Favorite Movie Spot

They really love watching movies together on the couch on the portable DVD. I think it's funny, but cute how squished up they get.

I was trying to catch the snow blowing off the ledge here, but I couldn't get to a spot that wasn't freezing or getting the camera soaking wet. You can kinda see small ones on that back drift.

With love

Feeling Blighted?

Did you ever think you could be pregnant with nothing? Well yes, you can. And I am - currently 15 weeks along with a placenta :) I've known since January 18th that my pregnancy was not viable and have been waiting for a natural miscarriage.

For those of you who are confused (like I still am), here are the definitions. Not that they help much...

A blighted ovum (also known as “anembryonic pregnancy”) happens when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo does not develop. Cells develop to form the pregnancy sac, but not the embryo itself. A blighted ovum usually occurs within the first trimester before a woman knows she is pregnant. A high level of chromosome abnormalities usually causes a woman’s body to naturally miscarry.

Approximate estimates indicate that 15% of all clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. Estimates vary little and approximate blighted ovums account for 45 to 55% of all miscarriages. A blighted ovum is usually the result of chromosomal problems. A woman’s body recognizes abnormal chromosomes in a fetus and naturally does not try to continue the pregnancy because the fetus will not develop into a normal, healthy baby. This can be caused by abnormal cell division, or poor quality sperm or egg.

So, there was never a baby? This is not true. An egg has been fertilized just as in every pregnancy. The baby just does not develop beyond implantation. If you've had a blighted ovum, you were no less pregnant than any other pregnant woman at that same stage and you have every right to mourn the baby that only shared your body for a couple weeks.

There is just so much we do not know about the blighted ovum. Although the blighted ovum is mentioned frequently in medical literature, not many research papers dedicated to understanding the blighted ovum can be found. Generally, a blighted ovum is considered a one-time event and fluke of nature. However, miscarriage is a risk in any pregnancy. Just because you've had one blighted ovum does not mean you will not miscarry again, but your risk is not heightened because of the blighted ovum.

Well, today was finally the day. One of my sisters said, "Yea! I'm so happy for you! but I'm so sad for you too." It was exactly how I feel today. I'm sooo glad it's finally over, but when I think of what I'm losing, it does make me sad. I'm sad that we will not have a new addition to our family. It's so easy to take for granted what a miracle pregnancy, and consequently a child, is. I am extremely lucky to have had 2 miracles - 2 beautiful, healthy, handsome boys.

Today I am grateful for them. I'm grateful for their hugs, kisses, snuggles and smiles, and even their fights, angry eyes and pouty faces. They are mine, and I love every piece of them.

Interview Day

When Brandon went to audition for grad schools last time around, I made him a special surprise treat for his trips. I thought a real job interview deserved an "egg"tra special treat too - something to make him smile, if even for a couple of seconds.

Gratefully his favorite candies were in stock. And it was amazing how many words start with the letters "ex" :)

Harry Potter Party

We've had Brandon's entry level theory class over for a party the last 2 semesters. This class has a thing where you're "sorted" into the different Hogwarts houses depending on what color marker gets handed to you for board work. So we joked about it being a Harry Potter party. I wasn't sure if they really meant it, so I didn't go all out on the theme. Apparently they were because some of them came in costume. They also prepared a game of "Who Am I? Characters from Harry Potter version" that was really fun. We ate yummy food, played fun games, played a little Harry Potter trivia and had lots of laughs. It's always fun to get to know some of Brandon's students.

Dementors

Harry and Hermione

(they're married in real life)

Luke's making new friends...

I couldn't find him once so went looking. He had brought his new friends upstairs to play with his toys with him. He and Kurt were pretty much in heaven.

Then the games began...

Even the boys had a fun game night

Taking a break for some horsey rides

Taking a dive to not lose in spoons...yes, he also knocked poor Cassie out of the way.

Brandon took the games pretty seriously

The final round, take 2. The first take had an interference and had to be replayed.

Brandon still won and he was very proud of himself.

Post it Attack

So we'll just say that someone "let" a few students into Brandon's office over the weekend. They had a little bit o fun with post it notes :) I took pictures of my favorites

Are they jealous? or proud?

Yes, these are the books the post it's were on. Interesting the skewed views piano majors have huh? :)

On the Steinway...

On the Kawaii :)

Can't argue with them here

I do send him with better than this

Hence, these...

They also made him a treasure hunt

With the end treasure being...

The best prize I could think of right now :)