screwed welcomes (stacey)!

*tentatively* hi.

it's a wee bit late for me to screw Stacey hello...

?

i think yer dreamin' deary!

were you feeling a change in the overall humidity?!?!

I don't know about overall, but I have had the occasion to notice a rise in it in localized spots...

btw, to whom was your question addressed, Stacey?

now that I consider the question, sense could be made in both directions, no? *grin*

don't know as you could call it sense, however it does stir the emotions... *wink*

(stirring, stirring)

thanks, I needed this... how may I be reciprocal?

are you still on your hands and knees?

ungph-huh

sounds as if you already have somthing in your mouth...

uh-uhh

Well that has to be the longest single stimulation on record!!! O K Guy, you can come up for air anytime now. After all, It's been nearly 3 months!!!

actually, it's been in the neighborhood of eighteen months...

O K If you say so. Don't mind me. I was counting from the last posting.

count what you want to...

It beats counting sheep!!

You are also an insomniac??

Actually I'm not, or maybe I am. I seldom sleep more than two or three hours a night. Because of this I have a lot of friends that are. We call each other at odd hours just for the hell of it.

Then you ARE an insomniac, silly! I'd give you my phone number, but if you were to ring very quietly at odd hours, or I'd be reported to the Swiss foreigner police...

The Swiss foreigner police? Sounds like the GESTAPO. If I were to call you at odd hours here, It would be during the day over there. Might be interesting.

I think of them as the THOUGHT POLICE. I might call you, but I'd hate to think you'd be nervous if I did...

I don't think I'd be nervous, Riette. We talk every day,(almost) electronically, anyway. You mean to tell me that Switzerland actually has foreigner police? I thought you were joking. Oh well, the US has it's SS. I guess maybe it"s not too far fetched.

And how! They're a bunch of racist buggers over here. When I was six months pregnant with Isa, they issued me with a notice to leave the country within 24 hours, even though I had been married for 2 months by then. Didn't know WHAT had hit me; they explained it like this when I got on the phone: in order for me to be granted permission to stay here, my husband had to bring me INTO the country first (????!!!). For that I had to go OUT, of course, and wait for an official invitation from them, the 'Fr mdenpolizei' - which would take anything up to 6 months. Imagine! So I got myself a lawyer, who immediately said she knew exactly what it was all about, and please could I give her a photo of myself. Scarcely 3 hours later, the Fremdenpolizei rang me saying that everything was alright, I could stay. Again I didn't know what had hit me, so I phoned the lawyer. Turns out, she went to them, proved to them that although I came from Africa, I was European featured - and that solved the whole problem. I found it unbelievable, and wrote an article about it, which my husband got published in the Tagesanzeiger; they've been trying to get rid of me ever since. I just wish they'd throw me out! It's so absurd having difficulty to stay in a country you don't even like!

Unbelievable, Riette! Well, do they really monitor incoming phone calls? I would not want to get you into trouble with the police.

I don't think so. I don't care anyway. They CAN'T throw me out really - and so their pestering doesn't really bother me; is it my problem if they want to get themselves worked up over something THEY started?? No way! But if you phone me, you'd have to make sure you say all sorts of dubious things just in case they ARE monitoring - I'd LOVE to annoy them like that!

That is a very dangerous game, Riette. Suppose I made some reference to a bomb. Someone blows something up. Even 2or3 years from now, we would be prime suspects

Stacey, they caught the Texas Seven right in your backyard? The Coloradans even gave the last two a hospitality suite and 5 minutes of fame.

But, you will not let them get away, I trust - either one of you!

Stacey's in hibernation I think, she's asleep in a Colorado Cave somewhere, maybe we'll see her on the next Survivor? She should audition for this show! She's a tough little cookie.

Just very busy with Kendall ... now aged 4 weeks and looking bootiful

That's great news.

and still very busy with Kendall, now aged 18 moonths and still 'bootiful' but also ready to pop with #2 in about four weeks now... I think I could aim for Autumn's bday (in Nov, right?), Zoe's b-day or Paul's anniversary. I will NOT make it until Thanksgiving however! *smiles*

*Laugh* If I can recall correctly, babies have their own time zone and usually at the least convenient time is what is chosen for their grand entry. We'll be pushing with you! (I'd say pulling, but I suspect pushing might be more useful.) Keep us posted!

November 18th then, it's settled.

I rather think Nov. 2 would be preferable! Not only would he/she share my birthday, but also that of two US presidents! (Polk & Harding, for you overachievers)

Would Dec 2nd work, that's my birthday. Common, stretch it a little!

Anytime after Halloween and before Thanksgiving is a possibility HOWEVER, I am inclined toward Autumn's b-day... just for the sheer pleasure of beginning to shed the extra 23 pounds hanging out on my body! As far as help pushing (pulling)... thanks Marcia! Actually pushing is the EASY part IMHO... Kendall took all of three pushes... 11 minutes worth! It was the four days of prodromal labor and 17 hours of post induction labor that really wore me out!

And Paul... no offense but December 2nd will most definitely NOT work... I don't wanna be pregnant that long! *grin*

Did Stacey have that little one yet????!!!!

We're waiting for Stacey's reappearance for an update.

That sounds like baby is occupying her time. That is a good sign. I am certain with the holidays she has her hands full.

Well, Ri wanted to cook a bit longer and missed Autumn's b-day but he couldn't quite wait until Paul's anniversary and came, of his own volition, on November 16th! Ahh... the update is... two kids keep me VERY busy! Kendall turned two just over a week ago. She's a riot! She talks a blue streak, sleeps in a 'big girl bed' now and the two of them share a room. Ri is laughing and rolling and babbling, a very happy kid since we've gotten his reflux under control! I turn the big 3-0 tomorrow. Yes, I am but a baby with two babies of my own! Make that three... Brandon's pretty needy too *grin* All is right with the world, now that Spring has sprung. Hugs and smiles all around!

Congrats on the big 30.

Happy birthday, Stacey! When I turned 30, my girls were 4.5 and 2.5...I thought I was so young to be so tied down! Now I'm 37, the girls are so self sufficient, and I finally feel like I have my life back--and I'm still so young! It's all good, enjoy!

Happy belated good wishes for all those who had great events in their lives. Wait'll your child passes his 30th Birthday... !!!

Ha-ha! Can't even fathom that right now, Marcia!!

Thanks guys for the happy birthday wishes... As far as the actual celebrations go... I wish I were 10 again! *grin* And thanks Autumn for the possibly inadvertant pep talk. I do feel so young to be so 'tied down' and I feel the obligatory pangs of guilt every time I even think that! Just the talk of how big your kids are now and how self-sufficient they've become makes me feel better and also appreciative of these years when they need/want me around! *sigh* And seven years ago, back when you were 30, I was already a spring poster albeit via telnet exclusively! Seems both like the blink of an eye and an eternity!

Congratulations again Stacey.

That's exactly what raising little kids is--a blink of an eye AND an eternity! But, like all tunnels, there's a light at the end. Right now it's looking very bright for me! Enjoy this time with your little ones, and unless you're going to prolong child rearing over many years (I have a friend with 10 kids, ages 22 to 18 months), you should still look and feel pretty good when they don't need you so much anymore.

Tied down is what we all felt from time to time (as well as the guilt.) Not to worry, Stacey. It is perfectly normal! Well, if not perfectly, it is Normal, anyway! It happens so fast looking back. Going through it, it often drags. If I may add a bit of encouragement, my life did not get really exciting until my son was over 30! Now, it is fantastic!

Happy Belated Birthday Stacey!!! yeah, the guilt about wanting time to yourself, that's what i go through! (mine are 13 and 10 now)...

Thanks again everyone for the camraderie in the department of child-rearing vs. self-rearing. Ri has changed so much in the last month that I am really feeling much more 'capable' as a parent. He is crawling now and quite the rough and tumble kiddo. Very much different from his big sister! We are more mobile, I feel less 'encumbered' and less guilty (at times) for admitting I ever felt those tied down feelings you've all expressed. And, just hearing how big Autumn and Wolfie's kids have gotten actually makes me want to hold on a little tighter to today! *grin*

Hug the little ones NOW!!! Looking back, their little-kid times are so brief and precious!

Will do Marcia! *grin*