Here is my tale about our novel trip to Wyo from AK
Bed rest--- It's like sitting on a beach lounging, kicking back an relaxing with not a care in the world; drinking some fruity drink with an umbrella. No, really… I’m not kidding! Take me serious here!
So, I left Juneau via Alaska Air and had a 21 month old bouncing on my big ol belly (BOB) like it was his personal horse for about 12.5 hours. Thank goodness he decided to sleep for take off and landing and then once we were landed and in the truck on the way to my parent's place.
Back to the beginning. With the bags packed, dog included, the family started our adventure. We ended the journey by landing in Denver, CO . BUT, Because Clint’s company had to book the tickets they had us change airlines--AAARGG! Well, in Seattle , I, the size of a personal storage unit, not Clint, had to out the gates and go claim the dog --as he was on business travel; mine was personal-- and the dog was mine. Check her in at the other airline and shell out more money! (All worth it- since she has been with me for 14 years and tolerates a toddler, and keeps my feet warm, let alone she doesn’t talk back.) The lady checking us back in decided that I needed to have “acclimation” papers on my dog since we would be landing in Denver and it was a very cold 20 degrees. So, I get to call the vets office beg them to fax the information and wait for them to fax the papers to this place. All the while, umm our plane was scheduled to leave 1 hour and 15 minutes from the time we first landed. Finally, after four attempts to get a simple paper stating that Juneau has not been a tropical haven they seem to think it is since it IS a "RAIN FOREST" and that she could tolerate the weather to go from the plane to the cargo carrier to the luggage claim I get to take her to be drug tested. Oh, they were nice enough to call a person over with a cart only to be told they would help for $10 (which I didn't have!) I was directed to an ATM not far away. I hand him a $20 and he claims, "I ya sod-y I habba no chenge! Tank you da beddy much for da tip!" I called him several unkind names under my breath while they wipe down Josie and her carrier then load her up only to advise me to check with the attendant to make sure she even gets on the plane. Stress? Now just why would you think I have hyper-tension and my blood pressure is through the roof!? I quickly waddle off to the security check AGAIN (Not only do I have to go back through security but, with a ticket that claims there should be an infant with me… I get hauled to the interrogation room where we play 20 questions and they finally look up all of our flight plans and figure out that Jacob is still on the concourse waiting for me with his father. I finally get through the security check to hear that we are boarding and this is the last call for our flight (I know I have a guardian angle on over-time looking out for me because the plane was slightly late!). But wait there is more... I am crossing my legs because I have to- drum-roll please, pee. Once we were to the 'it's safe to move about the cabin" I pushed everyone out of the way and did battle with the confined space and my budda belly. With a rather uneventful second leg of the flight our attendant was picking up the last of the trash and Jacob pulls out all the stops and gives a polite thank you and the ol’ Popeye. She stopped all the other attendants to see if he would ham-it-up and do it again. On cue he winks at all of them. Unbenunced to us after the plane landed and we were getting off she stopped everyone behind us and pulled the captain out to get the Poppeye, a grin, and a bye!
We got all of our luggage and the dog and headed for the ranch. Clint, the spouse (I think this is who I married… haven’t seen him in a bit), left 3 days later to go to (thankfully to what should be a full time job for a few months-- just hope they don't want to keep him there)in Mexico until the 20th of Feb. Where I will see him for 5-7 days and off he goes again until March 12th.
At the ranch, Jacob loves waking up at 6:30 am still! I am working on the “sleep-in” thing but doubting it will happen! At 7 am we bundle up and walk out to the barn which is about 100 yards from the house. We look in on the ewes and baby lambs! Jacob gets mauled by the llamas and loves every minute of it with joyous yipps and squeals of glee. We sit out on the porch petting Ki-Ki until “Danna”, Grandma, come home in the bus. Then he goes back out to check sheep and then it's feeding time. Jacob loves to ride in the back with the hay or grain. Pappy was the first to get the lesson learned the hard way-- Jacob loves to “drive” when the pickup with all the grain was idling away down the pasture. The driver was as happy as a clam; grinning from ear to ear squealing, “Un Pappy, UN!” Fortunately there was minimal damage to the truck, and the driver missed all of the gate posts. However, the pig pannel that was being used as the fence didn't make out so well. With Pappy in good spirits about everything they come in for a cup of coffee and breakfast and to warm up a little then back out they go to brand, “paint numbers”, on the ewes and lambs. It is at this time when Jacob gets propped up in the corn bin where he hides all of the tools and branding irons. “Danna” unearths all of the buried treasures and then Jacob helps Pappy drive the bobcat to the dump pile and brings back straw for all of the jugs (sheep pens) and the barn. When he gets bored with this task “Danna” kicks him out with the lambs and ewes that are in the big pen. Here he chases down the lambs and "Ma-we dog" (Molly). They all buck and kick and run around! The Great Pyrenees puppy loves joining in on the action but is smart enought to be wary of the 2 legged thing that squeels.
Everyone comes in for lunch. Jacob(21 months) and his great-nanna (91years old) fight like children about who gets which chair, what plate, fork, cup, and/or anything else that seems to be sitting out. When one has something the other one seems to want it. (Is this what having twins will be like? I don't think I want them out... ever.)
My favorite time of day arrives and Jacob and I nap. When "Buckshot" get up he stalks out to Pappy to get some milk and cookies for a snack and then they go check fences and load the pickup with hay and grain. Then I think that they just drive around but I am told that they are working hard. Often I get told they are 'fit-sen' things! When they get back they go into the shop where Jake rides his trike and Pappy tinkers on things that need fixing or made (jugs).
Then they chase Ki-Ki’s around, check sheep and come in for a nap. Some friends of the family, Bea and Dave, have came to help with lambing for a couple weeks take over the checking ewes and lambing. Jacob doesn’t slow down until he is out for a nap.
His Great-Great-Grandma was recently sent into town to be cared for. It was just too much to handle here. It was sad to see her get sent into town and away from her home but, she is a lot safer. It also give mom and dad a break since they are the ones that ended up looking in on her.
I have been working on what I had set out to do for my goal setting this year and have a very sore back-side! I go to the doctors twice a week now---UGH!
It is amazing that when you no longer run around, get up and do, how lazy you actually become. I always thought that I was tired while I was teaching… but, now I need 3-5 naps in a day. However, lucky me… somewhere I picked up an allergy (that would be another comedy epic tale) and the flu and feel like crud… According to the doc’s office I’ve lost 8 pound… now why can’t I do that when I am not pregnant?
Any way, the babies are both looking good and growing really well! I sleep a lot and there is a bunch of sunshine (a few snow flurries) but even then it is bright!
Like I said before, “It's like sitting on a beach lounging, kicking back an relaxing with not a care in the world; drinking some fruity drink with an umbrella.”
REALLY.
3/10/09 update
The free help, Bea and Dave, left and Clint arrived. Clint took over the 3 am lambing check - nothing like leaving work for a vacation time like this! They would all get up in the am and feed, doctor, and general watching sheep. The guys came in laughing at the expense of Jacob... between all of the giggles I guess Jacob was in the catch pen with ewes and lambs when one old gal didn't like how close Jacob was getting and thumped him! Jacob looked quite indignant at her and was told to, "get up and brush it off!" which he did. Then it couldn't be more than a day later when Pappy and Clint let the ewes outside and drove into the corral and Jacob wondered up to the gate and was playing with the chain when the old ewes spotted the feed being dropped and a small opening in the gate and they TOOK HIM OUT! I think there was a couple tears and once again was told to suck it up. Jacob didn't seem to enjoy the humor in this as much as all of us!
We went to the bowling alley in Pine and Kayla and Kelton played baby-sitter... Jacob was like a ping-pong ball... all over the place. "Danna" took over the watching and let him try out his acrobatics where he tried to knock out his front teeth. But hey, he can now say "Gra-ma" !
March 1 we celebrated Nanna's 91st, Great Aunties birthday and a baby shower for the newest members of the clan.
We go to the doctors often and riding in the "town" truck is the pits because you have to "buckle in"
Everything is going well. As of Feb 20th the measurements were that Baby A (girl) was about 5 lbs. and Baby B (boy) was about 5 lbs and 4 oz. I am dealing with a few symptoms of preeclampsia. I am just on watch though. The biggest thing is to lay down more and drink lots of water...(my eyes are bulging and I run for the pot to pee a teaspoon but drink more water, you know!) there is less than 10 days left!
HOLY COW!!!!!!!!! There is less than ten days left... I'm not sure that I am ready for all of this. Putting it in writing seems to make me nauseous. Oh my, I better go lay down after that bit of information!
3/15/09
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