Identical!

I came across this picture of Miles the other day and holy cow! Zo looks just like him! Nancy has said that he looks so much like Miles when he was a baby, but I didn't truly believe it until I saw the picture. See for yourself!

MILES

Zo

Newest Addition

Since I hardly ever update my blog, Miles suggested that maybe I use my blog as more of a family update. I agreed with him, so we'll see if I can keep this type of blog updated...

I thought I would start with Feb. 14th - the day Zo joined our family.

Saturday morning at 9am I started having what I thought were finally real contractions. They weren't too painful, and this time they were more in my back instead of all in front. So I started timing them and by about11am they were about 5-6 min apart. Miles wasn't sure whether I was feeling real contractions so he kept trying to get me to wait a littlelonger. But being a good husband he gave in and took me to the hospital. They monitored me for about an hour and then decided they would admit me. The contractions still weren't very painful, and I would just take deep breaths to get through them. By this time I was dialated to about a 4 or 5, and was still 75% effaced.

At about 3:30 they broke my water, and oh man that was weird! I thought it would be painful, but it wasn't. As soon as they broke my water the contractions got way more painful! I was thinking I was pretty tough, but now with these kind of contractions I wanted my epidural and I wanted it soon. (Now I was dialated to a 6 or 7.) It wasn't long after they broke my water that I received my epidural. Ah,what sweet relief! By about 6pm I was fully dialated and ready to start pushing. Well, they told me I was ready to start pushing. It didn't take long for the epidural to start wearing off. I could really feel all that pressure and urge to push, which is actually what I kind of wanted. I had no idea how tiring pushing is! I pushed as hard as I could for an hour and a half. By the end I was so tired and just wanted it to be over. I could feel the tears wanting to come as I was saying I didn't think I could push any longer. The nurse was using every trick in her book to get me to push correctly and to keep going as hard as I could. Who knew there was a correct and incorrect way to push!? The problem was, however, that I had a cold. So taking a deep breath in was quite difficult. Not only was I having a hard time breathing, but my blood pressure was high, my heartrate was into the 140's, and I was running a fever. So not only was I battling a narrow arch in my pelvis, but being sick while in labor. Not fun! While I was pushing, Zo got a little stressed and now there was meconium in the fluid. They didn't really worry about that too much because it happened when I was pushing. If it had happened earlier they would have worried, but this just meant that I wouldn't be able to hold him right away.

Finally it was done at 7:26, and Zo was born with the help of the vaccuum. I would not have been able to get him out otherwise. They immediately took him away and suctioned all that meconium out so it wouldn't get in his lungs. I felt so tired and so relieved it was over. I wasn't able to hold him right away, but Miles was, and he went to the NICU with him. It only took about an hour before he was in the well baby nursery. It was at this time I got to hold him for the first time, and oh how great was that! I immediately loved him so much and wanted to protect him. I couldn't believe that this little guy had been inside me and I had somehow gotten him out. He was so tiny, perfect, and completely innocent. He was the best Valentines gift I could ever receive.

Now he's almost 3 weeks old and still so cute. Last Friday he got circumcised which was really sad. I could hear him crying all the way down the hall. It's amazing how quick you can distinguish your baby's cry from other the other baby's cries. I wish they would have just done it at the hospital instead of waiting until his two week appointment. Anyway, we love him so much and are so glad he's a part of our family!

Miles is a great dad, although he already teases Zo a lot, which is kind of a good thing I guess because I get teased/tickled way less. Zo's nickname is "little windy". He takes after the Romney boys.

Obesity Tax

We all know that obesity is a big problem in our country that is growing with each passing year. According to Science Daily, by the year 2030 86% of Americans will be overweight. Sick!! Well Governor Paterson of NY has a good idea to help with this problem and to help with the budget deficit. He is going to propose an 18% tax on sugary drinks like soda and sweetened juice. Milk, some juice, diet soda, and bottled water would be exempt from the tax. Astonishingly, 60% of New Yorkers said they would oppose the new tax. (Isn't that about the percentage of people that are obese?)

One of the greatest benefits of this tax would be children drinking less soda, which would mean a decrease in childhood obesity. Today, about 1/3 of kids are overweight, and research shows that the ONLY high-risk dietary practice that is linked to children being overweight is the consumption of sugary drinks (American Dietetic Association). I mean let's be honest, if a kid is given the choice between milk or soda, most kids will choose soda. So if that choice isn't there because it's too expensive, then great!

Opponents of the tax say the last thing the governor should be doing is putting a heavy tax on the people. Well this tax isn't a tax you have to pay like property tax or income tax, so this argument is ridiculous! If a family is going through tough economic times, they shouldn't be spending their money on things they don't need - like soda. The Health Commissioner of NY put a video on YouTube, supporting the new tax. It's amazing what those few extra calories every day or week will add on. The link is below. It's a little dry, but very informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARMgjdbY93o

The Best Childhood Toy Ever

Last week I went to an inservice at my school where Dr. Roger Taylor was the presenter. In his presentation he talked about how kids today don't play the way we used to play when we were kids. They don't use their imaginations or any sort of creativity. They sit inside and watch TV or play video games. He then showed a picture of a cardboard box. Oh the memories that came flooding back to all of us that were in the room! This ordinary box was transformed into a speedy car, a drive through restaurant, a dream home, and so many other things.

I remember a certain large box I had as a child that I absolutely loved. I played with it non-stop for weeks. Surely my parents had noticed how much I loved this box. But no! One day without my permission my dad needed a place to put the newborn chicks. And what did he use? My box! It was the best toy I ever lost.

So kids don't need all these fancy toys that light up and make noises. All they need is a box.

And Jen, your pictures on facebook inspired me to write a blog about this. :)

Sugar and Spice or Snails and Puppy Dog Tails?

First of all, this is my first time doing two posts in one day. Wow! I know.

Tomorrow I go to have my ultrasound where I get to find out whether it's a boy or girl. I know there's a chance that I won't even find out, but I am really hoping that the baby cooperates. For years I have said that I don't know what to do with boys, so I would prefer to have mostly girls. But lately I think I've really come around to liking these baby boys. Even though I wouldn't get to put cute bows in their hair or dress them in really cute dresses, I think I would very happy with having a boy. Plus every person I meet tells me how much easier boys are to raise. They don't have the mood swings that girls do, and they are just all around much easier. I wouldn't know since my older and only brother is about 15 years older than me. I grew up with all girls, and that's all I know.

On the other hand I have always wanted a boy. At least for the first child. I think it's the traditional side of me that wants them to take care of their younger siblings and there's whole birthright thing. I also want a boy so Miles can have a son, and he can teach him all about sports and how to be tuff. I would love to be able to go to my son's football games, basketball games, or whatever sporting event he's in.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that for the first time in my life I would love having a boy, and that no matter the result tomorrow I'll be happy!

Belly Rubbing

I knew that when I got pregnant I would be confronted with this issue at least once, if not often. The issue of people touching my belly. There are two types of people that touch bellies - those that ask if they can touch, and those that don't ask and just start touching.

Just this week I have had former students start touching by stomach. I'll see them in the hall, and they stop to talk to me. Of course they are all very excited I'm pregnant which is really quite cute. But then, all of a sudden, my belly is being touched! And it's not just being touched sometimes, it's being rubbed! I don't want to hurt their feelings (by the way all these instances have been with formal female students), but I don't really enjoy them rubbing or touching my stomach. So what do I do? Do I rudely tell them, "Please don't touch my stomach"? Or do I just suffer through? And what about those that do ask? If they are really creepy I have no problem saying no. But what about those that are really sweet, but I just don't want touching my stomach?

What do I do! I still have 22 weeks to go. I'm thinking I should wear the shirt shown above. I like green.

Disclaimer: I am totally okay with family and close friends touching my stomach, so don't take offense.

I'm It!

Okay, so I got tagged by Jen Romney and will thus finally update my blog. Here are a few updates:

1) To the blogging world:

In case you didn't know I am prego. I'm due Feb. 20th, and I find out in 2 weeks what we're having. Super excited! I can't find my camera at this moment, so I'll post pics as soon as I find it.

2) School started again, and in case you don't know, I teach at American Falls High. On the first day of school I was calling roll and came across the name "Dalton". I saw two hands go up - one near my desk where I was standing, and the other in the far back corner of the room. So I said, "Dalton D.?" It was the kid who was closest to me. Then I got the other Dalton and the other hand went up again. So I said, "There she is!" The class starts chuckling and I ask them what I did. They proceed to tell me that Dalton is a boy. Holy crap! That's an awkward moment! How was I supposed to know? All I could see was long brown hair! So we make a joke out of it and I tell them all how I'm no longer using the personal pronouns "he" and "she". From now on I'm calling everyone "it".

I think the kid has forgiven me and seems very nice to me. I'm just hoping it's not some fake facade and one day he's going to come and stab me when I'm all alone in my classroom. (The picture is not of Dalton by the way, but the hair is very similar.)

3) I am certified to teach chemistry at the secondary level (grades 6-12). As of last the state of Idaho has decided that I am not "highly qualified" to teach physical science, which is basic chemistry and physics. Don't these people have any common sense? If I'm qualified to teach upper-level chemistry shouldn't that also make me qualified to teach an introductory chemistry class? Oh, and I'm supposed to be mentored for a year from the biology teacher who is endorsed in physical science but hasn't taught it in over 20 years. Nice.

4) I do an assignment with my physical science classes at the beginning of the year where they have to investigate a double murder. This double murder however involves Toucan Sam and Pop Krispie. I go on an on about how the murder was on the news and that I've been working with the authorities on possible suspects. They include Captain Crunch, Tony the Tiger, etc. So this is a silly joke, right? Not to some. About 5 minutes into my story of the murder, a blonde freshman girl raises her hand and asks, "So we're not going to have those cereals anymore?" It was such a classic freshman moment!

5) Like Jen I too did a pagent when I was in high school. But mine wasn't really a pagent, it was a "scholarship program"!

And now I tag the person who let everyone know I freak dance - Miles Romney at the City Fathers blog. :)