7 Quick Takes Friday - April 26, 2013

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This is my first Quick Takes in over a month. Oops. I'm going to chalk it up to busy Fridays combined with pregnancy fatigue.

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I'm 16w3d today, but the pregnancy fatigue and occasional nausea is still hanging on. I haven't felt the need to take a (generic) Zofran in a few weeks, so that's something.

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A local pro-life pregnancy center asked for pregnant volunteers on Facebook -- they needed to train their new u/s technician in 3-D ultrasounds. I volunteered and went there on Wednesday -- and promptly lost the pictures later that night. *facepalm* I think they fell out of my purse when I was at the grocery store. Despite two trips there to retrace my steps, and talking to Customer Service, they haven't turned up. I can't figure out what happened to them. So, all I have is this picture-of-a-picture that I texted to Collin:

He or she looked perfect! His/her heartrate was 152bpm, exactly was it was during my OB appointment yesterday. And we scheduled our official anatomy ultrasound for May 17, so I'll get more pictures then. (We aren't finding out the sex of the baby until birth, regardless, by the way.)

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These are super fast quick takes because I need to get some stuff ready for our camping trip this weekend. Collin's dad is leaving for North Dakota next week, so this is our last chance to spend some time with him. We're going to Roosevelt Lake again, our favorite place to camp. Should be fun but, oh my, I have a lot to do before we leave this afternoon! (And I'm working from home today, so I have to get the bulk if it done during my lunch break.)

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Who needs a jack-in-the-box when you have a Violet-in-the-box??

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I borrowed all my newborn-sized clothes to the friend-of-a-friend last summer, and I got them all back today! Hooray! Looking at all those tiny clothes makes me so anxious for October.

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Kara's Disney-themed giveaway to benefit her adoption of "Colton" is still going strong! Check it out!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Colton's Happiest Place Giveaway!

Have you seen Kara's amazing Disney-themed giveaway to help bring sweet Colton home?? Check out the prizes!

You can enter by making a donation (tax-deductible), and/or by sharing the giveaway via social media. Check it out, and spread the word!

Vent of the Day

William had a well-child doctor's visit about two weeks ago and got up-to-date on his vaccinations.

Collin requested a copy of William's vaccination record so we could include it with his kindergarten paperwork. The lady at the office said she'd mail it to us.

Fast forward to yesterday, and we still hadn't received it. I called this morning and left a message with the doctor's assistant, asking when it had been mailed. I received a return call earlier this afternoon. The lady I spoke to said, "I hadn't actually mailed it yet, because I wasn't aware it was a priority, but it's in the mail now!"

I simply thanked her and hung up, but more because I was too shocked to say what I was really thinking. Which was, honestly, something along these lines: 

Getting my son's medical record is certainly a priority to me, regardless of the reason I need it! What on earth made her think this wasn't a priority, and why was that her decision to make? Exactly when was she planning to send it out -- a month? Two months? Half a year? When would it become a "priority"?

I'm pretty sure Collin mentioned, when he requested the record, that we needed it for William's kindergarten paperwork. Perhaps my son getting registered for kindergarten isn't a priority to her, but it certainly is to me.

I'm just... argh.

If I decided on my own that a customer's need for information was low priority, without actually consulting the customer, I'd probably get reprimanded or fired. Who does this?

At least ask my husband, "Is it okay if I send this out in a few weeks? We're pretty swamped right now." Because then he could have replied, "Could I just take a copy with me? We really want to get our son's kindergarten paperwork in as soon as possible."

And no, I don't know why they have to mail a copy instead of just getting one at the appointment.

Catholic Stand post

FYI, I wrote a longer (and slightly less snarky) version of Tuesday's post for Catholic Stand. Thank you all for the kind wishes and congratulations! They are very much appreciated!

Happy Easter, Happy News

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!

Our holiday was extra special this year, because we shared the joyful news with our families that our fifth child is due to arrive somewhere around October 8!

Here is a sneak peek at Tiebreaker (our pet name for #5), from my ultrasound at 7w6d:

Thankfully, s/he had a strong heartbeat. We had a scare early on in my pregnancy caused by five days of red bleeding and clots. I had three blood tests to check my HCG levels (all doubled nicely), and then this ultrasound. Yesterday, at 12w6d, Collin and I were able to hear the baby's heartbeat via Doppler for the first time (153 bpm).

The news was received by our families with much surprise and some concern, so I've compiled a brief FAQ to answer many of the questions we've already been asked (and some I expect have been asked behind our backs).

Q: Five kids? Are you crazy??

A: Yes!

Q: Where will you put them all?

A: In bedrooms, with bunk beds eventually. If necessary we can also pitch tents in the backyard. Arizona's climate makes that a viable option.

Q: Was this planned?

A: When that becomes your business, I'll let you know.

Q: Don't you know what causes that?!

A: Yes, and we're very good at it.

Q: Are you trying to overpopulate the Earth?

A: No, just outnumber the idiots.

Q: Haven't you ever heard of contraception?

A: Of course we have. We simply choose not to use it. We've very pro-choice in that regard.

Q: You're done after this one, right?

A: We figure we'll stop once we get an ugly kid. Hasn't happened yet.

Q: Are you going to get fixed?/Is Collin going to get fixed?

A: No; neither of us are broken. In fact, our reproductive systems work perfectly!

Q: How are you going to afford five kids?

A: We plan to write a best-selling book in which we demonstrate how to deflect rude questions from nosy people. We've had a lot of experience so far.

Any other questions? Please feel free to ask! I can't guarantee you'll get the answer you want, though. :)