ask me a question, i'll tell you no lies

Mrs. Spit, being the lovely lady she is (and she really is), has sent over a set of questions which I agreed to answer thinking said questions would be about shoes and chocolate, but no. Oh, and then there was the rotavirus, but more on that later. Today, for my friend, here are her questions and my answers.

1. You suffered from pre-eclampsia in both of your pregnancies. How did that change your perception of pregnancy.

Technically, I only (only. Get it?) developed preeclampsia during my first pregnancy. Before even considering the second, we met with a few specialists, had various testing done, and concluded that were we to attempt another pregnancy, I would be anticoagulated (both lda and heparin/lovenox). With careful monitoring, good care, lots of drugs (all prescribed), prayers, and a bushel-full of plain luck, I skirted PE with the Beans. How has it changed my perception of pregnancy? It has completely changed my perception of pregnancy. I find it be utterly amazing and miraculous, given the gamut of complications that can arise from conception to delivery, that the human race continues to grow leaps and bounds. I'm terribly serious. Nothing about it is ordinary. Nothing about it is guaranteed. And nothing about is is predictable - no matter what you do or how you think it should go.

2. You affectionately refer to your children as ferrets. What was the one thing that most surprised you about having kids.

I think the notion that they would actually be "people;" people with their own ideas and thoughts, flights of fancy, whims and demands - much like ferrets - is what surprised me. I thought about them being "my" babies -- so much of it was about me and what I wanted out of a family, now so little of it is about me at all. To look at two little people, to know where they came from, to dream of where they will go, it's just more than anyone can ever anticipate, I think.

In regards to the ferret moniker: I was once in pet store with my grandfather and they had ferrets in open cages so that the customers could "pet" them. I placed my hand in to pet one, who seemed to be enjoying my attention, until he didn't - at which point, he latched onto my finger, drew blood, and taught me to never stick my hand in an open cage without a game plan again.

3. You undertook a home reno this summer. If you had to do something differently, what would it be?

Move? Really, as far as construction goes, it couldn't have gone much more smoothly, but what a nightmare it was! I think if money were no object and E didn't have a job to see about, it would have been lovely to pack up and go on vacation until it was over. When the house was originally being built, our previous house sold so we moved in with my parents during the interim. I think I would take gold chains and hammers any day over that experience, though. In the end, it was all worth it for more closet space!

4. What would your ideal day be like.

I don't know that I have an ideal day (or what would constitute an ideal day to most people). My favorite days are days when everyone is home. Some of my favorite days took place each summer at Ocracoke Island. Everyone sleeps late ('cause who isn't happy with lots of sleep?), we awake to salt and sand, makeup stays in the suitcase, we spend days in the sun and evenings at the harbour. Really, though, it doesn't take anything spectacular to make it an ideal day for me: just a day when we can just be. And be together.

5. If you have $500, 000 and could only spend it on one thing, what would that one thing be?

Shoes? Ahahah. Joking, sort of, but only because it would be hideously inappropriate to spend $500, 000 on ballet flats and Birkenstocks. Actually, I think (if this isn't bending the rules any) I would split into $25, 000 and randomly hand out $25,000 to 20 people. I can think of several people who could really use that leg up right now; not to mention the joy in being able to tangibly make someone's life a little easier.

Thanks, Mrs. Spit, for asking! Anyone want me to send some your way? 'Cause this could be fun!