Doctors and Landlords and Babies...Oh My!

     Doctor's appointment went well. :) Got some blood drawn; I was happy it was only 1 tube, b/c last time they did 4!  It's silly, b/c I don't have a problem w/the initial part of the needle going in, but for some reason, it really freaks me out when they have to change the tube.  I don't know why, I guess I expect my blood to go spraying everywhere or something, or I'm just weird.  Mostly this visit they just asked questions about how I was feeling.  I asked about some of the abdominal discomfort I've been feeling, which, as I'd suspected, was all totally normal.  The midwife actually took the time to explain to me exactly what my body is doing to cause certain sensations, which will really help me stop worrying so much about every little cramp I get.  At the end of the visit we got to hear the heartbeat. :) <3
     So, I got an appointment for the "anatomical scan" ultrasound, which, of course, is when they try to determine the baby's gender, for Thursday, January 6th.  So excited!!  Of course, we are already pretty sure it's going to be a girl, but being surer can't hurt.  Plus, the whole ultrasound experience is really indescribably special.  It's so crazy seeing the image of your baby on the screen.  The first time I went, I was a little overwhelmed.  I think the people working there didn't know what to make of me b/c I didn't show much of a reaction.  That's just how I react to things when I'm really emotional and there's people around.  I just don't show any of it, even though I feel like I'm going to burst.  But it really was amazing and I can't wait to do it again, despite how horribly uncomfortable it is.  You'd think, "Oh, they're just touching a wand to your stomach, big deal" but you'd be very wrong in thinking that.  In reality, they jam on you with that friggin wand, going so far as to forcibly jostle you in an attempt to get the baby to move a certain way.  Probably another contributing factor to my lack of displayed emotion.
      I'm hoping we can figure out a plan for relocating soon.  At least before the baby comes would really be good.  This place is driving me nuts!  There is a ceiling tile about to file in the bathroom

The floors aren't secured and the carpets are all pulled up and wrinkled, and the linoleum curls at the edges, making it virtually impossible to keep the floors clean, so they are perpetually filthy

This is the bathroom...yes, it has

a carpet...no, I don't know why 

 This is the living room entrance 

by the front door, notice 

   the scrunching...  

 This is the other side of the living room by the kitchen where the carpet                                                                                    meets the linoleum, and we see a                                                                                                                  lovely section of the cement under                                                                                                                  the floor.

                

The cabinet under the sink is...well, we've got tape over it, it's just not a place one should go.  It is all molded out and disgusting b/c the pipe to the sink was missing...the entire back of the pipe. The tiles in the kitchen are also coming up b/c of the water damage

  The toilet seat has been broken 3 consecutive times in the same spot b/c my moron landlord can't figure out that b/c the archaic contraption was made in, like, 1963, it is too narrow for a "modern" toilet seat and requires a special one.  I timed my shower one day and discovered that we get approximately 7 minutes of hot water, which is just long enough to shampoo, wash face, and get covered in soap before the water turns freezing and then you have to rinse off hurriedly and hope you don't miss a spot.  The best part is, after making ONE repair, albeit a large one: the entire roof had to be redone as well as parts of mine and my neighbor's ceiling after I came home one day to find my kitchen flooded and rain pouring...from my ceiling...anyway, upon repair, my rent was raised back to the original $600/month.  I had been paying only $500 due to all the things wrong in here.  I just don't see how that one repair justifies jacking the price up, and now I'm scared that if I have him repair all the other stuff, he'll try to raise it further.  So we'd like to skip the whole ordeal and move.  I'd really like to go to Mansfield, b/c once the baby is older, they have GREAT schools.  Unfortunately, it is an expensive place to live.
     Alex seems a little more gung-ho about the job searching.  He was cheerleading me to finish my applications this weekend so we could go drop them off and then stop by the Student Union in Uconn to apply at some of the restaurants, and some other places around campus.  I think he will have the best luck there.  He felt really uncomfortable applying at the retail places in the mall, where a lot of the employees at certain shops are female.
     We're going to Al's parents' house later to get some laundry going, and then do some grocery shopping.  Yay, groceries!  We are out of milk :(  I have been drinking SO much milk, it's ridiculous!  I've also been eating lots of cereal and mac and cheese, which require it.  Fun times, ahead. :)