I haven't packed a single thing and we leave on Saturday. Oh well, plenty of time I guess.

In pregnancy related news I experienced my first charlie horse since I was pregnant with K. I forgot how painful they can be. My calf muscle still hurts. I'm drinking lots of water and eating a banana everyday from this point on. It seemed to help last time.

I got my birthday present a day early. We've been looking at this camerasince I last mentioned it but we hadn't made a final decision yet. Until today. I went into Staples to look for a clip for my cell phone and I browsed through the cameras and they had the Sony Cybershot P52 on clearance. We got the last one for $164.00 instead of $229.00. As soon as I get back from vacation I'll share some pictures with you.

Back to the cell phone case/clip thingy. I wanted to get one because I always kept my cell phone in my winter coat since I've stopped carrying any sort of pocketbook. I'll looked at several stores and couldn't find one to fit my phone. Finally when we were driving today I realized that I couldn't use one anyway. Where would I hook it? I'm wearing maternity pants/shorts these days and the panel is so high. So I guess I'll just carry it with me or carry a pocketbook.

Tomorrow I turn 30! Kaelyn is so excited about my birthday. She's made me a half dozen cards already. She's the best.

I am the type of person that would do well living in the country with no neighbors around. Don't get me wrong, most of my neighbors are wonderful people and I'm grateful for that. Then there's always one in the bunch that isn't so wondeful. The neighbor on the corner is about 26 or 27 years old and she has a daughter that is about 6 years old. I opened my office window today because its warm today. Not long after I hear the mother screaming at the top of her lungs at this child. She constantly yells at this child. She allows this young child to wander the neighborhood by herself and then screams when it is time for her to come home. I don't like to get into other peoples business but I almost called the police on her last year when I saw the little girl riding her bike up and down the middle of the street while it was dark out. Mind you, we don't live on a quiet street. This is the first summer that I'll be working from home so I'm sure I'll see even more things that disturb me coming from that house.

Yum. I'm in heaven. I'm eating my favorite "Special Veggie" pocket from my favorite Greek pizza shop. It's packed with sauteed brocolli, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, olives and cheese. I prefer it without the olives but I always forget to order it without. It still hits the spot.

Now for the disturbing news. Yesterday I spoke with the nurse who schedules all of the classes at the hospital. I signed Kaelyn up for the sibling class and myself up for the Infant/Child CPR and a Breastfeeding Class. We chatted on the phone and I told her that I had previously had a c-section and was planning a VBAC this time. She then mentioned that my doctor would be speaking with me about this at my next appt. because the hospital's insurance company is forcing them to have stricter guidelines for VBAC's. She said that all of the info. that she has read makes it practically impossible for someone to have a VBAC. Since the other two hospitals (about 30 mins away in different directions) are owned by the same company they will all be held to the stricter guidelines.

I haven't even mentioned it to Chad yet, and I don't think that I will until we return home from vacation. I'm not so comfortable with a homebirth (and Chad is very uncomfortable with that idea) and the one midwife that has a good reputation that delivers in hospitals will be held to the stricter guidelines because she delivers at one of the hospitals previously mentioned. I think that I may look at the possibility of delivering in Providence, which is about 45 mins away without traffic but I need to find out where they stand on VBAC's. My next appt with my OB is on 5/5 so at that time I'll be able to get more of the facts. She does know strong I feel about having a VBAC and I'm wondering if that is why she was pro-active with the 24 hour urine collection and bloodwork so that we would have a baseline and a leg to stand on if my blood pressure starting rising towards the end of my pregnancy.

Kaelyn and I are going to take advantage of the warm weather today and go to the zoo. Our favorite local kids band will be playing there today.

Lots of tears in our house today. We've been trying to find a home for our dog for quite some time with no luck. No one wants a mutt who is 8 years old. So, we were put on the waiting list at the "no-kill" animal shelter months ago and they finally called this morning and said that they had room for her. I decided that I had to tell Kaelyn before Chad left with her so that she would have a chance to say good-bye. She cried alot and so did Chad and I. She calmed down after Chad left with Allie and by the time he got back she was comforting him. There is some good news though, a lady who volunteers at the shelter fell in love with Allie and plans on adopting her and taking her home tomorrow. She already has a 7 year old dog and as long as they get along Allie will have a home. She told Chad that we can contact her at the shelter if we want to go by and visit Allie. I'm not sure that it would be a good idea. Once Chad told Kaelyn about Allie's new family she was quite happy and keeps talking about Allie having a new brother and a big yard to run in.

My mom is taking me shopping today for my birthday. Woohoo!

Oh and everytime someone reminds me that I'm going to be 30 I feel shocked. It's real weird.

Well it seems that the customer service rep who handles my accounts does not like me much. She's only been with the company for a couple of months and in the beginning I did think that she was a little rough around the edges. She had only been there a few weeks when she announced to me that she didn't like one of her other co-workers. I happen to have known that person for a long time and she's a good worker and pleasant to work with. I just told her that I had no problems with her and brushed it off. I've had to constantly correct mistakes that she is making on her end of things. I feel like I have to follow up on every move she makes just to be sure that its done correctly. She gets snippy when I point out that she has done something incorrectly. I've been very very nice but she just rubbed me the wrong way with her attitude today. I'm not going to say a word to anyone because the busy season is almost here and I can already see that she's not going to last.

My sister hasn't been herself lately. I've asked her and she's just brushed it off as being tired and busy. I called her today and she told me that her and her boyfriend (of 5 years) and splitting up and she may have to move in with my parents. She doesn't think that she can afford her rent, after school care and any other bills she may have. Plus, her car is on its last leg. Chad has the drivers door rigged so that it doesn't fall off. She was upset but much calmer than she usually is. Moving back with my parents was never something that she wanted to do so I know it is going to be hard on her. Her and her boyfriend want different things in lives, she wants to be married and have more children and he wants to live with her but act like a bachelor. It doesn't work that way. I think that she realizes that there is no changing him at this point.

My biggest pregnancy complaint so far is this sharp pain that I have in my crotch. Well, its not really in my crotch. It's like the muscle on the inside of your hip where you are attached to your body. Some days its excruciating. I asked my OB about it and she believes it is round ligament pain and my chiropractor believes the same. Some days it hurts so bad and other days I barely notice it. Today it hurts terribly.

Chad is obsessing over his grass seed. He wanted it to rain so badly and now its going to rain for the rest of the week. Tuesday into Wed. looks like possibe flooding. Now he's obsessing over his grass seed floating away with the rain. I can see the wheels turning in his head. He'll probably pull a Tim Allen - Home Improvement stunt and put up tarps to cover the whole backyard. Our backyard is small enough so he would probably attempt something like that.

I haven't been posting much. My boss is on vacation so I've been taking over his work load in additional to mine. Needless to say I've been stuck in my office most of the time. Which is okay because in about 12 days I'll be the one on vacation.

The weekend was busy too. Chad rototilled the yard and planted new grass seed on Saturday. Poor guy was exhausted but hopefully we'll have nice grass soon. Sat. night, we headed to my parents to celebrate my sister's birthday and Easter since we wouldn't be together on Sunday. We all made Mexican food and had a real nice time.

Easter morning we had an egg hunt at my uncle's house. We came home and I took a small nap before heading to Chad's aunt's house for Easter dinner.

Like I said, life is boring and busy right now.

Last night Chad was able to feel the baby kick for the first time. She was real active or maybe I just notice it more when I'm laying still in bed.

Also, he informed me today that he's been saving money for my birthday gift. He wants to buy me a digital camera. Unfortunately we know very little about digital cameras. If you have one please let me know how you like it and the price range. I don't want to get a cheap one but not a super expensive one either. Also, does it come with the software to upload pics to the computer or do you buy it seperately?

My dr. appt went very well. I keep wondering what my second child will be like. My dr. had an emergency and I chose to wait for her instead of seeing her backup. Kaelyn was good as gold while we waited in the waiting room for more than 45 mins. I know that I'm very lucky. Anyway, the appt went well. My blood pressure was perfect which made me thrilled beyond belief.

After we left the dr's I called the hairdresser from my cell to get an appt for Kaelyn. She told me to drive right over so Kaelyn got her haircut and then I dropped her off at school and I went back for a haircut. I also decided to have my eyebrows waxed for the first time ever. It hurt a little but I look gorgeous!

I haven't been posting all that much lately because I really don't have anything very interesting to say! I made lasagna for dinner and Kaelyn ate all of her lasagna and her salad which was a nice surprise. I bought some rice pudding from the grocery store and she loves that too. She ate the whole container (not in one sitting) by herself. Instead of buying it next time I'm going to get the recipe from my mom. Tomorrow I'm going to make chicken chow mein. I'll make a double batch of the sauce and freeze some.

Tomorrow I have my monthly OB appt. in the morning. I hope that its as quick as last time since I'll have Kaelyn with me. Wednesday I have a chiropractor appt and Friday Kaelyn has a followup to see how things have been since we started her on allergy meds. Plus, she had another cold which I'm hoping doesn't linger and turn into a sinus infection.

I can't believe that Sunday is Easter already. We don't have much planned. Ooh, almost forgot we have an Easter egg hunt Sunday morning. Then we are eating Easter dinner at Chad's aunts house. I usually buy candy for my neice and Chad's cousins (who are like our neices) but this year I bought them all the game Mancala. I don't know how to play but they all know how and none of them have it. I'm filling Kaelyn's basket with Huckleberry Pie from Strawberry Shortcake, Old Maid cards, a jump rope, some sidewalk chalk, a bug collection container and a little necklace that looks like a clear lightbulb that you use to collect fireflys. No candy. I'll just end up eating it anyway. Oh, and I'll go to the bakery on Sat. and pick up individual Portuguese sweet breads for the girls and K.

We got home last night around 7pm. The drive home was much easier than the drive there. It took us over 6 1/2 hours to get there due to rain and traffic. It was horrible. Once we got there Kaelyn was excited and not ready to settle down since she had a nap in the car. She didn't fall asleep until after 11:30pm and we woke up the next morning at 6am.

It was raining too hard for the guys to go skiing on Friday so we occupied the time shopping, eating and swimming. Swimming was Kaelyn's favorite part of course. She's such a little water bug. This evening she fell asleep as soon as we left the restaurant. It was nice to have some alone time with the adults and we played cards and a board game. Lots of laughs.

Yesterday the guys left early to go skiing. We ate breakfast in the condo, gave the kids a bath and packed up. We left the condo at 11am and headed over to watch the guys ski. As we headed over they spotted us so they waited for us and I saw Chad put on his sunglasses and he was missing a lens and they were all bent. Yep, he took a pretty good fall on his first trip down the mountain. He was fine but he sure is sore today. While we were there Kaelyn noticed all of the little kids skiing and she wanted to go. I told her next time we would put her in a class if she wanted since we hadn't rented skis or a helmet for her and the day was half over. After watching the guys ski for awhile we headed into town to grab lunch for ourselves and then we brought something back for them. We hung out for awhile longer and then started heading home at 3pm.

Things went better than I expected. We were only there two nights but it would have been more difficult it we were there longer since there was only 1 bathroom and 4 adults to get ready everyday. All in all it was a really nice time. Now I've got to catch up on laundry and go grocery shopping. I'm planning on cooking or prepping a few meals today for the week.