Boxing Day Baby Goat

I meant to get some 10 month shots up yesterday with a basic description of our Christmas so far, but my computer decided to thwart me at every turn.  I managed to get one photo, taken by my sister, on to blogger here to acknowledge his 10 month birthday yesterday.  Today we are flying to VA and indeed we should be in the air already but one flight was cancelled due to mechanical error.  So now we get to drive to Chicago and catch a much later flight tonight, but we will get there.  More stories later.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Originally uploaded by beautyredefined

Wordless Wednesday: Santa Goat says "Merry Christmas!"

Wrapping FAIL

OR
Wrapping is a pain in the ass.
OR
It's ok, you can laugh at me.  I do.

Friday night found me wrapping presents to get in the mail for Saturday morning.  I am sending them ahead of us because frankly I don't know how we're going to travel with all the baby stuff in the first place.  The baby was in bed, the presents all wrapped and I was working on addressing the box of goodies for the morning.  It was 11pm.

I got up to get a better sharpie as mine was dying and came back and flopped down on the sofa and immediately noticed there was a problem.  It seemed that the scissors that I had been using had slipped off the cushion and was sticking straight up.  If I had looked I could have avoided them, but I didn't and so I ended up with a pair of scissors in my ass (upper thigh really but ass is so much funnier).

I said something to the affect of "That's not good" and pulled them out as Mr.Goat asked what was wrong.  Cut to a call to the nurse line and a check of facebook to see what IRL friends might still be up at 11pm on Friday night (man we are old).  We found a classmate of Mr. Goat's from law school who had kids and recently had signed off and promptly got the poor fellow out of the bed he'd just entered.

But he was nice enough to get up and drive 30 minutes to our little suburb to sit in our apartment and watch the food network on the off chance that baby goat would wake up.

And so Mr. Goat and I headed over to the hospital.  The same one I spent an extended stay at in Feb when baby goat made his appearance to the world.  I have to say I hadn't hoped to be in one of their hospital beds (lying on my left side) again any time soon.  They still haven't changed the screen savers on their in room computers by the way.

The nurse thought I might need stitches but the doctor said no.  While it was about 1/2 inch deep it wasn't that big and seemed to be a clean cut that had already mostly stopped bleeding.  They washed it out gave me a perscription for some preventative antibotics and sent me home.  (I thought that after 6.5 years I'd need a tetanus booster but the dr said it was fine - I'm still calling my doc on Monday, what can I say?  I am a worrier).

We were home and in bed by 2am after sending Mr. Goat's friend home with huge thank yous and promises of beer to come.  I'm mostly fine although sitting is not very comfortable and nor is the cautionary tale I'm now compelled to share with the world.  While injury isn't technically funny, particularly with an ER visit, it still is an injury that just calls for a giggle (or twenty).  There are so many possible "pain in the ass" jokes that can be made, and I may have heard them all this weekend.

Still, I'm fine and laughing at myself and this extra weekend adventure, but my warning to you all is to look before you sit, particularly when wrapping presents.

Adding Insult to Injury (literally)
While changing baby goat's diaper today (Sunday) I found a small piece of purple ribbon.  I was wrapping using some purple ribbon Friday but cleaned up afterwards.  I'm not sure where it had been hidden or how baby goat managed to find it and eat it.  Nevertheless, you can add bad mother to the inobservant sitter of Friday.  (Does anyone suppose that a bit of ribbon with hurt baby goat?)

Edited to Add (12/21/09):  I called the nurse line today and she reconfirmed that the tetanus is good for 10 years.  They will give boosters with dirty wounds after 5 years but that really refers to dirt (like soil) and rust where tetanus likes to live.  An indoor pair of scissors isn't a big concern I guess.  I'm going to assume that since my health professionals agree than I'm fine.  (Still don't look up tetanus unless you want a good worry today!)

Christmas Letters

Dear Mom,

When you used to give us present ideas like "a spatula" or "warm socks" we thought you were lame.  Now I am a mom and I can't think of anything specific that I want beyond a nap, a cleaning lady, and baby goat's teething to be over.  I'm sorry and there are worse people that I could turn into.

Love you,
Mrs. Goat

------------

Dear Twitter,

Why did you never tell me that I could tweet/stalk geek icons like Wil Wheaton, Neil Gaimon and LeVar Burton and others?  I believe the term "Squee" might have left my lips.

Fan girl-ly yours,
Mrs. Goat

------------

Dear Remote controls,

Where are you?  I paused the TV to talk on the phone and now you are missing.  Please return poste haste, Survivor needs watching, the Ace of Cakes just isn't cutting it.

Patiently,
Mrs. Goat

------------

Dear Wrapping Paper, Dirty Dishes, Laundry and Vaccuming,

What is the magic word to get your tasks completed immediately?  Please inform.

Desperately,
Mrs. Goat

------------

Dear Fiber Optic Mini Tree,

I am sorry that the cats knock you down daily and gnaw on your (presumably tasty) branches.  It pains me that as a result you are crooked and devoid of ornaments.  Consider yourself to be a festive channelling of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.  See, you are a Christmas icon, not a sad little tree as I attempt to be one of those put together baking, clean, fashionable, decorated for Christmas at 6am Black Friday moms.  Thank you for your valiant attempt to redeem me.

Oh Bother,
Mrs. Goat

------------

Dear Bed,

Not yet, it is time to stop blogging and work on some of the necessary to do lists.  I will be there as soon as I can.

With great anticipation,
Mrs. Goat

Wordless Wednesday - No Baby Goats or Cats were harmed in the making of this video.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Still Treading water but out of the rip current.

Whew.  It seems like the last week hasn't been so much living as a giant to do list of doom.  And it wasn't even all doom, but there was just enough doom, angst and "I can sleep when?" that I was more than a little crazed.

What never ceases to amaze me about those times in my life though is that while they seem endless at the time they do pass.  I realize that this may be obvious, but sometimes it seems as though I will NEVER get through something or NEVER get it all done, or NEVER sleep again.  And then you get to the other side and realize that it was foolishness. 

Life continues at a frantic holiday pace right now.  Mr. Goat has a week of choir rehearsals and concerts, baby goat continues to teethe but the sense of urgency has calmed.  My to do list still seems impossibly long but I started doing things I enjoy again: like taking time to play with baby goat rather than having to work, or even blogging again.  Even if no one ever read this place I think I'd still do it because it is so nice to be able to remove some of the thoughts from my mind and put it down.

Maybe it is being on the cusp of nearly two weeks free of work and full of family and fun but my heart is lifted today and even all the travel with a baby seems do-able today (not that I am remotely prepared to go yet.)

My to do list is waiting for me tonight - with Christmas cards at the top of a long list, but it will work.  Somehow the thought that it is all right if it doesn't get done inspires me to be more productive to get it done anyway.

10 more days until Christmas and feeling fine...

Friday Fun

Please note: While this cartoon resonates with me, the goat family is NOT expanding at this time, nor in any immediate future.  I just giggled this morning and thought I'd share it with you.  You can see the xkcd comices here.

Speaking of parenting, any tips for packing for a baby for a flying trip would be much appreciated.

Snowy Days

We had our first snow storm of the winter here this week.  It tracked mostly south so it wasn't awful up here but it did necessitate some school closings and a rash of accidents as people of MN slowly remembered that they do indeed know how to drive in snow.

I found myself staring out the windows at the snow with a strange nostalgia.  Certainly it is not the snow itself.  I tolerate snow and cold because extreme heat is worse so it wasn't that.  It took Mr. Goat to center the emotion for me.  The last snow storm I experienced was the day baby goat was born.  All my numbers were headed in the wrong direction and the Dr. decided that it was time.  A storm was on the way but luckily the family was able to get into town just ahead of the storm.

I don't really remember much about the storm, just watching it swirl around as they prepared me for my c-section and afterwards as I suffered through the necessary mag sulfate hot flash.  I remember thinking that it shouldn't be snowing since baby goat was due after Easter.  It wasn't time.  Except it was time.

It is strange to be back at winter again.  Baby goat's first birthday is less that 3 months away.  He's not confined to an isolette to maintain his temperature, but will yank off any attempts at a hat or mittens before you even make it outside. 

Sometimes I think I must sound like a broken record thinking back to his birth and how he is now, but I guess I can't help it.  Little things daily remind me of that time: bedrest, c-section, NICU.  It swims up in me unawares, this strange nostalgia.  I have no desire to repeat the whole situation but there are times I linger there emotionally.  It is a strange emotion too - a kind of painful joy - much like the pain of breathing in winter's frigid air.  It hurts but it lets you know that you are powerfully alive. 

I've been looking at pictures of baby goat lately and noticing just how much he's changed in these 9.5 months.  He's such a little boy now - with little teeth nibs sticking out making him look like a strange smiling beaver boy. 

And so I stand by the window, watching the blowing snow, and remember then and now and the blessings we've been given.

Wordless Wednesday: Santa's OK but these Jingle Bells are awesome!

Winners!

The winner of my blog giveaway was pjmystic.  The random number generator choose number 12 and I still couldn't figure out how to get that image here so you'll just have to believe me.  Pjmystic is my pastor friend Jess in Nebraska so I'm excited to send her the Magnum Chorum CD.

If you didn't win however there are a few more ways that you can be a winner today.  First, consider joining Magnum Chorum at one of their concerts in the Twin Cities this month (Dec 19 and 20).  They are really good and a wonderful time for rest and reflection.

But for an even better sense of winning clear your calendar for January 19!  My friend Missy at The Marketing Mama is hosting a blogger get together that will help others.  We will all be going to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan to pack food for families around the world.  It is a wonderful opportunity to meet other bloggers all while making the world a better place.  There is even an informal gathering starting at 6pm that night to get a little more talking in.  Because we know as bloggers we have lots to say.

The Details:
Minnesota Blogger Volunteer Event
Spend 1.5 hours packing meals at Feed My Starving Children
Eagan location
Tuesday, January 19
8 - 9:30 p.m.
Informal Gathering at 6pm

To register or to get more details about the event visit Missy.  I hope to see you there.  I can't wait to meet more blog friends.

Success!

I'm stopping in quickly before I get back to work to say that over lunch I finished my 50th book for this years 50 Book Challenge.  I haven't finished reading for the year though and I hope to read at least two more to get to the mental milestone of reading a book a week.  But 50 is always my yearly goal, and I think it is not bad given that there were several weeks this year where I was in no shape to read anything.

What seems even more amazing to me is that since I started tracking my reading in 2006 I've read 218 books.  I don't say this to brag (much) but to say that you can find time and you can find books that interest you.  Luckily almost anything interests me but if you need book ideas or want a review of any of the books I've read just leave a comment.

Reading is my original geek love, and while my life is a long time removed from reading about Narnia and Middle Earth with a flashlight under the covers, books still shape my life.  I'm so proud that I was able to have a baby this year and still accomplish my yearly goal.

And as always, I'm looking for more books to read so give me your favorites!

The 50 Book Challenge 2009 (as of 12/7/09)

1. The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials Trilogy, Book 3) by Philip Pullman
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
4. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
5. 'Tis the Season!: A Novel by Lorna Landvik
6. Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions by Neil Gaiman
7. Rococo: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani
8. The Boggart by Susan Cooper
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling*
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.R. Rowling*
11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.R. Rowling*
12. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.R. Rowling*
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by J.R. Rowling*
14. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling*
15. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
16. The Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
17. Son of a Witch: Volume Two in the Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire
18. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott
19. Dark Tort by Diane Mott Davidson
20 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen
21. Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson
22. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
23. Maybe Baby: 28 Writers Tell the Truth About Skepticism, Infertility, Baby Lust, Childlessness, Ambivalence, and How They Made the Biggest Decision of Their Lives by Lori Leibovich
24. The Book of Air and Shadows: A Novel by Michael Gruber
25. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
26. The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore
27. The Demigod Files (A Percy Jackson and the Olympians Guide) by Rick Riordan
28. A Lion Among Men: Volume Three in the Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire
29. Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering by Rob Bell
30. The Time Travelers (The Gideon Trilogy) by Linda Buckley-Archer
31. It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons by Andrea J. Buchanan
32. Sepulchre by Kate Mosse
33. The Time Thief (The Gideon Trilogy) by Linda Buckley-Archer
34. Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer by Jen Lancaster
35. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan
36. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) by Rick Riordan
37. From the Great Omission to Vibrant Faith by Dr. David W. Anderson 
38. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) by Rick Riordan
39. Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson
40. Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? by Jen Lancaster
41. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4) by Rick Riordan
42. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster
43. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5) by Rick Riordan 
44. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 
45. The Forgery of Venus: A Novel by Michael Gruber 
46. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich   
47. Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass Phase by Jen Lancaster  
48. The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 1) by Alexander McCall Smith  
49. Tears of the Giraffe (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 2) by Alexander McCall Smith
50. Time Quake (The Gideon Trilogy) by Linda Buckley-Archer

P.S.  Have you entered the giveaway yet?

This and That

* Have you entered the Lutheran Geek contest yet?  Only two more days to enter to win a very awesome CD! 

* My friend Missy the Marketing Mama was nice enough to highlight my Geekling Gift Guide on her blog this week.  Thanks Missy!  If you don't have a little Geekling however consider looking at Marketing Mama's own gift guide for women!  She always has wonderful ideas.  If you don't know her blog you definitely should check it out.  I for one am coveting the automatic soap dispenser.

* For the geek that I am, I can be somewhat slow to enter into modern technology, however the Lutheran Geek is now over on Facebook.  While I don't necessarily like the term "fan" I'd love it if you want to come over there and show some facebook love to me.  It is another great way to follow my Random Thoughts out in blogland.

* We decided to splurge on a mini Christmas tree to add to the festive cheer despite the fact that we will be gone during Christmas.  I'm very pleased with the decision and when we put it up baby goat broke into hysterical giggles so I think he approves too!

* Mr. Goat and I really enjoyed our date night.  Christmas Fest was wonderful as always and we even went out to pie afterwards!

* Baby Goat met Santa last week so look for those pictures later this week for Wordless Wednesday.  I'm glad that he was not the least big afraid, though he was much more interested in eating his Jingle Bells than Santa himself.

* I'm looking for a good ornament to represent baby goat's first year.  I'd like something that can be personalized but I haven't found something that I love yet.  If you have kids what did you do for a first christmas ornament?

Tales of Christmas Fest's past

1997 - I was in shock really as a freshman when I made it into a choir at St. Olaf despite not being in choir in High School (I was in church choir).  It was glorious. 100 women singing with Sig alternately leaving us adoring or scared sh*tless by her perfect pitch.  It was a TV year that first year on campus, which meant mandatory makeup and the hymns had to be memorized completely.  I remember riding home for Thanksgiving with my ex-boyfriend, a sophomore at St. Olaf, singing hymns in his boat of a car to memorize them.  I remember being squished on the risers.  Since I was on the end of Mantiou I was next to the Ole Choir baritones and was more than enamored by their deep voices and rich purple velvet robes.  If they had wanted a geeky freshman with inexpertly applied makeup I was right there waiting.  I remember watching Christmas Fest on TV that Christmas Eve mortified by my one close-up preserving for all its glory my "singing" face. 

1998-1999 - Christmas Fest is on again.  A beautiful time full for friends and ditching homework for yet another concert.  You are tired but energized at the same time.  The music stirs your soul.  Even though it is cold outside your heart is warm during the Fest.  Of course that could be all the heat from the bodies on the risers.  Behind the Ole Choir basses now.  When they stand to sing it is an excellent view.

2000 - I can hardly stand it.  It is my last Christmas Fest.  What if I never sing here again?  Every note is bittersweet as I'll never get to experience it again.  I failed to make it into Ole Choir and will never have an opportunity to head straight to the racquetball court to close the evening in song as a choir.  Every time Dr. A lifts his hands and the strains of Beautiful Savior die away I am caught up in tears.  Luckily though I am in love and Mr. Goat is there to find me in the crowd to kiss the pain away - him in his Chapel choir robe, me in my Cantorei one.  We always seem to be on opposite "teams" but we know that those colors don't matter.

2001 - I managed to score a solitary ticket to watch Christmas Fest.  I sit in the bleachers, leaning forward hoping to get swallowed up in the sound around me.  I wish I could go back, just for a moment and be a part of it.  As the music swells throughout the night though I realize that I am a part of it still, even though it is a different part now.  I'm one of the Norwegian sweaters now, but it is a company I'm glad to keep.

2002 - It is Mr. Goat's final year and he is there decked in the coveted purple velvet.  My dream from freshman year is true - I have my Ole Choir baritone.  The purple velvet is just as wonderful to cuddle into as I'd always imagined.  I am sorry that Mr. Goat has reached his final year but am looking forward to a time when I can hold his hand and sit with him among the sweaters.

2003-2007 - We beg, borrow and steal to get into Christmas Fest each year.  No matter what the schedule, school work or job we find a way to get there.  And we hold hands in the darkness and listen to the promise of Light coming into the world.

2008 - Baby goat is there this year too, ensconced safely in utero.  When the choirs sing he dances within me as if he knows what beautiful things can happen out in this world.  My heart threatens to burst with joy for it all.  Perhaps there will sometime be an occasion to hug purple velvet again one day.

2009 - Tonight we go back. A date, a rest, a time for worship.  It has been a year full of the unexpected.  Unexpected challenges and unexpected blessings.  Tonight though I will hold hands with my Ole Choir baritone and breath deeply the music that feeds my soul.  When the strains of Beautiful Savior die away, I will sit in silence, likely crying with joy, filled again for the coming year.

Wordless Wednesday: Orange Ball Love

* Have you entered the giveaway?

Random Thoughts: A contest when I should be cleaning

* I realized yesterday that I never did my NaBloPoMo contest so this week in honor of Christmas Fest week and my love of good choral music we'll have a contest, read to the bottom for details!

* Mom and Dad come up on Thursday to babysit baby goat while Mr. Goat and I go on an honest to goodness date to the St. Olaf Christmas Festival!  I have been every year since 1997 (I was in it for four of them) and it truly centers the holiday season for me.  I am thrilled.

* Consequently however I should be cleaning - we are a mess here right now.

* If one date weren't enough, we get two this coming weekend.  On Sunday we get to go to Christmas in Christ Chapel - Gustavus' version of Christmas Fest.  Mr. Goat's little sister is a freshman there so we are going to support her.  Luckily it is also Mr. Goat's hometown so we have ready made babysitters in Grandma and Grandpa Goat! 

* I've gotten into the habit of posting everyday but I'm wondering if people like it.  Comments seem down lately.  While those aren't a marker of whether or not I like what is being said I do hope I'm not driving people away with my drivel.  Of course it could be the holiday.  Still if you like the increased posting let me know.

* Baby goat had his 9 month doctors appointment today.  He's looking great and is growing!  His stats:

Weight: 24 lbs 2 oz - 95% percentile

Length: 28 3/4 inches - 70% percentile

Head: 18 3/4 inches - 95% percentile

* It seems strange to me that he is not so big compared to others.  It was just three months ago that we were still fortifying my breastmilk to boost its calories.  He is truly not a preemie anymore.

* He also got his second H1N1 shot today!  So at least one of the family is protected and his protection should be almost fully developed by the time we fly at the end of the month.  Whew - that is one big sigh of relief for me.  Now if it just opened up for the rest of the public so Mr. Goat and I can get them too!

* Guess who is almost done with her Christmas shopping - ME!  I need a daycare gift and a first Christmas ornament for baby goat and then I am DONE!  Woot!  (Sorry to brag I just am never on top of this).

* In the complete opposite vein however I haven't even thought about our Christmas Cards - and seeing how I have birth announcements that I never sent out those may be them with a little added note about the last 5 months since they were done.  Oops.  Mommy FAIL.

* I love the high prevalence of minty chocolately items present during the Holiday season.  Yum.  I just indulged in a Hershey mini special dark with mint.  Double Yum.

* That being said I really miss our gym membership these days.  We had to give it up for finances but I have struggled to get into any sort of workout with out it.  We technically have a small gym in the building over for our use but somehow it was always easier to drive to the gym than to walk next door.  It's frustrating but ultimately I'm going to have to make the time and effort to do it. 

* Back to the Choral music - Magnum Chorum, the choir that Mr. Goat sings in has two concerts in December.  They are going to be awesome as always.  Head over to their website for details and think about coming and saying hi!  I think I'll likely be there for the Sunday Concert!

* FINALLY - we've reached our contest.  Magnum Chorum recently came out with an amazing new CD which Mr. Goat sings on and I have a CD for one reader here!  Here are the CD details:

Love Divine       Presents Magnum Chorum live in concert from its debut season with music director, Christopher Aspaas. This lively and evocative collection includes The Exaltation of Christ by Charles Forsberg, Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre. Like as the Hart by Herbert Howells, and Rene Clausen's Set Me as a Seal and In Pace. Lovely performances of Praise to the Lord, Elizabeth Poston’s Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree, and Requiem by Eliza Gilkyson are included, along with two works by emerging composers: Lost in the Night by Kyle Haugen and the premiere of Stanford Scriven’s This is the Day.

This CD is awesome!  It was our soundtrack for the Thanksgiving trip to WI and baby goat was a big fan.  It would make a great Christmas present if choral music isn't up your alley but I would like to give one to a reader so they can see for themselves!
 
So how you enter:  Leave a comment here for one entry.  If you follow me leave another comment saying as much.  The contest ends on Monday, December 7th at 11:59pm.
 
* Thanks for following me through NaBloPoMo.  This blog is fun for me and it makes be happy to know that others enjoy it as well.
 
*I should say that Mr. Goat and I bought this CD and was not given to us for the blog, nor were we asked to review it.  I just enjoy choral music, blogging and you guys!

The Giveaway is now closed.