Day 180: Blood, MRIs, and Cancer

Eis slept almost four hours, then 1-2 hour stretches last night.  Ugh!  At one point, I put her in the swing and she kept leaning forward (big deal) and I would push her back and after a few, she stayed back and del asleep.  However, when I heard her an hour and a half later, I came in and she was sleeping, leaning forward! Yikes!  I guess I'm going to start having to use the seatbelt thing pretty soon.

At 0700, when I picked her up, I took her to my room, nursed her, then let her nap in my bed for a while.  I got up at 0830, showered, and got ready to go, then got Eis up, nursed her, and we left for Temple.  I left her and my dad in the car, while I went in to have my blood drawn.  However, before I left, I went and spoke with the lady in charge of records and had her ready my MRIs of my spine.  I told her I'd pick them up at 1300.

I found Dad at the car, then we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  I nursed Eis in the parking lot for a few minutes before I went inside.  I ordered the cinnamon pancakes with eggs and bacon, while my dad ordered the cinnamon French toast with eggs and bacon.  Eis was in her stroller for a while, but got fussy, so I held her while I ate.  She was pretty good.  She sat on my leg and faced out and didn't fuss once I had her.  When we finished, I was walking around the "stuff" area in the front and saw some super cute baby shoes and clothes, but I didn't buy anything.

We drove back to the hospital to pick up my MRIs and to see Dr. L, but I nursed Eis in the car a bit more, since she didn't nurse much before lunch.  Dad went to find a bathroom in the hospital, while I sat with the baby in the backseat to nurse.  When he got back to the car, he grabbed the diaper bag and I put Eis facing out in the Ergo.  We decided it was a bit chilly, so we put her fuzzy hat on her.  However, it was really bright, so I grabbed her sunglasses and put those on her, too.

l had to take off my sunglasses to see into my phone, but even then I couldn't really see into the screen.  I took this pic while we were walking toward the hospital.    Just about everyone we passed smiled or exclaimed how cute she was.  One lady asked us to wait while she got her boss, so she could see, too!  Eis kept on her gear while we picked up the MRIs and until we got to the cancer centre.  It was at the point she started fussing, but she was also quite tired.  It was also then that we realised I had left the rubadub in the car!  

We got called back after about 20 minutes in the waiting room.  We changed Eisley's diaper in the little check-up room and as soon as we finished, there was a knock on the door.  The doctor who came in looked like a taller, blonder, handsome brother of Elijah Wood.  It was uncanny.  He talked to me for a bit, then said he was going to stick a scope down my nose to check on my vocal cords when Dr. L showed up.  Luckily, that didn't have to happen.  Dr. L said that he'd checked them in surgery and all was fine -- thank goodness!  I was nervous for a few minutes.  

Dr. L said my calcium levels were good and that he didn't take out my parathyroid glands, so I could taper off the calcium.  I didn't tell him that I hadn't really been taking it that faithfully... I think I'd only taken one or two a day, instead of three, and I'd only take it when my feet would tingle.  I am good at taking the levothyroxine, though -- no worries.  He said my thyroid was benign and no signs of cancer on the side they'd removed last week.  Then we discussed the radioactive iodine.  

My mom said she'd heard from three people that they took radioactive iodine, then were told they couldn't have children because of it.  We asked Dr. L and he said that's not true.  However, I won't be able to be around her for a few days, will have to sleep in a room alone and use a separate bathroom.  So, not only do I have to wait until Ty's here, but I'll have to wait until I'm totally done breastfeeding.  Depending on where we go next, I may have to wait until our next station to take it.

After we left the hospital, we drove to the house to wait for the guy whose wife supposedly wants to buy it.  We had spoken over the weekend and said we would meet up at 1445 - 1500.  I checked and made sure that worked with his schedule and he said it did.  However, I got a call from him at 1420, saying he'd be a little late and it he couldn't make it until a few minutes after 1500.  

Dad was struggling with Eis because she was so tired and wouldn't go to sleep and he still hadn't shown up by 1530, so I packed the car, then texted him and said that we were leaving, since we'd been waiting at the house for over an hour.  I don't think he'd even left work when he texted back!  I was irritated because we could have gone home and didn't need to be waiting there making Eis fuss and drive both my dad and I nuts.

I have started giving Eis a bath every night as part of our bedtime routine.  It's a bath, then a little massage while I sing her a couple songs... all while holding her.  Then I put her down and read a couple stories.  Unfortunately, the singing and reading are quite difficult right now.  My voice gets scratchy after about 60 seconds of reading out loud and I can't sing very well right now.  I can't remember how long it took last time for my voice to get back to 100%.  

On a final note, I think I may be getting sick.  My scratchy throat has turned into a deeper cough.  I feel the itch deep in my chest and it isn't pleasant.  Plus, I have the nausea and headaches and some slight congestion.  I need to figure out what I can take and still be able to nurse.

Day 179: Gingerbread and Movies

Eisley slept for a five hour stretch, then two hour stretches...  Yay and boo.

At this particular moment, I'm trying to let Eisley "soothe" herself to sleep by screaming her guts out.  I am not sure how "crying it out" works because she usually cries until she pees, then I change her and we have to start all over and the crying never lessens, it just intensifies.  We'll see how long it takes though.  I think she's been at it for eight minutes so far.

I guess I could do an hour if I had my headphones in and played music deafeningly loud.  Ooooh, she's stopped crying.  I wonder how long she'll be quiet?! Oh, it's sad. I can hear her little ragged breaths from crying so hard.  Awww. I gave her a kiss on the head so she knows I am not wanting to be ruthless.

Anyway... I worked on the gingerbread house for a bit before Eisley woke up.  Then we watched How I Met Your Mother while she had breakfast.  I wish Ty were here because it was a good episode and I want to talk about it with him.  I like talking about tv shows with Ty.  I wish I had friends.

After we finished, we went into the dining room to work on the gingerbread house more while Eis kicked and coasted on the dining room table so she could see.  Eventually, she got tired and I took her to take a nap... and I worked on the house some more.

Today I made the gingerbread man and finished the sides of the house, made fondant stairs leading up the front and back doors, and assembled all the pieces.  Plus, I did the front walkway, the pretzel perimeter and started on the roof.  I just went and took these two pics because blogs are far more enjoyable when they have pictures.  I really should put up a pic everyday...

 First, there's my front of the house with Grape Nuts gravel sidewalk and fondant front steps.

Second, there's my ginger gingerbread man... vaguely Elton John-esque in his wardrobe. Plus, my Christmas tree and snowman.

Obviously, it's not done.  I'll put up pics of it when it is.

I worked on it for a few hours today, until my dad got home from golf and I left him with Eisley, so I could go see Breaking Dawn: Part 1.  It was good.  I'm irritated they cut it into two parts because I think they just did it to make more money.  Harry Potter had to be cut into because it was a five to six hour movie if they left it whole.  However, this movie was not even two full hours!  If you're going to break it up, at least don't cut half the storyline.  Jeesh.

I thought the part of the splitting of the wolf pack was a bit... odd/lame/poorly done.  But, I am not sure how it could have been done better.  It's one thing to write what happened, but to have to show it and make it to where people can understand what's going on (if they haven't read the books, that is)... that's difficult.  It was just a bit cheesy.

Edward looked less than stellar, though they eased up on the white makeup on all the vampires, which was nice.  Jacob was still smoking, but so was Seth.  I'm almost surprised I didn't marry someone a bit more ethnic ;)

There were some good previews before the movie started.  Snow White and the Hunstman looks good -- it has Charlize Theron as the wicked witch and Kristin Stewart as Snow White.  Man on a Ledge seems interesting -- about a man who's framed for stealing a giant diamond and pretends to threaten to jump off a building, while actually trying to prove his innocence.  Finally, there's The Vow, which I can't remember what it's about, but I know I though it looked good and wanted to see it with Tyler;  it comes out in February, so I figure it'll still be around in March.

Day 178: Almost Half-Way

Eis slept crap last night. She was up every 2-3 hours!  I had to change her and nurse her every time.  When she woke at 0600, I changed her, then took her into my room and made a little area on my bed next to the wall.  She slept for two hours, then nursed, then slept for a few thirty minute stretches.

Eventually, we got up and I dressed her, then gave her to Mom while I showered.  We put Eis in my car, along with some boxes, then drove (separate cars, since Mom had other errands to run) to the Post Office.  Mom accidentally left her package at the house, so offered to sit with Eis in the car, while I mailed my things.  We then drove to Starbucks where she sat with Eis, again, while I got us drinks.

Ty called while I was in Starbucks, which was a pleasant surprise.  I love hearing from him.  We talked about the house and my great idea to give it to an agency and direct the Greers to the agency... it'll cost us a bit more money, but it'll save us some hassle.  Hopefully, they'll still be interested, but if not, then the agency can find us other renters.

We also talked again about R&R.  As much as I would love to see him now and have him here to "myself" over Christmas, I'd miss out on the anticipation of his return home, plus I've still got some fat I'd like to get rid of before seeing him.  I know he'd be pleased just to see me, but I know he's all skinny and I hate him being smaller than me.  January is out of the question, since I am going to DC for a week right in the middle to see the outlaws.  He can't leave in February, so that leaves March.  March seems so painfully far away.  I almost wish he'd decided to come in January when he mentioned it the first time.  It would be a good halfway point for Eis... five months and ten months.  Oh well.

After we chatted, I decided to work on the gingerbread house my mom bought me to put together.  It had a lot of stuff, including fondant.  Between not knowing all the utensils and items I'd need/want, having to find them, and Eisley fussing, it took forever even to get a small amount done.  I did the most work while she napped for 50 minutes.  I realised that even though everything says, "Edible," or, "Fun-flavored," it does not mean it tastes good.  Fun-flavored apparently means butt-flavored because damn! That fondant not only smelled terrible, but it tasted horrid.  All the candy was awful, too.  The only good part was the icing.  I know, I'm supposed to be decorating with it all, not eating it, but I can't help but sample it all.

I had Mom pick up a few things to help me out, since there wasn't quite enough variety in the included candies.  I have finished the front and back, the snowman, and the tree, so far.  All I have to do now is the gingerbread man, the sides of the house, assemble it all, then decorate the roof and surrounding "yard."

I told Ty that I am tempted to apply to TeachLondon again and go teach overseas for a year once he gets home and leave him with the baby.  Honestly, it does sound like fun, but being away from him for another year doesn't sound that great.  However, giving him a taste of his own medicine does sound like a blast... too bad he'd have her at a much more "enjoyable" time.  I really think I'd like having a child much more if I had a husband, too.  As of now, I like her on occasion, but overall, I feel like I'm really missing out on life.  No friends.  No job.  No money.  No anything, except taking care of a baby.

I want to be skinny and travel and dance and explore and make money and shop and hang out with people.  I do miss England.  The job was shite, but I could have handled it better if I hadn't had the back problems... or the stalker.

Day 177: Sunday

I did not go to the mall today, but stayed home except for a tiny bit when I took Eis and went with Mom to Garden Ridge.  We didn't go to the one in Round Rock, but instead went to the one in Sunset Valley... near Buy Buy Baby.

Eis slept fairly well last night.  A five hour stretch, then a four hour stretch.  I, however, did not sleep as well as she.  After nursing her, I laid in bed for forty minutes, then had to play sudoku on my phone until my eyes were rolling around in my head.  Even then, it still took a few minutes to fall asleep.

I hate having to talk to my dad about the house.  He thinks everyone will completely trash it and I'll be stuck spending both time and money to fix it.  He thinks it's a terrible idea to even meet or talk to this woman who's interested because she has three sons.  I think it's stupid to not run a credit check and have her prove that she has the means to purchase.  I just hate hearing ONLY negative things almost all the time.  There's a huge difference in being realistic and pessimistic.  Ty thinks I'm pessimistic, but having been exposed to pessimism my entire life, I am confident that I am not.  I see all the possibilities and potential consequences, but I have to remain hopeful.

I don't think I could be married to Ty if I were pessimistic and not hopeful.  It's too stressful to be married to someone who risks their life for a living, anyway.  I would simply go insane if I were constantly thinking of everything that could go wrong.  Instead, I know of everything that could go wrong, but I choose to push them aside and remain hopeful that I (and he) am to be spared that fate.

I have been drawing up legal lease papers.  I plan on having them get a credit report and show that they qualify for a loan that would allow them to purchase the house.  I will also require the first and last month's rent and $2000 for any damages of if they leave.  But if they purchase, then it'll be put toward the purchase price.

On another note, I was checking out my incision today and I noticed what didn't quite feel like a scab.  I felt it with my fingers and tugged a bit on it, but it didn't come off and I realised it could be a part of a suture that is through the skin.  I had my dad check it out and he confirmed it.  Yuck!  It's really creepy.  I keep imagining pulling on it and my whole incision ripping open and blood pouring out...

Totally gross, I know, but my thoughts are less controlled when my husband is not home to keep me in check.

I also burned three CDs and wrote a letter... to my brother-in-law, East.  I figured I'd introduce him to some new music and help him expand his horizons.  I feel like I hear the same stuff every time I go anywhere in the car with him and Bran, which, I know, isn't that often, but that's even more reason to believe he's not being exposed to enough.  If someone were in my car once a year, they'd hear vastly different things, even within a single car trip.
I thought about Bran, but I wasn't sure how that would come across.  I felt if I sent Bran music, he may feel like I'm patronizing him or something.  Though, I also worry he'll think I don't like him or don't care to send him anything.  It's difficult to know what to do.  I very much like Bran and I feel like I should do something for him, but I don't know what.  He's a year younger than Ty (two years younger than me) and I have no idea what he thinks of me, if he likes me, or if he hates my stinkin' guts, since he never talks to me.  However, he did make that awesome "drawing" thing that I'm going to put on canvas...
If he hadn't done that, I'd venture to say he disliked me, but since he made that for me/Eis, I'd lean more toward him feeling ambivalent.

Ty again posed the idea of coming home at another time, other than March.  December... which is... now; January, but I won't be here for the whole middle of January; or March -- February is a no-go because his 1st SGT is gone then.  The plan was to move a bunch of things to the house in Heights, so we could stay there while he's home, but if I rent it, then that won't happen.  We would have to stay here and my mom isn't allowed to miss any more work unless she's sick and she can't take off right before spring break, so that'll be weird.  She did say she and my dad would go to Conroe for the four-day weekends, but regardless, it'll all be kinda strange.
Strange to have a baby.  Strange to not be at our own house. Strange to have to really budget on and for everything we do while he's home. Just... strange.

And last on my mind, my pills.  I am good at taking my thyroid pill, however, I am TERRIBLE at taking my calcium pills.  I am supposed to take three a day, but I think there's only been one day that I've actually taken three.  I usually take one or, maybe, two.  I am not sure if that's why I've been having bad headaches or feeling nauseous.  I am fairly confident it's the cause of the tingling in my feet and the occasional facial twitches, but I'll ask Dr. L to be sure.  There has got to be another way to take this calcium... chews or tums or something... anything would be better than these horse pills!

Day 176: Saturday

Yikes!  It's been awhile since I've written.  I didn't take my laptop to H-town, since we had so much crap it took two cars to get us there...

Let me recap the past week:

Monday - Still recovering from surgery.  Mom drove me to see Dr. P, where I got four injections in each trap and he ordered an MRI of my neck, since I've had tingling in my arms/hands.  Then I nursed the baby at home and was then driven and dropped off at the dentist for a cleaning.  I haven't had my teeth cleaned in 18 months, which is a long time for me.  My mom came and picked me up when I was done and we went somewhere... Oh yeah, we went to pick up the Honey Baked Ham.  The rest of the day was spent getting organised for the trip and such.

Tuesday - Packed and headed to H-town.  Dad drove the big Lexus, while Mom drove my car with me, Bub, and Eis.  The drive went pretty quick.  We passed through Basdrop and saw tons of fire damage.  It was sad -- it's going to take a long time for those pines to return.
Sharon and Max (Paul's sister and nephew) were still in town when we got there.  We ate pizza for dinner and everyone loved on Eis.  Sharon was great with her and picked her up/soothed her as often as she could.

Wednesday - Sharon and Max left. Ray arrived.  We cooked most of the food. I laid out all the collected items for Ty's soldiers' stockings and stuffed about five stockings before I realised it was just too difficult and cumbersome to pack stuffed stockings.  I un-stuffed them and then organised and counted all the goodies into boxes with notes about for whom the items are intended.  We had two people drop stuff off at the last minute as I was packing my car full of the boxes.  Martha and I drove to the post office and got there five minutes before they closed.  They let us in, despite having eight big boxes and helped us get it all shipped off to Afghanistan.  I filled out all the customs forms at lighting speed and it cost about $160 to mail it all.
There is one GIANT box that I didn't put a note in, but it's for the single soldiers.  Some probationary kids wrote letters and were given a soldier and $10 each to get something for their soldier for Christmas and those are all together in there.

Thursday -  Did some "cooking" of the items made yesterday.  Ben and Robin showed up at 1430 and we promptly ate "dinner."  Afterward, I passed off the baby and Ben and I went to explore the pond that is now Lake Conroe.  I had brought my wellies, so I put them on before we headed out.
As we got down the steps to the lake-bed, Puck ran down the yard and threatened to jump off/down (a five-foot jump).  Luckily, my mom helped corral him back into the house, so Ben and I could walk.  As much as I would have loved to take Puck, it was just too muddy and Martha and Paul are too weird when it comes to him in their house.
Ben and I noticed that a lot of people tied weights to their Christmas trees and just dumped them in the lake -- we found at least 10 trees from at least a five year span.  As we walked past Martha's dock, Ben saw a buoy, but was wearing sneakers, so I offered to go get it for him.  He started following me, but after a few steps, I suddenly got sucked down!  My left foot sunk up past my ankle and my right, did, too.  I was loosing my balance and trying to pick up my feet, but they kept coming out of the boots.  Somehow I turned around and Ben calmly had his hand out, which I grabbed onto before I fell into the mud.  We were cracking up because I was such a spaz (I wish someone had been recording us).
I tried to pull my legs up, but my boots were so stuck that I only succeeded in pulling my legs in and out of socket.  I got my balance and had Ben go get a plank of wood we'd seen.  When he got back, he placed it in front of me and stood on one end.  I grabbed his hand with my left hand and used my right to help my leg pull my boot out of the mud and onto the plank.  Then I switched and did the same with my left.  We cracked up more as we perused the lake-bed until Sue's family showed up and we headed back.
Sue, Buzz, Joby, Anne, Alec, and Aaron were all over for dessert and to see us/the baby.  Anne fawned over Eis and her leopard pants and fur vest that I showed her -- Anne would have done well with a girl!  Eventually they left and a few of us played some games while Dad and Paul took turns watching Eis while watching football.

Friday - We went to Montgomery, which is like a smaller, crapper version of Old Spring (Salado-esque).  We ate lunch and looked at a couple shops.  Robin and Ben left from Montgomery.  I picked up more baby wipes on the way back to the house and Ray got ready to head home, too.  That evening, I crocheted most of a hat and the parents and M&P went out to eat Mexican food.  I didn't want to go, so I stayed home with the baby.  They were gone about an hour, then came home and we watched Love Actually.

Saturday -- We packed, then drove home.  We got gas at an Exxon for $3.03/gallon, which was the cheapest I saw on the whole trip.  Once the car was unpacked, Eis napped for another hour or two.  Eventually, she woke up and I bathed her and put on her reindeer jammies and we left to go eat at Mimi's Cafe.  I drove home after, since Mom and Dad were going to see a movie, but they got home shortly after I did because their movie was sold out!
I fluffed the Christmas tree -- we're using our tree, since it's only been used once -- and bought a canvas print Groupon.  I am going to put the pic Bran made me/Ty/Eis on a canvas and my mom bought one for  a pic of Eisley.
Eis went down after some coercing and I'm hoping she'll sleep 6-7 hours like she had been before the trip.

Tomorrow I may go to the mall to see what my parents may get me for Christmas -- I saw a really cute INC sweater.

Day 170: Sunday

Wednesday: Zumba. Shower. Nurse. Rehab. Nurse. Pack the cars. Drive to Heights. Unpack. Nurse. Drive to Hood for FRG meeting. Shower and get ready for surgery.

Thursday: Early wake-up. Drive to Temple. Interrogation/chat with doctors/IV. Nurse. Surgery. Drugged recovery. Drive to Heights. Drive Home. Pass out. Pump... at some point in the middle of the night.

Friday: Nurse at some point. Sleep. Nurse. Take a pill.  Drink a smoothie.  Nurse.  Sleep.  Email lady in Afghanistan who may want my house.  Sleep and nurse.  Eat soup that may have been old.  Sleep and nurse.... catch up on two-weeks of television throughout the day, as well.

Saturday:  Similar to Friday, except I was on my own with the baby in the evening, since the folks went out to dinner.  I did remove my outer bandage... and I bathed Puck.

Sunday:   I've noticed, due to the past few days, that my milk supply may be dwindling.  I have been pumping after Eis eats to try to get it back up to par.  I am considering pumping every three hours to try to help, but waking up to do that sounds like a bummer... I'll wait another day to see if I should.

I did get to finish my fleece blanket today.  I didn't put Eisley's name on it -- my mom wants to have it monogrammed or something, so she's checking around for pricing.  I also purchased the new iMovie and put it on both my laptop and my parents' computer, where I have all my pictures and movies of Eis... it's more like a computer my parents bought and I let them use :)

I finished my movie that I started for Ty (ages ago), and have been burning it to a disk for a few hours, so I can send that out asap.  Eisley got a bath -- my dad supervised, in case I dropped dead or something -- and she did fairly good for the most part, today.  She took two good naps, then not so much.  The evenings are always difficult.  I had my mom give her a bottle this evening. so I could be sure she'd had enough to eat.  I pumped and got an ounce and a half -- yikes!

Tomorrow, I go see Dr. P for more injections and to the dentist for a teeth cleaning.

We leave Tuesday for Houston and should be back Saturday or Sunday.  It'll be interesting to be gone that long with Eisley!  I hope all goes well.

Day 165: Tuesday

I think I may have to skip days 166 and 167, since I'll be in Heights tomorrow night (not only busy, but no internet and won't have my laptop) and will be post-surgery on Thursday.

Eis slept seven hours last night, then another four.  She took two good naps today -- an hour each -- and then a short nap this evening.  However, I've been sitting in the nursery for an hour and a half, trying to get her to sleep.  She'll either screw around and make herself stay awake or she'll cry and pee when she cries, then I have to change her and she'll do it again.

I don't want her to be in the habit of nursing right before bed.  Though it was really hard to nurse her tonight.  She nursed maybe two minutes and was screaming and arching, which meant it was either something I ate or really bad reflux.  I tried thawing some milk from the freezer, but she got a weird face and kept spitting it out, so that was a bust.  Eventually, I tried nursing again and she would cry when she was laying back, so I had to nurse her sitting straight up, while sitting on my lap.  She fussed a bit, so I walked around, holding her in an upright position.  She nursed about 13 minutes, which was good, but it was odd to have to let her nurse that way.

Today I got my hair cut.  I could stand the dead no longer and made an appointment with Amy.  She cut off the dead and shaped it into a really cute style.  She also said she'd thin or cut the bottom for free while I was trying to grow out the rest, which is nice.

I think it'd be fun to go to beauty school... or hair school.  I'd like to know how to do all that stuff.  I could do Eisley's hair and my hair and we wouldn't have to pay someone else to do it.  Too bad it costs money and takes time.

When I got home, I nursed Eis and then I gave her to my dad to watch while I made fudge for tomorrow's FRG meeting.  I found a peanut butter recipe and a chocolate recipe and made them both and made layered chocolate peanut butter fudge -- it is so delicious. Though a couple pieces make me wanna puke because it's so sweet.  I don't see how fudge costs so much money... the basic ingredients are cheap.

Last, but not least... it rained today.  Not mass amounts, but enough to help a tidbit and to provide for a decent SOUNDING thunderstorm... lots of thunder and wind and a bit of rain.

Day 164: Monday Groceries

Today I went to Zumba, despite being exhausted and wanting to do nothing more than go back to sleep.  However, I knew I wouldn't go tomorrow and Wednesday would be the last I could go for a while, so I dragged myself out of bed and got ready.

Class was fine.  I didn't get to teach any routines, but she's slowly adding more.  If she could add at least three new routines each week, then it'd be fine.

I showered when I got home, then fed and played with Eis.  I had a balance from SAMC to deal with, but luckily I called them first, instead of Tricare and they said it was a mistake on their part and there would be no charge.  I then packed up a box for Ty and thought about going to the post office, but didn't want to make multiple trips and I didn't have one box finished, so I decided to hold off on going.

While Mom was on the computer, I did tummy time with Eis on the floor of the office on a blanket and she was fussing around, then rolled over!  I was so pleased with her.  I can't be 100% sure that it wasn't another fluke like last time, but it was still nice to see progress.

Mom eventually went to run some errands, so I got Eis to nap and hang out in her kicker, while I worked on the stockings.  I hand-wrote/painted 34 names, each in a different font, so no two are alike.  I realise the work and effort will most likely be lost on 99% of the guys and the stocking eventually thrown away, despite the hours and hours of work I put in, but I just don't have it in me to do something ugly or half-assed.

I also looked up some fudge recipes to make for the FRG meeting on Wednesday.  I found a peanut butter one and a chocolate one.  I will make them both and pour the chocolate on the peanut butter, so it's layered.  I'm excited to do that tomorrow.  It sounds yummy.  I should email Christine to make sure that we get another email out to families to donate goodies for our Christmas boxes.

Eis has been very vocal, screamy, and awake this evening.  She's tired, but loves to fight it.  I just wish she would go to sleep and not in the swing.

Day 163: Sunday Shopping

Eis is not so much sleeping in her crib as she is napping in it...

Today, Mom and I went up to Round Rock for some shopping.  I had to look at yarn for a hat for Eis that we've asked Sal to make.  I wanted to look at fabric to make her (Eis) a blanket.  BabyEarth was calling my name and Loft was beckoning to my mother.

Sal wrote my mom an email the other day saying she could make Eis another hat, then she mentioned that Ty emailed, saying he got the blanket, but didn't say anything about it.  I wanted to write her back and say, "Stop being a needy bitch.  He's busy. He wrote you and said thanks.  Chill out."  I'll have to let her know that he'd written a long, descriptive email, but the net lost it.

We went to BabyEarth first and looked around at everything.  I have updated my registry online, since there's so much I love.  I wish everyone would buy her presents there.  They now carry Zutano brand baby clothes, which are my FAVORITE, but rather expensive :(     I bought another rubadub and a mirror for the car that will let her see herself and let me see her.  I also nursed her in an area they had set aside, since it was time and I don't enjoy feeding her in the car.

Next, we stopped by Starbucks for sustenance before heading to JoAnne Fabric & Crafts.  It's such a nice store... like Hobby Lobby or Michaels meets a fabric store.  They had two whole rows of yarn!  I took a bunch of pics of different yarn I liked.  I picked a chunky yarn for the hat with the pom poms on it, then a thinner yarn for the hat with ears.  Then I grabbed yarn to learn to make a hat for myself, which I'll Google how to do.

Mom was interested in fabric for new living room pillows, so we headed over.  I was so inspired by all the fabric.  I wanted to make so much stuff!!  However, I know how to not spend money I don't have, so I just got some zebra and giraffe patters for Eisley's fleece blanket.  It'll be two-sided and awesome.

Last, we went to the Outlets to go to Loft.  It was so difficult to be in there.  I didn't dare try anything on because I don't need to be buying clothes that I have no use for...which is going to be until I get a job.

My evening and night has been spent putting names on stockings and trying to get Eisley to sleep.  I've been working on her for four hours now... Ugh.

Day 162: Saturday

Eis didn't sleep more than a three hour stretch last night.  Ugh.  There was no way I could go to Zumba after that kind of sleep.

Today was pretty relaxed.  Mom had tried to get me to go on a drive, but I didn't want to and luckily, she got caught up in going through the guest room closet.  I got Eis to take a few naps throughout the day and take a bottle.  I put up the Christmas tree and started fluffing the branches, but haven't finished.

I also helped my mom with her Goodwill/closet endeavour.  She had so many things that were hideous and didn't want to get rid of, despite having never worn them or not worn them in over five years.  Needless to say, my dad's ski jacket from 30 years ago is still in the hall closet... "just in case it gets cold."  She tried to keep hers for that same reason, coupled with, "It's gortex," but I reminded her it has been cold and she's still not worn it because she has a hideous reversible fleece jacket.

I nursed and put Eis in her crib by 1930, while awake, but drowsy.  Instead of falling asleep, she chose to play with her rubadub and the noise giraffe... for three hours.  She didn't cry or fuss, but rolled from her back to her side and would put her face in the giraffe legs and pull on him with one hand, while holding rubadub either in her mouth or other hand.

Eventually, she went to sleep... after another nursing, but was up in two and a half hours.  I noticed she had a dirty diaper, but when I picked her up, I felt that her back was all wet.  I didn't feel a big wet spot on the sheets, but a slightly damp area.  I put a burp cloth over it and commenced changing her diaper.  It was when I pulled off her jammies that I realised she hadn't peed, but had a poop explosion.  I changed her and put new jammies on, then I put her in the swing because I knew I couldn't (nor should she) do another night of just short naps.

Day 161: Friday

Eis slept great last night.  Maybe it's because she's sick...? 

I went to Zumba this morning.  I didn't teach any routines, but it wasn't bad.  She's slowly coming up with more stuff.  We're still doing routines we've done for the past five weeks or however long it's been.

I showered after Zumba, fed Eis, then left for rehab.  Kim and I discussed my back pain from the weekend and I realised (before saying anything) that it wasn't due to anything we did at rehab because all the things we did would have targeted my hips, not my back.  I didn't do anything strange in Zumba and I didn't have any moments with Eis where I'd done something and known that it was "wrong."

She had me side-step on the treadmill for five minutes on each side.  Then she had me lay on one of the tables and the checked out my hips and pelvis to see where it was in relation to where it should be... and she told me that my left side was now rotated forward, whereas when we started a few weeks ago, it was rotated back.  She did some adjustments and moved it where she wanted it.  

Next, she massaged my psoas muscles.  I could really feel that into my back -- yeow!!  After she was done with that, she turned me on my stomach and mashed on my SI and pulled on my left leg cause I was having pains in my hip, too.  

I did core strengthening with the pressure cuff under me and she tried to loosen up the muscles along my spine, since my pain "spot" kept moving around and she was tired of chasing it.  I left after an hour, feeling pretty good.

It was when I got in the car and looked at my phone (no phones in rehab) that I learned I have some anger issues.  Ty had texted me at the exact moment I said I would be unavailable.  I tried to text him, hoping he'd wake up, but to no avail.  It apparently made me livid.  

I got home and I was a huge bitch cause I was so mad.  There were obviously a lot of underlying issues that went along with him being unavailable, but it must've been the straw that broke this camel's back because daaaamn.  

My mom said, "Don't do anything rash or say anything because you're just upset right now,"  "It's not that bad," and, "You can't punish him for sleeping," to which I replied, "Watch me."  

Perhaps I become ragingly angry because I have to be strong.  I can't cry because I have to be in control and capable.  Yet, there's a lot going on and I obviously can't handle it all without losing my cool.  

I didn't go to dinner for my dad's birthday because I didn't want to take Eis out and expose her to people.  Plus, I knew that if she fussed, she'd be much harder to console.  She had napped great all day, so my mom thought I was being a bit too cautious.  However, Eis woke soon after they left and was a huge fuss bucket until they got home (five-ish) hours later.  When I told her that, not only did Eis not go to sleep, but she fussed almost constantly unless I was holding her, she said it was good I didn't go.  

I was beat, so they put her down while I went to sleep... unfortunately, she was up about an hour later.

Day 160: Thursday

Eis slept seven hours, then three! Wow.  I still spend about two hours getting her down, but 2215-0515 was great.  We both woke up before my alarm went off this morning, so I was leisurely getting ready for Zumba after I fed Eis.

I go to Zumba a bit early, so I called to make a doctor appointment for Eisley.  She had been sounding hoarse and I wanted to have her checked out.

Zumba was great.  I taught three routines and Sabrina had a new one.  When I got home, Dad was holding Eis in the living room and rocking.  He said he'd had to hold her pretty much the whole time I was gone because she'd cry when he'd try to put her down anywhere.

I took her from Dad after I showered.  She was definitely not feeling well.  She would scream and cry and it was so pitiful because her voice was so hoarse.  I finally got her to nurse.  She had a dirty diaper and so I put her on the changing table and leaned over her.  She cried in any other position, so I didn't really have much choice, since I knew she was hungry.

I changed her from her jammies for the doctor, then I realised that Dr. E couldn't access her chest in what she had on, so I changed her back into what she'd been wearing.  It wasn't long before we had to head out to get there on time.

I popped a 100 calorie bag of popcorn, since I was hungry, and we left.  I, somehow, forgot how to get there and didn't exit properly, so I had to take some back-roads to get there.  I was cursing my stupidity for about five solid minutes.

Dr. E said a lot of kids have what Eis has right now.  I can give her Tylenol, warm baths, and keep her eating and it'll go away in 3-5 days (or 7 at the most).  We scheduled her four month appointment and came home.  Not long after we got home, Ty texted and we chatted for a bit.

I was exhausted and it was time to feed Eis, so I decided to nurse in my room on the bed.  I laid her next to me and let her nurse while I zoned in and out.  She eventually fell asleep and I had the lightest sleep ever, since I didn't want to move and I kept listening to her and making sure she was ok.  After an hour, she woke up, so I changed her diaper.  I carried her around and outside, so we could let Puck potty and she passed out on my shoulder.

I put her in the bassinet and rolled her into the dining room.  I finished getting all my stocking stuff laid out and decided to work while she napped more.  First, I grabbed my iPad, so I could put on some white noise for her and I listened to Pandora Radio with my headphones and my iPhone.  It was about 40 minutes before Eis woke up.

She nursed, then hung out in the kicking coaster and with my dad until Mom got home.  I made dinner -- hot dogs -- and then she napped some more.  She's been asleep for a bit over an hour now... though I don't know what her sleep will be like tonight.  She's been really... calm and fussy (varying from one extreme to the other) today.

I have Zumba and rehab tomorrow, plus it's Dad's birthday.  I will undoubtedly stay home tomorrow night, so I don't have to take Eis out when she's not feeling well.  It's just too chilly out for her.

Day 159: Wednesday

I need to work-out.  I haven't since Friday.  Jeesh!  I'll get to go tomorrow, Friday, and possibly Saturday, if she does a class.

I couldn't go this morning because we had to leave early to get to CenTex in time for the SCM.  I wanted to leave at 0900, but Puck wouldn't poop, so we were about 22 minutes behind schedule.  Good news was that they changed the speed limit on I-35 to 75MPH in the more "rural" stretches, so that helped.  There were still people going about 10MPH over and getting pulled over... I guess it'll never be fast enough for some people.

We got to Heights and I nursed Eisley for about 8 minutes, then had to head out.  I still only got to the III Corps Headquarters at 1120, even leaving the house at 1048.  However, I made it.  Eis was swooned over by everyone and the guys downrange got to see her, too.  She was very alert and happy.  However, a few minutes into the meeting, she didn't like sitting still, so I stood up and rocked her in my arms.  Eventually, that wasn't enough and I took her into the hallway so she wouldn't scream and interrupt the meeting.

She didn't do hardly any "crying," but just occasional shrieks of irritation.  She was tired, but wouldn't go to sleep.  After about 25 minutes, she passed out in my arms and I was able to sneak back into the meeting for the end of it.

Unfortunately, after the guys signed off the VTC, we still had to sit through 20 minutes of meeting crap. Then I had to wait until everyone finished chatting because we had to be escorted out and thus, had to go as a group!  So, instead of getting back to the house at 1300, I was leaving post at 1310.

I was totally starving because I hadn't had a chance to eat anything all day.  My yogurt was sour and I didn't have time to stop at Starbucks and I couldn't take anything into the meeting.  I asked Dad if we could stop by Sonic on the way home.  I got a new toaster melt (mushroom and swiss) and a small malt and he got a large malt.  He loves the Sonic chocolate malts.  They put a lot of malt in them, which makes him happy.  He can rarely find a malt that is up to his standards.

I worked on stockings this evening.  All I have left to do is make and put hangers on them, put names on them, and then put the stars on them.  I think I can get that done.  If I don't have time, then I won't put names on them.

I got the book about babies and sleep and am going to commence reading now... I'll let you know how it goes.

Tonight I got her down by 2115, so that's improvement, especially considering it was with minimal crying.  Hopefully, I can do even better tomorrow.

Day 158: Tuesday

"Slept in" this morning until 1030.  Though I was waking every 15-30 minutes from about 0700 until 0830 cause Eis would cry.  Eventually, she slept from 0845 to 1030, too.

My Baby 411 book says to get a baby on a schedule around three months of age.  Eis is three months and I don't really have her on a schedule... I just kinda follow her lead.  It said to start by keeping a log of when they sleep, wake, and eat and after a week, it'll be obvious when they need to be put down for naps.  Apparently, if they're showing signs of being tired, then they're already overly tired and thus, more difficult to put down for a nap/sleep.

I don't know why, but today, Eis would get tired after being awake for around an hour and fifteen minutes. The first time, I put her in her crib, sang her a song, and she passed out for about an hour.  The next time she slept an hour, but it was much harder to get her to sleep.

I also read that it's important to do the same routine every time they go to sleep or take a nap and they should sleep in the same place.  Plus, they should go to bed between 1900 - 2030.  Unfortunately, with Eisley's crazy schedule today of sleeping for an hour, then up for an hour and a half, she was exhausted by 1830.

I decided to try to put her to sleep at 1830 anyway and hope for the best.  It was definitely not the best... more like the worst.  She finally fell asleep at 2245.  It took OVER FOUR HOURS to get her to sleep and I had to break down and put her in the swing!  How incredibly irritating!!!  It was either put her in the swing or Tyler would come home to only one family member.

I asked my mom to check the library tomorrow for a sleep book.  I need some extra knowledge.  I try to Google stuff, but all I ever get it people with anecdotes and no solutions or stupid solutions that don't work.  I need to find a solution for a baby who LOATHES to sleep and will NEVER stop moving and cannot stand to be in a diaper that even slightly wet.  I swear she pees half, then cries because it's wet.  Is relieved when I change her and pees the other half!  But she'll just cry and scream if you wait for her to pee all of it... unless she's sleeping.  When she's in a deep sleep, she'll fill up that diaper.

Day 157: Monday

I didn't go to Zumba this morning because my back was aching and my neck was stabbing and I didn't think it would be my best idea to hurt them more.  I slept until 0900 or so.  I had rehab scheduled for noon, but got a call around 1000 asking if I could reschedule because Kim was sick.  She didn't have anything tomorrow and I am gone Wednesday, so we decided to just hold off until Friday, when my next appointment is, anyway.

I let Eis nap in my arms for an hour and a half, while my mom ran some errands.  Then I got dressed and ready to go see Dr. P.

I asked him about PT and if everything seemed like what he wanted to be happening; I made sure that my back flaring up was ok; I mentioned my neck pain; then we discussed options.  He said if my back continued to be a bother in my SI, then we could visit the possibility of an SI injection.  We agreed that I would do more physical therapy and only do the injection if the pain was just not subsiding.

The rest of the day was: making lists about what to take to Conroe for TG, Christmas possibilities, travel, winter outfits for Eis, and chatting with Ty.  Though, after dinner, I bathed Eisley and Puck, and showered, myself!

I got to work on the stockings a bit this evening, though I'm going to need a lot more time to finish them, plus do another 14.  It's just hard to get anything done while taking care of Eisley.

I need to purchase iMovie to make all the movies of Eisley.  I'll have to look into that.

Day 156: Sunday

I'm actually writing on the correct day.  Today, Sunday, is day 156.  Usually I write a day or two behind.

I was looking forward to sleeping in, but after only three hour stretches all night, it didn't really happen.  It kind of did, in that at 0800, I called my mom and had her take Eisley so I could nap for another two hours.

My back was still killing me when I woke up, so I decided to get a massage today.  I called Massage Harmony in Westlake, but they didn't answer, nor did they call back within 45 minutes or answer any of the other three times I called.  I decided to try 26 Doors on 38th Street and they had an availability at 1815. I figured that was fine and I'd go run errands before the massage.

My mom got ready and we left around 1330.  First, we stopped at the library and Mom returned her audiobooks and got new ones, then she grabbed a book I'd been debating buying on my iPad.  Then, we went to Petco and I bought Puck more vitamins ($40 -- yikes!) and Mom got Jamie's dog, Prince, a harness.  Then we went next door and Mom mailed the harness and some earrings to Jamie.  While we were in there, we found an iPhone, so I grabbed it and was writing a note with my email and phone number for whomever lost it and the girl showed up -- yay! -- so I was able to give it to her and not leave my info out for the world to see.

Then we walked over to Michael's and bought a couple things to help me decorate the stockings.  Martha made 17, which will go to the single soldiers and I'll make 33, which will go to the rest of the guys.

Our last stop was the grocery store.  I picked up a few things for Tyler and mom bought some stuff with which to stuff the stockings.  I also bought cider, tea, and cocoa... I am always wanting dessert, so that'll help.  It'll be like dessert, but not so caloric.  I also got some cream of mushroom soup from the soup counter -- it was so rich and delicious!

Once home, I ate my soup, then read for a little bit.  Mom had told me to rest and she'd take care of Eis until I went to get my massage.  Eis got a bit too frantic for my mom, so I got her, nursed her for a bit, then put her down to nap.  Then I grabbed my stuff and left for my massage.

My massage was amazing.  I had a cute girl, though dressed strange, who suggested asiatsu (where they use their feet).  I agreed and stripped down.  Stacia (my girl) cleaned her feet, which were beautifully manicured, and sat up by my head and used her hands and feet to massage my back.  It was so great!  It was deep and long strokes, which are what I prefer when getting a massage and the perfect pressure.  Eventually, she stood up and would hold on to the bars on the ceiling and use one foot at a time, so I never had her full weight on my back.  It was a fantastic new experience and I'm glad I don't say "no" to stuff or I would have missed out, big time!

My back felt better overall, but I've still got some achy bones.  I am going to call Dr. P in the morning and see if he has any availability tomorrow.  I have rehab at noon, so I'll be able to tell Kim that I'm dying, too.

Not only is my back hurting more than it has in ages, but my right ear still echoes and I am fighting an ingrown toenail in my left big-toe.  How irritating!  My dad and I worked on my toe this afternoon and it hurt more the rest of the day.  And just a bit ago, I checked it out again, then put hydrogen peroxide and neosporin on it.  I had to put a bandaid on so I wouldn't mess up my sheets and now I can feel it throbbing against the bandaid.  It's an odd feeling.

I would love to just be whole and healthy.

I do have the one surgery looming in the not-too-distant future, but maybe that'll be it for me.  Maybe I'll never have to have another surgery after this one.  It would be nice to know that were the case.

Day 155: Sleepy

So, Eis went to sleep at 2100 last night. Slept five hours.  Then slept from 0215 to 0515...Then from 0530 to 0900.  It was a good night.

My folks left at 1300 to go see friends for the day.

Eis and I caught up on our TV shows.  Well,  I did and she: nursed, peed, pooped, kicked in her kicker, napped, and repeated.

She napped for two to three hours, which I thought was fantastic.

It was fantastic until she was antsy and irritable the rest of the evening and wouldn't sleep.  She didn't nap anymore and just wanted to fuss.

I got a lot of work done on the stockings, though I still don't have a single one that's complete.  I'm doing each piece, then going to put them all together.  Plus, it's hard to get a decent stretch of time where I can just use the glue gun without distraction.

Around 2300, my parents got home.  Eis had fallen asleep, but it had only lasted 23 minutes and was up screaming and wanting a new diaper.  I set her on the changer and waited for my parents to come in to do it.  When they did, Dad changed her, and I got a back massage from Mom.  Dad even rocked and lulled Eisley to sleep.  Eventually he left and she woke up again.  This time she was hungry, so I nursed her and she fell asleep.

She only slept for three hour stretches all night!  Ugh.  It hurt.

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On another note, I've been looking up flights to go to DC.  I found some or $129 each way (plus taxes/fees) the first week of December, but there's a stop going and coming.  I can't do eight hours of traveling with Eis.  I need a nonstop, so I've been trying to find some.  I'll have to check United flights.  I don't know of anyone else who does nonstop.

I still need to find out if they are able to rent a carseat, stroller, and place for her to sleep.

Day 154: Rehab

I only had about seven people in Zumba this morning.  I don't know if it was the extremely cold weather or that they just don't like me or it's just too much work to come face fifteen entirely different routines.  I'm hoping it's the first or third.

The ladies who were there told me they loved my class, music, and routines.  I know I'd fare better with a younger crowd.

After Zumba, I showered, took care of Eisley, then left for rehab.  She had me side-step on the treadmill for 10 minutes (five minutes/side), then she watched me walk.  I had my sneakers on, which masked some issues, so she had me take my sneakers off.  She also rolled my pants up above my knees and lifted the back of my shirt up to watch my spine.

Overall, it was a good look.  She said I'm walking from higher in my spine, which is causing the pain around my T6/T7.  She also noticed a wobble in my right knee and ankle.  She said I need to strengthen my foot, and hip, which should help correct the inward bend of my knee when I push off to walk.

I did some hip strengthening exercises lying against the wall.  They were harder on my left side than my right. Then she watched me walk again and said the problem was a bit better.   Next, she had me do an exercise to strengthen a muscle in my foot.  It was really difficult, but more mental gymnastics than anything.

I sat with my feet flat on the ground.  She put a penny under the ball of my big toe and a pen under the arch of my foot.  I had to keep my "toe" touching the penny, keep my heel on the ground, keep all my toes relaxed, and lift my arch away from the pen.  It doesn't seem that hard, but if you actually set that up and try to do it, it's difficult.  I found myself tensing up my hands while trying to do it.  After I mastered the action, she had me hold it for 10 seconds then relax for a few reps.  Then I had to do it on the other foot!  It was not any easier trying to figure out how to move my left after doing my right.

Look at your foot right now and try to move just the arch without moving anything else and without rolling your foot to the side...

It's hard, right?!

She also mashed on my spine and found where it was aching and pushed it back into place and pushed my sacrum back, too, since it was wonky again.

I cleaned up a bit for the maids when I got home and then I got Mom to agree to get her hair done where I had mine done last year.  We headed up there and she tried to tell the stylist that she wanted Lisa Rinna's hair.  However, I butted in and asked what she kind of hairstyle she thought my mom should have and would be easy.

She told my mom pretty much everything I'd been telling her.  It's astounding how often I'm right.  I don't see why everyone doesn't listen to me in the first place :)

She didn't cut much because she told my mom that she needed to continue to grow her hair (as I had said) and did help her to style it better and show her what products to use or not use.  My mom was using too many products on her hair and pretty much just needs hairspray.

Her hair looked amazing, but when we got home, my dad said, "Oh GOD! What did you do?"  Not dramatic at all, right?  He's very conservative and doesn't like change, which is impossible to do in life.  Her hair looked terrible before and he's only liked it about once, but she can never duplicate a haircut or style and even if she does, he doesn't have much positive to say.

It was like this morning when she showed us a blazer she'd purchased and he said he hated it and it looked like crap.  I had to ask what specifically he didn't like (he doesn't like things that "look too small"), which turned out to be the cropped sleeves.  Again, he's not into "fashion" and what's currently stylish.  He's worn the same stuff forever, also because men's fashion doesn't really change that much.

I am trying to get him to calm down and not be so generic with his criticisms because they're not helpful and because it irritates me to no end.  It doesn't help that his hearing is slowly going (which he'll NEVER admit) and if I don't say something loudly and super-clear, he'll say "what" about a hundred times... I told him he's going to have a hell of a time when Eis starts talking because she won't be able to speak where he'll understand.

As great as he is with her, I'm glad I'll be gone when she's walking, talking, and learning to do stuff.  I don't think he will be able to stand her dropping, spilling, and messing things up all the time.  He'll probably just implode or something.

Day 153: Zumba

This morning I had to plug my phone in to the laptop to add a song, but it changed my whole playlist.  Luckily, I had a feeling it might, so I wrote down all my songs for class in order, so I just had to adjust it a bit once I unplugged it.

Zumba was great.  I only had five people, but that's about usual for a Thursday.  The time is weird, so there are never many people there.  I wouldn't go to a 0940 class except for the fact that it's "free" and I need to exercise.

I had a lot of fun and the girls did great, considering most everything was new to them!

I got home, showered, took care of Eis and got her to nap for a little bit.  Then we got ready and went to see grandma at her school.

I didn't tell her we were coming.  We just showed up and on our way to her classroom, everyone gushed at how adorable Eisley is.  We even ran into m OB, Dr. A, who said how much Eis looks like her daddy.  We hung out in my mom's classroom for a little bit and I changed two diapers while we were there.

Finally, we left and went to the mall, since Macy's was having a big sale and baby stuff was on sale, too.  We got her a number of wintery jammies.  Then we stopped by Express so I could try on that leather jacket -- it just didn't fit right and wasn't exactly what I wanted.  After that, we were heading to Nordstrom and ran into a store called Children's Place and found some super cute stuff and decent prices, so we got Eis a fleece jacket and a furry vest -- they're adorable.

In Nordstrom, I ran into a friend from Hyline.  She has a one year old son and she looks amazing, but she always looked amazing -- one of those naturally slender women.  We chatted for a bit and she loved Eis, who was being great and not fussing.

After we left the mall, we stopped by Walgreens where I got my dad a birthday card, and picked up a couple other things, then we headed home.

After dinner, I worked on the stockings.  I finished putting the fuzzy tops on and started making the decoration to go on them.  Sadly, after I finish these 20, I have 20 more to make!  Yikes!

I'm trying to get Eisley to sleep in her crib -- we'll see how she does.  I've fixed the boppy into a thing to help prop her up how she likes.

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On another note, I'm hoping she'll potty train early, otherwise we'll go broke on diapers!  Supposedly, babies go through 8-12 diapers a day.  She goes through THREE after almost every feeding!  

1100: 3 diapers
1400: 3 diapers
1700: 3 diapers
2000: 3 diapers
2300: 3 diapers
0400: 1 diaper
0700: 1 diaper
0900: 1 diaper

That's EIGHTEEN diapers a day.  I am buying a box of 264, which costs $50 and it takes me about 2 weeks to go through that.  Ugh.  Beyond being expensive, it's just a pain to have to change diapers that often.

My dad said, "But you change her every time she's even a little bit wet."  However, it's not that I want to change her; she cries and fusses when she's even a little bit wet!  I can't let her just cry until she pees enough to make it worthwhile...

Day 152: Dentist

I was a bit surprised that Sabrina didn't have me teach any routines today, since I'll be teaching the next two days.  She knows the class has trouble learning one new routine, much less fifteen... Oh well.

On my way home, I stopped by Dr. N's office to ask about my cracked molars.  He said to come back at 1300 to get them looked at to see if anything needed to be done.  I went home, showered, took care of Eis, and played with her a bit before I headed back out to the dentist.

I thought I'd be gone at least an hour.  However, he looked around, blew air on my teeth, and said it was fine.  He said he never would have noticed if I hadn't pointed it out and it's a superficial crack and because I'm not symptomatic that there's no point in doing anything to them.  He said if I were to keep grinding, then maybe, but I am not grinding.  However, I am not grinding because I am consciously telling myself not to do so!  It will just continue to bother me, I guess.

At dinner, I noticed that Puck was panting.  As it was not hot and he was not running, I knew he didn't feel well.  I figured it was his ears because he was flapping a little.  I told dad that I'd make him dessert if he cleaned Puck's ears.  My mom gave him a baby aspirin and they cleaned his ears and put meds in them.  I then made chocolate mini cupcakes for dessert.

It really makes a difference to use good cocoa powder!  The desserts taste exponentially better, though the cocoa powder is at least three times as expensive.

I tried to work on my stockings, but between cooking and Eisley, it wasn't happening.

Day 151: Stockings

Today I did a LOT.

I took numerous short naps until it was about 1100.  Then after feeding Eisley, I began making dinner.  Yes, dinner.

I was making pumpkin turkey chili and it would take at least four hours to cook in the crockpot, so I had to start early.  I "browned" the turkey, chopped the onions and garlic, sautéed them, then put it all in the crockpot.

Then I had pumpkin leftover, so I made some healthy pumpkin oatmeal bars.

I did all this cooking, while changing diapers every 30 minutes or so for about an hour and a half.

Next, I needed start my stockings.  I cut out a stencil, copied it to some cardboard, then cut that out and copied the stencil to the felt to cut out.  I cut out 20 stockings.

After dinner, I glued the stockings, then cut out and glued the fuzzy tops onto them.