Random catch-up

Yikes it has been a long time. I was actually thinking about shutting this thing down. Is anyone still out there? Wouldn't blame you if you left.

I'm still waiting for Kevin to download or upload or whatever the pictures. We have even more pictures on the camera now because we went to Legoland this past weekend. It's a pretty good place for little kids, except the lines are the slowest I've waited in, and it's way overpriced. But the kids had fun, and that's what counts. When we came home, they were all really tired and cranky from skipping their nap. Made me think how crazy in love with our kids (or just plain crazy) we must be for dragging ourselves around all day in the horrible heat, only to put up with tantrum after tantrum when we got home. Still, it was all worth it at the end of the day, when they were lying in bed together and talking about all the things they had seen at Legoland: "Hey, did you see the giwaffe at Wegowand?"

Last weekend was also my first days back at teaching. I think some of them were surprised that such a humongously pregnant woman would be their teacher. But I reassured them, telling them that it was my 4th one, that there was nothing to worry about, no complications most likely. I also told them not to expect any extra absences because I would pop the baby out and then come right back.

Speaking of baby, I'm in my third semester now, 7 months along. I feel really big and cumbersome. Baby is very active, doing waves across my abdomen. I can't believe it's almost time. We still haven't thought of a name yet. We've been thinking about it but boy names are really hard. Last week, a student asked me if I assign extra credit work, and I thought about giving students extra credit for coming up with decent names. Would that be wrong?

Hi

I'm still here. Just don't have anything to say, I guess. We've been busy, too, getting stuff ready for the fall. Lots of things going on in the fall. Our girl starts kindergarten, our boy starts preschool, and of course baby boy is arriving. I know once the kids start school, our schedules will be a lot tighter, so I'm cramming in the activities now. We have piano, dance, soccer, and various arts and crafts classes.

We're also supposed to go on a few day trips like to the Fair, Legoland, or camping but I don't know if we can survive those places in this heat.

This past weekend, we went to my cousin's wedding. It was an outdoor wedding. All you single people out there: never plan an outdoor wedding for July. It was so scorching. The bride was pretty smart in her strapless gown but my cousin suffered (deservedly so) in his thick suit. It was great to see all the family, especially my seemingly long lost cousins. And because my cousin went to the same college as me, I also got to meet up with long lost college friends. Funny how people have changed and then not changed.

I'll try to post some pictures from the wedding. I haven't quite figured out how to download photos from the camera. Meanwhile, we're still here, just hiding out in our air conditioned home.

It's a Boy!

Most people are pretty happy that we're having a boy. Our parents think it's good that our son will have a boy playmate. They worry about him sometimes when he's copying his sister and smearing on makeup or wearing high heels. My sister is the only doubtful one. She asked,"Can you handle another boy?" She has a point; he is so much more rambunctious and rebellious than the others. Still, we are glad to have another boy. Kevin would have been happy either way, and I just find it amazing that we're actually having one at all. We are very blessed. Now if we could only come up with a decent name...

Speaking of boys, I don't know if I can handle a lifetime of boy injuries. Our boy had a major spill yesterday at the park. He fell off a ledge and pretty much landed on his face. Both knees were bleeding, and his face was a mess. He has scrapes on his forehead, chin, and one cheek; a bruise on the other cheek; and a big swollen eye. His sister could not bear to look at him. Luckily, he seems to be okay with his injuries. It just looks horrible. Today he's better and being his usual monkey self. I just hope that's the worst that ever happens to him.

Pregnancy #4

I'm waiting for the insurance authorization to come through to schedule the ultrasound, you know, the one that looks for the tell-tale weewee. We definitely want to know so that we can get ready. Since I gave away all my infant clothes, I have to know which friends to hit up for old clothes and also if I have to save girls’ or boys’ stuff. I was thinking about not finding out and being truly surprised for once, but Kevin gave me too many practical reasons. He reminded me that our oldest was a surprise because she was never in the right position during the ultrasounds. Still, we might keep it to ourselves, like how the celebrities do. Except for the friends I'm hitting up for clothes for and also the family members who would kill me if I didn't tell, of course.

I haven't even told everyone about the pregnancy yet, but here is a taste of the comments that I have gotten so far.

1. Are you guys Mormon?
2. Are you guys Catholic?
3. I can't believe you still do it.
4. You'll be so old when you finally retire.
5. You're crazy.

Gee, I can hardly wait to hear the comments once people see me actually lugging the 4 kids around.

Shopping extravaganza

What a weekend. Once again, we have to stay put for a day just to recover. My busy weekend started on Saturday, when I went out shopping all day long with my sisters and their girlfriend, kind of a girls' day out. It's been eons since we went out with no hubbies or kids. Of course, I had to horn in on their plans because historically, I haven't been their best shopping buddy. They made me promise not to mutter "crazy!" every time they looked at something expensive and nag over unnecessary purchases. I controlled myself pretty well, except towards the end, when Lynn was taking FOREVER to pick out her stuff, and I couldn't help letting out a bunch of "are you done yets?"

We shopped till the stores closed. We looked at clothes, underwear, makeup, sunglasses, everything. I mostly stuck to non-apparel stuff since I'm about to gain 30 pounds. I ended up with eyeliner and lipstick (so there Lorna). Lynn tried on every single lipstick color, even the ones you could tell were hideous, and then she moved on to try every single eyeliner color. The makeup lady must've been so tired of us, even though she was laughing at our sisterly comments. Afterwards, we all had dinner together, and by the time we got home, all the kids were asleep! It was worth it, though. We ended up with a ton of stuff, and it was just fun hanging out. Kudos to their friend Wendy because it wasn't easy hanging out with us sisters; we tend to get a little obnoxious around each other (they more than me, of course). Yeah, we gotta do it again soon, except we spent way too much money.

Meanwhile, I have to start getting ready for the baby and shop for a bunk bed. I don't suppose anyone wants to come with me?

Our little nurturer

I rarely get mad at my oldest daughter these days. She's a great helper who does almost everything you ask her to. When I get mad at my son for not helping to put away toys, she will say, "It's okay, Mommy, I can do it myself" because she doesn't want to see her brother get busted. She fetches diapers and wet wipes, washes her baby sister's hands before meals, puts the dinner plates on the table and puts them away afterwards.

Last night, while I was standing in their room, she came up to me, put her arms around me, and kissed my stomach. She said,"I love you, Baby. I hope you come out soon."

School's out

The semester is finally over. I gave my final exam yesterday and finished all my grading today. I actually agonized over a few grades. I wavered over two students who scored consistently low (really low) on all the exams but put a lot of effort into coming and listening. They hung in there, they tried hard, and they were very nice people. I debated giving them a C or a D. I rationalized the C grade pretty well: I was too hard on them this semester; community college is more like high school than real college; if I'm going to pass this other loser who never showed up, I should pass them too.

In the end, I decided to give them D's, which was already generous. From their exam grades and talking to them, I'm pretty sure neither of them learned a single coherent concept, only jumbled bits of different ones. I can't pass someone that clueless about biology. The clincher was realizing that they wouldn't have passed even in another easier class.

I'm sending them the message that effort sometimes is enough, but more often, you need the results to back up the effort. I hope next time they won't rely on sympathy and flattery but instead take action to come up with better study strategies. And I hate the bad rap that community colleges have, that they're easier and don't really equip students for 4-year colleges. I don't want my kids going to some watered down college (and they are all going to community colleges).

So the semester ends. It's been very educational for me. I've gained new insights into the public school system here from my high school students. I've learned more about people's goals and desires and how people are drawn to different groups. And I've learned that there are rats crawling around in the space above the ceiling.

Coincidentally, with the ending of school and my first trimester, my headaches and fatigue are much reduced. It's gonna be a great summer.