Grandma comes to visit, and leaves before the baby even gets here...

Tommy's due date was July 26th so my mom, Marilyn, flew in the 21st just in case things started happening early. No luck there. The due date came and went. We did all the things you're supposed to do to try to induce labor, including getting an induction massage from a professional. As the days went by though it became clear that I would be going with the scheduled induction time - 7am Monday, August 1st.

Unless you've been pregnant in July, there is really no way to understand the discomfort. No amount of air conditioning can stop the sweating. No amount of sleep can alleviate the exhaustion. This pregnancy was a lot harder than my first - more sickness and more fatigue. But then again, I did have to keep up with Nora this time. It's really lucky Mom was here because she was a big help with Nora. Mom has a lot more stamina than me, especially stamina for shopping. I felt bad that on every shopping trip we would just go to one store, and then I'd have to come home and rest.

Fast forward to Saturday, July 30. Just after everything had settled down for the night, Mom told us she was feeling some numbness in her legs. With no idea what it could be, we decided to see how she felt in the morning. It was bad enough in the morning that she decided to go to the ER. Okay, I'm freaking out. After hours of tests, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre disease, a disorder of the nervous system which causes numbness and paralysis. It's not permanent, but it can get worse fast, so the doctor said she needed to go home right away. Of course I'm thinking that she can't leave yet - I need help with the baby! You just got here! I want my Mommy! The less selfish part of me is thinking that the doctor is absolutely right - she needs to go home and get treated before she's unable to travel.

Plans were quickly made for my dad to fly out and travel back with her to Ohio. At this point, we were figuring that Mom and Dad would come and go without even getting to see the baby. I decided to try something drastic: I called my OBGYN and asked him to move up the induction. Maybe a simple question like that doesn't seem so drastic, but it made me nervous. My doc and I never really clicked - he's efficient to the point of seeming not to care and I was really spoiled by the midwives that treated me during my first pregnancy. Anyway, I explained a little bit of the 'family emergency' and he reluctantly agreed to induce me 7pm Sunday night, twelve hours early. Maybe an insignificant difference to some, but it would probably mean my parents would at least get to see the baby before they went back to Ohio.

We quickly finished packing and sped off to the hospital...

Nora sure loves to fish!

Nora is very fun to go fishing with.  Even if we aren't catching any fish She still has a blast.  She is perfectly happy catching a chunk of mossy slime.  "Look Mommy I caught something!"
You sure have to be patient though.  She gets the line tangled up every cast...

Planting Our Garden

Today was all about the yard and garden.  We got our front yard looking perfect then started on the garden.
The process of tilling has taken three days. We borrowed a tiller where the blades were in front any the tiller moved forward. Unfortunately our soil is clay and the tiller didn't get more than about two inches below the surface. I  spent the last two evenings turning the whole garden area over with a shovel so the tiller could get down a bit further. So when I finally got around to tilling this morning, it went smoothly and quickly.
Katy planned out where everything would go and it all went in within about two hours. Nora helped me plant the rows of corn. I would point and she would drop them approximately in the right spot. While she was eating her lunch she bragged about what a "good dropper" she was.
We got the last few plants in the ground right as the first raindrops started to fall. Talk about good timing! By the time we got all the gardening things back in the garage we were soaked which was very nice. We sat together inside the garage and watched the thunderstorm and enjoyed the cool breeze.
Life is good.

The Great Outdoors

Ever since the weather started to get warmer, Nora wants to spend all her time outside...

...even if it's raining.

We spend a lot of time at the neighborhood park and pond, playing and watching the duckies.

Nora loves to fly her Buzz Lightyear kite with Daddy. Isn't she tall?

Daddy helps her get started, and then it's all Nora.

Easter Egg Hunt

I call this the 'Monkey Trap' vase.

"Help me, Daddy!"

Mmmm... candy!

Lots of fun toys and treats

"Cool, dude" is what she says anytime she tries on glasses.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Nora is 2 1/2 years old, but we've never colored Easter eggs with her before. She thought it was a wonderful tradition, and Mommy thought it was a great way for her to get some protein in the mornings.

She dipped her finger in the undiluted food coloring.

Everyone is helping.

Nora was trying to be careful, but usually dropped the eggs from a few inches up and splashed dye everywhere. Oh well, it cleaned up just fine.

Eager to spend time with Grandma and Pa Shawver

At Cafe Rio. Mom and Dad always want to go to the Rio when they're in town. And I don't blame them. Let's face it - there's nothing as good in Lima or surrounding area. Sweet pork, creamy cilantro dressing, fresh made tortillas. Great, now I'm hungry.

Snuggle-bug and Papa watching Tangled