Mind you, I did NOT have an appointment, but she made time for me anyway! So far, this practice is setting the bar pretty high for "customer service"!

Anyway, I digress...like that's something new!

She (the doc) asked me how I was feeling, and I told her about struggling a bit with nausea, which she reminded me was a normal feeling. She also told me that they are not 100% convinced that what they saw was tubal. Something about the absence of free fluid or something like that. But I was still in a ... well, the numbers don't lie...kind of mood.

By the time I got home, Dr. A had called with my results, and told me that they are very pleased with how things are progressing!!! My number went up to about 2700, which is what they would expect with a normal pregnancy. Still, given last year's events, I am still to remain vigilant about symptoms of a possible problem, and I am now on the list to have another sonogram on Tuesday. Hopefully this time there will be something to see!

So...in a nutshell...more waiting. But I am not as anxious this time around.

What a difference a day makes...

this is one of those things that i HAVE to write about but don't really wanna.

This morning, I went to my doctor's appointment, not sure what I was going to see, but sure i was going to see something.

What greeted me was an empty uterus.

I started crying. The doc sent me to their other office with a better machine.

My uterus is still empty. But more ominous is that they THINK I MIGHT have another ectopic. They found something in my left tube.

so, the doctor explained to me that there are several things that can happen at this point. There could still be a viable pregnancy that is too small to detect...and the only way to find out is to take a blood test and check my hcg level.
Once they get my initial level, there will be several other outcomes.
1.) if today's was normal (which it was), I will have to go back on Thursday and have another test done so they can compare the numbers. In a normal pregnancy, the hcg level should double in 48 hours.
2.) if my hcg levels drop, or rise abnormally, I will have to either have surgery, or take a shot that will result in a chemical abortion.
3.) my tube could rupture before then, in which case, while they are trying to put me back together, they can all take comfort in that they were right.

So...more waiting.

*sigh*

This is when I wish I could really internalize the idea my pastor was trying to convey about spirituality and surfing...and how sometimes, you have to wait for hours to catch the perfect way.

I hate waiting.

I've been hiding

well...not really.

When we got home from Alabama, I had a sneaking suspicion that perhaps I was pregnant. I was definitely late. So I took a test when I got home, and was not surprised to see it say Positive.

Surprised? no.
Scared? yes. YES! YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

Ever since the ectopic pregnancy, and all of the surrounding drama, every time I've been even a day late, I have been concerned about being pregnant. Yes, there was a lot going on last year, and I missed any signs of being pregnant until I got to the ER and was told that I was.

This time has been different though. For one, I told Scott immediately. As in, I woke him up at 4 am and said, "Are you asleep?" (not very nice of me, I admit!)
For two, in the car on the drive from Alabama, Scott was eating something and I thought I was going to hurl from the smell alone.
For three, I have had a few bouts of "if I could just throw up how much better I would feel"

so of course I have been researching myself to death, after finding a doctor who could see me...and I have an appointment tomorrow to hopefully get a sonogram and who knows, maybe even see a heartbeat (well, THEY will...I will have to take their word for it).

I have put this in God's hands...for there is no place else for it to be. I am hopeful that I will float out of my appointment tomorrow with Baby on Board.

and for the record...I am sure it's another boy, which I am okay with, and even have a sneaking suspicion that there might be two in there (won't that be a trip!!!)...and even if I am going to be high risk because I will be 40 when I deliver, I am excited! stay tuned...

Sweet Home Alabama....where the skies are so blue...

except when they are grey...or BLACK...like now, when a massive storm is blowing through town and ruining the luau! Now I will NEVER get to see polynesia...North Alabama style!!

Anyway, we are having a nice time visiting with my husband's family, including the brother that I had never met until this past Wednesday, and one of his sons. The family lives so far away, and Scott and I have talked about driving out there one summer, but from Maryland to Washington State is a haul I can't even begin to imagine!

It's nice not to be in a hurry to do anything...but I must admit I am having some difficulty with the ... umm...lack of decision-making. Yesterday we waited so long for everyone to be ready to go that it started raining, so we didn't go! This morning, I was determined not to do the same thing again. As a result we spent some quality family time at Point Mallard, in the wave pool and the splash pond (not sure if that is the name). The boys also got into the olympic pool, and had fun there.

I am trying to adjust to the Southern pace...I swear, if I could get a job here, and my mom's health was better, I would just pack it up in Maryland and move down here.

A girl can dream...

The Summer Wind...

the summer wind...Like painted kites, those days and nights went flyin' by. The world was new beneath a blue umbrella sky.- as sung by the great Ole Blue Eyes

Today was the first real day of summer vacation. My sons' friends have all already gone on vacation, so truly, they are alone on the circle until someone comes home. It was so hard to get them to go outside and PLAY!!! My husband and I bemoan the fact that so many children now do not have the opportunity to go outside- whether they live in unsafe neighborhoods, or the air quality is bad, or there is no one to supervise them. and yet, my sons face none of those obstacles but prefer the world of computer games and XBox to being outside, feeling the warmth of the sun on their upturned faces.

What I wouldn't give to be them...no dishes calling my name, no three meals to get on the table for a family who is always "starving," no laundry that needs doing because I'm too short to reach the machines (I LOVED that excuse when I was younger)...

My goal this summer is to get out and play...and if they won't come with me, I will play alone (yes, Grease fans, I overlooked the opportunity to say the famous line about why one should join the band!).

The world may have changed (no Country Club pool, a fact which still breaks my heart)...but I am determined to regain a little of the child's wonder of summer...and make sure my sons capture it too!

Momma's guilty pleasure

I think every parent has a guilty pleasure that they share somewhat reluctantly...and if someone were to call them on it, they would deny, deny, deny!

Recently, though, Bran "outed" me for my guilty pleasure, and this is when I found out that not only am I not alone in this particular vice, but I was viewed as considerably cooler because of it!

Smoking? no way...that doesn't mix well with singing, or with asthma
Bridezillas? sure...except I freely admit that I enjoy watching the ridiculous antics of these girls, and hubby likes how normal this show makes me look in comparison!

No, my guilty pleasure is Deadliest Warriors, the show that takes two warriors from two completely different periods of time and pit them against each other. Each warrior only uses the weapons that would have been appropriate to that particular time in history, and after each is demonstrated, they do a computer model of the battle to see who would win. An example, for those who have never seen it, would be a recent episode which put Al Capone up against Jesse James!

I have to throw in a disclaimer here...like many things in my adult life, I was dragged somewhat reluctantly into watching this show. I am not a battle kind of girl and could really care less about the difference between a rifle and a shotgun, or a blunderbuss and a revolver. But after one episode, I was hooked...and thankfully, our DVR lets us watch the show at a more "family friendly" time. And, it is punishable by extreme amounts of whining if a certain individual watches the show without the rest of the family present (my nephew got in BIG trouble for this, and Jam was really mad at him!)

This is a family affair in our house...and Jam gets VERY upset if his guy doesn't win. While there is a lot of blood in the show, there is no actual, person to person combat.

So even though I think there are people out there who will judge me horribly for letting my sons watch this show, `I think it is valuable Momma/bear bonding time. It's not a popcorn and soda, curl up on the couch kind of night, but for one hour each week, I am guaranteed that the bears are going to be curled up next to Momma, rooting for one bad guy or the other.

Who I am

Who am I?

This is a question with many possible answers. I am my parents' daughter. I am my sister's sister. I am my sons' mother. I am my husband's wife. I am my church's choir director. I am my student's music teacher.

I could go on. Sometimes I wear too many hats, and when I feel like i can no longer keep up, I make rumblings about letting go of something. But I never do!

so who am 1?

See if you can figure it out as you read what I share. And then, if you wouldn't mind, clue me in!