What do you get when you cross an elephant with a rhino?

‘Ell if I know. . .

heh.

Made one for Jonas, so of course I had to keep thing even and make Maggie a little notebook too. Except, I’ve kind of got a thing for that Jack’s World Elephant that Cosmo Cricket designed. . .so I might have to make Maggie another one and keep this one for myself. I LOVE the Jack’s World rubons because they include this alphabet, and it is just the right size for so much.

To get that stitched look on the blackboard just use a good white pen. I use mostly real stitching on the notebook, particularily where I wanted the ribbon to be flat under the distressed edge. You can stitch through chipboard, and I have done it, but pen is so much easier and there is no risk of a needle snapping off of your machine and lodging itself in your brain. I always worry that might happen. Neurotic? Yes.

Lately I’m a lot less neurotic and more just honestly bored. You see, as much fun as being sick is, it doesn’t lend itself to fun and games or getting up and doing much of anything. I am not a person who can be a TV vegetable for more than a few days before I can’t take it any longer. I need people and activity.

It was a pretty rough week; lots of throwing up and dehydration. The best part of the week was on Friday when a friend I met on the Hyperemesis Gravidarum website came to visit. She is a few months farther along than me pregnancy-wise, so even though she has HG, she is somewhat more functional at this point. She came, played with my kids, chatted with me, and . . .get this. . .brought the lady who cleans her house to clean mine!

I know. Totally amazing. She dug out my laundry room, and I have a floor again! I had forgotten what it was like to walk and not stick to the floor. Also, I threw up several times during the visit ( I know, what a hostess) and the toilet WAS SO CLEAN! It was such a pleasure to puke in a sparkling toilet. I rested my sweaty, tear-stained face on the cool side after losing my lunch and thought, “ahhhh this is the life. . .a clean toilet, thank you, toilet bowl, for being so cool and comforting on the side.” (Name the comedian that thought paid homage to, and you can have a cookie).

Although the cleanliness was amazing, it wasn’t the best thing about the visit. This is the first time I have met someone in person who has HG. Finding someone who got me and what I was going through so completely was so refreshing. I am so used to having to explain and explain, only to have people say things like, “oh, yeah, I felt pretty bad the first few weeks too”, is draining. HG is one of those things that you kind of have to live, or watch someone close to you live before you get that it isn’t “a little nauseated” or “taking advantage of morning sickness”. Having someone who you don’t have to explain and justify yourself to, and who understands when you need a thumbs up for the fact that you accomplished both a shower and clean clothes today, and yes that’s it, well, it is something to be thankful for.

It has been a lonely couple of months, and without a lot of support. Friday was such a blessing, even if I did throw up so many times I lost count.