I am still having sleeping issues.  It started affecting my work yesterday.  On Wednesday night I tried taking a Benedryl before going to sleep.  Woke up at 3 am.  Grrrr.  Last night I took it when I woke up at 3:30, never went back to sleep.  What is making me feel even more frustrated is that I work this weekend.  I may be able to take a nap when I get home.  I have Monday off because of working the weekend, and it is Yom Kippur.  Chances of me taking a nap that day are slim.  Although I am thinking of going home for a bit to take a nap with J, then returning for the afternoon service.  If it doesn't get any better soon, I may call in sick on Tuesday just so I can try to catch up on my sleep.

Brian tore a muscle in his back.  He went to the ER on Wednesday because of the pain.  The doctor put him out of work until Monday.  We are both a little stressed about that... especially since this is his first week at this new job.  So far they seem to be understanding.  I guess we will see.

And, on a humorous note... yesterday I had to run to Vons to grab some snacks for the group I run.  I decided to walk over there early in the morning, before it got hot.  Just as I stepped out of the hospital I got a runny nose.  Well, turned out my nose was bleeding!  I didn't realize that until I was in the parking lot of Vons.  I thought real quickly as to what I could do, as I was grabbing a receipt out of my purse to hold to my nose.  I passed by Kaiser's genetics department, and headed around the corner to where I got help... Kaiser's Blood Donor Center (which is located in the Vons shopping center.)  So yeah,  I got help with my bloody nose at the blood donor center.

A very quick update, as I need to jump into the shower.  B started his new job yesterday.  So far he likes it.  Although he will be in training for about 3 weeks.  He did have one bad thing happen on his first day... someone took his lunch .  He was NOT happy about that.  And here we are trying to be economical by taking our lunches to work.  Oh well.

We are still trying to work out the kinks to our morning schedule.  We both have to wake up earlier, which we both aren't liking too much.  It is more difficult on me, since I am experiencing some insomnia now.  All of last week I woke up at 4:30, and couldn't really go back to sleep.  Thus far this week it has been around 3:30.  Uhg!  And I can't have any coffee!  B brewed some coffee this morning... and the smell is driving me nuts!

On to happier... funny things...

Last week J had a full on tantrum in the grocery store over raspberries.  So of course B had to buy them.  She had another tantrum when he handed the raspberries to the clerk to be rung up, and continued the tantrum all the way home until he washed some and gave them to her.  At least she is having tantrums over fruit and not chocolate!

We have introduced the potty to her, since she has shown some interest in it.  Silly child believes she has to be completely naked to sit on it.  The other night she went and got the toilet paper and tore off a big section.  She then ripped it into smaller pieces and put it in her potty.  Finally she waded up some of the toilet paper and wiped her bottom, then threw it in her potty.  She still hasn't gone in it, but she is starting to learn the concept.

Thursday night while playing with her potty she was able to correlate farting with pooping.  Later that evening B farted.  J then said her first sentence... "Daddy pooped."  We just about fell over!

She is like a little parrot now, repeating lots of words.  On Sunday, as we were leaving B's parents, his dad said, "see yah!"  J repeated it back.  Yesterday she started with her own version of "where are you," which sounds like "are you."

On Saturday I went to a scrapbooking crop, and I worked on J's Disney album.  I did about 9 pages in about 4 hours... but I also did lots of shopping, chatting, and eating.  Sunday I showed J what I had done in her album.  She enjoyed looking at the pictures, and pointed out Mama and Daddy.  When we were done I closed it and went to put it away.  J threw a fit, and started yelling "mine!" over and over again.  I guess she liked it!

Finally, yesterday when I was getting ready to take her to day care, she didn't want to get in the car.  I asked her if she was ready to see Gama, J said "no," and shook her head.  I then asked her if she was ready to see Papa, she nodded her head yes, and got in the car.

She continues to be a great joy, with lots of laughter and silly smiles.  She charmed the Rabbi's family during Rosh Hashanah, they were ready to take her with them!  She even clapped a few times during services when the singing was done.

Well, I have 15 minutes to shower and do something with my hair before J wakes up.  Bye for now...

I think I may have blogged about our trashy neighbors before.  We live in a condo complex, and sometimes the difference between owners and renters are glaring!  For the most part, we have been blessed with great renters.  However, one unit seems to be cursed.

These neighbors moved in when I was pregnant with J.  Myself, along with some of the other neighbors, welcomed them, and encouraged them to read up on the rules and regulations.  The "adults" in the house chose to be rude and ignorant.  The guy even went so far as to verbally assault me and another neighbor when we politely informed him that his car was at risk of being towed since it was parked in guest parking. 

The kids are completely disrespectful, and have caused some damage to different areas of the complex.  Add to that they are ALWAYS yelling at each other, until all hours of the evening.  The kids and the adults have also engaged in some heavy arguing with other neighbors.  The adults continued to disregard the rules.  When their junk of a van stopped working they left it parked in their driveway.  When the registration expired they were sent a letter stating that all vehicles in the complex have to have current registration.  So they took off the license!  Oh, and added a "fore sale sign."  What a joke!  No wonder why the kids are disrespectful, the adults don't give a crap.

You could imagine our joy when we began to see them carry flattened boxes into their unit.  The neighbors and I discussed it, and rumor had it they were moving out at the end of August.  Although I had a bad day that particular day... I became elated.

August ended, and they were still there.  I began to give up hope.  And then I saw the most beautiful thing Saturday morning... a big U-Haul in front of their unit.  It was back Sunday, as they continued to load their crap in it.

Monday morning the front of their unit looked trashed, junk was everywhere, and the trash cans were over flowing.  They came back Monday night and I guess they did more cleaning. 

They have been back every single night.  Even tonight!  I have no idea what the hell they are doing!  Their junky van is still parked in their driveway, and the guy's other car is still parked in the overflow area.  We just want them GONE!

I am sure the owners are going to have to do a lot of work when it is all said and done.  The blinds in the master bedroom have been trashed... and based on their lack of respect, I am sure the rest of the place isn't much better.

Here hoping that the next renters will be a better fit to our quiet condo community!

Well, I have been up since 4:30.  Being sick and being pregnant just suck!  I felt a cold coming on yesterday, and of course it has settled into the back of my throat.  Generally the first night I have a cold I can't sleep well.  This one was made worse by the nasal drip feeling in the back of my throat, to where I almost feel like fluid is building up.  Silly me... I like breathing without fluid build up.  There isn't much I can take while pregnant, especially with my history of high blood pressure (which is doing surprising well right now).

Add to my being sick, I am also itchy.  Although Guinness is no longer with us (I will NOT go into details on that one, so please don't ask), I think there are a few fleas hanging around.  Fortunately we don't have any carpet, so there are limited places where they can live.  I think they are slowly disappearing, as I don't seem to have any new bites on me.

B is VERY happy he found a new job when he did.  Things have slowed down significantly at his work, to where they have been sending him home early.  On Sunday he worked 4 hours, on Monday he worked only 2 hours.  He was angry when they sent him home early on Monday... but at least he will be done with them on Wednesday.  And, we got to have dinner together and watch football.  Oh, and 2 more people quit at his work, for a total of 6 out of 11 employees!

J is doing great.  I know, I am over due on pictures.  I took some cute ones of her playing in my platform flipflops, I just have to get them onto the computer.  Boy does this girl like shoes.

Hmmm, well, it is 5:20.  I am supposed to wake up in 40 minutes.  Guess I may as well pay some bills.  Fun times!

Stop the presses... two posts in a row!

B had the day off with J, who is a handful alone!  She had a full on temper tantrum at the grocery store.  He had her walking next to him.  And then she saw the Balloons.  When B said "no," she threw herself on the floor and was kicking and screaming.  Lol, at least she is little enough that you can just pick her up and keep going.

I did come home for lunch, since we were supposed to get an estimate for replacing our back patio.  Unfortunately the guy showed up almost 3 hours after I had to leave.  But it was nice having lunch with J and B.  When I told J that I had to go back to work, she shook her head and said, "no!"  Did I mention she is now saying "no," and a lot?  Last night she was saying it while she was eating!

Well, we are still waiting for the official bid for the new patio.  I hope it is within our budget.  I am truly looking forward to having a nice backyard for J and her future sibling!

On the Guinness front... I have now sent 2 emails and have left 2 messages with the Rottweiler Rescue.  No response back from them.  Grrrr.  My vet said I should find out where they are and just show up with him.  Lol, my vet is a crack up!  She wasn't able to help out that much (the vet), but was very supportive and understanding.  She knows we have done everything we can for him.

Well, going to go spend some cuddle time with my family.  Night 'ya-all.

I am so over due for an update.  I am sorry I have not been keeping up on it.  I will try harder.  There has been so much going on, this blog may be a tad long.  I will try to condense it as much as possible.

I am now 11 weeks pregnant.  Everything is progressing along nicely.  I had my 10 week appointment last week, and I measured at exactly 10 weeks.  I have the same midwife I have had for my first two pregnancies.  She was so excited when she walked in and saw me, that she gave me a hug.  As of now, everything is all set.  The same MD who delivered J will deliver the new baby (should it work out with his schedule).  And it is already documented in my chart that my tubes are to be tied at the same time.  I know... TMI.  But I am 37 now... we are done having kids after this.

B hates his job with a passion.  He is constantly being written up, and for stupid things too.  They review the calls, and give you a score.  A few of his calls that have been reviewed were repeat guests who knew what they wanted.  So B didn't go through the entire script.  He got written up for that!  BUT... last week he got a new job offer.  One that we are hoping will be a good move for him.  It is with an insurance company, something completely different than what he has been doing.  The hours are great!  8-5 Monday through Friday, weekends and holidays off!  Yeah!  We will have weekends together again!  We will be able to have dinner together again!  He will start the new job on the 21st.

Turns out 4 people at his job turned in their notice within 24 hours!  All 4 have their last day on the 18th!  B just learned today that they are restructuring the hours, and were going to lay him off along with 2 others.  BIG relief that he got the new job!

We have come to the decision that it is time for Guinness to go.  He is costing us way too much money, and we just can't do it anymore.  In less than a month he has cost us over $600, and about $3000 in the last 6 months.  I have posted an ad on Craig's List, called the vet, and emailed/called the Rottweiler Rescue.  No luck thus far.  I have set a deadline of Saturday.  If nothing works, then we will have to take him to the animal shelter.  It is hard... but it is time.

On the heals of that... B and I have decided that it is time to get our little back yard in kid friendly shape.  We are getting an estimate this week to have our cement patio removed and redone.  Then we are going to see about having Easy Turf put in (synthetic lawn).  The work may have to be spread out over time due to finances... but it will be nice to have a safe and clean back yard where J and her future sibling can play.

We have so much work we have to do on our little condo to get ready for another baby.  I think we will be best friends with Home Depot, Target, and Babies R Us!  If anything... we will be working towards helping the economy.  Hopefully we can do it without going any further in debt.

Well, congratulations for making it this far.  Again, I will try to update more often.