is there such thing as a non-ugly recliner?

dear hubby and I are on a search for a recliner, as we expect to be up a lot with new kiddo and realized that last time we went through this, a recliner would have been very handy in catching some zzz's between feedings. However, I am a bit of a style snob and do not want an ugly, overstuffed recliner in my house, comfy or not. Dear hubby is more interested in comfort, but does have great taste for a straight man, so he does sympathize with my not wanting a hugemongous, upholstered monstrosity gracing our family room. We think we have found one, but I am hesistant to spend a chunk of change of something big when I may not have a job in a few months. We may just bit the bullet anyway. I was shocked to see that there was only on attractive recliner out of the 50+ we have looked at, seriously. It is mission style, with faux leather (which at this point is not a detraction) and would look nice with out mission style rocker. Plus it is on sale. Hmmmm.... save or spend?

the economy and my job.

I guess I enjoy living in a bit of denial. I know the state budget is bad, and that there has and will be more cuts on the horizon. I know that there is a real possibility there may be no job for me to go back to after maternity leave ends in late June, and little prospects of finding another job for awhile. (Living in a community with an MSW program and gazillion MSW's does not help this issue.) However, I think I was really in denial about the reality of it until I was listening to NPR last night on the way home; and learned the proposed budget deficeit was going to be possibly 2 billion dollars more than most recently projected. Someone they interview said "there are going to have to be even deeper cuts, even in k-12 education. There will be whole branches of government that will no longer exist." Well, that was depressing to hear; did not make for a calm and enjoyable evening. Congressional democrats are wanting to proposed raising taxes. Now, I know that this would be pretty darn unpopular with many Washingtonians, particularly on the dry side of the mountains; however we will likely be getting a federal tax break through the economic stimulus package. If they have jobs, people make in less than 70k as a single or 140k as a couple will see some cash back in their pay check through a reduction in with holdings. I, for one, would be willing to pay a higher sales tax, or car license tax or whatever, if it meant that we did not have to have 10's of thousands of people lose their jobs, homes, sanity.... I would be willing to make some sacrifices for the greater good, I hope others would be too. I am not to optimistic, particularly regarding some individuals who are particularly conservative, however I would argue to that keeping people off unemployment, reducing the number of people who would be seeking food stamp and welfare assistance due to job loss, keeping people able to pay their mortgages, have income to buy things to keep businesses going; would be worth paying higher taxes for the time being. We need to keep funding education, infastructure, human services, corrections for the benefit of our society. This is not time to go running scared and hiding under a rock; it is time to pull together, to sacrifice, to help each other, to collaborate to resolve this mess we are in. It is not going to just go away because we don't want to think about it, we need to take action now.

week 31

Hungry, tired, uncomfortable, sleeping badly, moody, heartburn, and easily annoyed by dear hubby. Sounds like I am knocked up. Feeling pretty good actually, although did tear up thinking about the morning my water broke with Jude. I figure this is normal, as I am almost at 32 weeks and I am going to think about that, all the while hoping it does not happen again.
Finally decided, well we think we have, on a full name for the baby: Jonah Aaron Longmire. For an agnostic, I sure have a prediliction for bible names. Hey, they are classic and classy.
Anyway, was feeling really good about the name Jonah and then read that crazy octuplet mommy named one of her 14 kids Jonah. I do not to appear to be copying crazy octuplet mommy. While I was initially somewhat obsessed with the fact that these octuplets made it to 31 weeks gestation and seemingly are all doing well, I have sense grown increasingly disturbed and annoyed by the whole story. What the hell kind of doctor would implant 6 embryos, which became 8, into one person. We are not made to have litters. The risks with multiples multiplies exponentially, and as a mother of a singleton preemie, I find it very upsetting that someone would put the lives of several infants at risk, not to mention their mother. It is not like she did not already have children. There are people who would be happy to have 1 healthy child. I guess I am just too much of a pragmatist to be supportive of people having oodles of children. We live in an increasingly crowded world. We have limited and dwindling resources. The world economy is in the shitter. No one person could possibly give adequate attention and care to 14 children under the age of 7, no one. That is my soap-box-of-the-moment.
So, the calendar is counting down to D-day for baby Jonah, hopefully April the 6th will actually find me still knocked up and ready to deliver.

week 30 update

Blood pressure normal, passed glucose tolerance screening, heart rate (baby) in the 150's, lbs gained: 3, and a cervix like fort knox! Here is hoping that I won't have a major freak out in a week and a half when I hit 32 weeks.

week 30

I am officially 30 weeks preggo. Only 2 weeks to go before I get to the point that I delivered Jude. I am wondering if I will panic around that time, or at least become very hypochondriacal (yes, i think i just made that up.) Everything is seemingly normal so far, I have an appointment this week with Dr. K, so I will know for sure if my assessment in accurate or not. I am feeling fat, although not really gaining excessive amounts of weight. I am tired. I am bitchy. I am having difficulty sleeping. I am also dreaming a lot about a fat, content, baby boy. One that doesn't freak out his parents by arriving early and spending a month in the hospital. One that doesn't have a hydrocephelus scare at 6 months. One that arrives when he is supposed to. However, if he can have a charming personality like his brother, a sweet disposition (most of the time), an engaging smile, a twinkle in his eye like his bro and daddy; we will also be very happy. I am still looking forward to maternity leave; like I am going to be able to rest or something.... I must have pregnancy induced delusional thoughts...

dear rush limbaugh

shut up already. you are an irrelevant, hate spewing, drug addled, whiny, narcissistic little man. well, maybe not so little, but the rest is pretty darn accurate. if the gop wants to be relevant in america again, they should stay far, far away from rush... and fox news while they are at it. oh, and sarah palin.

the interesting start to my day

I was sitting in the drive thru at Starbucks before work, behind a mercedes sedan. In said sedan was a man and his very lively yellow lab. As he was pulling up to the window, his dog leapt out the car window. Now, at this point I am wondering if he even noticed, as he stayed in his car and all, but realized when he tried to pull away before picking up his coffee, that he did notice and was trying to get out of the way to go and get the dog. Meanwhile, I get the dogs attention from my car, trying to keep him out of the way of vehicles. Dog was very friendly, so friendly that he leapt through my open car window and into my car. Owner was horrified. He ran over and bought my drink and retrieved dog. It was a great start to a day. Hey I like dogs, and this one was nice. Fun was had by all.