5QF: Hellloooooo Summer!

1. Do you wake before the alarm or stay in bed until the last possible second?  Define "alarm".  Are we talking crying baby?  Husband heading off to work?  Sunshine coming through my window?  If one of the boys doesn't wake me up, or I don't hear my husband rustling around in the bathroom, typically the sun will wake me up.  But then, I also have a pretty reliable internal clock that rouses me between 6:00 and 6:30 at the latest.  We also have one of those really cool clocks that has the sunrise setting, so we can wake up more naturally than a blaring alarm that scares the bejeezus outta me!

2. Who should get a baby shower? Is it just the first baby or all babies?  First babies should definitely get showers.  After that, I think it should be a case-by-case basis.  For instance, my friend who had twin girls and needed doubles of everything (and her first was a boy, so she needed pink stuff too!).  Or like my mom, who had nine years between babies (yep, Little Brother was the best kind of "oops" our family experienced!).  For me, I maintained the surprise factor with my first, so all my nursery/newborn things were unisex, and I really didn't need another shower less than two years later...especially since I learned the sex with Round 2 and we were having another boy!  But for those folks who have different gendered kiddos?  Well, I suppose it's up to their friends!  I maintain that it's in poor taste for a lady's mama to throw her either a Bridal or Baby Shower, and that those events should be left to girlfriends/bridesmaids/sorority sisters, etc.

3. How will you spend Memorial Day?  We haven't decided yet.  The neighborhood pool's grand opening (of the season) is Sunday, we'd talked about taking a picnic to the Manassas Battlefield, and we have some other weather-dependent projects to knock out.  So we have options.  I'll let you know what we decide!

4. Do you have a Storm/Hurricane/Tornado/Fire plan for your kids, house...?  My kids are still too young for anything other than for my husband and I to grab them and bring them to safety.  So no, not yet.  I'm from an area known for hurricanes, though, so we should probably include some of those supplies in our house, just in case.  It's probably time that I put aside my callous thoughts of people that freak out and mob-rush the groceries for bottled water and batteries for a little wind...

5. What is your favorite morning drink?  I make a fabulous yogurt smoothie most mornings.  Vanilla yogurt and frozen fruit, with a splash of skim milk.  Easy peasey, and super healthy!

5QF: What a Week!

I won't even attempt to tell you all the reasons why this week has me beat.  Let's just chalk it up to a whole lot of different things that are building and building and I really need to take a break and just breathe.  The problem is that I don't exactly have time for that to happen.  So, I'm just gonna suck it up and muddle through as best I can right now.

1. Do you have a doppelgänger?  Ummmm.....I didn't even know what a doppelganger was until I saw this question.  And even then I had to Google it.  So, no, not that I'm aware!

2. Do you keep your car cleaned up?  I try to!  We really don't eat in the car, and my toddler really doesn't bring sippy cups or snacks in the car so his seat stays pretty clean too!  That said, the cars are my husband's domain, so he's in charge of vacuuming them out when they start to bug us enough!

3. What is a current fashion that drives you crazy.  Right now, as I try to shed the remainder of my baby weight, fashion in and of itself is driving me crazy!  Ballet flats have always been a challenge for me because while I've had one foot fixed, I have bunions, and the bunion on my right foot is still there.  The top of ballet flats tend to go right over that area, which is surprisingly sensitive, making it just not worth it for me to embrace that trend!

4. How often do you go grocery shopping?  Once every couple of months we'll drive 40 minutes to the big commissary on the Marine Corps base near where I grew up.  We go just for meat, and typically stock up with a couple hundred dollars of chicken, beef, pork, and more...simply because the meat prices at the commissary are sooo much better than elsewhere.  For the remainder of my grocery shopping, I go once a week, and even then usually have to make a special trip or two for something I might have forgotten or mismanaged that week (I'm talking you, milk!).

5. What has been the best surprise of your life?  That I was removed from the waiting list to move my ROTC scholarship to my #1 choice for college.  It was such a blessing for my entire family that I was able to get my tuition paid for...and the fact that my scholarship led to a job after graduation...which led to my first ship...which led to meeting my husband.  Well, I suppose the stars were aligned just right!

5QF: An update is coming soon, I promise!

Hey there!  Yes, I realize I haven't really given you an update since I posted pictures of my new house.  One is coming, I promise.  But I've just been a little preoccupied with getting things prepped for the new baby and spending as much time relaxing, exploring my new hometown, playing with my little man (while he's still an only child), and relaxing some more.  Oh yeah, and enjoying the last week I can honestly say I'm in my twenties, because, let's face it, after next week I fully intend to still say I'm in my twenties, even if it's not exactly the truth.

1. What is a hobby you would love to learn and why? I took piano lessons for about six months when I was younger and really liked it.  But my family lived in Japan at the time and my instructor started teaching music in a school, leaving me sort of high and dry in the Far East.  So I wish I could play the piano.  Ya know, like the guy that plays in Nordstrom.  And I wish I could sing.  On key.

2. What do you wish you could have delivered to your house but does not deliver?  Jimmy John's.  My favorite sandwiches ever.  If you've never tried it, you haven't lived.  Groceries would be nice too, if delivery options weren't so expensive.  But then, since I enjoy cooking, I enjoy browsing the aisles at the grocery.  So I'll stick to Jimmy John's!

3. What's your favorite snow day activity? Inside and out?  As a little girl, I loved family sledding expeditions.  There were amazing trails in the woods with fabulous hills, so my older brother, dad, and dog would all go out there for a ton of fun while Mom stayed home with Baby Brother.  And when we came home, Mama always had piping hot cocoa (with cinnamon, vanilla, and whipped cream!) waiting for us!!  Mmmm.....those snow days when Dad didn't have to go to work were some really happy memories!

4. Would you meet a stranger from an Internet dating site?  Now that I'm married, obviously not.  However, the same exact weekend that I went on my first date with Hubs, I also went on a first (and last) date with a guy I "met" on Facebook.  Shortly thereafter, I went up to NYC for my uncle's wedding and had both guys texting me about getting together again when I got home.  Of course, I only got together with my future husband from that point on!  All that said, looking back, I realize that little Facebook date could have gone horribly wrong.  The guy in question ended up being fine, and had I not gone on a date with hubs, I may have continued dating him for a while.  We had a lot in common and he was really good looking.  But I gave him my home address to pick me up (should have met him somewhere) and then went to his apartment with him to watch a movie (probably not the best idea) and even fell asleep on his couch (too vulnerable in today's scary world).  Soooo....

5. If you had to spend 35 hours in a car with 4 other people, who would you choose?  Considering I recently drove cross-country, and I've always been a fan of road trips, I can honestly say that I have spent 35 hours in a car with these four people and I'd do it again and again!!  So I'd pick my husband, my son (cuz I certainly wouldn't wanna leave my little buddy), my dad, and my mom!  If you'd like to open two more spots, then my brothers can come too!  But between my dad and my husband, I'd never have to take over driving.  My mom and I would make the whole thing an adventure, planning our fabulous stops for lunch and sight-seeing along the way!

5QF: Welcome to February and the end of my 20s

That's right, Ladies and Gents, February is my birth month.  Yes, I'm turning 30 this year.  I'm neither dreading it nor embracing it; it simply is what it is.  But, as my birthday is at the end of the month, I still have a while to revel in my 20s.  Yep, my birthday's the 28th.  No, I'm not an "almost" Leap Year baby, as 1983 wasn't a leap year.  But I was born on my due date, during the last episode of M*A*S*H.  But let's just get on with Five Question Friday, shall we?  Lord knows I have a ton of errands to run today, and if my toddler knows what's good for him, he won't skip both his naps today like he did yesterday!

1. What is your favorite book to read with your kids?  I really don't have a favorite, and neither does my little guy...yet.  I try to rotate stories at bedtime, but it's fun to see his attention span expanding and him noticing things in the pictures!

2. After having kids, what body part has changed the most?  Let's see...the whole darn thing?  I'm actually nearly 35 weeks pregnant with #2, so we'll see what gets out of whack yet again.  But I will also say that my lady parts will likely never be the same.  Sigh.

3. Would you ever go back to college? What would you study?  Haha!  I'm right there!  I have a degree in Marketing from Notre Dame and am currently taking my last pre-req and applying to nursing programs here in the DC area.  The plan is to get a second Bachelors degree and become a Labor and Delivery nurse (and later a Certified Nurse Midwife)!

4. How do you close a phone call? Bye, bye bye or other?  Depends on who's on the other end.  Family gets "I love you", business calls usually end with some form of "have a great day", and everyone else gets a generic "bye".

5. What is the one food that will always be your "cheat food" on a diet?  Ice cream.  Hands down.

5QF: Back in the Saddle

I'm working hard on getting back into my old habits.  The new house is a work in progress and my little man is finding a new normal in his surroundings, and is celebrating by changing up his schedule on me.  So we're working to find some regulation in all the crazy, and one of these days we'll get there.  Unfortunately, it won't be this weekend, as my Mama will be here helping me hang the last of the curtains and some other finishing touches.  And in sixish weeks we'll welcome Baby #2...  Soooo, we'll just take things day by day, week by week...  But for now, I'm trying to get back to Mama's Five Question Friday, because it's so darn fun and I've missed it!

1. Do you embrace or dread snow/cold weather days?  After living in Monterey, CA, for the last 18 months, where it's 60 and grey year-round, I'm glad to be back on the East Coast and enjoying the seasons.  However, I will admit that when it comes to cold weather, I love the beautiful snowy days that beacon sleds and snow ball fights followed by hot cocoa...and I am not as big a fan of the bitter cold windy days that just keep me inside!

2. Which game show or reality show could you totally win?  To be honest, I don't watch too many reality shows...and most I think are pretty fake.  But I would love to be on Amazing Race!

3. What is your preferred climate?  Much as I love all four seasons (see #1), I am a warm-weather girl.  Bring on summer!

4. What do you buy every time you walk into the grocery store, no matter what?  Milk.  Bread.  Peanut butter.  Ya know, the basics?

5. If you see a spider/bug in the house, are you brave enough to kill it, or do you call for your hubby?  Depends on how big and gross the sucker is.  I really don't care for spiders, but there have been plenty of times when Hubs isn't around and I've had to take care of things myself!

5QF: It's been a while...

I know.  I know!  It's been more than a while since I've checked in with y'all.  Please forgive me.  For the last month my life's been chaos, and one of these days I'll get my act together and spend some time on a loooooong update so you can hear all about my boring exciting life!  Just know that we had a coast-to-coast move, the holidays, a family of sicklies, a new house, and everything else that those things entail!  Bear with me, please!

1. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, movies, people and foods would you take along?  OK, five books:  my Nutrition textbook (and a wifi connection, please?!) so I can finish my last online class for my Nursing School pre-reqs, Scarlett (the sequel to Gone with the Wind because that's what I'm reading right now), and three other books on my Kindle, in some random order, since I haven't decided yet what I want to read next!  Sorry.  Movies:  I really don't know.  I'd love to see the new Les Mis, since I hear it's great, but lately I'm just not a movie person.  I'd rather read.  Or watch Grey's.  People:  my husband, my son, my other son (who's currently still in utero, so does that mean I get a bonus since if I'm stuck on an island he's automatically with me?), my mama, and my two brothers.  I know that's six folks.  Like I said, bonus for the bun in the oven.  Don't make me choose between my brothers, please!  Foods:  avocado, peanut butter, dark chocolate, vanilla yogurt, and olive oil.  I'd hope to be on a tropical island so I could pilfer fruit from the land, and shrimp and other sea food for some additional protein!

2. What is your thought on year round school?  When I was in school?  Totally against it! Now that I'm out of school?  I don't really have an opinion.  My son is too young for school, so that doesn't affect us (yet) and I haven't given it much thought.  I can see the benefit as far as childcare costs are concerned, but I hate the idea of using school as day care.  I also am on the fence with my feelings toward teachers; there aren't many professions that give you nearly three months off each year.  So, I really don't know.  I'm at a loss, and I'm not too concerned about that right now.  I'll let you know once I have school-age kid(s) and a full-time job...

3. What is your most embarrassing potty story? (Can't be one of your kids' potty stories either!) Hee Hee! This cracks me up and stems from a HILARIOUS twitter conversation...  Let's just say it involved stairs, my husband, and some married-folks "fun time".  Ahem....  Let's also say I've learned my lesson and take the necessary precautions nowadays, especially after birthing a baby!

4. What's the temperature where you are?  37 and sunny.  Some silly weather man made everyone freak out about a bunch of snow, and we haven't had one tiny flake!

5. Are you a winter/spring/fall/summer person?  I love all seasons.  And having spent the last 18 months in Monterey, CA, where the temps stay around 60 year-round with no change in the seasons, I can honestly say that I missed them!  Even the bitter cold days of winter and deafening thunderstorms of late summer.  But I do love the heat.  So, bring it on, Summer, I'm waiting for you!

5QF: Almost there!

As you know, my family is about to embark upon another epic move. Tomorrow, to be exact! The house has been packed, the truck has hauled off our boxes, the housing office inspected to ensure we didn't destroy our home of the last eighteen months (seriously, who does that; we're adults and I's hope that adults would know how to take care of a house....but I guess enough people don't that two inspections are necessary), we've been living in a hotel since Monday since our house is packed, and my husband graduates with his MBA today (thanks, Navy, for paying for that!). Anyway, I do have a much larger update than all that, but for now, I'm just going to settle for this Five Question Friday and hope that is ok with you until I can think straight again... 

1. If you bake during the holidays, what is your favorite thing to make? Christmas cookies?  Seriously, that is the only thing I really bake this time of year, as a tradition.  I typically do three different types, one being sugar cookies and one being a family recipe.  But this year, due to the move, no cookies.  No decorations.  Not even a wreath on the door.  Bah humbug!

2. Present giving: Gift bag vs wrapped box?  I like boxes better, but sometimes a gift simply doesn't wrap well and a bag is the best bet.  But even then I try to spruce it up with tissue paper and ribbons so it looks like a little more thought was put into it!

3. What do you keep your thermostat on during the winter/summer in your house?  I think 68 in the winter and 72/74 in the summer.  You'll have to ask my husband.  That is his domain, and he just installs a programmable thermostat, if one isn't already in the house, so that we don't have to worry about it...

4. When thinking of your "Christmas to-do list" what percentage "done" are you?  Ummm....I'm rather disjointed this year (again, due to the move).  All the shopping is done, but I haven't started the wrapping since we have to drive coast to coast first.  I'm not doing any special cooking/baking, other than my mom's birthday cake and dinner on Christmas Eve.  I'll help with all the cooking, of course, but I'm not in charge of it!  I didn't decorate our house because the movers came on December 10th.  Sooo....  I'm not really sure where that puts me.  I'm right on schedule for where I needed to be at this point in time, but I feel like there is still quite a long way to go.  Hopefully I get that wrapping done in time!

5. Do you do the "Elf on a Shelf"? If so, is your Elf naughty and what shenanigans has he gotten into?  Bunkey got an Elf last year, for his first Christmas, so obviously we didn't do one last year.  And this year he's packed on the moving truck.  But Bunkey is only 18 months old and still doesn't really know what Christmas is, so I'm not super worried about it.  I'm sure next year "Karp" will get into some fun, but I'll have to give you the details on that one next year!

5QF: Oh these questions were written just for me!

I laughed out loud when I saw the questions for this week's Five Question Friday over at Mama M's place! These questions have my name written all over them. And, since I'm exhausted with move prep, holiday prep, and graduation (for Hubs) prep, I'll just get right to it... Enjoy, and don't forget to stop by Mama's to join in the fun!

1. How many times have you moved and do you have any tips?  Ha!  Well, I'm in the middle of a move right now, but in my entire life.  Hang on....give me a sec...have to add them all up!  OK, I'm coming up on Move #13.  In case you hadn't guessed it, I'm a product of the military, so all those moves are either attributed to my dad, myself, or my husband.  And honestly?  I wouldn't have it any other way!  I love the adventure of a move...I just don't care for all the work that goes into the process....glad I don't have to be the one packing all the boxes!!  Tips?  Organize everything!  We use zip-lock baggies to keep the nails for each room together, so that when we go to hang pictures, curtain rods, etc, each room is grouped and we don't have to go hunting for that perfect sized screw or whatever... Label boxes, and then label the rooms in which they belong on the delivery end so that each box can be placed just where it needs to go rather than lugging pots and pans from the bedrooms to the kitchen and sheets from the basement to the bedrooms.  Keep your inventory sheet handy and mark each box off the list as it comes through the door so you know just what you're missing (hopefully nothing)!  And, if you have room, keep the essentials (can opener, small toolbox, etc) in your car with you rather than on the moving van!

2. Do you have a budget for the holidays, or just keep sliding the credit card and have a heart attack in Jan?  We have a budget.  It's strict enough to keep me in check, but not so strict that I have heart palpitations if I go one dollar over.  And if I go significantly over for a particular person, I try to go a little under on their birthday gift that year, so it all evens out.

3. What is the one medical thing you avoid like the plague?  I avoid all the medical paranoia.  I don't wipe down my grocery cart.  I don't keep Purell in my purse.  I don't go out of my way to come into contact with germs (I'm not a fan of shaking hands at church with someone who just sneezed into their hands) but I don't freak out about the presence of germs in my life...

4. What your least favorite Christmas song?  Anything with the annoying Chipmunk voices.  Makes me want to claw my eyes out.  Really, I love the traditional songs sung in a traditional manner!

5. This Christmas are you spending more, less or about the same? Why?  We're cutting back for the three of us (me, Hubs, and our son) because we're moving and buying a new house.  And we're cutting back naturally because I've lost both my grandmothers since last year.  And we're cutting back with my sister-in-law's branch of the family tree as we revised the gift giving rules with them this year...

5QF: Overwhelmed...

To say that I am overwhelmed is a bit of an understatement.  We have 15 days left here on the West Coast.  Really we only have 14, since we take off on the 15th.  In 10 we move into a hotel in preparation for the packers.  The next two weeks are full of doctor's appointments, graduation events, moving prep, tying up loose ends, packing, and organizing.  Oh yeah, and I'm 25 weeks preggo.  But I have a ton for which to be thankful, and one of these days I'll get around to filling you in on what's been going on around here in the last little while...  For now, here's Five Question Friday, with a special prayer request from Mama M rather than a fifth question...

1. What do you give teachers for gifts?  Ummm.....Bunkey's too young for teachers, so we're not there yet.  But honestly, I'm not one of those people who give my hairdresser, manicurist, mailman, etc a Christmas gift, so I'm not sure if I'll be the parent that goes all out getting gifts for teachers on the first day of school, Teacher Appreciation Day, Christmas, and the last day of school.  I just think that is all a bit too much.  We'll see.  I will likely get shamed into it by the other parents.  But it'll be something small.  Like $5 small.  Christmas is expensive enough as it is and I need to think of ways to cut back rather than spend more!

2. Do you text? One finger texter or total pro?  Let me start by saying that I'm one of ten people in the country who doesn't have a smart phone.  I don't even have unlimited texting.  I have the $5 plan that is no longer available on Verizon.  And I only added it a year ago, when we "discovered" that the three-hour time difference with our friends and family on the East Coast just made texting more convenient for certain things.  My husband didn't add texting to his line until recently, and had to upgrade to the $10 plan since the $5 was outdated!  But I do have a Qwerty keyboard on my phone, which I love, so I can do the two-thumb thing!

3. Do you give back during the holidays? If so, in what way/which is your favorite charity?  With me not working and our family expanding, our charity giving isn't what it used to be.  But we do our best.  Typically at Christmas and Easter we put more in the plate at church.  Throughout the year we also donate to Goodwill and try to give our time at a soup kitchen.  But my favorite act of kindness is that which we do on Christmas Eve.  Following Mass, we take a plate of Christmas cookies to the closest military base near our home a give the treats to the guards on the gate.  It's just my way of thanking those who are away from their families and keeping my family safe!

4. If you would've been the sole winner of the 575+ million dollar Powerball jackpot, what would you have done with all that money?  Pay off all my bills and those of my family.  Save enough to secure the futures of my husband and me and our children.  And then provide some for our parents retirement years.  After that, I'd start giving to charity, one million at a time.

5. Will you please take just a moment to spread the word and pray about my friend's missing family members? There still is no news, and I can't imagine their pain and worry. Facebook prayer page: Prayers for Trista, Shy and Matt  Mama's friends are of course in my prayers and will continue to be until they are found!

5QF: The Birth Version

Mama's got a special birth edition of Five Question Friday going on this week and I just couldn't help but get all kinds of excited over this one. Especially since today marks the second anniversary of the last time I spoke with my dad before he died. Needless to say, I've been a little meloncholy, and I can use the happy distraction of baby/birth stories! Here we go!

1. If you had c-section do you wish you would have had vaginal? Or vice versa?  I had a vaginal delivery, and that's how I'd want it.  See #6 below for how I didn't think I'd get my wish at first...

2. If vaginal did you go drug free?  Yes, and again, that's how it was planned, and that's how I plan to do things again in just a few months with #2!  And I did not scream even once...to me, that is wasted energy that I desperately needed to use for pushing!

3. Did you have any complications?  Not in the end...but at first there was the possibility of some and we were quite worried...  Again, see #6 for the details!

4. Who was in the delivery room with you?  Hubs, my mama, my awesome nurse Kelly, and Dr C (who was not my actual OB, but a doctor from another practice who was on weekend call and who I'd never met before that day...but she was fabulous!).

5. Did you document your labor and delivery? (Photos, videos, etc.)  I did a few Facebook posts and texts to friends up until my water broke....after that the rest is in my memory and what I was able to jot down over the next few weeks.  My mama took a few after pictures, but nothing during...and unfortunately, we didn't get a before picture of me still pregnant, even though that was in my plan!  Oops!

6. Pick the birth story of one of your children and tell us ALLLLLLLL about it!  Well, until sometime between late-February and mid-March, I only have one to go off, so here we go:
Hubs and I had just finished our pack-out in preparation from a move from Virginia to California and were living with my mama (a few miles from our townhouse) for about two weeks until Hubs began the cross-country drive and I followed (with Baby and mama by plane).  My little brother was about to graduate from high school, so my whole family was at Mama's house, and my mama was gearing up for his graduation party.

On Friday, Hubs spent the day filling nail holes, touching up some paint, and shampooing the rugs at our house.  Mama, my brothers, and I were running all over town with last minute preparation for the graduation party the next evening.  I wasn't feeling great much of the day, but I figured it was just exhaustion from dealing with packers, doctor's appointments, and anxiety over the birth and move.  It was hot, my back ached, and my feet were swollen.  Yuk. While riding in the car, if I placed my fists just so at the small of my back I could get some relief!  By the end of the day, I was pretty miserable, but we still had one last errand to run, and no dinner.  Mama and I decided to get the things for chicken Caesar salads, since it was fast and easy...and we could eat on the deck since the kitchen and dining room tables were already set up for the party.  While I thought we'd grill chicken breasts for the salads, Mama thought fried chicken strips from the deli would be faster.  We were already running errands at Walmart, so that seemed like a good plan.  However, when we got to the counter, they were waiting on more chicken to be done, so we waited and waited and waited.  And my back hurt more and more.  At one point I was leaning over the cart to relieve the pressure and my older brother started teasing me and poking at me.  I remember Mama warning him "Don't touch her; she might punch you out!"  The chicken was done just as Mama was about to give up and figure something else out so she could get me home....and while they paid for the groceries, I found a bench to sit on!

When we got home, I went right to bed and only came down to eat dinner...then went right back upstairs.  Hubs came up to keep me company and we watched Benjamin Button on NetFlix.  At some point, Mama came up and asked me about the pains.  Since it was mostly in my back, it took several hours for me to figure out that I was in early labor, and by 9:00 I was timing contractions with Hubs.  I told my family I thought tonight would be the night, and everyone scurried around trying to get things done.  Hubs and I double checked our bags to make sure everything was packed.  Mama and I brothers finished planting begonias in the front beds by moonlight.  At 10:30 the contractions were four minutes apart and I called the doctor, who told me I should wait at home and get some rest if I could.

My brothers and Hubs watched some other movie while I rested with a heating pad, but I simply couldn't concentrate.  With every contraction I had to get up to pee, only I didn't know if it was pee or my water slowly leaking.  I tried to sleep, resting in my mama's bed, but just couldn't, due to the contractions and peeing, and at 3:00am, I woke Hubs and Mama and told them I thought we should go to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, they determined that my water hadn't yet broken, that I was 4cm dilated, 100% effaced, contracting, and there was protein in my urine.  And the baby's heartbeat was erratic during contractions.  The nurses told me that I could theoretically go back home, but with the erratic heartbeat they wanted to keep me for observations.  Within a few hours, they were mentally preparing me for an emergency c-section.  I remember looking at my mom and nearly pleading with her that I didn't want a c-section, and her gently telling me that she knew, but that we had to do what was best for the baby!

By the 7:00am shift change, however, my new nurse (Kelly) told me that everything had resolved and I was going to push this baby out, just the way I wanted!  I was so happy!  But then, around 8:00, during an exam, they felt something!  The initial reaction was a prolapsed cord (when the umbilical cord comes out before the baby) which would require c-section.  Kelly later ruled that out, saying that there was no pulse, which would indicate the cord, but that she could feel something fingerlike and thought it might be the baby's hand coming out first, which might also require a c-section.  She did an ultrasound and still couldn't figure out what it was, so she called a radiologist to find out.  In the meantime, the charge nurse came in and checked me, told me I was 8.5cm, that there was nothing there but the baby's head, and that my water had just broken!

By 9:30am, I was well into transition.  I went through periods of kneeling on the floor and leaning in front of a rocking chair, to laying on my back and sides, to rocking on all fours during contractions.  I pooped (in the toilet, after my mama convinced Kelly that I really did have to go and it wasn't just the baby and I promised I wouldn't strain or push), peed all over myself, vomited, and peed some more.  Seriously, labor takes away any dignity you might have had....all the bodily functions I promised Hubs I'd never do in his presence were out the window!

Around noon I was about 9 or 9.5cm and told my mama that I couldn't do this and I wanted some drugs.  It had been around 19 hours since my last meal and I hadn't slept all night.    I was exhausted!  My sweet mama told me it was too late for drugs and encouraged me that I could do this!  She reminded me that my daddy was a Marine, asked me what I thought he'd say if he learned I was wimping out (to which I told her that if he were alive to call me a wimp I'd have some choice words for him!), and that she was hosting a graduation party in just a few hours so I really needed to push this baby out so she could get home to her guests!  Some time around 1:00pm I started pushing...finally!

Apparently I pushed for about an hour.  At that point I was beyond exhausted and was quickly running out of juice.  Dr C asked me if she could offer me some aid via a vacuum, which I accepted.  Two more pushes and my sweet little boy was in my arms!  His cord had been wrapped around his neck twice and it was tied in a knot but he was just fine!!  I was just thrilled that it was over, that he was healthy, and that I finally got to learn if he was a he or a she (yep, we were surprised!)!  He was just perfect!!

After snapping a few pictures, Mama hurried home to shower and welcome her guests just one hour later!  Hubs stayed with me for a little while and then left to get me my first meal in 21 hours (Taco Bell!).  He brought it to me in the Recovery Room, and after I got my first shower and was taken to my post partum room, he left to attend the party while I rested!  Oh what a glorious nap that was!

Later that night, everyone returned to the hospital to visit and meet Bunkey....and that night we all slept like babies!  :-)

OK, that was a long one, but that's the story! Hope you stuck around to read the whole thing!

5QF: Last one in October!

Sheesh! Where is the time running off to? Can you believe October is almost over, and as soon as Halloween hits we'll be well into the swing of holiday season?!  With a pending move, and all that comes along with that, I'm now being forced into facing up to many facts:  we only have about six more weeks on the West Coast; we have to drive coast-to-coast with a toddler and preggo mama; we're not 100% sure how we're going to get both cars coast-to-coast; we don't have a house lined up yet (though that process is in motion...more later); we only have one more holiday (Thanksgiving) to spend along before we'll be close enough to family to be/have visitors for all the "biggies"; I don't have a doctor lined up on the East Coast yet....and on and on and on. I guess it's time for me to start up the Moving Chronicles here again so you can keep up with all the adventures!  But for now, it's Five Question Friday time, so grab a cup of coffee and let's get this show on the road!

1. Who wakes up in the morning with the kids, you or hubby?  Hubs wakes up first to the alarm.  I typically hear him get up and savor those last few minutes of peace while I can.  After his shower, Hubs wakes me, and somewhere in the next 10 minutes we hear Bunkey start rustling around in his crib, so Hubs brings him to me, where I get to enjoy a minute or two of snuggles before he's off to the races!  My day is pretty much on fast forward from that point on.  I live for naptimes and am so grateful my little guy naps well twice a day!

2. Do you watch the World Series even if your team isn't in it?  We're not a baseball family, so I don't even have a team to watch.  In fact, I think I've only watched the Series once in my life because someone I was around at the time had a team in the mix.  And I can't remember who or when, so there's an illustration of how much I care!  Sorry, baseball fans!

3. What is the best compliment you have received?  Probably something along the lines of me being just like my mother.  She's truly my hero and if I can be half the mother and wife she is/was than I'll call it a success.  Additionally, it's pretty awesome to hear people tell me how proud my dad would be of me if he could see me now.  Losing him so unexpectedly almost two years ago is still so raw, but it makes me feel good when people who knew him tell me he'd be pleased with the person I've become and the things I didn't get to share with him that I always thought I would (like being a grandparent)...

4. Do/did you dress up to take your kids trick or treating?  Well, we only have one Halloween with Bunkey under our belts, and we only took him to one house last year.  I think this year will be two or three, but he's still really too young for all that.  And no, I won't be dressing up...

5. Do you have a favorite bible verse? What is it and why?  Well, like Mama, I'm Catholic, so I wasn't really taught memorization of Bible verses.  So, unfortunately, I really can't tell you a favorite of mine.  But our wedding readings were especially beautiful, and I particularly like a portion of our Second Reading (New Testament): "Do not neglect hospitality,for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels."  I've always strived to do the right thing, to include others, and to treat people kindly...because you never know just who you might be hosting in your home!

5QF: Happy October, a little late!

Hey everyone! I know I've been quiet for a while...but I have a good excuse! I've been out of town, and I'm just getting back into the swing of things. I'll update you soon, I promise! But until then, you'll have to settle for some Five Question Friday fun... Enjoy!

1. Did you have any homecoming traditions?  My college doesn't really have a Homecoming.  My old high school has a parade before the game.  I was home this year and intended to go, but things got in the way and it just didn't work out.  But I do love rocking my school colors, playing the Fight Song (I have a couple CDs Notre Dame's Marching Band put out), and cheering on my team on Football Saturdays!

2. Do you ask your spouse before spending money?  For normal, everyday purchases?  Absolutely not.  For larger purchases (furniture, new computer, etc)?  Of course!  That said, we also have an agreement that any money we might inherit (like, say, from a grandparent) is no business of the other, and therefore purchases with that money do not need to be discussed.  So, if I were to inherit money from my grandmother and use that money to buy new furniture, my husband would have no say-so over that...  We also have two different checking, savings, and credit card accounts.  Each of these is joint, so we both have access to all six accounts, but I work mainly from "my" checking/savings/credit card and he does the same with his.  I pay for groceries, gifts, and gas for "my" car....he pays the large bills and mortgage and investments.  And of course then we each have our spending money to do with as we choose....new clothes, etc...

3. If you could be famous for something what would it be?  I've never thought about this before....  I'd love to have an amazing voice.  But I also wouldn't want the paparazzi following my every move...

4. Have you ever seriously thought you were going crazy?  Not that I can think of....but my husband probably thinks I go crazy at least once a week!

5. How do you eat your steak? Burger? (as in, well done, medium, still moo-ing...)  Steaks medium....burgers medium-well...fish (salmon, etc) medium-rare...

5QF: This is about all I have time for these days

Ugh. I'm sure y'all want some real posts sometime soon, and I promise hope I can fulfill your deepest desires! (ha!)  But for now, my life is a little crazy.  We had a fun family "day-cation" last weekend, Hubs has been enjoying his time off (his last break before he earns his MBA) this week, we've been following the news about a gruesome murder that involves one of Hubs' professors, I've started some online classes to prep for finishing a second Bachelors Degree (nursing), we've been prepping for another coast-to-coast move in just a few months, and I'm gearing up for two weeks on the East Coast to attend a course for the Reserves and do some house hunting (and see my mama too!)....and more.  But it makes me tired just thinking about all the stuff I've done in the last couple of weeks.  So there's a little sneak peek on some of the blog posts you might see coming up.  I don't mean to keep you in suspense, but I just don't have the energy right now!  Hopefully soon!  So now, let's get it on with Five Question Friday, because that doesn't make me think...too much!

1. What is one grammar issue you cannot let go without correction?  Most definitely the you're/your, to/too/two, there/their/they're, its/it's conundrums.  Oh, and apostrophes are not for plurals; they're for showing possession and contractions (the word type, not the uterine type!)...  I don't understand how in the world people can't keep these straight!  I really feel for our futures as I see more and more young people using "text language" improper grammar, and just simply not learning those basic skills we all need to succeed in life (ummm.....knowing how to balance a checking account is important whether you write actual checks or just use a debit card!).

2. What's your favorite thing about fall?  Crisp weather...warm days/cool evenings...football...jeans, boots, and sweaters...crunching in the leaves...apple crisp...chili...Halloween...fires in the fireplace...deep fall colors...the list goes on.  Sorry, I can't just list one favorite thing about fall!

3. What's your favorite dish to take to a potluck?  That depends on what's in my cupboard. Sometimes it's brownies.  Sometimes it's a dip.  Sometimes it's a pasta salad.  Sometimes the hostess has asked for something specific and I try to stick to that.

4. When do you start Christmas (Holiday) shopping?  When I see something that I know someone would love!  Since we moved to California, I've started much sooner, since our family is all between Kentucky and the East Coast, making shipping a pain.  I have a little chest where I store birthday and Christmas gifts as I come across them.  This helps spread out the spending each year (it seems all the birthdays are clumped together, mostly in August!) and relieves last-minute stress of "Ohmygosh, so-and-so's birthday is coming and I have no idea what to get him!".  So I tend to start early.  But this year I got nothin'!  Then again, we're moving back to the East Coast at Christmastime, so everyone will be getting something I can either ship to either my in-laws or my mom in advance...or a gift certificate I can easily pack in the car!

5. Did you move homes a lot growing up?  Haha!  Oh yes!  I'm a Marine Junior (little known fact...only the Army and Air Force are "brats"...Navy and Marine kids are referred to as "Juniors") so we moved at a minimum every three years.  Before college I lived in eleven different homes (though one of those was with my grandparents during one of my dad's deployments and another house I lived in twice, with six years overseas in between, so I counted it as two homes, since it was two moves).  In college I lived in three different dorm rooms.  Then after college I've lived in three homes and also had a stateroom on two different ships for three different deployments.  And, in case you didn't catch it based on a previous answer, we're about to move again!  Oh....you wanted the exact breakdown of my homes?  OK, if you really care, just see the list below!

• 1983-1984:  Woodbridge, VA
• 1984-1987:  Fallbrook, CA (rental, awaiting base quarters); Springfield, VA (Mom, Big Brother, and I moved in with my grandparents for six months while Dad was deployed); Camp Pendleton, CA (after Dad got back we were able to live in base quarters)
• 1987-1990:  Granger, IN
• 1990-1993:  Triangle, VA
• 1993-1996:  Okinawa, Japan
• 1996-1999:  London, England
• 1999-2000:  Triangle, VA (same house as before)
• 2000-2001:  Chesapeake, VA (condo while our house was being built)
• 2001-2005:  Chesapeake, VA (my parents' "dream house" where my mom still lives, and where I lived during my college breaks) and various dorm rooms at Notre Dame
• 2005-2006:  Portsmouth, VA (my first apartment)
• 2006-2011:  Suffolk, VA (my first house...and the house Hubs moved in to after we got married)
• 2011-present:  near Monterey, CA

5QF: I'm pooped!

It's been one of those weeks.  I'm just exhausted.  Haven't been sleeping well.  I keep having dreams that end around 3:30am, and at the end of the dream, I wake up!  And then I can't go back to sleep.  It's a vicious cycle.  Ugh.  So this weekend I'm trying to relax, get some things done, and get a little rest when I can!  But, for now, it's Five Question friday time, so let's get right to it before I decide about taking a nap on the couch!

1. How long did it take for you to find your wedding dress? (Wedding dress pics anyone?)  We got engaged while I was at a three-week course for the Navy and 12 hours away from home.  When I arrived home, two weeks later, my mom and I jumped right into wedding planning, since I was due to deploy just two weeks after that.  So, my first weekend back home, just three weeks after he put a ring on it, I found my dress.  On accident.  At the same store where I bought my senior prom dress.  I had no idea I'd get my wedding dress at that store, but just went in and started looking on whim, without an appointment, and I fell in love.  Really exciting for me, since otherwise I probably would have ended up waiting until after deployment so I could go up to DC to get a dress...

2. Someone in your general vicinity releases a NASTY smelling fart. Do you say anything or blow it off?  If I know the people in the room, yes, I demand to know who was so rude!  If I'm in a public situation, I keep my mouth shut and say a prayer that no one thinks it was me!

3. What is the scariest thing that happened to you or scared you recently?  My little guy choked on a piece of apple the other day.  It only lasted a second, and he cleared it on his own, but I was terrified!

4. Favorite brand and flavor of ice cream.  Chocolate chip cookie dough.  Or chocolate with peanut butter swirl.  Tough decision, that one!

5. Are you able to sleep well in hotels?  Usually, yes, as long as the pillow isn't too hard/thick.

5QF: What do you mean it's September?!?

When in the heck did September happen?!? I don't know about you guys, and I don't care what the calendar officially says, September, specifically post-Labor Day September, is the beginning of Fall. When exactly did this year start flying by, and why do all the years seem to fly by even faster than the previous years? And why was there Christmas stuff out in July?!?   1. What is your favorite fall family tradition? Halloween. Hands down. We make chili for dinner, decorate the house with my witch collection, do the "trick or treat thing" and just generally enjoy the fun of the holiday!

2. If money weren't an issue, how many kids would you have?  Regardless of the money issue I'd like two kids, a boy and a girl.  So if #2 pops out a boy, I might consider a #3, but we'll just have to see how things work out.  (I have a feeling it's a cutey patootey pink-wearing girly girl though, so I think I'm safe!)

3. If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be and where would you put it?  I'm not a huge fan of tats, but if I were to get one (and I did think about it for about 30 seconds while in college), it'd be a shamrock (duh! I went to Notre Dame and bleed blue and gold!) and it'd be super tiny and on my right hip.  Like, so incredibly tiny that it was even covered by the side of a bikini bottom.

4. What condiment is a must in your house?  Depends on what I'm making.  We typically always have ketchup, mayo, and mustard (Dijon please and thank you) in the 'fridge.  That said, does peanut butter count as a condiment?  If so, than it's PB, hands down!  My hubs and I couldn't live without it!

5. How did your spouse/fiance propose? I was at Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) in Newport, RI, following a series of major qualifications after my first year of active duty (Navy) and preceding my last major qual as a Junior Officer.  Hubs and I had been talking about getting married and I'd informed him that I'd need at least a year to plan the wedding of my dreams and that I desired a wedding in the late spring or early summer.  Hubs came to visit me at SWOS (a three-week course) over St Patrick's Day weekend and it would be the last time I'd see him for seven or eight months as my ship was prepping for a deployment.  So, basically, he knew that if he wanted to get married the following summer, he'd better pop the question before I left and not after!  Long story short, on March 15th, after picking him up at the airport, Hubs proposed over dinner at the Red Parrot....and I later paid the bill (I'd previously promised I'd take him to my fav place when he came to visit...and I'd been to the Red Parrot on several occasions during other trips to Newport).  After dinner, he apologized profusely for letting me pay for our dinner due to the occasion, but whatever...  he was in the bathroom when the bill came, and I had promised (before I knew I would be getting engaged, of course!).  Later that evening, we went to the Officers Club to celebrate over drinks and lo and behold we ran into my uncle who was in Newport for a Navy class as well!!  He couldn't ignore the shiny rock on my left hand, but I made him promise not to call my aunt yet since I had yet to call my parents.  He won't admit it, but I don't think he kept that promise and my mom won't let me forget that she wasn't the first to know we were engaged.  I made it up to her by telling her about my pregnancy first (and with #2 she even knew before Hubs!)...

5QF: Happy Almost Fall, Y'all!

1. What do you enjoy doing the most with your spouse?  It's been a while since I've done something with just my spouse.  However, I honestly think that one of the things I miss the most is just relaxing on the couch, maybe snuggling, and watching a movie.  We're so tired by the end of the day that just doesn't happen.  We also used to eat gameday food on football Saturdays on the couch while watching our favorite teams.  With a toddler underfoot, who wants to touch everything that isn't his, we just can't have a huge tray of nachos on the coffee table anymore.  Sad face...

2. How do you eat your taco? From the top or from the side?  From the side.  Always.  And I alternate sides to reduce the amount that inevitable oozes out!

3. Have you ever shut off the basement light and ran like a fool because you knew someone was down there and would get you?  I haven't had a basement since 11th grade...and before that year I had a six-year gap in basement enjoyment, meaning that I haven't really spent much time in a basement since 4th grade.  And, yes, I definitely had more than a few times when I'd shut off the last light and race up the stairs.  I never understood why there couldn't be a light at the top of the stairs...

4. If you could change one thing about you what would it be and why?  My crappy eyesight.  But hopefully some eye surgery is in the cards in a few years...at least that's the master plan.

5. What age do you think is appropriate to have the "bird and the bees" talk with your children?  When they start asking, with age-appropriate information/vocabulary.  I'd rather they get the correct answers from me than inappropriate/immature information from their friends, so when they ask, I'll talk with them.

5QF: Better Late Than Never

Yes.  I realize I'm just now posting at 9:30 on Friday night.  And I'm on California time, which makes it even later!  But it's been a hectic day, with a few hours at the car dealership for something that probably really only took 30 minutes.  So I'm just gonna get right to it....  Enjoy your weekends!  Bunkey and I will be staying outta Hubs' hair since he has a ton of tests and papers to finish up before the end of the quarter in a couple of weeks...

1. If you could have been (could be) any profession you wanted (brains and $$ no problem) what would it be?  Well, I'm currently finishing my second degree in nursing, with the goal of becoming a Labor & Delivery Nurse (yes, I wanna be just like Mama M!) and then eventually getting a Masters to become a Certified Nurse Midwife.

2. How often do you clean out your car?  Short answer:  that's Hubs' job.  Long answer:  I clean the house; he cleans the cars.  But I also try to "de-clutter" about once a month...which really just means gum wrappers and whatever else is stuffed in a drink holder.  I honestly don't make a huge mess of my car because it bugs me.  I'm my father's daughter that way.  Growing up we weren't allowed to eat or drink in the car unless it was a long road trip, and even then it was water only.  Dad kept a small whisk broom in the truck to brush off our sandy feet after a trip to the beach.  And he protected the back seat from grubby kids with an old beach towel.  I'm not that bad, but I really do try to keep a clean car!

3. Do you wish there was such a thing as fashion police or are you deeply relieved?  Most days I wish there were an FP.  I see some bad stuff out there.  You'd be surprised (or not) with what many of the (usually younger) military wives think is ok to wear in public.  As for me, yes, I'm a busy mama, and every now and then I leave my yoga pants on all day.  But I never leave the house in said yoga pants...or without my makeup.  What can I say, I'm Southern and we don't go in public "without putting on our face"!

4. What's your go to food/drink/activity when stressed?  When I'm preggo, chocolate.  And pizza.  And chips.  When I'm not preggo, wine.  And all of the above.

5. If you had twins, what would you name them?  We're still making babies, so I'm not telling!  :-)

5QF: I'm Mama's Soul Mate

Ugh; it's Friday!  I'd be more excited, but the first thing on my to-do list today is an 8:00 dental appointment.  So not only do I have to be up and at 'em relatively early (a major feat with a toddler!), but I have to go to the dentist.  And if you know me in real life, you know I'd rather deliver a baby with no drugs than go to the dentist.  I'm like Mama M like that.  I think we might be soul mates simply because we both hate dentists...oh, and because she has my dream job!  Yep, I'm halfway through my second bachelor's degree (in nursing, to my 1st degree in marketing) and my goal is to be an L&D nurse...and later a Certified Nurse Midwife.  But I digress.  You came here for Five Question Friday.  So here we go...

1. What's the one thing you buy every time you walk into the store?  Depends on the store.  Lately, at my weekly grocery run, it's been Peanut Butter M&Ms.  What can I say, I'm preggo and they're my weekly treat!  At Target, well, I still might get those M&Ms, but I probably stock up on toiletries, diapers, and greeting cards.

2. If you had a day all to yourself how would you spend it?  Today, sleeping.  Last night I just could not fall asleep.  I got into bed around 9 or 9:30 and played a game online for a little bit, got sleepy, and turned out the lights.  I laid there wide awake until 11, when I gave up and decided to play some more and read some blogs.  That lasted until I got sleepy around 1 (and also my Hubs waking up and asking why I was still up), so I once again turned out the lights and closed my eyes.  But my brain just wouldn't turn off!  Finally I came downstairs and read (my Kindle) until about 2:30, when my eyes started drooping for the third time.  So I went back upstairs and crawled quietly under the covers, so as to not wake Hubs up.  As you can guess, after the walk upstairs, I was once again awake!  I think I finally drifted off around 3, but Bunkey was up at 6...  Sheesh!  And the opportunity for a nap never came today.  Here's hoping I sleep better tonight!

3. Are you a speed limit driver? If not, over or under?  I'm usually over.  Depends on the area, though.  In neighborhoods I stick right around the limit.  On the highway, It's no more than 10 over during the day/busy times and no more than 15 over if there's no one on the road with me!  I'm definitely more conscious of my speed than I used to be.....but though I've been pulled over at least a dozen times, I only have one speeding ticket.  One.  And I've never cried in front of a cop, either.

4. What's your favorite dessert to make, homemade or from a mix??  Depends.  If I want chocolate, it's brownies, preferably with peanut butter swirled in, from a mix (I'll add the PB though).  If I want a refreshing summery something, I like Key Lime Pie, and I make my own.  In the Fall I love Apple Crisp (again, my own).  For just every day, I love ice cream, but since I started my pre-wedding diet in 2007 I don't have it in the house on a regular basis.  I can't remember my last pint of Ben and Jerry's...  We get the no sugar added or a mango sorbet!

5. Would you rather have a spider or a mouse scurry across your face (no copping out and saying "neither!!")?  Hands down, mouse.  I loathe spiders.  I can smash them with my shoe, or a wad of toilet paper, but I cannot fathom having one on my face.  Oh gross.  When I was a little girl my older brother told me I should always wear panties under my nightgown because spiders would crawl up there and lay eggs inside me.  I haven't worn a nightgown since.  I always sleep in shorts and a t-shirt...and panties!  Yes, even on my honeymoon!

5QF: Mama's Gettin' Pampered Today!

Wowzers!  It's already Friday?!  I know, I say that every week!  But this summer is just flying by!  It's hard to believe that we'll be moving in just over four months and diving head-first into another round of military moving chaos!  But, today I'm gonna slow down and enjoy myself!  I'm getting my hair done today (it's long overdue!) and relaxing with my little man.  I've been making an effort to share special one-on-one time with him, knowing that in a few months I'll have to share my time between two babes.  Truth be told, that part of having Baby H 2.0 hasn't really hit me yet.  But I'm sure as the weeks go by, they will.  Did I mention that I'm already nine-and-a-half weeks along?  Good Lord, the first trimester is almost over.  I don't know if that thrills or terrifies me.  Anyway, let's get to the party!

1. Thunder storms- love them or hate them? Love them. As long as I'm inside and not driving. I don't mind if the power goes out because there's something super romantic about doing everything by candlelight. However, the only time we've lost power since having Bunkey was New Year's Eve and he was long asleep, so I might feel very different about lit candles, no power, and a toddler!

2. Do your kids get back to school clothes? Bunkey's not school-aged yet, but I'll answer with the way I think I'll be when the time comes. I imagine he'll get new school supplies. I'll try to keep new back-packs and lunch boxes/bags to a minimum (maybe every other year? every three years?). But I do firmly believe in a brand new outfit for the first day of school, and I imagine that every September will come with some requirement for at least a few new articles of clothing and perhaps new shoes. We'll see how it goes and what our budget is when that happens. If I'm working again things will be very different than if I'm still staying home every day, so we'll see!

3. Do you golf? Do you watch it? I drove the beer cart one summer while I was in college. Does that count? I don't watch it on TV or otherwise. I like fast-paced sports! Hubs golfs (but doesn't watch on TV) and he's trying to get me into it, without pressuring me because he knows that'll mean I want a set of clubs and all the cute little outfits! But maybe one of these days when the kids are older/in school I'll take some lessons so we can hit the links together. It is a great activity for couples of any age, soooo.....

4. Showers or baths? For every day I shower. I don't like sitting in dirty bathwater. But on the rare occasion, after a long day or an emotional one, I've been known to take a shower and then fill the tub with clean bubbly water, light some candles, pour some wine, and just relax for a bit. It honestly doesn't last long, because I don't want to deal with a ring in the tub, but it's nice to enjoy some piece and quiet when I can!

5. What's the strangest meal you ever ate? Living overseas for six years, doing extensive traveling, and always being up for a culinary challenge, I can say I've eaten some very strange things. Escargot, haggis, and blood pudding come to mind, though I'm positive there are more!

5QF: Chicken, Olympics, and Yard Sales

How in the heck is it already Friday?! This week has just flown by for me, yet I don't feel as if I've done much productive. Guess that means I need to make the most of my weekend...except that I'm Drilling this weekend. Attending a leadership course, actually. But at least I only have to drive one hour away from my house rather than the usual two hours each way... But I digress. It's Five Question Friday time, so let's get to it!

1. What is a must in a hotel room? Umm...a bed?! I'm not too picky, to be perfectly honest. I never plan to spend much time in a hotel room, so as long as there's a comfy bed and plenty of towels, I'm happy. I really love the hotel the Navy gets for me during Drill Weekends because they have pillows labeled "firm" and "soft" so I can take my pick! Having a fridge/microwave is also nice, especially when I have my little guy with me and need to prep his food and store his milk. And free wi-fi is a near must, but I've been able to do without for short spurts. So, while I may not be too picky, I guess it does depend on the length of my stay, who's with me, and if I'm at the hotel for business or pleasure...

2. Which Olympic event would you be best at? Swimming. Hands down. I swam competitively from first grade through twelfth. To all the haters saying Michael Phelps isn't really the greatest Olympian because other athletes don't have to opportunity to win gold as many time in one Olympic Games, I say, either pick another sport, or jump in a pool and even try to accomplish what he's done! Be proud that he's American and representing our country! Be proud he promotes sport and activity for young kids in this day of childhood obesity! And then tell me what the "fair" way is to figure out who the "greatest" is because medal count is about the most fair you can do, if you ask me!

3. What's your stance on the Chick-fil-A subject? I don't want to get into politics here. But the owner of Chick-Fil-A was asked a question. He answered said question. Was he supposed to lie? Avoid the question? What would you have done? Mr Cathy (the CEO/owner) has long been known to be a conservative Christian. He's allowed to have an opinion. He's never said that he'd refuse employment or service to a homosexual person; he simply said that he didn't agree with same-sex marriage. So, I'm not really going to say how I feel, because that is my business; however, I'm absolutely appalled at the folks on Facebook I saw that said the PR director (I think that was his position) who died of a heart attack recently got what he deserved! Are you kidding?!?! First of all, no one said he agreed with his boss; he was just doing his job. Secondly, no one deserves to die because their belief isn't "mainstream" or "popular" or PC. I took exceptional offense to this because my own father could have some pretty strong beliefs in some controversial areas...was his massive fatal stroke, at 57, that left my entire family in a tailspin, something he (or we) deserved?! I think not. End rant.

4. One thing you said you'd never do as a parent, but totally have. I'll let you know when my little guy is a bit older and I have some more experience in this area!

5. What's the weirdest thing you've ever found at a yard sale? Like Mama M, I just don't do yard sales. They creep me out. I don't want used linens or clothing (gives me the creeps). I don't trust used electronics to still be in working order. I don't even like used cars because I'd rather own a new car for 10+ years and know exactly how well it was taken care of, what maintenance was performed, and where that dent actually came from. So yard sales, they just don't turn me on. Guess I'm a snob... Oh well.