For the better part of the last month I have been looking for something… anything… to distract me from the 2008 presidential election. It’s become, well, a bit of an addiction. But, nothing else has been around to draw my attention. I finally found it. God bless opening day. Oh how nice it is to see Juan Uribe striking out with runners in scoring position… oh how nice it is to see a below average bullpen on the South Side. It’s baseball season and I couldn’t be happier.

GO SOX!

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

At the doctor’s visit yesterday, I had gained a pound! We were kind of excited, because it has been so hard lately for me to eat the little I”ve been eating, that to actually have gained a pound this month– yay!

I’m trying to eat healthy again - like I would’ve before I felt so sick. I’m snacking on a fruit salad of grapes & strawberries as I write this. And I’m working on getting back to my EXTREME amount of water I used to drink. While sometimes it’s a struggle, I’m feeling hungrier than I was - so that’s a plus.
We heard the baby’s heartbeat again yesterday morning - about 140bpm, which the doctor said was normal. I also had blood drawn for a bunch of prenatal tests. I swear they took 5 or 6 vials! And one of the tests was for blood-typing, which I didn’t think they needed to do, because I’ve had my blood typed 4 times in the last year, so I’m pretty sure I know what it is! AND it’s in my records at the doctor’s office! But oh well, as long as it doesn’t cost me anything, I guess.

Scheduled my next ultrasound at the hospital - will be in another month. It’s a “structural survey” ultrasound, where they check the spine, body, etc. to make sure everything is ok. They’ll tell us the sex, if we want to know, which I don’t. But I’m excited all the same. We should be able to see quite a bit at that point..

I’m back to wearing my BellaBand - love that thing! Jeans were feeling constricted again and I just needed another inch give, so I feel comfortable now with the Band.

I am feeling the baby as little butterfly, fluttery movements right now. It’s kinda cool. I can’t wait until I can feel it on the outside, because then I can share it with Jason.

Still feeling exhausted at 9pm at night, and can easily sleep 10 hours if I let myself. But other than that, I feel ok. Eat and sleep, that’s what I do. LOL. And I eat quite a bit, just to keep something in my tummy. Air-popped popcorn is my constant companion.

That’s it for now.

I want to put forth a proposal to possibly change the landscape of politics as we know and set an example to future presidential candidates. I propose John McCain and Barack Obama hold an unprecedented meeting. In this meeting, they must agree that their campaigns will remain on topic and NOT personal. They will reject and denounce any “swiftboating” tactic used by their respective parties and supporters. Specifically the 527s.

Following this meeting and agreement, they hold a public press conference to announce to the press and all supporters that these are the rules and guidelines for the campaign.

Is this a dream? yea, probably. But it would be a step in setting American politics on the right road.

This last weekend I went home to visit my family. Had to drive alone, b/c Jason couldn’t find someone to cover all of his services on Easter Sunday. Drive was ok, but I hit a pretty bad snowstorm about an hour out and then stopped again to take a short nap. So, it took longer than I would normally take it.

My 2 1/2 year old nephew stayed at mom & dad’s with my sister’s family and I on Friday night. His dad had to work Saturday morning and his mom was trying to finish up a paper for her class. He slept in my room and I pulled him into bed with me when he sat up crying in the night. He’s a sweetheart and the next night I guess he wanted to stay with me again, instead of going home. They wouldn’t let him, though.
Saturday we attended a shower for my cousin at my grandmother’s house. Grandma was sick though and stayed in her bedroom the whole time. But overall the shower was fun. I got to see some people from that side of the family that I haven’t seen in quite some time. I’m looking forward to the wedding in April.

Saturday night we were supposed to go to dinner at a restaurant in the Amana Colonies, but Grandma was still sick, my dad was sick, a few more people were sick. So, we decided to cancel and order pizza in at Grandma’s house. it worked fine and we had a really good time.

Sunday morning woke us to leave early for Sunrise Service at church, followed by breakfast put on by the youth. (Most of THEM looked asleep!) We were late leaving for church, but we made it just as the first songs were being song. My sister-in-law sang in a trio. It was really good.

When we got home after the church, the little ones got to “find” their Easter baskets and discover the treasures the Easter Bunny had left them. Then we lounged around for a while before heading up town.

At Grandpa’s this year, we went up town to a restaurant that my aunt & uncle recently opened and had lunch. It was VERY good and we filled the entire place. Another aunt & uncle had brought the game Rock Band and the kids had fun playing with that. We sat and chatted before heading back to Grandpa’s for an egg hunt. All in all, a good weekend.

Sometimes do you feel like you want to pray for something, but think that it’s inappropriate, so you just pray for the “right” thing to work out? That’s how I felt all weekend. “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” I don’t know if I can overlook it.

This week I’m at 16 weeks or 4 months, can you believe it? I can’t. It’s hard to believe I’ve come this far and that we just might make it all the way. You still really can’t tell to look at me, but then you might not ever - my sister didn’t really “show” a ton.  Guess that’s what we “big women” look forward to, eh?  I’ve gotten some maternity clothes from a friend, just have to pick up a few things more and I’ll be set.  Over the weekend, I figured out what we’re going to use for some furniture in the beginning - and I can’t wait to get that all together.  Some people say I’m probably feeling the baby move now and don’t realize it.  There are times when I’m like, “Is that it?” but I’m not sure.  I know it’s not comfortable to lie on my tummy anymore and I can feel SOMETHING once in a while, but it’s hard to say what it is.   Not sure if it’s the baby or not.  We have another doctor’s visit this week, but I’m not sure what we’re doing there. I don’t know if I’ll have another ultrasound, etc.  I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.   

Reporter Owned By Sled - Watch more free videos

1. Did you know that Barack Obama is a devout Christian? He has been a member of the same United Church of Christ congregation for 20 years, and was married there to his wife Michelle in 1992.
2. Did you know that Barack Obama often leads the US Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance?
3. Did you know that Barack Obama is a strong friend of Israel and has spoken out strongly against anti-Semitism?
4. Did you know his grandparents from Kansas were part of the “Greatest Generation?. His grandfather served with Patton’s Army during World War II, and his grandmother, a real “Rosie the Riveter”, worked in a bomber assembly plant back home.

Read more »