Eviction Papers

Waiting for the dr at the 39 week appointment.

Yes, I really am this amazing looking.

Eric, waiting oh so paitiently.

37 weeks

Well, here we are.  Week 40.  The end-all be all of pregnancy. Unless you go long.  We're going long. Luckily, we're only going a few days. 

Today, Dr Lady informed us we're still measuring big, as in currently at 42weeks (I say we- that's me, Lil Squid Dude, and Husband Dearest), and that, despite all of our best efforts to dialte and efface, we got nothin'.  Dilation maybe at 2cm., and effacement is the Berlin wall. Effing A. Even that thing got taken down.

Then, she asked the magic words:

How do you feel about induction?

I didn't really have an answer.  I desperately want a thru-the-hoo-ha delivery, and prefer to go no drugs.  However, if the squid is growing at the rapidly expanding rate that he is, my little fatty will be too big to squeeze through these hips of mine.  Thus, induction is our best chance.  Inducing is scary though.  The rates of c-sections do increase.  But having a 9lb baby would also increase the odds of a tummy delivery.  We're gonna take our chances.  Dr Lady feels confident.  We'll go with that.

I have an eviction notice now issued for our Lil Squid. Papers to be served Sunday 8 PM. He can leave on his own anytime he wants.  However, Monday armed guards will be removing him from the premises.  My grandma swears Full Moon means baby deliveries. Look at what I found today:

Full Moon Phase:  2010 Jul 26 01:38 Mon

Either way, I'm gonna be a mom soon.

Weird.

Professional photos courtesy Monika Herbert at MONPhotography.com

All the Pregnant Ladies

Watch and enjoy.

23 Miles Straight Down

Either this guy is the biggest idiot ever (120,000 FEET!!!?? that's like, 23 MILES), or has the biggest balls on the face of the planet (or edge of outerspace). Here's a picture of the guy. Yes, he's kinda hot.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/skydiverplansrecordbreakingsupersonicspacejump/print

Skydiver Plans Record-Breaking Supersonic Space Jump



Zoe Macintosh





A skydiver is making progress with plans to leap from near the edge of space in a dive that would break world records and the sound barrier.






Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner is a step closer to attempting the feat after a series of recent high-altitude test jumps. He plans to make his ambitious jump attempt later this year.






Starting in the stratosphere at 120,000 feet above the ground, Baumgartner will leap from a capsule suspended by a helium balloon near the boundary of space.






Sponsored by the energy drink company Red Bull, Baumgartner's mission — called Red Bull Stratos — seeks to extend the "safety zone" of human atmospheric bailout last set in 1960 by diver Joe Kittinger. This limit defines the uppermost altitude a human being can safely jump from.






"Right now, the space shuttle escape system is certified to 100,000 feet," said the mission's medical director Jonathan Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon. "Why is that? Because Joe Kittinger went there. You've got a lot of companies that are vying for the role of being the commercial space transport provider for tourism, for upper atmospheric science, and so on. These systems, particularly during the test and development phase, need a potential escape system, which we may be able to help them provide with the knowledge we gain." [Graphic: Earth's Atmosphere From Top to Bottom]






Taking the leap






A team of aeronautics experts recently led Baumgartner through a week of testing meant to illuminate any possible weaknesses in his equipment and to familiarize him with the skills needed to navigate the conditions expected to assail him as soon as he opens his vessel door.






Only a few feet above ground in a capsule dangling from a crane on Sage Cheshire Aerospace test grounds in California, Baumgartner practiced exiting and stepping off his hot-air balloon. Even a slight stumble during this step could cause dangerous alterations in his in-flight position only moments later, as well as reduce his chances of actually breaking the sound barrier.






"The team anticipated that the capsule would tip forward when Felix moved his approximately 270-pound self from the seated center position of the capsule to the step-off platform on the edge of the capsule," Red Bull Stratos Aerial Strategist and Skydiving Consultant Luke Aikins told SPACE.com. "What the exercise demonstrated was that the capsule moved only about a foot, which tells us that we don't have to worry about the capsule swinging back violently when Felix steps off."






Baumgartner proceeded to practice his step-off technique from higher up by doing bungee jumps while wearing a pressurized spacesuit and helmet. At 200 feet above ground in an abandoned fairground, the setting was a far cry from a high-altitude jump, but mimicked the sensation of trying to achieve the necessary forward rotation, said mission technical director Art Thompson. After a few leaps, one team member described Baumgartner's performance as "perfect."






"We still have an unknown, which is what happens to my body when I break the speed of sound, but at least we're going to know that I'm able to handle the step-off," Baumgartner said.






Improved equipment






Lastly, the pilot passed several high altitude test dives at 26,000 feet over the desert in Perris, California. Thanks to a new chest pack aligned to one side of his body, Baumgartner exhibited a harmonious passage compared to previous trials a year earlier.






The previous chest pack had jammed his helmet, blocked his vision and constrained his movement during descent and the critical landing.






During the recent tests, body positions and suit deflation went well enough that the team accomplished all of its objectives.






Dive to death






No simple showman, Baumgartner wondered if the dangerous pioneering mission would mean his own death.






"My biggest concern is that dangerous part of the project which we just haven't thought of," Baumgartner said in a statement. "We try to think of every contingency, but there's always going to be something that you would never imagine could happen. And that might kill you."






The possibility has proved daunting enough to impact his decision to invite his own mother to watch the dive.






"If everything is successful, I would love to have her on site, because the first person that I would want to talk with is my mom, of course," he said. "But if something goes wrong, I definitely don't want my mum on site, because I don't want her to witness a fatality. So I still haven't made up my mind."






According to a press officer for Red Bull, the actual experiment will take place somewhere in North America in 2010. Along with a range of experts and test pilots, mentor and former record-setter Joe Kittinger will also be present.

 
So, homeboy's estimated freefall time will be just over 5 min, 30 seconds. I google's some pictures of Joe Kittinger's jumps, and well, it just looks like a bad idea.
 

Come Swim In My Meet!!!!!!

2nd Annual YMCA of Greater Kansas City


Masters Summer Sizzler

Vivion Road Family YMCA

Kansas City, Missouri

Saturday, July 17, 2010

HOSTED BY: Vivion Road Family YMCA and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City

LOCATION: Outdoor pool area at Vivion Road Family YMCA

FACILITY: POOL Outdoor 50 meter by 25-yard pool, offering 6 lanes

of long course competition and 2 lanes of warm-ups.

TIMING Manual stop watch timing and back up will be used.

RULES: 2010 United States Masters Swimming rules will govern the meet.

OFFICIALS: Meet Directors: Sara Garrett and Courtney Staton

WARM-UP AND

START TIMES: Saturday morning warm-ups at 7:00am with competition beginning at 8:10

am. Two lanes of 50 LCM pool will be available for warm-ups immediately

before and after each event. Indoor pool will not be available to meet

participants. All times are Central Standard Time.

SAFETY: In the interest of safety and accident prevention, spectators, coaches and

swimmers are asked to observe all posted pool rules and to conduct

themselves in a safe manner.

ELIGIBILITY: Swimmers are not required to be registered with USMS or YUSA

Swimming. This is an open, non-sanctioned event.

ENTRIES: Swimmers may enter up to six individual events. Please note, events may

be run back to back. Breaks will be given between events if time is

available. Bring volunteer, receive 20% off. Volunteer must be available at

warm ups and stay through entire meet.

ENTRY FEES: YMCA Members: $20 up to four events. $5.00 charge for each additional

event up to six events. Community Members: $30 up to four events.

$5.00 charge for each additional event up to six events.

Make checks payable to: YMCA of Greater Kansas City and mail with

entry packet.

ENTRY LIMIT: Swimmers may enter a maximum of 6 events.

DECK ENTRIES: Deck entries will be accepted at the discretion of the meet directors at an

additional $5.00 charge. Deck entries will not be seeded with an entry

time. Deck entries will be seeded as “NT”.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Pre-registration is due by Wednesday, July 7, 2010 for discounted shirt

offer. Entry forms, release waiver and entry fees are due to meet director

by Monday, July 12, 2010 at 11:00 pm. All entries received after this

deadline will be deemed “Deck Entry” and may be entered with “NT” for an

additional charge.

EVENT SHIRTS: Cost of event shirts is $6.00 with pre-registration. If registered after July 7,

2010, cost of shirt is $12.00. An order form is included with entry sheet.

MAIL ENTRIES TO: Email entries to saragarrett@kansascityymca.org

Mail to:

Vivion Road Family YMCA

ATTN: Sara Garrett, Meet Director

1101 NE 47th Street

Kansas City, MO 64116

816.453.6600

SEEDING: All events are timed finals and will be seeded according to all applicable

YUSA Swimming rules. Seed times will be times entered on the entry

form. Entries with no time (NT) will be seeded by random draw.

Notification of scratches will be appreciated in case lanes are needed for

late entries.

Events will be swam co-ed and mixed age groups for purpose of seeding.

Awards will be given based on gender and age group.

The 800 Free, 400 IM and 400 Free will be seeded fast to slow and

combined if necessary to expedite the meet. We reserve the right to limit

any event as necessary due to the session limitations. The courses and

events will be split or combined at the discretion of the meet referee in the

interest of running the most efficient meet.

Times entered shall be in Long Course Meters. If no LCM time available,

please refer to:

http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/results/conversions.asp

SCRATCHES: All scratches should be submitted to the timing table as soon as possible

to provide lanes for possible late entries.

AWARDS: Awards will be given to top three finishers in each age group

category for both genders. Age groups are as follows: 18-29, 30-39,

40-49, 50-59, 60 +. Awards ceremony will take place at TBA.

SCORING: There will be no team scoring.

SWIMMERS

MEETING: A swimmers meeting will be held at 8:00am prior to the start of the

meet.

CONCESSIONS: There will be a concession area provided in the spectator area. Heat

sheets and t-shirts will also be for sale in this area.

Order of Events

1 400m Indiv. Medley                          8 100m Freestyle

2 200m Freestyle                                  9 100m Backstroke

3 100m Breastroke                             10 50m Butterfly

4 50m Backstroke                              11 200m Indiv. Medley

5 100m Butterfly                                 12 50m Freestyle

6 400m Freestyle                                13 800m Freestyle

7 50m Breastroke

Crown of Favor

I don't often speak of my views on religion, because, honestly, I'm not sure what they are. I know I believe in God, and I pray every night when I fall asleep. I usually ask for strength in regards to whatever troubles I have, pray for my friends and family whose troubles out number mine, and always thank Him for the wonderful things, blessings, in my life.

My mother was raised in the strict Catholic family, which to some extenct, back fired on here. My father's background is Christian based, but really, that's about all I know. I was left somewhere in the middle.

I haven't attended a church service or mass in years, minus weddings and funerals. Usually, when I see someone preaching on television, I become annoyed. There's been one televangilist whom particulary irritates me. I have been so turned off by his appearance and mannerisims, I would always scoff and change the channel.

Not long ago, I turned on the TV and walked away, listening to the backgrounds. The minister, Joel Osteen, carried on. I don't know if it's coincidence I'm up early on Sunday mornings, or if I've started doing it on purpose, but I've started to catch many of his sermons.

Today, the message is on daring to call yourself what you are, before it happens. Osteen is discussing how a person needs to act like the person they want to be, even if they haven't achieved it yet. There's much talk of a Crown of Favor. Something that God has given all of us. We're already in His favor, we don't need to sit around waiting for favor to fall upon us.

And why should we?

If I want to be succesful in a career, I have to tell myself *I AM* successful. Not I will be. Afterall, what's the difference in the am and will? Only the space in your mind.  Osteen discusses those with addictions- some day, wishing, hoping, praying to be free. Instead, these people need to say to themselves, I AM free of my addicition. I have overcome.

Even if they haven't.

Even when it's a struggle. You're beat up, down trodden, and feeling low. You hope to have blessings in your life. You ask God for His favor. You think some day things will change. God has already made the change, He has presented you in His favor, now it's time for you to accept them. Claim the changes. Claim the blessings. Your name is already on it, come and get it.

It's the difference of One Day to I Am.

What Crown of Favor will you wear today? What can you do right now to make yourself in a better light? Instead of sitting around today telling myself "I'm going to be fit, I'm going to be beautiful, I'm going to be wealthy," I can tell myself that I AM all of these things.

It's the power of believing.

What can you believe? What can you be?

ELF Says It Best

Like so many of my brain dead moments, instead of coming up with my own material, I'm choosing to plagiarize.

"Shortly thereafter I broke down in tears. I know I need to just last it out a little bit longer and I know that I’M ALMOST THERE. But I’ve got to be honest with you. This is one of the hardest things I have ever done. And I’m not even at the hard part yet! I felt weak for crying but at the same time, it’s kind of like in Ironman training when you find yourself stopped in your long run, 30 minutes away from the end, crying because you’re hurting, because it’s hot, because you know, dammit, that there will be no more relief for another 30 minutes because there is still work to be done. You know you’re going to get back out there, finish up the last 30 minutes and suffer because that’s who you are. You don’t give up. And when you’re pregnant, giving up is not even a choice.






There is no DNF.






Like in training, you’ve got to let yourself hit rock bottom, bounce back and prove to yourself, ok I can do this. I can last it out a little longer, I can push a human out of me, I can take care of that human for life. And the scary thing is that if I can do all of that I know…I can do anything."

To read the full entry, click here for Liz's blog.


Heading to 38 week check up or whatever the feck week it is now.

Sprinkling labor dust to Schwartzie, who's due today. Read about her here.

For the Fun of It

I've started to check up on SlowTwitch.com again. I am living vicariously through those racing and training this season, plus it's always a great read when the Tour is in action.

Today, it got me to thinking about upcoming races, events, etc. I know I've talked about this previously, but, I decided I want to outline a post-preggo schedule.  This is in my head what *could* happen, but has no bearing on what may be in reality.

October 17, 2010 KC Half Marathon http://www.waddellandreedkansascitymarathon.org/
April 2, 2011 Rock The Parkway Half Marathon or 10k http://www.rocktheparkway.com/
April 22, 2011 NANBF Liberty Figure http://www.naturalbuildfitness.com/
April 31, 2011 ABA KC Championships: Figure and Bikini or Sports Model http://www.kcbodybuildingonline.com/html/kc_championships.html
May 22, 2011 Kansas City Triathlon Sprint http://kansascitytriathlon.com/
June 12, 2011 Kansas 70.3 Relay http://ironmankansas.com/ (Right, Melissa???)
July 30, 2011 Win for KC Tri Sprint http://www.winforkctri.org/
September 10, 2011 OMC Women's Tri Sprint http://jcprd.com/special_events/omc_triathlon.cfm
October 16, 2011 KC Half Marathon http://www.waddellandreedkansascitymarathon.org/

Crunch Time- 17 days to go

Right now I'm feeling a lot of pressure. Both internally and externally. There's two types of internal pressure: The mygutisgoingtoburstandababyisgoingtoshootoutorImightpoopeverywhere pressure, and the GottaGetItDone running laps in my head. Luckily, everything at home is well taken care of.  It always makes me think of the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas when I start to mentally list off what's done.

'Twas the weeks before birthing, when all through the house
Not an animal was stirring, not even my gigantic dog;
The crib sheets were folded, the Halo Sacks washed,
In hopes that Lil' Dude soon would hurry the eff up and get here.

I know, I know. Poet I am not.

However, at work, I feel like I'm struggling to get a head. Budgets and revenue and all that mambojambo is fine. I have great staff that has helped to set up up for a terrific year. We're well ahead of the curve (and most of my peers, thank you very much, not that it's a competition or anything okay okay, everything's a competition) and things should be running smoothly whenever I leave (Now!? ugh, nope not yet). But I still have these little projects- Testing Recertifications and Parents Handbook for the association- that I have to accomplish. Technically this stuff isn't due until the end of August, but I'm definitely going to be unpregnant and sorta busy by then.

Side story: One of my water fitness instructors keeps telling me I'm going to be late. That's fine, but she says I'll be late like her. As in, she swears she was 6 to 8 weeks late with all three of her children. Grant it, she's a little older and kind of senile, but there's no effing way she went 8 weeks overdue. And she swears she knows when she got pregnant: She says the morning after she "did the nasty" (her term, not mine) she woke up throwing up and knew she was pregnant. Okay, so add bat shit crazy to the list of things she is... along with being the lady that stands naked between the double mirrors at the sink in the locker room shudder. This woman also attended BURNING MAN last year. She's 70 something.

Anyway, I'm scrambling to get these months long projects done, and do the day to day things things sometimes take days (I waited for a pool inspector for 6 hours yesterday. That was 6 hours I spent basically twiddling my thumbs instead of getting my normal duties done, which I now get to do today). Something's gotta give somewhere. I once heard the analogy that directors are professional plate spinner's, trying to see how many plates we can have going at once, and eventually, hope the one's that we drop aren't the big ones. I think that's the most accurate description of my job. Not that it's a bad thing, per se, but it makes life very entertaining to say the least.

 

If I can manage to keep the big plates from falling, we're doing okay. At least until I come back in October.

 

I keep telling husband that I wish Lil Dude would just come out.  But he had a valid point last night. "You should be enjoying the moments you have to yourself right now." I have much to learn, Obi Wan Kenobi, because that was so true. Luckily, he's giving me a lot of space to enjoy those moments- yesterday I came home, sat in the glider in the nursery and finished a little light reading (Actually it was pretty rough- Tina dropped off a copy of The Lovely Bones when she was down. It's amazing, but no easy summer read). Then he cooked a Delicious Bass aka Chicken Kabobs and spicy potatoes. After dinner, we set off separately with the dogs to try to encourage a little pelvic-engaging action. I had a woman in the neighborhood actually called out to me from her porch step that I should "Go home and sit down, before that baby falls out." Seriously, lady? I don't even know you.

 

That was the plan, though. Encourage Lil Dude to fall out.

 

Last night, before going to bed, husband asked "Are you going to go into labor tonight?" All I could say was I hope so. No such luck.

 

I did get up to pee five separate times though. I may be approaching a new record.

Yep.

Still pregnant.





Damnit.