HELP ME PUT MAH SHOES ON!!!
We had another OB appointment this morning and man is Vanson's heartbeat strong! He's estimated to be around the size of honeydew melon, weigh about 4-5.8 lbs, and be around 17-18 inches long. No wonder his movements are more pronounced. I still feel his kicks, but I also feel these serpent-like wave movements. I can only describe it as, you know how you see dolphins swimming along and they come up from the water, but not all the way? You can see their dorsal fin and some of their back, then they go down again in a smooth fluid movement? It's like that, but all contained under my skin.
I'm growing Flipper.
So I had lunch with a friend today whose due date was actually TODAY. Whoa! I can't help but be SO excited for her! I think MY ear is to the tracks feeling that beast speeding toward me at 100+ mph? Her tracks are probably shaking so much she's about to fall off! In all honesty though it is very refreshing to talk to someone who is feeling the same ups and downs, shares the same concerns and can validate all of the crazy. It's nice to know that what I'm experiencing and the thoughts, fears, and hopes I'm feeling doesn't mean that I need medications. There's something about commiserating with someone who is in the thick of it too that is so damn comforting. Talking with her also made me realize how much courage she has and made me have a little more courage for it I think.
We were supposed to get maternity photos done today. Yeah, you read that right. Didn't happen. Our unsavory neighbors had some even more unsavory guests over to use their "garage" = Meth Den and it went up in flames. Kris and I were sitting down to dinner and I happened to look out the dining room windows which face their house across the street and I saw this wall of thick, brown smoke. I'm telling you guys, I should be a detective because I notice things. I nudged Kris and said, "What the hell is that?!" He popped up faster than I've ever seen him get up and said, "That's a working fire! Call 911!" We both race to the kitchen window and it's just a wall of brown outside. Kris runs over to their house and I'm outside on the phone with dispatch. I see the older woman who lives over there wandering down the driveway from the garage looking haggard as usual. I mean, really, this woman looks like a living, breathing (barely), walking halloween mask. I ask her if there's anyone in the garage and she says no. I then ask if anyone is in the house. -Now lately there have been some younger equally haggard women over there with two small children, one infant and one kid probably 6-8 yrs old, yeah, real winners people. The Old Haggard says the kids are in the house, so I run across the street and try yanking their front door open because, while I'm no rocket scientist, something tells me a fire can spread, the Old Haggard stumbles over and puts her hand on the door like she doesn't want me to go in there. 6-8 yr old boy comes to the door and I just tell him to get his brother and come with me. Just then I see one of the Younger Haggards stumble out from a back bedroom, one flip flop on, half smoked, unlit cigarette in her mouth and she's yelling about her cellphone. She disappears in the bedroom after I tell her to get the infant and she brings him back and hands him to me. You know, no big deal. Then she starts looking for her cell phone again. I get the infant and the older boy across the street. Kris is over there waiting for his buddies to show up with their engines and trucks. As I'm standing there I notice a healing burn on the 6-8 yr old boys shoulder so I ask him, "Did you fall? How did you get hurt?" I go to touch it and he winces away and shuts his mouth, his mom is coming back over to us. Shady? Hmmmm. So most of the time, I'm holding this infant who has dirt in his little fat folds and scratches all over his little face. A few more of their "associates" show up, and boom! Everybody scatters. She take the boy from me and they bolt. I look around and guess why? Portland Police showed up. I guess also with any fire an investigator comes out too. The guy whose dad owns the house told the investigator to be careful in the "garage" because theres needles all over the place...
This is why we want to move. Needless to say, the fire is out, all of their dumbasses are safe, and here we are not 3 hours later and the guy whose dad owns the house is out there trying to make the "garage" operable again. The foam from the fire guys has barely dissipated.
From my kitchen window after the big show.
Cutting out "hot spots"
Another concerned neighbor and myself spoke with officers at length about the shenanigans that go on over there at all hours and the suspected child abuse that is happening. The officer gave me his card with his direct line and let me know I could call him anytime. I don't think I've ever felt so much rage at someone as I do those kids' momma. What a failure. -Also, it's important to note the guy who actually owns the house is in a care home after getting his leg amputated from a gangrenous wound and poorly controlled diabetes, he's probably 70-something and has a general doesn't-give-a-damn type attitude.
I said all that to say this: We missed our photography session! We couldn't leave because the fire trucks had us blocked in. It's fine that we did because I hope those idiots feel exposed. I hope they feel like they're under radar, because they are. I hope those kids make it somewhere safe and reliable. I hope those haggard bags realize what they've done someday. And I hope we move soon.
But alas! There is light at the end of this tunnel! Kris was a doll and did my maternity photo shoot for me!
Just look at that glow!
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