nine digit cat

On Wednesday, we were getting ready to go to a cookout for a bbbbq (belated birthday bbq) and we were talking and I was chopping watermelon ... and I chopped to far.

The minute I did it, all I could think was "that was so stupid!" Then I spent the next 2 hours trying not to faint while a nurse and a doctor told me what I should do to care for my hand after they patched me back up. I am kind of thankful it was a sharp knife and I had some first aid training. So even though I was woozy, we got there with little blood and minimal drama. Though it was a bit worrisome when they sent me to x-ray. (did I mention it was a very sharp knife?)

Really it could have been much much worse. At the time if was just so not fun. Paul thinks this is the first emergency room trip of our marriage if you'll believe that. Tobo was scared and crying at first when I couldn't pick him up, but then he was alright when we got to Kaiser because he had a couple of little girls his age to play with. It is feeling better today than it has, and I hope to be done with the q-tip after Monday. I have no stitches so hopefully with a water proof band-aid Tobo and I can still be able to do swim class next Saturday.

This is the second hand injury the communications team has had since we started working on the redesign of OMF International (U.S.). We actually see this as a good sign, since we've also seen some amazing things happen to our benefit. So hopefully we can all stay healthy until the launch on Thursday. It's been some awesome work, and an honor to work with this team of folks.

carrots!

Yesterday was crazy busy for a sunday. I ended up having to give a little announcement about our up-coming Breakthrough event to all of the adult bible fellowships (sunday school in laymen's terms.) That on top of not a lot of sleep. Overall I think it went well. At least, no one threw their coffee at me, though the over 60's seniors were kind of grumpy that I interrupted just before they were going to pray. (understandable) Glad it's over, but at least now the word is out. Only two other churches to visit and I'm done (!) until next week. At least with talking with people. I still need to coordinate some t-shirts and some day do something about the business cards I'm suppose to be working on, but all in good time, right?

In tobo news, Carrots are a hit. I had little faith that they would go over any better than sweet potatoes, and then he was grabbing the spoon after he finished about a tablespoon. He likes them better than rice cereal. Lots of babbling, grabbing his toes and rolling over now. The teething has gotten better. We've had two nights where he didn't need anything to get to sleep at any time during the night. He's still chopping down on everything, but it's not as painful it seems these days. Still no signs of teeth.

Last night we tried the "Ignore after 4 for 4" routine with limited success. Limited because he did end up whimpering past 4 minutes, but after 1 oz of milk at 4 and another 2 oz of milk at 5, tobo was back to sleep until 7 am. And spent a lot of time happily playing with his feet. Am I setting myself up for a fall by giving him a big feeding at 4 that will come to get me later on? He seems to be completely driven by stomach when his teeth are not bothering him. Yesterday was also pretty busy, since he spent 9 to 12 in the nursery with only one melt down. (hungry again) We then went and looked at a house in a neighborhood we'd like to live in, but decided it was not worth looking at since we're not that serious about buying yet. The yard was 3000 ft with a house that was 1750 ft plus a two car garage built on top of it. Someone doesn't like to mow.

In Wii news, Paul got Mariokart which we played last night. That is insane. Insane I tell you. I gave up at 11p because it was way past our bed time.

Ok, on to the day and much to do.

EDIT: And tobo just put himself to sleep for a nap on the bed next to me as I've been writing this. Our little boy is growing up!

mirrors and things

Today Tobo discovered mirrors. In that they are interesting to look at. I found him a) yelling at b)smiling at and finally c)sticking out his tongue at the mirror on the gym. He noticed immediately as soon as I took out the camera, so I wasn't able to get it on film. Too bad. Very cute. :) He's also started "scooting" around when on his back, so he'll be several inches away from where you put him if he finds something interesting to investigate. He keeps moving closer to textured plastic things, so we seem to be on the brink of finding out that _toys_are_fun!_. The dum is still his favorite thing to play with. ("I've dropped my dum! A game the whole family to play!")

Today was also our first extended outing-- out of the house for a decent amount of time. We were at OMF for a seminar on partnership development. This meant that mom got her first experience of nursing Tobo away from home multiple times. Okay, there were some nice halfway touches (separate nursing room/I brought my nursing pillow) so it wasn't like roughing it at the mall or anything, but I was glad for the practice. Tobo did great.

The conference went well, even though I was pretty low on sleep from a night of 2 hour wake ups. The AC went out about halfway through the day and today it was 80 degrees here in the shade, so we were a little toasty in the conference room. Paul ended up taking Tobo for a walk to cooler regions of the office while I stayed on to take notes. In the morning, Tobo wet through one outfit and then had a blow out (also referred to as a "Mo" in our family) on the way home in the afternoon when we stopped to get gas. The AC has also gone out on the Taurus as well, so I was quite glad that home was only 5 minutes away. I got him home around 4:30p, plopped him on the changing table only to find the diapers were all in the dryer and all the changing gear was out in the diaper bag in the front room. I had just stripped him completely naked too. Foo. So, I finally used the straps on the changing pad, ran out to grabbed the bag, grabbed a diaper and came back to tell him, "naked is good." :) The good news is that he was not even remotely overheated the way I felt (actually he was closer to being a bit chilly) though he was happy to be out of the messy clothing. All's well that ends well.

Once Paul came home, and after the usual evening feeding, I fell into bed around 7:30p and slept solid for 2 hours. It's now around 11:30p, Tobo has been up 3 times for various things but I feel so much better for sleep I can't even tell you. Goodnight from CO.

bye bye pump

Tobo is doing much better this morning. Just a little sore around the shot sites. I forgot to mention that he was giving the nurse a run for her money, his legs were so strong she was having a hard time holding on to him. (that's my boy!) He also passed all the little developmental road signs that mean he's turning into a little boy. next check up in 2 months.

It feels like its the end of a chapter. Not only did Tobo just do his 2 month check up, but today I packed up the breast pump. It's been nice to have it as a back up, especially in expressing enough milk to have in the freezer as a bit of a bank, but I'm not using it as much as I once did so I guess I'm really saying 'goodbye crutch.' We're going to try going without it and see how it goes. It's possible to rent these for a week at a time if necessary, and if we need to for whatever reason, we'll get it again. Goodbye security blanket. It means we're committed to working out breast feeding outside the house. I've been invited to check out the La Leche League with a friend, which I might do now to get tips and pointers. So here's to winging it!

Paul and I were challenged on Monday to get back to paying attention to our partnership development. (Which is why we set up accountability meetings with a good friend to keep us on track!) So, I'm hoping to turn this blog a bit more towards topics other than tobo in the future. I'll keep updating on him, but I also hope to tell you what I do with the rest of my time. So here's what else is going on:

The big time suck has been emergency projects for ACME. We had the annual report due as well as Global Chinese Missions and now Prayer Powerlines has snuck back on my plate when I wasn't looking. What me and the team in the office are trying to find is the balance between what time I have and what time they need. I was able to work on some of this because I worked last Saturday for a few hours. I'm putting in about 10 hours a week towards design projects, usually in the morning during Tobo's first nap. He's in the swing behind me now as I work at the dining table on my laptop. Ideally, I'd like to have more than a day or two before getting an assignment, because I have to plan for time to work with Paul, but these were delayed by the clients not the comms team, so I worked my hardest to turn them around. I find getting back into the groove a little choppy, but over all the designs weren't bad and will do for the short notice. I don't think I've done any fancy designing since November last year. I sort of went off it as the pregnancy developed. Well no more. What is difficult is while midstep of changing over leadership from the old to the new in comms, we're trying to change the way we serve the fellowship. So I'm trying to get my head around not only what the needs are, but also what the future goals are. Needless to say, we need more designers and writers. (if you know any one who wants to join in missions and raise support, let me know!)

I'm also thinking about joining a new walking club that's started at our complex. We do have a full exercise room at the complex office, but I really need the commitment to keep me active during the week. I'm also struggling with my weight. Breast feeding is not taking the pounds off anymore, and though I'm watching what I eat, I'm seem to be at a plateau. It's an annoying plateau because its 5 lbs heavier than I need to be to get out of my pregnancy pants. :/ So they are huge, but my pre-pregnancy pants are just a bit too tight to wear comfortably. Maybe when Tobo is eating more this will be easier, but in the mean time, foo. I hate the idea of joining weight watchers again. I'm just not motivated with their meals. I guess I could always do curves. (more south beach diet like) hrmm.

Paul and I are also trying to get more involved with our church. He's decide to try helping out with the high school youth. I'm debating about trying out one of the women's small group. Bethany has a women's bible study on Mondays and a womens' small group on tuesdays. I'm not totally sure what the difference is, but I assume there is a good chance that the bible study will *actually* be a bible study and not a cry fest. [<-- the reason I don't normally do girl groups. Too much sharing, not enough doing.] I am tempted to start a craft ministry, but might try something called White Cross, which meets once a month to do sewing projects (They sew, prepare hospital bandages and make crafts for Lydia Home Association in Chicago as well as fellowship and have a short devotional. ) Not quite what I do, but at least it's something to do with my hands. Also, I should get my pysanky stuff together. :D

So that's the news from here. What are you all up to now?

the next thing

We are now appointees for OMF in the US field. *YAY*

The board interview was _very_ reminiscent of oral comps at kzoo, even with me flubbing on at least one question, but we were given the news yesterday at about 2pm that we had been approved and would now be long term members of the fellowship. As I said to Paul, now the real work starts. There is a lot to do and think about (and pray over) in the next few weeks, but we are at least allowed to leave the starting gate and begin the race. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. More later as we get on to the next thing.

testi-home-y

This whole week at candidate course has really reminded me how much we depend on God's grace for things to happen in our lives. Seriously. We've had to give our testimony in a couple of different ways, both written and verbally, so it's really helped me to remember what is important in life. God being the main thing. I was just going back over our last move, which also included our decision to join ACME Intl, and move across the country. It's interesting to go back over my comments from 3 years ago and think about how much of that promise has become reality.

And it's happened again.

Now, nothing is signed or settled yet, but we have voiced interest in a sublet situation at The Bluffs (some of you remember it) which will take us Nov 10 through March, with the option to a new lease in 2008. It is pretty much what we need. (2bed, 2bath, a smidge larger than our current place, fireplace, laundry in the unit, 3 minutes drive from ACME's US office, available in Nov, in our price range, quiet, nice and safe) pretty much were we need it. We will no longer be able to put up visiting guests, but we will be able to start working on putting a nursery together and section off the bookcases from where the baby can get at them. So this is really good news. We'll send round more info once we are sure we have it, but we are cautiously optimistic.

The kicker is it hasn't been rented yet. I can't tell you the number of times I've have houses and apartments sold or rented out of our hands this year. At first, I thought I was moving too slow, so last night I only called on listings that were posted yesterday. Even those were rented before we could look at them this afternoon. (even the one we had a scheduled apt for) It's been one shut door after another. This place was out there for over two weeks, and even waited until we were back from Florida to get a showing. I've felt a lot of the time like we were waiting over the last month, like we could not move forward with this stuff yet, but must learn to be patient. I think the waiting is over, at least in the housing area. Now all we have to do is pack. :/

I think I mentioned that part of candidate course involves lots of personality inventories. Not surprising the Myers-Briggs was in there again, only a longer version. This time I came out an INTJ. I've officially ruled that this pregnancy is screwing with my inventories. Guru and my current theory is that I'm clamping down on my emotions because currently a cucumber can make me cry, so I'm "stress-functioning" in my opposite (and less skilled) function. Oh yeah, and over-analyzing.

Speaking of over-analysing emotions, I do have to say that as soon as we decided to make a bid for the place, I did feel a bit of a let-down, because we won't be moving right into the perfect house, with a perfect yard, in the perfect town, with a perfect dog for the baby. I had a feeling I would have this personal hurdle to go over, so I'm not surprised it popped up now. I know logically that getting a house right now is imprudent. And I keep telling myself that babies grow up in apts all the time. It won't stunt their growth. They are very versatile. But I'm still struggling with it.

well, my hubby just came home with crab wontons, so I must see if I like them or if they taste like soap.

Where in the world is tobo?

I've had a request or two for a Tobo update, so the good news is that there is no new news. Baby is fluttering a bit, but not really in a way that anyone else can verify, so you'll just have to take my word. Usually after meals, but only day meals. At night i think he/she is a sleep. Next ob/gyn is in about 3 weeks. Then we have the big gender-finding-out apt after Thanksgiving. (can't! wait!) But for now, not much news. My favorite new past times seem to be hitching up my maternity pants and fiddling with my maternity bra. I am every woman.

Tobo (and mom-to-be) just got back into town after a visit to the family in Florida. (this includes not only grandparents-to-be, but also grand-nana-to-be to boot) It was a good trip but too short. (as always) Found some of my baby dresses which are actually still in pretty good condition. This would be advantageous if we have a girl...or future black mail material if we have a boy. We also found this sleeper which is white with royal blue accents -- very much like a little dutch baby.

After arriving late Tuesday, Guru whisked me away to candidate course with ACME, which starts with a 4 day retreat at a very nice retreat center with wireless. We figured we'd prefer to drive last night than this morning. I will only get to see 2 days of seminars, Guru was able to be here for the whole 4 days. This is very exciting because a lot of the threads of our lives are dependent on this week's decisions. By the end of next week we will know if we are accepted as official appointees to ACME. Once we know, we will send out a more specific communication about our new status. If you'd like to be a part of that, please let me know. It also means that hoemke.com will become an active site again after a 3 year hiatus. [NOTE: that website is very much in beta right now. Do not be fooled that it is in working order. ] We can also be in touch the old fashion "phone" or "snail-mail" way as well, just let me know you are interested. A lot of the mission-oriented items will shift over there from this blog. More on that later.

Needless to say, if you pray, please keep the ACME board, the other potential candidates and of course ourselves in mind over the next 8 days.

Well, 1am is really starting to catch up with me, so I will sign off now.

project muddle

So, you all have been really kind not to beat me to death after the last non-update post. We really appreciate any prayers and
thoughts you have sent our way. We can really use them. Here is why: we probably can not continue to live in Den and work for ACME Intl at guru's current salary rate. Now, we are having some conversations with ACME to try and fix this, (read:wacky skeme A) so maybe this is all panicing for nothing. We won't know for a month or so how this will resolve itself. We asked you to pray blindly about this mainly because we honestly have no idea if this is God's way of politely asking us to move on or if it's some kind of test. Biblical scholars, place your bets! [FYI- if you've seen our burning bush, please email] Obviously we've shelved the house hunt for now, at least until we hear back from ACME. To be clear, ACME itself is doing well, we've just been living lean for the last few years and it's starting to show.

Please keep this to yourselves (this blog is on friends lock) until we have something more definite than "oh noz!"

In better news - the management finally fixed our leaks and are now replacing our ceiling. They put up the dry wall today and will be spraying the popcorn tomorrow. With any luck (and aim) the contractors will not spackle our books. We are also out of our rent concession cluster, ah mess up, so we are free to move with 30 days notice. The down side of this is our rent goes up to what it should have been, but that was bound to happen anyway if we signed a new lease with these folks. I am leery of signing a lease with these folks. It's good to actually have a ceiling over our head. I might even vacuum again.

I finished JS&MN and also Harry Potter finally. Teared up I think 3 times. That was an excellent wrap up book for that series. Not high literature but a good read. Now I am out of books. I demand suggestions!

I refuse to make a decision about what I think I'm feeling.

I took an official Myers-Briggs test for ACME Intl last night and amazingly have become...
and infp. I should have know since I found myself quibbling over the questions. :) Not looking at the numbers, guru said that i was borderline f/t (feeling/thinking) and j/p (judging/perceiving), so really I'm reflecting more as an INxx. Guru is properly horrified. ;)