this morning

Our Jetta didn't wake up this morning. We did everything we could. We spoke to it kindly, offered it some food, checked its vital signs, tried a stern voice, crashed some cymbals, but to no avail. It sat there stubbornly, not even flinching. We pushed it out of the garage to a spot it would have to wait for the car ambulance, slapped the sign on, and walked away.

The car ambulance came, and now Plava has an exciting story to tell Dada when he gets home.

"....jelly go wif toe twuck!" (she calls it the "jelly")

I had to laugh this morning, thinking about not having a car for a while. It would certainly force me to get more exercise. It's a pity that we don't live closer to anything AT ALL. It's also a pity that we live on a hill, so no matter where I walk, I will be huffing and puffing. Poor me, eh?

Well actually, yes. I've been dealing with some weird...."episodes". Strange dizzy/weak/exhausted/huffing-and-puffing spells that last anywhere from a minute or two to almost a half hour. I have a really hard time describing them because it's not just that I feel like passing out, it's just a sudden NEED to sit down. I need to sit down or I might fall over, or maybe faint, or maybe just croak. Okay, no.

Anyway, this leaves me a little hesitant to walk any good distance these days, especially since I've got Plava with me. The closest grocery store is probably about a 1/2 hour walk away, and that's a little too far for me to feel comfortable going without wheels. If I had a bike, now that might be a different story!!

(By the way, I DID sell my bike!!! Now I just have to buy a new one!)

So I'm stranded today, which isn't so bad. I can handle a day, or even a week of it. It would probably get pretty claustrophobic to be this way all the time though. I tend to like getting out. In fact, it dawned on me recently just how much Plava and I get out. Nary a day goes by that we stay at home the whole time. We're out shopping, going to the bank, stopping in at the office to do a bit of work, visiting another mom, or doing some other errands that need to be done. Busy us. I like it though. I like to be out and about. I like to have things to do. It gives me a good sense of purpose and like I'm still a part of this world and community, even if I AM a stay-at-home mom. I don't feel strapped down at home, in other words.

I have to say, being an at-home mom is just the bomb. I love it. I mean, I work a little - a couple nights a week - but the whole life I'm living, taking care of Plava, taking care of our house and all the business that's involved with living life in general, it's really really good. It's a lot of work, especially when I add on the evening work and doing music for our church, but it's satisfying to be accomplishing things. I don't feel idle.

Life as I know it will soon be changing though. My goodness, I can hardly imagine what it will be like. I am so excited, and can't wait to meet this little girl, but I also feel like I'm on the brink of the great unknown once again. It's exciting, but a little freaky!!

I was cleaning up after Plava's "let's get into the photos and make a mess" time today when I came across this picture. I love it.

It was taken right after Ryan got home from work one evening. He would always go right up to Plava and start making her smile and laugh - something he did (and still does) so well. I love the look on her face, and how you can tell he's beaming too.

I look so forward to having little moments like that with Pito. I can't wait to see how Plava reacts to her (be it good or bad). I can't wait to see how our family changes.

I'll leave it at that then. Car dead, weird episodes, looking forward to new child. Sounds about as colourful and unpredictable as life ought to, doesn't it?