Ooh, you have a double life. Very hot. Good luck.

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Thanks for all the good lucks!!!

The vegetables prohibition is mainly against dark green leafy vegetables, which have vitamin K which affects clotting.

My friend's dad who had the valve replacement last week is also on dark green leafy restriction forever because of the clotting issue. I'd be so sad (but, of course, happy to have heart valves that actually do their job!).

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Oh, Raquel. I'm so sorry! What...I just...some people, some times. Let the Buffistas be your family with this. We're THRILLED for you, and will be just as thrilled no matter the sex, or anything else. Much love to you, girl. This must be so hard

What vw said. Much love to you Raquel.

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I'm still catching up, but this...

Also, final grandparent has informed us they won't be coming out for the arrival of the baby, or at all, and that in fact they are moving so "don't know when we'll hook up." Which in a way was better than the reaction of the second-to-last grandparent: "Oh, you're having a boy? I wanted a girl." and no communication since. I mean, I knew if we had kids we'd be on our own, but when you are sitting on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night, trying to not throw up and wondering if you've made a good decision, having someone else be happy about your decision would help.

Oh Raquel. I am so sorry about all of this. I don't get this reaction. A new baby is coming into the world and he (in your case, she in others) is truly the center of a miraculous thing that we get so used to, because it happens every day.

Let me tell you about little boys. They are to die for. I am an only and couldn't conceptualize being a mother to a son. We opted to be surprised, and I really was, despite the fact that when Scott, both of my parents, and I each dreamed of my baby, that baby was a boy. I was looking down as he was being born, caught sight of the rear side of his scrotum, and asked "What's that?" because I was so sure I was having a daughter.

His ninth birthday is today, and he (and Chris) have given the whole world to me. Little boys are loving, soft and tender in ways I never expected. They are sweet, and terribly in love with their mothers. They are so very much fun, in all the most delightful ways. Being the mother of sons has opened up a whole world to me, one I never knew existed. I don't want it to sound like I'm leaving my Julia out here. It is just that I already knew about the beauty of girlhood. Boyhood is just as magical, and it's all new to me. I am so happy that you are having a little boy. What a wonderful gift! Health, happiness, and love to your whole little family.

Wishes JZ would email her cousin in Nea Kifissia, about sending his mom to coddle Raquel, a little (and how fabulous is the name "Nea Kifissia"? It may have used up all the name faboo in the world--that's how fabulous it is).

It's still Australia day in places that aren't Australia, so Happy Australia day, Aussies.

Today is Ben's ninth birthday. School was called (by them, not me, this time) on account of snow, and so his party has to be postponed. Unfortunately, Saturday and Sunday are the kids' basketball league play-offs. Ben doesn't play, but several of his friends do. We've run into this problem every year, and a couple of times, his closest friends have been late/had to leave early/missed the party, entirely. This is why we scheduled the party on a weekday.

The thing is, I can't reschedule it for tomorrow, or Friday, because I need Scott. He had taken off today, as a vacation day. He can't get either of them off. I'm waiting for parents to call me back with the game times. Sunday is out, because that's the next round of the play-offs, and none of the children will know if they're playing unless/until they win on Saturday, and they won't know the times, ahead of time.

Ben was so disappointed. I felt so badly for him. Feh.

catching up, now.

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Raquel, I just needed to jump to the end to say I'm so sorry about everything you've been dealing with. JZ is right--you deserve nothing but love and feet rubs and hot drinks and good things.

And this:

Little boys are loving, soft and tender in ways I never expected. They are sweet, and terribly in love with their mothers. They are so very much fun, in all the most delightful ways. Being the mother of sons has opened up a whole world to me, one I never knew existed. I don't want it to sound like I'm leaving my Julia out here. It is just that I already knew about the beauty of girlhood. Boyhood is just as magical, and it's all new to me. I am so happy that you are having a little boy. What a wonderful gift! Health, happiness, and love to your whole little family.

is utterly beautiful.

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The docs are worried about his continuing problems with rapid heart beat. Apparently there are several potential places in the heart that could regulate the heart beat. In development, one of those places becomes dominant, but the others are ready for back-up if the primary location gets damaged. Hubby's heart attacks have apparently confused the other locations into thinking they need to swing into action, and his heart is trying to respond to all the signals. He's on a new drug to regulate the rhythm--yes, there are pills for rhythm!--but I'm not sure why they've got him on yet another blood thinner. At least his doctor has said, "We've got to get you off of some of these, it isn't right."

I love Hubby's doctors. The office staffs recognize him and the doctors themselves have been known to call up radiology and say, "I need to know if I have to operate on this man, and you're holding up those test results. Fix this, please."

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Happy Birthday Ben!

Growing up I always thought I would want girls, but the universe did the right thing giving me boys. I didn't find out in advance on either of the boys. No doubt I would have had fun with a girl, but I adore having the boys.

My just turned 13 #1 son has started saving for a car. It is a good plan. No doubt there will be a game system or pricey pairs of shoes that will take chunks out of his savings along the way, but I applaud his attempt.

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Good to hear that the heart docs are doing Hubby right. Still vibing for him.

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is utterly beautiful.

Thank you Kristin, although I might possibly have to chalk up any beauty to my "Who took my baby and replaced him with a 9 year old--overnight?" mood. Speaking of which, who took my baby and replaced him with a 9 year old, overnight? I'll keep the 9 year old, but could I have all the others back, too? It feels much more like 9 days than 9 years.

Karl, all the best on your interview and job.

Hil, great news on your exam! Congrats!!!

<doing the dance of negative bone scan, negative x-rays, with the minor side step of "let's do a CT scan just to be sure>

Jilli, I hope your migraine is yesterday's news. How are your friends doing?

Cashmere, how's mom? When is her surgery?

I'm home. The best roommate in the world has fixed me some tea.

Glad you're home safely, vw. CHECK THE STOVE.

God I hate Inside the Actor's Studio.

Me too, Cass. I forgot to watch it, even though someone here mentioned the guest.

God I have the hugest ever crush on Kiefer Sutherland.

Sigh... His voice makes me melty in all of the right ways.

I think that's 98% of my crush, and it's strongest when he's whispering forcefully, on 24.

Kiefer saying, "Fuck," even bleeped was a thing of beauty. Some people have a way with that word...

Oh my...

Stop it, my dh is home.

So ... there's a police helicopter overhead. And someone needs to come out with their hands up. The police can see this person and they are surrounded.

My word, Cass. I watch way too much 24, because my mind went a mile a minute just reading your post, never mind living it.

So are Braxton-Hicks contractions supposed to make you unable to walk? If my core tightens up while I'm sitting, I can't actually stand up straight for a bit. Or is that just normal and not a B-H contraction?

I had a lot of Braxton-Hicks in all three pregnancies, but don't remember that. I had groin muscle spasms that hurt with the sitting and standing. I doubt it is a problem, but you might want to double check with your doctor, Raquel. Although I have to admit, I am firmly planted in the check-out-the-unusual camp, and am probably quicker to call the doctor than a lot of people.

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Glad to hear you have good doctors that you like, connie. That makes such a difference.

Laura, #1 son sounds very forward thinking. Starting saving two years before you can get a license is smart.

I hope Ben's party works out somehow, Cindy.

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