too much of a good thing
Sandra had a prenatal visit today. Doc said they no longer do routine ultrasounds - only if medically deemed. Sandra is perfectly healthy. Blood pressure great. Her weight gain and other growth measurements are right on track. BooBoo's heartbeat is beat is still a swift and sturdy 150. So we still don't know if it is Lilly or Xave (pronounce Zave) - we were so hoping to learn this trip. It's still BooBoo. Sandra is now just past the halfway mark. Almost at 5 months.

can you hear me now?
My cell phone ceased to function. I guess that is what happens when you actually use them regularly (as opposed to storing them in shoes for months). Rand and I traded up today. We now have matching camera flip phones - LG VX6000's. Same number (no, I won't print it here), actually got a cheaper calling plan (the only time we have ever used our full minutes was when Mom was in the hospital), and I'm playing with easyedge for free for 6 weeks. That means I can email my pictures!

it's a willie
We got home from the ob appointment and Willie was driving strangely on our street. Not only did his driving pattern get our attention, on closer inspection we realized he was talking on the phone. Not allowed while you're driving and your name is Willie. Not a great idea no matter your name. We realized at the same time that it wasn't his cell phone. It was a cordless home phone. Could explain the strange driving path. You get too far away you'd lose the connection. He then pulled into the driveway (not allowed to park there) and stayed in his car. We went to check him out. He was trying to glue his rearview mirror back to the windshield - with Elmers glue. He refused the advice of "that won't work". BTW - it didn't work.

camping
We did get out last weekend. Had a great time of catching up and visiting with all of our campground friends. It rained hard on Friday (go figure) and was cool the rest of the weekend. Ed is doing much better following his heart attack. You can no longer get to the office by way of laundry room. There is a new glass door at the other outside entrance.
I learned a few important lessons not using the air conditioning. If it begins to pour while you're at the showers - your roof vents are most likely open. Without filtered air I seem to have allergies again this year. For new readers - I only seem to do this about as often as the locusts rise from the ground - what a minute! Does anyone else see the pattern here?!
The pool was very cool. The joy of nights only in the fifties.

no rest for the weary
I finished last week in the daylights hours. After starting the week working nights it was a little surreal and we were beat. And felt like were literally beat with a large stick. Then this Week back to nights, except Thurs., Fri., and Sat. I will be day shift helping set up the new store in Altoona. That's right no holiday weekend.
Sunday is the big day that I promise Eric and Renee - they will never regret. (Okay so I lie - but the regrets come and go as the years do - so hang in there guys!) They are registered at our favorite store everybody!
I don't know if I work Monday or not. I truly don't remember. I haven't slept for a couple of days. I should try to find out. These days what is on the printed weekly work schedules has nothing to do with what I'm really up to.

WooHoo
Two updates in one week!
That's what working all night and getting off at six in the morning can do. I'm too wired (and sore) to sleep, nothing on TV at this hour, and I'm not in the mood for my paper yet.
My night shift has ended for now. I have to be at work 6am Thurs. morning; so today I must try to stay up so I can sleep tonight. I work Friday day and then we might go overnight again for a few days next week. My schedule may stay this sporadic for the next couple of months. Joys of being short staffed, changing seasons, and new stores opening.
I don't mind working nights. The house is nice and quiet during the day. Today I was woke up early by Kizzie. She had decided it was time to play. She jumped on my head until I opened my eyes. (I had been trying to play dead hoping she would leave me alone.) When I opened my eyes and looked at her - she treated as an aggressive move. We wrestled awhile until she was bored with me. By then I was wide awake.

make it stop
Willie announced to me this morning when he got to work (4am) that he wants to get a night job on top of his early morning shift at Target. I explained with school starting - that wouldn't work. Will said he could manage it. So I explained, "No. Your Dad and I won't allow it." He went on to try to tell me that hj needs the money, he can handle the schedule, blah, blah, blah. I eventually told him Target didn't pay us to argue and left the vicinity.
I think all of life is a set-up with Willie. He is consistently setting me up for the shot. Every morning that we work together - he makes some off remark that HE KNOWS will get my attention. This morning he told me three times that he brought in a picture of a girl he met on the internet for a coworker to see. I just acted like it didn't matter. I figured I would deal with it at home.
So then, he tells me about the needing an extra job thing. The reason that got my attention - He told me he was going to apply right after he got off work today. Apply where? - I was never told. He is so eighteen.

BooBoo stuff
or stuff for BooBoo
A friend/coworker who just returned from maternity leave offered baby stuff to us as her baby outgrows them or the need is done. This is her one and only. Her Jacob is a very fast growing boy. He is a doll baby as well with dark curly hair and gray eyes.
Don't tell anyone - but for an instant yesterday - I really thought Xavier was an okay name. I still think it is Lilly in there though.

I must sign off now - my feet are screaming to be elevated.

I should be sleeping
Starting tonight - I will be working overnights - this week only. I've spent the weekend staying up as late as I can; sleeping as late as I can - trying to readjust my body clock. I made it until well after 3am last night.
This morning by 8am - Willie had his music way too loud, was yelling at Sandra to hurry up, and stomping all through the house. I would like to say this was abnormal behavior, but on any given day Will's entertainment is too loud. He is trying to tell his sister what to do. And my latest theory is Will is so short because he is stomping his legs off. I keep telling him to place his legs to the ground or at least aim for floor level. He always sounds like he is trying to leave his footprints for all eternity.
I finally crawled out of bed to yell at him. I got his usual "oops - I'm sorry" feedback.
I couldn't get back to sleep. My goal at this point is a late day nap.
They went to visit New Life today.

I think it misses me
No camping this weekend. Rand had to work through the weekend. I will have to work through most of Labor Day Weekend. They really wanted my help setting up at the new Target store in Altoona. I finally agreed but refused to work Sunday. I wouldn't miss Eric and Renee's wedding for anything!

driving on
Will's new car is a sweet little thing. Will keeps it as clean as a whistle. Maybe it is the company he keeps. At any given moment he is usually hauling around a couple of girls. Not even the same girls all the time.
I finally got him to admit he had something like a date going a few evenings ago. He was waiting for his ride to go to the movies. It wasn't a girl. It was two girls. Same thing happened yesterday. He went to the mall with some "friends". It was two different girls.
Will walked in the house yesterday and said, "Guess what I bought for my car?" I looked at him and quietly (and correctly) answered, "An air freshener." Blew him and Sandra out of the water - they are convinced I do know everything.
He reeked of it.

changes
Sandra's shape is changing faster by the day it seems. She has a nice size round tummy now. She celebrated her 21st birthday with a very dull quiet evening with us. Ryan had to work. Rand had the flu. Will was out with "friends". We did have a wonderful surprise visit from Megan. It was so wonderful seeing her again! Made Sandra's birthday very special! Later in the week, I took Sandra shopping at Motherhood for clothes for her birthday present.
Sandra can now feel the baby (current nickname - BooBoo) move.
Sandra and I spend the non-camping weekends hitting garage sale. We have a decent starter nursery in nondescript colors. We lack anything in the appropriate gender color and socks - and a lot of furniture.
I finally got my dressers switched out. We have all of BooBoo's clothes and bedding in the old cherry chest of drawers. I always promised my first grandchild would get that family antique.
I then moved it into Will's room. He was excited until he discovered BooBoo's clothes inside.
We have the basics in furniture to get us started - cradle and dresser. And we were given a nice rocker recliner from dear friend and neighbor Angela. We will eventually move it into the nursery as well - to make those late night visits with BooBoo a little more comforting for the big person involved.
The men in this house do not understand the amount of readiness we are doing already. But like I keep pointing out. This is garage sale season. There won't be any this winter closer to BooBoo's arrival date. Unless they want to pay full price for Baby Gap, Carters, Gymboree, Little Me, and Old Navy - let us be! I think the purchase of these like new items - for pennies on the dollar - name brand clothes is well worth it!
Sandra has another appointment with her OB at the end of the month. Hopefully, we will have a new ultrasound. Then I will have new pics to share (and maybe even a movie).
We are also scheduled to do tours of the hospitals so she can make an informed choice of where to go for delivery.

out with the old, in with the new
My Epson C82 printer died. Really only half of it died, but I really missed having colors and printing abilities that involved black and yellow. I updated to an Epson CX5400 office machine. Reminds me of the Xerox Office Centre I had years ago. It prints, scans, and copies. It still has the individual color ink cartridges - a must with me.

speaking of new
Kara has a lot going on. And anyone who tries to call her new well publicized number does not get through. And she no longer answers her email - my guess is everything is still switching from the move.
Kara - you've got snail mail from Texas.

secret code
Rob didn't visit his famly on his week off and rarely calls his mother, so I have nothing to report.

signs it has been too long since an update
I had to pause a moment to remember my username and password.

so much to report
The passing of Dolores Hessletine-Heckathorn. First my neighbor, then friend and prayer partner - eventually she became my grandma with her marriage to my grandpa.

Girlfriend has doggy-Alzheimers. Her behavior changed dramatically this summer. She is now on some doggy-valium class drugs and has returned to more of her old self. My best friends are getting very old.

My very first Official Grandma picture!

vacation
Our family vacation was full of fun, sun and family. And any one of the things listed - can be too much of a good thing!

Best sunburn - Derrick

Best water show - Wyatt

Best redneck water show - Jeff

Most improved swimmer - Derrick

Most nauseous - Sandra

Most likely not to ever be a real camper - Willie

Slept through breakfast the most - ME!

Most pool time - ME!

Best tan - ME!

Worse poker player - a tie between Will and Derrick

New phrase of the week - "Tommy, we got hosed!" (by Randus)

New pool game we invented - New Guy!

Wish we saw more of you - Rob, Ryan, Don, Dave, and Sam

Wished you were there - Alan, Lesia, Jeff, Sharon, Erin, Alyssa, Mo, and Mary.

Sandra was surprised by the gift of a cradle from Grandpa Dave. Will made a good friend in Nick, the son of the KOA owners Dave and Patricia. We watched the movies The Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Larry the cable guy, Nemo, and Pirates of the Carribean. We celebrated Wyatt's 4th birthday with homemade ice cream and cake.

healthy is as healthy does

Grandma Vi is continually doing much better. In fact, currently - probably better than me.

I have another IVP this Thursday. There are some varying symptoms that may indicate that I may be having problem with my left kidney again. Or in short - I don't feel very good these days. In fact I feel pretty miserable. I slept all day yesterday - literally.

I left work a half hour early today with a migraine. But that may have been heat related. The stores air wasn't on at 4am. In fact it didn't get on until 6am. I and the others were more than warm. My heat tolerance + my current level of health = I lose.

We haven't been camping for a couple of weeks. Rand work schedule two weeks ago got in the way. Our camper was in the shop this last weekend. We are camping in our new 2005 Sprinter 5th wheel now. (We needed the space for a port-a-crib next summer!) The repair shop was the result of "new camper blues". We had a leak in the rain and a bit of water damage. We haven't missed a weekend of camping since Easter.

Ta - Da!

Eric and Renee are officially engaged. Eric - all your female readers need the complete romantic details please! Hard to believe these boys actually grew up to impress females.