Halloween 2011

Grayson was a Kangaroo for Halloween this year. He looked so cute. He did a really good job of saying "trick-or-treat", "thank you" and "bye-bye." Sometimes he didn't want to say bye. There were two houses in a row that had a dog or a cat. One of the houses he didn't even take any candy. He just talked to the dog and tried to give it a big kiss. Trina put whiskers on him. He thought it was a very fun day.

Pinterest.

I finally formed an educated opinion of Pinterest, and here is what it is...

I gave in 30 minutes ago and signed up, so I could start pinning too. What was the "pin" that converted me? The idea of using a rubberband to unscrew a stripped screw. Completely random. A good idea I might need one day.

But...
Who has enough time to do half of the things listed on these boards? It makes me feel like it's a never ending to-do list. A list of dream vacations I can't afford and dream houses I'll always want and never get. I'm happy with my home and content not always wanting.

I will admit that there are some really cute, clever, interesting things out there.

I've learned I don't utilize the internet the same way as "pinterest people". Beyond email, online banking, craigslist and a couple of blogs I follow, I don't search the internet. Not sure what I would even search for.

But is it just me who gets error messages all the time when attempting to use Pinterest? Am I the only one who doesn't actually understand how it all works. When to pin and when to re-pin? It just seems so complicated. I had to create 1 board 5 times before it stuck. And the 4 things I've tried to pin (or re-pin, I'm not sure which is which), nothing happened! Where did it go?!

Maybe I need a tutorial, maybe I am too content with what I have and know, maybe I'm too lazy to do all these cutesy things. Or maybe this is just another trendy technology thing that I'm not into.

Correction...

Just talked to the doctor...turns out I do, in fact, have placenta previa. We will have a second ultrasound at 24 weeks (guess we are waiting until then to know the gender) to see if it corrects itself.

So for the next 12 weeks I can't lift anything 15-20 lbs, or "exert myself to the point where my abdomen is using 20 lbs worth of energy". The example they gave me last time was pushing a full cart of groceries.

...Grayson weighs 28 lbs...

Also no sex.

Did I mention it's our 3rd Anniversary today?! Happy Anniversary Honey!

Emotional Rollercoaster and Ultrasound!

After 4 days of various medications to help with morning sickness, last week I suddenly started to feel better! I wasn't sure if it was because I started drinking a protein shake in the middle of the night or if this was just a more "normal" pregnancy.

After about 2 days of feeling great and being excited about it, I started to wonder if maybe feeling great wasn't such a good thing. Maybe something bad happened to the baby. The following 4 days, I had convinced myself that it's possible I miscarried. Even though there were absolutely no other signs or symptoms, it just didn't seem right that I was suddenly not sick, when with Grayson I was sick for 20 weeks.

Luckily we had out 12 week doctor visit already scheduled for yesterday afternoon. We were very nervous going in, to the point that Tanner even had a plan lined up for a sub the next day and I almost cried when a co-worker said I looked pregnant (because I thought I wasn't anymore).

The doctor looked and looked and looked and LOOKED for the heartbeat with no success. I knew at that moment that I had lost my baby. She sent us to St. Luke's to get an ultrasound. She didn't even have us schedule our next "pregnancy" visit. Needless to say, we were devastated and didn't even know what to say to each other. We drove to St. Luke's and waited in 4 different waiting rooms before finally getting the ultrasound. Within seconds of having the paddle on my belly, she found the baby...

I can't describe the relief I felt when I saw our baby's heart beating!

We were so excited to see our tiny baby waving at us in the ultrasound! The heart rate was 163 bpm. The ultrasound indicated I might be due between April 30-May 6, but it's not a big enough difference to change my date from May 6. My placenta looks a little long and low, which could be an indicator of placenta previa (I had that with Grayson), but there is still plenty of time for it to correct itself.

It was an emotional rollercoaster, but the result was great!

Sometimes Pictures are Better Than Words

We're due May 6, 2012. Trina has been feeling very sick with all-day sickness. With Grayson that lasted until 20 weeks, so we have about 2 more months of this. We get to hear the heartbeat on Monday. Tanner has not gained any weigh, yet.

Fishing Weekend

Fishing weekend was a success this year. We didn't set a record for the most fish caught. We didn't catch the biggest fish in the lake. We didn't even hook a muskie. However we did have a lot of fun. Between the eight of us we landed 196 fish. I never pull my own weight. I only landed 13 I think. That was good enough for second to last place. Leaving me out of the running for the bottle bass trophy.

Day one was so windy we barely fished at all. In fact, after the first 45 minute outing, I was in first place with two fish. Within the first hour of day two, I was still in first place with four fish. That's about all the longer I could say that. Everyone else started netting fish left and right.

Normally we catch about even numbers of bass and northern pike. This year we caught about 80% bass. All the years of throwing them back has been paying off. Most of the bass we caught were around 15 inches or bigger. A few were bigger than 18 inches. The northern we caught were much smaller than normal. It seams that every year we catch at least one that hits the 30+ inch mark. Some years we all catch a 25+ inch northern. Not this year. They were short and skinny. Maybe next year they will grow a little?

Poker always goes well for me. I think I've only gone backwards once in the past 15 years. This year I came out ahead again. Not a big winner, but not a loser either. I had high hopes when my first hand I was dealt had four jacks. However when it's nickle a chip and 25 cent max bet, you can't get rich off of your family.

A Post for Tanner: Go Lake, Go Fish!

It's that time of year again when the Roos men enjoy a weekend far away from children, chores and wives to enjoy the company of men, beer, food, poker and a little fishing. I'm jealous that Tanner gets to enjoy the well deserved time away this year because 20 months of parenting is finally catching up to both of us. Grayson and I will be at home for 4 days without him. And Tanner's biggest responsibilities are to not drop his fishing pole in the lake and return home withOUT bottle bass or deer butt.

I know Tanner is excited because he's had his bags packed since last Thursday! So, Tanner, I hope you have a great time away with The Men. As Tanner posted in 2009, the following poems were written by those who enjoy the trip every year:

Alex
Every year at summer’s end when the leaves do hint at turning
The Roos men gather with rods in tow to fee a year-long yearning
We’ll wave good-bye to our wives and hug our sons and daughters
And head straight north to a well-known place between familiar waters
One’s called Le Homme Dieu, the other Carlos, and both hold great potential
They’ll be fished hard in any weather, including rains torrential
We’ll tell our stories and spin some yarns of fishing and cards and such
Countless have become the memories of this tradition started by Dutch
But before our boats can be manned there’s shopping to our liking
Beer by the case and loads of snacks—enough for Ole the Viking!
One more stop for our fishing crew before we leave the shore
The annual trip to Christopherson’s, our choice bait and tackle store
We’ll swarm the place from front to back like a pack of hungry skeeters
And fill our hands with spinners and spoons and hooks and line and leaders
With permits bought and reels at the ready, there remains one consensus wish
To head for the boats, and let loose the ‘ol battle cry of “GO LAKE, GO FISH!”
Our lures will fly and our poles will bend in the glorious lake chain setting
Unmistakable strikes and occasional lunkers are what we’re hoping and betting
Whether the fishing’s good or there’s hardly a bite, you’ll find smiles on our faces
‘Cause there’s always beer and poker and beer…we may need three more cases!
And when we’ve had our fun and it’s time to depart and our arms are sore from casting
We’ll all be mindful of next year’s trip, and of a tradition everlasting!

Lake Therapy
At summer’s end we all prepare for the utmost of our likings
The lakes await, our hunting grounds; our Valhalla to us vikings
We’ll strike at dawn with our first casts no matter what the weather
With hands on hips we laugh at rain and firmly grab our nethers
We’ll fish through sleet and high winds too; it’s all considered fun
We only stop when beer runs low and chips are to be won
We’re teachers, builders and all providers; uncles, grandpas and brothers
This weekend is precisely what we need and the envy of all others
This trip has stood the test of time and can’t be taken lightly
Its healing powers can fix what ails, no matter how unsightly
But what really makes this fishing trip a thing to be upheld
Is no matter what’s transgressed in life; our bonds remain unfelled
So grab a beer and raise it high and join me in this song
To many more years of this fine time and tradition staying strong!