Check In

If you noticed a gray pall over everything and the fact that laughter and music had left the world last week I have an explanation for you: my laptop died.

Right after I posted that last post here, actually. One second I was googling bathrobes for Patrick (he needs a normal terrycloth bathrobe, preferably with a hood - I cannot find one for love nor money; any suggestions?) and the next my laptop just... shut off. And would not turn back on again. It was AWFUL. I got two REDBOOK posts up by using my actual computer but verticality is not kind to me and that was quite literally the only time I spent online for ten days. It sucked.

It was surprisingly difficult to find a place to repair it, too. I don't mean to chastise you but really this disposable age of yours has gone too far. While it might in fact be cheaper to buy a new cordless phone rather than pay to replace the batteries if more than one handset goes down at a time, surely this principle does not apply to laptops as well? We tried several local places who either did not fix things or did fix them but had to send them out of state to do so (with a minimum of two weeks turn around). Finally Steve googled something or other and we wound up sending it to, write this down because they were GREAT, AZ Laptop Repair in Santa Clara CA. They got it on Wednesday and had it fixed by Friday. And they managed to save all my data and were not very expensive. Oh and they removed the, um, cookie piece that was jamming the "w" key. Not sure how that got there but I am glad it is now gone.

This is just a quickie, I-am-alive-and-still-pregnant post. I am not convinced that my laptop did not die due to overheating due to prolonged usage so I am trying to keep it down to an hour. And I wasted the first fifty minutes trying to find that goddamned bathrobe, but I will  be back later after this thing cools. New REDBOOK post up too, if you are interested.   

PS After only getting two right in the football pool three weeks ago I sulked and let Patrick do my picks for me. He got eight last week so I let him do it again. Provided the Packers win tonight he will have a respectable eleven this week. I wonder if he has a system.

Comments

[Beth]

Of course Patrick has a system. Probably incomprehensible to us non-mathematically inclined beings though!

Very glad you and the 13s are still truckin' along -- also glad you got your laptop fixed! When my pc died last spring it was a sad, sad day.

Is this the sort of terry robe you mean?

http://www.amazon.com/MONARCH-TOWEL-CO-Terrycloth-Cover-up/dp/B00008XGDG

[Annabelle]

Delurking to say glad you are still okay, yay for the fixed laptop, and see if this works for the bathrobe:

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=29168541&memberId=12500226

[Cris]

All I could think of when I read your first paragraph was, "as long as nothing else has died, they can have your laptop for all I care." I get a little worried when its been a while between posts and I'm glad that, although stressful and boring on your end, it was just the laptop causing problems, not the pregnancy.

Lots of closed cervix thoughts winging your way!

[carosgram]

I don't care if Patrick has a system or not. Just email me his picks so I can duplicate his list. We're not in the same pool so it won't effect your chances at winning.

[Beth]

So glad to hear from both postings that you are doing as well as one can be on bed rest! Hang in there. As far as the nesting and missing the Babies R Us craze, hit the online shops every now and then for a good baby purchase fix. :) And that way you get packages too.

[margalit]

Rugged Bear always has thick, comfy terry bathrobes. They're not cheap, but they're really well made, like everything else in their stores. It's a local New England/NY chain, but you can order online.

http://www.ruggedbear-online.com/bosuro.html

[Brenna]

glad you're still hanging in there, and check out http://www.cottonpalace.com for a robe.

[Kate]

Thanks for letting us know how you are. Glad you and the 13's are still hanging in there. (Pun intended).

[electric boogaloo]

Glad you're doing okay... I am going to go back up my laptop right THIS VERY SECOND.

[wilddreemer]

childrens spa robes are awesome!

[Kate]

Another robe: http://www.cookiebabyinc.com/bibs/toddler_hooded_coverups.html

[Bonnie]

You can get an external fan pad that goes under your laptop and powers via a USB connection. I got one for my antique laptop, and I swear it is making a huge difference. I think mine was under $25 at Best Buy.

[Stephanie]

Of course the Packers will win tonight (yes, fanatic here; even have the Packer plates!)--although, I said the same thing when they were, oh, 0-4 so we'll see within three hours.

Re: the bathrobe - Younkers! I have always gotten them for Austin there. I'm not sure if you have them across the river; they don't do internet shopping, but my mother is a manager there and they do ship. You have the email (I'm guessing that's why it is entered with each comment, right?) if you need info or a hook-up. It was, truly, my last place I looked--obviously, Murphy's Law--but found some neat ones over the years. Hope that helps with your search.

Glad to hear all is well and the 13's are doing well and staying put! Take care of you and those little (now very viable, but little) pumpkins. (It has to feel good to know that they would be okay if the contractions picked up.)

On a Redbook side note, I wanted to tell you that increasing need for/decreasing effectiveness of terbutaline is normal - you become tolerant to it after awhile. Just one of those FYI things......

[Aurelia]

Sweetie,

Get a stand with a built in fan, and then tell your new bosses at Redbook they should loan you a corporate laptop until you can buy a NEW ONE.

Just go to Apple.com and order it. Steve will never know the difference. Just charge the silly thing on the credit card.

Seriously, after all this time, you know you deserve it. Frankly, I'm surprised that Dell or Apple or some other company hasn't given you one for free, in exchange for some PR. (Hint, hint Steve Jobs)

About the cookies...iSkin makes these see-through latex keyboard skins and laptop covers so that you can spill an entire can coke AND a pile of crumbled cookies on your laptop and there will be absolutely no damage, ever. Stuff just rolls off. They can cover the just the keyboard or the whole thing.

[Kelly]

Ohthankgoodness. Of course, you're back online *today* because it was just this morning that I was explaining to my hubby that I expected you were "doing the NICU thing" (we did it, he understood comPLETEly) and that I was sad but hopeful for you. So. Very glad you're still chug-chug-chugging along, sorry about the computer woes. Yay for those brilliant, rare people who fix the "should be fixable" problems that are, surprisingly, difficult to fix. (We had a similar issue and ended up buying a fix from some truely lovely people in Canada.)

[Kelly]

Ohthankgoodness. Of course, you're back online *today* because it was just this morning that I was explaining to my hubby that I expected you were "doing the NICU thing" (we did it, he understood comPLETEly) and that I was sad but hopeful for you. So. Very glad you're still chug-chug-chugging along, sorry about the computer woes. Yay for those brilliant, rare people who fix the "should be fixable" problems that are, surprisingly, difficult to fix. (We had a similar issue and ended up buying a fix from some truely lovely people in Canada.)

[Catherine]

I just saw little kid robes at Target. You live in the land of Target HQ, true?

[Cadence Daly]

Welcome back! I second (or third) the suggestion for the fan thingy for under your laptop.

A few weeks back, you suggested someone remind you to tell us about Steve's half brothers' visit from New England, so here I am, doing as you requested. Of course, if you've changed your mind, just ignore this comment. Although the "welcome back" is yours to keep.

[christina]

http://tinyurl.com/2zvzy3 for a terry robe for boys. It has a rocket ship on the back of this particular one, but they also have plain colored ones and plaid.

I'm so glad you're still pregnant & only your computer is having issues.

[CharmingDriver]

Glad all is well - Keep up the good work ;)

[Geohde]

Very glad to read that you're still preggers and posting,

J

[All Adither]

I agree with our throw-away culture leaning toward the ridiculous (or, perhaps, having already tumbled down the cliff of ridiculous). I absolutely hate to throw away plastic and imagine it buried under the earth for a trillion years.

Glad you're still baking away.

[JuliaKB]

Thanks for checking in. Yay for competent repair people. I think the internets owe them a gift basket or five for returning you to us. :)
I used to buy the bathrobes at Costco. Don't know whether they still have them or have the right sizes. It's all towels around here.

[Martine]

Quickly slipping out of the shadows to say I've got all appendages crossed for you. And also to tell you the Lillyskids.com has cute robes and you can have one personalized for nuthin'.
http://search.lillianvernon.com/EasyAsk/lillianvernon/results.jsp?form_state=search&cartItemCount=0&dct=lvernon&indexed=1&disp=html&RequestAction=advisor&RequestData=CA_Search&parentCatId=2&ea_sortColumnName=&ea_sortDirection=&CatPath=All+Products%2F%2F%2F%2FLilly%27s+Kids&OrigCatPath=&oneshot=1&UseSheet=&ResultsPerPage=&submited=yes&TopNodeName=&lv_sn=www.lillianvernon.com&question=robe&x=12&y=18
Good luck!

[Candy]

I'm so glad your back among us. You know, we worry when we don't hear from you!

I had the same challenge buying my son a simple terry robe. I had to break down and get one of those ultra soft fleecy kind, but it isn't very absorbent, and he doesn't like it. So I'm in the market as well, when you find one.

[WendyP]

Yet another bathrobe choice - Lands' End is normally a great option. I'm a towel snob and must have cushy, fluffy towels at all times. Theirs are very nice, esp. the bamboo ones, so the bathrobe will probably be nummy too.

I am also so glad to hear from you. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

[Kristine]

I've heard that sometimes with computers you have to delete cookies. :)

Now get the kid a bathrobe already so we don't all suffer between posts out here.

[cass]

Can't bring myself to register over at Redbook just to say this about baby stuff:

Swaddling blankets - we loved the Miracle Blanket. Other blankets worked when they were teeny, but the Miracle Blanket is like a baby straitjacket - good for a lot longer. Swaddling was key for us in the early months (okay, maybe even the first 5 or 6 months!).

Sleep and play/jammies - I actually would stay away from the kind with lots of snaps in favor of the kind with zippers. It's hard to focus on getting the snaps lined up right if you haven't slept, plus you can, ahem, lift babies by zippered sleepers if needed. I used to use their sleepers (or the swaddles) to lift them on and off of the nursing pillow when I had both alone. Snaps will unsnap. I got nice ones from Children's Place - just basic cotton, though, so I'm not sure about the temperature thing. I think they'd be fine with a onesie underneath.

[marisa]

Congratulations on a huge milestone! 28 weeks and counting. hopefully you'll have the 13s in at least 10 more weeks

[Allison]

This ex-Milwaukeean is feeling a strong need to state: I never in a million years would have thought the Packers could pull off what they did last night. In overtime no less! I am very impressed with Patrick's ability to call this one, and think you might want to start picking his brain for the football tips.

And of course I'm so glad to read that you are still alive and pregnant! Wouldn't have it any other way!

[maggie]

Bathrobes I can do:

http://www.underthenile.com/underthenile/itemDetailBR33.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Terry-Bath-Robe-Organic-Cotton/dp/B000PWYGGW

Glad to hear you're still pregnant.

[ProudMary]

yet another robe link:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=35079&productId=500397&afsrc=1&qs=5090278-PrfmcsNexTag_45599151

[lolismum]

Best kiddy terry robes
http://www.cottonpalace.com/chilcov.html

[Tracey]

Another robe. Can be personalised and are gorgeously soft and cuddly. Bought in bulk for my neices for Christmas.

http://www.ezibuy.com.au/Gift/Gifts/Personalised_Gifts/Personalised_Kids_Bathrobe/35956.htm

Tracey

[victoria]

I don't have any advice about kids' bathrobes or laptop repairs but I just wanted to thank everyone who recommended the Philip Pullman books on your website. I just finished the "Golden Compass - Subtle Knife - Amber Spyglass" trilogy and they are AMAZING. It was exquisitely pleasurable to read them. I had an experience I thought I'd never have again: that feeling of being completely enchanted by a book in the way I used to feel as a child. What a gift! And Iorek Byrneson may be the most satisfying character I've come across in fiction recently. I love, love, love Iorek.

[SarahD]

I used them several years ago when my power supply literally caught on fire and toasted my motherboard and harddrive. They recovered the whole thing for me.

Expensive, but what a lifesaver--my whole company was on there.

[Jennie]

Have you tried L.L. Bean for the robe?

[Flicka]

Glad you're still okay and pregnant.

Have you ever read The Rockinghorse Winner? Patrick is eerily like the main character in his football picking abilites.

[Audrey]

Try Company Store or Company Kids for a hooded terry bathrobe. So glad to hear that you're still preggers!