Dreading Night Time

I used to be such a good sleeper. I could sleep for 12 hours non-stop with no problem. Lately, i have been dreading night time. Right now it is 3:30. I have been up since 2:00. My mind is ready to sleep. . . it is turned off, just waiting to be completely asleep. It is my body that won't let me. I am so sick of sleeping with four pillows (two under my head, one between my knees and one under my belly). I am sick of only having two sleeping positions- on my left side or on my right side. I am sick of turning over in bed and having to fling the covers off of me to get the pillows situated after i turn to my other side. I am sick of it taking so much energy to just flip over in bed.

But what i am REALLY tired of is the itching. I think i have four different rashes/skin conditions going on right now. I go to the doctors Tuesday and i was hoping i could make it till then. Ever since camping, i have heat rash under my arms and in my inner thigh. That is the easiest to find relief for. . . cortizone. On the top of my hands i have the itchiest little bumps. . . that have since moved from the tops of my hands to my wrists to my palms and then to the sides of my fingers. I cannot stand itchy palms. Caladryl (sp?) lotion works for a bit, but an ice pack works the best.

I won't go in to the different itching i have on my stomach, my boobs, or my elbows. The bathroom is filled with lotions that bring some relief for some, but don't touch the others.

A couple nights ago i took a Benedryl. I am allowed to during pregnancy, but i try to limit medication i put in my body. That night, i slept so well. I didn't wake up during the night with such intense itchiness. I wasn't conscious of rolling over repeatedly and having to adjust my pillows. The ice packs stayed in the freezer and the couch didn't get my usual middle of the night visit. It was wonderful. But i also didn't hear TJ get up or Jaelynne. I was OUT! I should have taken another one last night. . . it is too late now. I would ruin my whole Saturday by being in a sleepy trance. Although, it looks like i may be anyway. . . going on two hours now.

I should chop all my nails off, then maybe the itching won't be so satisfying as i am doing it but so horrible once i stop.

I don't know when the next night time will be when i sleep soundly. After pregnancy there won't be any relief, but i look forward to a year from now when i don't dread night time, but rather look forward to it.

Bye Summer!

Sunshine. Waves. Beaches. Sunscreen. Bug Spray. Leland. Leelanau Peninsula. Family. Sailing. Lake Michigan. Duck Lake. Pools. Sun Sets. Camping. Outhouse. Campfires. Fresh Air. Zoos. Polar Bears. Goats. Petting Farm. Penguins. Lions. Late Nights. Ice Cream. Pontoon Boat. Speed Boat. Crystal Lake. Orange Drink. Glucose Tests. Third Trimester. It's A Girl! Family Reunion. Play set. Parks. Slides. Swings. Shopping. Our Camper. Heat Rash. Heart burn. Afternoon Naps. Eating outside. Watering Plants. Food Poisoning. Green Toenails. Rocks. Purple Toenails. "Dampa." Pictures. Sand/water Table. Bubbles. Sprinklers. Buckets. Petosky Stone. Lake Charlevoix. Ball Tent. Trampoline. Sun-streaked Hair. Suntan. Balls. Ummi Zoomi. Walks in parks. Walks on the beach. Walks in the breeze. Wheelbarrow. Reading. Scrapbooking. Parade. Firetrucks. Pekidills. Picnics. Summer Rain. Sidewalk Chalk. Tank Tops. Air Conditioning. Stars. Swollen Ankles. Chrysalis. Spider Webs. Sunglasses. Airplanes. Jet. Sand Dunes. Frogs. Yellow Floaty. Smiles. Giggles. Excitement. Pure Joy. Friends. Car Naps. Driving. Miles. Black Flies. Horse Flies. Variety Pack Cereal. Nap Diapers. Potty Sticker. Skipping. Sandy Raisins. Wheels on the Bus. The Mixed-Up Chameleon. Hush. Petting Annie. Molars. Missed Naps. Birthday Gathering. Yummy Food. Missing Family. Sandals. Bathing Suits. Petunias. Baccopa. Potato Vines. Cherry Icee Drink. Apple Juice. Sleeping past 5:15. Michigan Rocking Chair. Pond. Talking to Frogs. Izzy. Ricky. Wagon Rides. Play Kitchen. Grilled Veggies.

Family Picnic

I don't get to see my mom's side of the family very often, so when i got an invitation to a family BBQ, i planned on going. It was great to see aunts, uncles and cousins. I haven't seen them in awhile. . . there were people i hadn't seen in over 10 years. The weather didn't start out the best, but the sun came up towards the end. We had to leave a little early because Jaely needed to get some sleep. As it was, she still didn't get to sleep before 9:30- two hours after her bed time. I am so glad we went though. Oh, and did i mention the cheesy potatoes, pasta a la caprese, texas sheet cake, ribs. . . .yum!
Jaelynne putting her beloved stick in Jered's pocket
Evelyn. . . my cousin's daughter who is about 6 months younger than Jaely.
Jaely stuck her beloved stick in the cone
Evelyn showing jaely her camera and jaely showing evelyn her stick

My mom's sisters and brother

They are hilarious!

Victor & Johnny

The girl cousins

The girl cousins and kids

Jaely loves being an airplane!

The whole group!

27 Weeks!

Pasta A La Caprese

I made this last week. I followed my mom's recipe that my brother framed for me after she passed away. So special. The recipe. The memories. The thought. My mom used to have me remove the seeds of the tomatoes under cold water. She said it hurt her hands too much. Now that i am 32, i understand what she meant. Although i wouldn't go so far as to say my hands hurt, they definitely weren't comfortable.
One of my favorite things about this dish is the leftovers. They might even be better than when you first make it. I also like that following the recipe doesn't give you my mom's pasta a la caprese. You had to make it with her to know that she used dry basil and jarred sweet peppers, instead of fresh. I used a little fresh basil this time and a little dried. I remember her trying to figure out how to keep the mozzarella from clumping together.
I would have loved to have her sitting across the table from me, TJ, and jaely and eat with us. I would have loved to chop the tomatoes for her while she minced the garlic. I would have loved for her to watch her granddaughter put her finger in the hole of the mostaccholli before eating it and giggling at this discovery.
The leftovers are gone. . . i think i need to make more.