Having a Girl!

Well, yes, this is a bit belated, but I thought I would make it official that we are expecting a little girl! Mike is excited, but doesn't believe it for some reason. He felt that the ultrasound was inconclusive...even though the ultrasound tech said it definitely was conclusive! :)

Asher knows that we are having a girl, and that he will have a little sister, but he still thinks he has a baby in his tummy...and recently mentioned the baby in Mike's tummy too. Hmmm. We have some work to do.

I suppose I can finally stop dressing Asher like this....

P.S. We are very excited to have Emily, Maren, and my mom come and visit this week!

Guess who's....

with Pope baby #2.

Due: June 12

18 weeks along. Prego. Chunky. Feeling great!

And not quite as "original" this time. :)

Funny Sayings

**I often ask Asher the question, "Who do I love?" and then he proceeds to answer with little sweet answers which normally include Asher and Daddy. I asked him the other night and this was the order of his answers:

1. Mama

2. Dadda

Waiting for him to say Asher, I said, "Asher, who else do I love?" He thought for a moment and then answered, "Puter!" Puter means computer, as in my laptop. Sad, funny, and true.

**Asher has recently started to get some attitude. While Mike and Asher wrestle, sometimes Mike will fake nibble on his back, and Asher shouts, "Daddy, no bite me!" He will also say to me sometimes when I am changing a diaper or putting on his pajamas, "Don't touch me Mama! My body!" which I then inform him that I am his Mama and birthed and breastfed him so yes, most definitely, I CAN and WILL touch him! :)

**As winter is upon us, getting ready to leave the house entails a lengthy process. In our family, when we are finally ready to go, we often say, "Let's do this!" so now, once Asher is all set in his carseat or stroller he shouts, "Let's do this, Dada!"

**Asher has said this multiple times in the last few days, "Let's watch football Dadda!" I wonder where he gets this!

Asher's 2nd Year Glamour Shots!

Can you believe we have a two year old! Asher's babysitter took these great pictures of Asher and her daughter, Liv. Thank you Heather!

And, I'm normally not one for little kid lovey-dovey pictures, but, seriously you guys...how funny and cute is this! We are hoping these two will get married one day!

It's Kind of a Big Deal!

All key indicators point that Rachel (my older sister by 2 years) and her husband Richard Martinez (and little Victoria and Reed) are moving to our neighborhood in Chicago approximately five blocks away! We will let Rachel confirm as to whether this rumor is actually true!

Also, we had a great time having them come and visit and look for apartments. We will see them again in less than a month...very exciting!

Left Hanging

I heard a cry for help from Axel when we were at the park last Sunday and I ran to his rescue as he was stuck hanging from the rings. I then paused prior to helping him to be sure we got a few pictures. Documented proof of being a bad aunt. :)

Raid and Chemo: Friend or Foe?

This is an article I wrote for a new Oncology study we're working on and many of you have helped me through the hell this little beetle has put me through so I thought I'd share.

Recently I found a beetle in my home. It was large enough that I actually HEARD it running on the tile floor. After attempting to trap it with Tilex-soaked napkins (as I had no Raid) I spent the night in absolute fear for my life and jumping at any little noise.

The next day I could not stop imagining the huge black pest roving through my home as if it owned the place. That night I returned home armed with lemon-scented Raid. I found the beetle and he died shortly after a brief swim.
However, to err on the safe side, I then unloaded the entire can in my home. Operation successful — I went to sleep knowing the beetle was dead in a Ziploc bag. The next morning I awoke nauseated having slept in my 700 square-foot home breathing an entire bottle of toxic lemon-scented Raid.
Like Raid, oncology treatments of radiation and chemotherapy in controlled doses can be effective and safe, but mess up the dose and you’re in a deadly situation.
With so many potential risks involved in utilizing radiation and chemotherapy to treat patients, physicians absolutely need a solid product. What do you think is needed for a complete system? Is there a vendor who has the functionality that oncology demands?
KLAS is conducting an oncology study, and we’d love to hear your thoughts and needs.