I was going to see my dad after work today, but he said he was feeling well, and I could just rest.  But he requested I bring him a couple things when I come visit tomorrow.  Namely, baby food.  I went to my normal stores: Sprouts and Grocery Outlet.  Turns out, I don't really know where one buys baby food.  Sprouts had a few varieties, which were all organic, but pretty expensive.  I didn't mind that too much.  But My dad wanted meat baby food, and Sprouts only had two kinds.  I got a few of each of those.  I wasn't sure if Grocery Outlet would have any baby food.  They didn't have any, but I got a couple little pasta cups.  I may look at Target tomorrow, if I have time.  I assume they'll have baby food, but as it turns out, I really don't know.  Maybe you have to buy it at a special store?

We've been letting Zelda hop up and sit on the couch lately.  But now she's been inviting herself up, which isn't good.  So we've been keeping her off the couch, and she is unhappy about that.  And expresses it by whining, and sad looks.

The driveway got removed.  But now there is a huge pile of dirt in it, so we can't park there.  The tree is supposed come out some time between 11/20 and 12/5, and then the new driveway goes in shortly after that.  The end is supposedly in sight.

We think we've decided on a name for baby Mojo.  But we're not telling anyone, because when we had previously mentioned names we liked, we got a lot of negative reaction (mostly from Aaron's mom).  So we won't be telling anyone, until he's born.

I've been having crazy mood swings this week.  I'm not sure why the mood always swings to bad.  Why can't you be feeling ok, and all of a sudden be super happy?

Too much has happened.

If you read my Crohns blog, you'll be update with all the stuff that's been going on with my dad.  He went into the hospital for bleeding a little over a week ago, and ended up having a complete colectomey (ending with a colostomy bag) on Friday.  He was originally supposed to stay for a week following the surgery, but it looks like he may only need 5 days. So things are looking up.

Aaron and I have spent a lot of time at the hospital, or driving to and fro.

Mojo has been moving around a lot.  Especially after I eat in the morning.  I'm still feeling pretty good, my back hurts at the end of some days, and I pee a lot.  I noticed today that I can feel Mojo kicking from the outside.  So now I just need to get Aaron to catch him moving.

Tomorrow our driveway will be ripped out.  The giant, annoying camphor tree will be going (hopefully) soon after that.  I'm looking forward to the tree being gone, and having a flat, non-broken driveway, but it seems like it's going to be an annoyingly long process.

Hopefully we'll be able to go to the temple in the next couple weeks.  It's been over a year since we've been, and I was practically inactive.  But now I've got myself sorted out, and I'd like to go once or twice before Mojo comes along, and runs our lives.

I start my yoga class this week.  I also get my hair done on Friday.

All Mojo, all the time.

Last night was full of dreams; all of them about Mojo.  I only remember three, but none too specifically.  In one Mojo was a girl.  In one Mojo was a boy.  In one Mojo had non-functioning kidneys and wasn't going to make it.  Ugh.  It was a rough night.

The appointment went fine.  It started half an hour late, but that was the only snag.  Everything looked great.  Kidneys and heart were functioning perfectly.  All the bones were where they should be.  He was moving all around.  And liked having his hands in front of his face.  A lot.  And he's a he; no doubt.  We were both (sort of) secretly hoping for a girl, but I am ecstatic to be having a healthy baby.  I am having a baby!  Aaron and I made him, it's so weird.

He's so tiny.  His head is 4cm in diameter, his little foot in about an inch long. Heart was beating at 144 bpm.  He weighs about 10 oz.  He's measuring 19.5 weeks.   I'm wondering how and when I feel him poking me.  I couldn't feel him moving during the ultrasound, but I can feel him from time to time.

Now we need to think of names we both like.  We have several girls' names we both love.  We have a lot of boys' names we like, but so far, nothing is jumping out at us.  We also won't be sharing the name beforehand.

I'm also trying to gather information about circumcision.  My inclination is to say "no," I don't feel like a tiny baby needs a (mainly) cosmetic surgery.  My dad said he would say no.  And if he and my mom had had boys, he wouldn't have circumcised, and he's Jewish.  I know my mom is for it, because she says it's cleaner.  The American Academy of Pediatrics is for it, which holds a lot of weight.  So I need to research more.

Misc

Tomorrow is the big ultrasound!  I'm nervous and excited.  Hopefully Mojo will cooperate.

Here are some miscellaneous things I've been thinking about:

• I've been driving for 16 years (that sounds like a long time!)  In that time, I've only had three cars: Rudiger (1978 Toyota Corolla), Wiggles (1998 Ford Escort) and Homer (2007 Ford Focus).  Aaron's had a few more than me.  He had a grey car, from the 80s when we first met, but that got totaled shortly there after, then he had Punchy the 1995 Ford Escort, then Fadonalor (1999 VW Passat), Topolino the 1970 Fiat 500, then he drove Wiggles for a few years, now he has Nonna (1995 small Ford truck).
• I've known Aaron for a little more than a third of my life.  Cool beans.
• I've been doing pretty well with my walking. I get at least 10,000 most days.  Sunday is the exception, I don't get 10,000 on Sundays.
• On Saturday, we got Mojo a dresser from Ikea.  It's bare wood, we're going to paint it a dark grey.  We built it on Saturday, that was a longer process than I anticipated.  But we didn't kill each other, so it was good.  We'll paint it this weekend.
• I've been feeling some movement from Mojo.  Little pokes and prods.  It's really neat.
• I've been feeling really good lately.  My back isn't hurting much, I'm not too tired, I'm not sick.  It's nice.
• Zelda is sitting half in my lap right now.  She has pointy elbows.  But she sure is nice.

A pretty good day.

Last night was the first night I slept with a pillow between my knees for the first time.  My back has started hurting a little.  (Mid back, not lower, which is kind of surprising).  I read that the pillow would help.  When I woke up this morning, no back pain!  Yay.  I slept from 10:30 to 8:30, which was fantastic.

For breakfast I made the Pilsbury cinnamon rolls that have the orange icing.  They were really good.  We started some house chores, and then took my car to the shop.  It was time for an oil change and a 90k mile check up.  We came back home, and did a couple more thing, and then we drove Nonna (the truck) over the hill to Santa Cruz.  Aaron's bio-mom had a post about Stagnaro's earlier this week, on Facebook.  That made me want to go there.  And I somehow convinced Aaron that it would be a good idea.  (He is not a seafood fan, except clam chowder and calamari).  The drive over was easy, and no traffic.

We didn't know that today was the 100th anniversary of the Pier.  So the city was having some event about it with music and a bunch of classic cars.  Some were from 1914; super ornate.  We got into Stagnaro's pretty quickly.  I texted my dad to see if he wanted any food he asked me to bring back cioppino, salad and bread.  I got calamari and chowder, Aaron got a burger and chowder.  (For a seafood place, that was a really good burger)!  After lunch, we stopped at the candy store and got a couple things before heading back over the hill.

We went to my dad's house on the way back, to check in on him, and bring him his food.  His prednisone has been working, and he's been eating a lot.  That's good because he's 6' and was down to 147 lbs. He's mostly been feeling ok, but it still spiking fevers at night.  But he's feeling and looking more peppy.  We ended up staying there for a couple hours.  We always get to chatting.

On the way home, we were going to go to Trader Joes for chili fixins, but decided to go home instead.  I took a nap for a bit.  After that I asked Aaron to drive me to Target.  So we browsed there for a while, and got some stuff.  Then it was time to get my car.

It was about $450, I got an oil change, new engine mount, breaks redone, and the spark plugs etc.  So not too bad.  We stopped by Yogurtland on the way home.  Then took the dogs for a walk.

Now, I'm snuggled on the couch with Julius on my right and Zelda on my left.  They're both snoozing.

Life is good.

Random things

• I hate bedspreads.  I think they're useless.
• Pregnancy has made me lazier than ever.  But now that I'm not sick (and quite as tired) I'm making an effort to exercise.  I'm a little scared that I'll gain a lot of weight, and not be able to loose it.
• I want to stock up on more books for Mojo.  Books are really important.
• Fiona used to be my baby.  But she's been way more into Aaron lately.  She's his snuggle puppy now.
• I'm still trying to figure out a Halloween costume.
• Sometimes I inadvertently lead the dog parade around the house.  It's kind of cute.

Thursday is almost Friday.

It's been a long week.

I got to work early on Monday, 5:50am, instead of 6:30am.  I had a doctor appointment for the baby.  At 6:30 I got a call from my dad, asking if I could drive him to the hospital.  (He also has Crohns, and had been spiking fevers and bleeding for a week).  I told him I was already at work, but I'd call Aaron.  Fortunately, Aaron had brought his phone to bed the night before.  (I'd started bringing mine to bed with me while Aaron was gone all Summer, now it's a habit).  Aaron sprung into action, and took my dad to Good Sam.  Another good thing is Aaron is on salary, and many days does not have a set schedule.  He stayed with my dad in the ER til he was made comfortable, and was all checked in.  Then he did a little running around, and met me at Kaiser for my appt.

My visit was boring.  Except that we got to hear the heartbeat.  That was neat.

After that I went back to work.  Aaron went back to Good Sam to see my dad.  He'd been admitted and was in a room.  He's been there since.  He got blood and plasma yesterday, and blood again today.  Plus they started him on Prednisone again.  The bleeding and fevers have stopped.  They're still working on getting his H and H up.  He was at 9 and 27 today, still too low, but still improving

We've been visiting him everyday.  Today he was asleep, so I didn't stay long.  They think he'll be able to leave tomorrow.

So with all that, I've been especially exhausted this week.  I'm just drained.  Emotionally, and physically.  Stuff at home has been sliding, and I don't have the energy to do it.  I'm glad it's almost the weekend.