OK, HeatherSue - just because you asked (and it was about time I did) I got myself an avatar AND a siggy! I'm a cool kid now!
Next up, my labor stories. I loved reading everyone's so I'll share mine, too.
With DS (4), my water broke on its own at 4:30 in the morning on March 2, 2003. I add the date in because I REALLY wanted his birthday to be 3/3/03. I had gone to bed at like 1:30 or so in the morning that night, got up at about 4:30 go pee for the millionth time that night. As I got up off the toilet, I just felt a HUGE gush. (hope this isn't TMI) And it just kept gushing, so I sat back down on the toilet. When I finally slowed to a trickle, I took a shower quick, then woke up DH who did not believe me at first. (Admittedly, I have this bad habit of playing jokes on him.) I finally convinced him that this was real, so we called the hospital and headed there. This was my first baby, so of course I had had a bag packed since like week 20, LOL.
Well, about halfway to the hospital, I realized that I didn't pack anything to do - like a book, cards, movies - you know, something to take my mind off of labor? Ha. Well, I wasn't really contracting yet, so I made DH go back and pick some movies to take with us. Yes, I am crazy.
We got to the hospital and were admitted. I still wasn't contracting regularly, so they had me walk. So I walked. And walked. And walked. Or maybe I should say I waddled. I was so huge. I'm only like 5'2'' on a good day, so I was ALL belly. I could knock things over with that thing.
After an hour or so of walking and no progress, I had to start on pitocin. Well, it sure worked alright. Started right off the bat with pretty painful contractions - all in my lower back. They just kept crankin that pitocin up and up. I just kept stalling out - stalled at 4, crank the pit, stall at 7, crank the pit. I think I got my epidural when I was about 5-6. I thought that would help, but not so much. It kind of took the edge off a little, but I was still hurting pretty badly. Finally I got to 9 1/2. And I was there for a couple hours. Nothing we tried would get me to 10, so at 4:55pm I had a c-section. I was terrified. I'm not sure why. I'm a NICU nurse and see deliveries and sections all the time. All the bad stuff that could (but rarely) happen just kept running through my head.
Everything was fine, though, and DS weighed in at 8 lbs 9.8 ounces and was 22 inches long.
My next child, DD (2) was a scheduled c-section. It was lovely. Well, the no laboring part was lovely. The four sticks to get my IV and the 2 sticks for my spinal was not lovely.
Also, while I was getting prepped for the section, a Med student was in with the anesthesiologist. I do believe they had already given me something in my IV, because I think I was a little loopy. So they go to put an oxygen mask on my face and I hear the anesthesiologist explain this to the student, then asks what room air oxygen is. Well, the student is hesitating, so I guess I thought I'd help him or something, so I start whispering "21 percent" a few times. Then the anesthesiologist thinks I'm talking to him, leans down and asks what I was saying, so I say louder "21 percent. room air." And he starts laughing. I then wanted to tell him not to let that med student touch me, but I refrained. I think he left after that anyway.
So, DD was born on June 3rd, 2005. She weighed in at 8 lbs, 9.8 ounces (yes, EXACTLY the same weight as DS - but she was 1 week early) but she was only 20 inches long, so she looked a lot chubbier than DS.
Now, to finish out this monster post, I'll share my latest creation. It's for DD's pirate skirt - someone posted a link to a design of a pirate mickey head with a tiara on it, and that inspired me right away. I had been struggling figuring out what kind of shirt to make. I was leaning toward peasant top thanks to all you ladies who voted for the peasant shirt, but I just loved that design, so I went with it. However, my take on her design was much cuter in my head than on DD's shirt. I hate when that happens. I still like it, but I wonder if I should just make a peasant shirt, too, and see what I like better.
OK, so here it is:
I think the part I'm not crazy about is that I wish the tiara showed up a little better. Well, that and the eyepatch doesn't show up well, either.
Whew! Sorry for the ginormously long post!
This is just after the 1st round of silly giggles after she saw the Doodblebops.
Either that, or you're just considering calling social services...
Your comment about dressing this way for church made me remember a woman from our church 30+ years ago. She was a beautician and kept her hair a light blond... and big! For some occasions, though, she'd use KoolAid (unsweetened) to tint her hair to match her outfit. I swear it looked like she had a big pile of cotton candy on her head some weeks. We were very impressed... back then.
Love the siggy and avatar, and I love the top! Very cute, I may have to case this! 
here at Christmas and the longer dress will keep her warmer. I am also making pants in the red fabric (straps) to match.
Why is it that going to a reunion makes you feel like you are in high school again?
