No wonder there are problems with our legal system

Well, Monday and Tuesday I spent witnessing why there are so many problems with the legal system (or part of it anyways). I had jury duty. I report at 8:15 and after starting 45 minutes late I find out I have to come back at 1:30 for a jury pool- too long to just hang out in Angleton so I boogied back to Pearland (45 mins each way) ran an errand, had some lunch and headed back to the courthouse. The next three hours I spent in a jury pool where I had to keep listening to people basically making up ridiculous opinions in an obvious attempt to get out of serving. Now I was not exactly excited about serving, especially as busy as work has been, but it is my duty so I was not going to lie to get out of it. Well, needless to say I was not picked, but at the end we found out 25 of us needed to report back in the morning for another jury pool, and I was one of the lucky. So I headed back Tuesday morning. This was a DUI case where the person already had two convictions and he was on trial for the third, which apparently makes it a felony and the person FINALLY looks at serving some real jail time (this post would be too long if I posted my views on drinking and driving). It was amazing to me how many people either had a DUI (about 7) and how many people had a close friend or relative killed by a drunk driver which led them to believe they could not be unbiased (10)- which excluded them all. Well at noon they had decided who they wanted and when they called juror number 12 of 12 she did not respond- she had not come back from the break! And of course they did not want to pick an alternative but rather break for 2 hours so they could try to find her. When we came back 2 hours later, I heard her (juror #12) explain she was just standing outside when the judge called her outraged. I wish she had been instructed to give us all an apology. So we were called in again just to be released. So after two days, I know like I should have felt like I did my part, but somehow felt I did not. My husband is always mad when I get jury duty (3 times in 4 years and him none) but after calling him at every break I think he now understands why I get frustrated.

Jace did well this week, we are hoping the antibiotics cleared the ear infection but we will find out Tuesday. We ended up going to the zoo Saturday which he loved. It is funny because this week it seems like he started catching on to things. He now will give you a kiss- he leans over to you and presses his lips to you cheek- too cute. Also started to say "more" and doing the sign for it- good and bad. Most parents would think this is not a big deal, but everything Jace has said up to this point always sounded like "da" though we could tell he understood us when we asked him something. And he finally ate pasta- first spaghetti with ham and peas and then mac&cheese. He would not even touch it before so to pick it up and eat is stunned us. I still cannot get him to eat whole fruits or veggies, though he will eat anything pureed. My grocery bill is very expensive every week trying to come up with something new for him to try- but just like the pasta I think he will just change his mind someday.

Two more weeks and we will know if we are having a boy or girl- getting excited. I am doing well- kind of have a slight cough still, but feeling better than last week.

The Ear Infection Blues

Well, Monday I got a call from the daycare- Jace had a fever. Steve stayed home with him Tuesday, and the fever was persistent even with the tylenol and motrin, so Wednesday I took him to the doctor. And for the third time since October Jace has an ear infection. This one came on fast, and the last one took two doses of different antibiotics to clear, so they seem to be getting progressively worse. So the doctor recommended we go talk to an ENT about getting tubes. I guess the new rule of thumb is three in 6 months of 4 in a year- so we are there. I hate the idea of putting him through surgery, but he is sick all the time lately. I know he will still get colds, but they (supposedly) should not be this bad. He had the fever all the way through Thursday night- it was amazing what a good sport he was about it, but between the coughing and fever he was a sad dude. I guess we will see what the doctor says week after next. Amazing once you start talking to people how many kids have tubes.

And needless to say, the inevitable happened today- I am achy with a sore throat. So me and the couch have been best friends along with my cup of hot tea. I have jury duty tomorrow so that should be pleasant- my luck is I will be there all day.

We got our front load washer and dryer this week. After watching the washer the first time we could not decide if it was working right because it does not add hardly any water (you can never see a level), but after some inernet research and asking a friend it seems that is how they work. I had read they use so much less water but had never imagined this. Jace had some very dirty items that we used as test subjects and they all came clean so I guess it gets things clean regardless of the lack of water.

I have created a condiment monster..

Well, I should have known better than to offer Jace ketchup (since Steve is a condiment addict), but I have now created a monster. Last week we were eating dinner and he pointed to the bottle, so I gave him a little. He proceeded to stop eating his regular food and just scooping the ketchup into his mouth. We finally tought him it is for dipping, but now whenever it is around he wants some. And the tonight we went out for Italian and got him tortellini with the tomato sauce on the side, so he could dip it. Well he decided he did not like the pasta (just by touching it- he has texture issues with pasta still), and proceeded to just eat the sauce. Luckily he liked the bread and the chicken steve and I had in our dishes, or it would have just been tomato sauce for dinner. I have gotten to the point where I can never guess what he will like. We have had no luck getting him to eat cheese of any kind, but then last night he could not get enough of queso and chips.

Today we had big plans to go to the zoo, but then the weather was not as pleasant as we had hoped, so we headed to the children's museum. Jace had a fun time running around, it kept his attention for a little over an hour. After a quick trip to Sam's Club on the way home, he passed out. I think we will wait to take him back again when he is a little older.

Looking through a new lens

Well, with Jace and I finally feeling better we had a good weekend. I finally got to use the new lens on my camera, and while it is a learning process, I am excited about it. The lens allows you to take portraits with really blurring out the background- they always seem to be my favorite. The trick is getting the shutter speed to match up with the aperture to not overexpose the pictures- thank goodness for digital- lots of practice shots..

So recently someone asked how I was feeling, and followed with the question about how this pregnancy compares with the last. I decided there was not too much difference between the two actual pregnancies (same symptoms) so far but the differences come from that I have Jace now. With the first when I was tired I simply took a nap or if I felt bad I just retreated to my room. Now with Jace, normally his needs comes him first and then at the end of most days I just pass out on the couch (before 8 is not unheard of). Makes me wonder how mom's with 7 kids possibly do it.

So I cannot even believe that I am admitting to this, but we just got the last of our outside Christmas decorations down this last weekend. We have become those people. The lights did not bother me but the large wreath was just too obvious (we did at least turn the lights off). I do have to say that there are some people who still have items out including yard ornaments, so we have beat those people. There were excuses we kept coming up with, like I was too sick to watch Jace while Steve did it, but the reality is these last few required the extension ladder which Steve loathes. I cannot blame him because I am not a heights person either, and we keep saying we will pay someone to do that part, but his cheapness comes out so he sucks it up (he says he has reached his limit this year, but we will see next year).

Anyone out there have a front loading washer and hate it? We are considering getting one, and luckily I get a good deal through work, so it makes the additional costs easier to swallow, and when you read how much water it saves, less detergent you use, and how much more gentle it is on your clothes, you start wondering what is the catch. I did read the cycle time takes longer, which is not a big deal to me since the capacity is so much more than my current machine.

And then there were four

So in case I forgot you on the email- we are expecting in July. July 24th to be exact, but if I have a c-section (which I am currently leaning toward) it would be sometime the week before. We are excited. I keep telling Jace there is a baby in my tummy and he is disappointed when he lifts my shirt and it is just belly. Today we asked him where his baby is, and he lifted up his shirt to show us his belly. I wonder how much of it he gets- just funny. I went to have some of the first ultrasounds Friday. The doctor said he could have told me the sex but Steve was not there and I know it would only be 80% accurate so I passed. Steve was disappointed I did not just have him write it on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope- now we have to wait until February 20th. My sister-in-law is due the day before me so my mom has two chances to get her granddaughter (but so far they have decided that they will not find out the sex beforehand).

The other highlight of the week was Jace had his first dentist appointment. We had noticed some plaque build up on his bottom teeth and were struggling with how to best brush his teeth, so we decided it was time. Amazingly Steve said it went rather well. He supposedly just sat there while they cleaned them, which is hard to imagine because he throws a fit a minute into brushing. They also gave us brushing pointers which have worked- more or less pinning him down. And we even get in some flossing- amazing. I was happy to read that children only get 20 teeth, which means Jace is almost done. He is not REAL bad when getting teeth, but he is irritable and extremely drooly. Feel bad putting a bib on a 17 month old, but it is bad.

Other than that we are just trying to get back to healthy. Jace was doing well until yesterday and the runny nose and really bad drooling is back. His teeth are hurting which is evident by the drool and a finger always in his mouth. My fear is the ear infection never went away again (after third antibiotic)- he is sometimes tugging at his ear and has started to not like baths which are usually signs his ears hurt- might call the doctor again this week. After not having ear infections for such a long time now we cannot shake this one. I got over my bronchitis but am now on another antibiotic (more specific) for a horrible sinus infection. I have had sinus headaches before but this just lasts day and night, and nothing seems to relieve the pain. Finally two nights ago I started feeling better at night, so I am getting some sleep at last. But now during the day one side really hurts and it spreads into my teeth. But it has become more bearable day by day so maybe (cross my fingers) I can be back to somewhat normal in the next week.

Catching Up

Well, I apologize profusely for being such a slacker, it is not in my nature... I was hoping that Steve would take to doing some updates but no luck so far, so I am going to do my best. I had this feeling that I could not do updates without pictures, which we have also been bad about doing, but as I read my friend Corrie's blog, hysterically laughing, I realized it is just nice to know what is going on in people's lifes even without pictures.. So I will post once a week regardless of my picture situation to keep you all up to date.

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. My mom and dad came for the week and then Mike and his family joined us later in the week. It was a full house but we had a great time. Jace and Dylan got to actually play since Jace is now walking- the favorite toy was definitely the wrapping paper role. We celebrated Christmas early- Jace loves his Mickey airplane.

Then quicker than we knew it Christmas was upon us. We took Jace to his first Lights in the Heights. We went early- he loved the parade and we were done before the crowds were too bad- mom loved that. Then for the Christmas we drove to Mississippi- I was very nervous about an 8 hour drive. Jace is at the age where he will watch TV, but he is not all that interested. Well several episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse along with good timing with his naps made the trip very bearable. We had a great time with Steve's parents- Jace loved riding around the yard in the little red wagon. He enjoyed Christmas and was in to it much more than we expected- a lot of it was the joy of ripping the paper off but he actually then played with the toys. He got an Elmo- was not so sure about that, but he is warming up to him.

Well, all good things come to an end, and we crashed. The day after Christmas Jace got a cold, which meant sure enough I was to follow. We both have been suffering the last week. After trips to the doctor- Jace for an ear infection and me for bronchitus, the antibiotics are slowly kicking in. Jace felt pretty good today, thank goodness since daycare starts tomorrow. I am on on the other hand still struggling- just need to take it easy enough so I don't get pneumonia this time around. Steve had to be mom and dad in the week he was hoping to take some time off and relax. Kids change everything!!

Happy Halloween

Jace was a little lion for Halloween. He was a very good sport about the costumes- I don't think he tried to take it off once. At school they had a parade and then a celebration in the pumpkin patch- he wore his "cooler" lion costume to that event. For those of you not from Texas, Halloween can still be very warm. Luckily this year was a little cooler, but we were glad to have this second costume, eventhough Steve thinks he looks like a Pilgrim in the pictures. Steve was able to take the day off so he caught some of it on video (see link off to the left- to be posted soon). Notice the poor Little Elmo- he was in the dark most of the event!

In the evening we headed over to our friend's house to do some trick-or-treating, or that was the plan anyways. Jace ran around a bit in his costume, but by the time the gang was ready to go, he was ready to go to bed. He has been trying to get over an ear infection this week, and we think there are more teeth coming in (today's signs were lots of drool and a finger always in his mouth). He is normally in bed by 7, but this week it had been 6:30, so his time was up! Maybe we will actually do some trick-or-treating next year..