Day 211: New Year's Eve Day

I am exhausted.  Eisley slept an EIGHT hour stretch last night -- wow.  I had zumba this morning and have been going, since.

I showered, then nursed Eis, then Mom and I headed out to run a couple errands.  We first went to Orvis because Martha had bought some gloves for me there and I wanted to exchange them.  They were $59! For  gloves!!  That's nuts.  What's worse is that I couldn't find anything I wanted in exchange, so I got a store credit that I will give to Ty.  They had outdoorsy stuff that he may be interested in... we'll see.

Then we went to Sephora and I bought two make-up brushes and a set of mini-make-up brushes for my purse.  I had $50 from the Espinozas, so I was able to put it to good use.  After, Mom and I waked to Starbucks and drank our drinks in the sun on the patio with Eisley, before heading back to Sephora.  I had smelled a rollerball perfume that I really liked and Mom said she'd buy it for me!  Yay!!

I had been looking at the Issey Miyake rollerball, since I've liked that fragrance for a few years, but the Jennifer Aniston smelled different to what I usually buy, so I got it.  I think I still want the Issey Miyake in the future though.  However, on my way through the checkout line, I saw this set by Tocca and I glanced and saw the magic words, "Ivory gardenia," and fell in love with the Florence scent.  Though, since the entire set is $18 and is five different scents, I think that's an amazing deal.  It's variety and travel-friendly.  I really want it, too.  Maybe I can get those for my birthday or some other gift-receiving holiday.  I just need to remember to ask for them :/

The rest of the day was same ol', same ol'.
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A Year in Review:  2011 at a Glance

Highlights of 2011 included the following...

1. Learning I had cancer (while Tyler was away, training, for the month)
2. Not being able to work out for 50% of the year.
3. Learning I was having a baby girl
4. Thyroid surgery (while awake) during my second trimester
5. My husband deploying to Afghanistan
6. Packing and moving
7. The hottest and driest summer EVER.
8. Having a baby while Ty was on Skype
9. Thyroid surgery... part two
10. Losing my hair

I have had people ask, "So, you ready for the new year?" and without thinking, I'd say, "Sure. It's coming anyway, I might as well face it."  I never thought of 2011 as being a particularly "bad" or "rough" year, even though, when I look at the major events of it... it most certainly was!  I suppose it will be nice to start a new year, since it stands a chance of being better than this one.  There's only one thing that could make it worse, but I don't like to think about anything happening to Tyler.  He has to come home "healthy, happy, and whole," as I always pray, and our lives have to become something else.

I have a few fewer friends now than I did 10 years ago.  At the start of last decade, I had a great group of guy friends and one best girl and I was both finishing high school and starting college.  It was an amazing decade.  I wouldn't trade any of it and I would do it all again.  I would certainly do a few things better than I did the first time, but I learned, regardless, from all the good and bad.

I hope my travels aren't over, but I will be appreciative of my life, even if they are, for I was lucky (and independent) enough to get to travel all over:

       France 
Paris
       Germany
Frankfurt
Munich
Heidelberg
Bacharach
Hohenschwangau
Füssen
       Switzerland
Interlaken
Murren
Gimmelwald
Thun
Berne
       Belgium
Brussels
Brugge
Austria
       England
Oxford
Bath
Stonehenge
Moors
       Ireland 
Dublin
Belize
Jamaica
Grand Cayman
Yucatan Peninsula
Cozumel
Puerto Rico
St. Thomas
St. Maarten
Haiti
Bahamas
        Canada
Calgary
Vancouver
Banff
Victoria
       Alaska
Hoonah
Juneau
Skagway
       Italy
Rome
Venice
Sorrento
Tuscany
Pisa
Naples
Cinque Terre
Amalfi
       England
London
Manchester
Penzance
Rochester
Broadstairs
Birmingham
Ipswich
Cornwall
       Ireland
Limerick
       Slovenia
Ljubljana
Lake Bled
Skocjan Caves
Predjamska Jama
        Spain
Sevilla
Faro
       Portugal
Lisbon
Obidos
Monte Gordo
Gibraltar
Tenerife


Those are just the "foreign" locations I managed to visit this past decade.  I was able to see many stateside locations, as well.

I am exhausted, so I will go to sleep now and dream of a better 2012... and if the world ends on December 21, I won't care, as long as Tyler is at home with me.

Day 210: Heights

Of course the days when I want/need Eisley to sleep a decent stretch, she doesn't.  She woke up at 0620 and I had to wake up at 0700.  I had to spend 20 minutes with her before she went back to sleep, then I got to nap long enough to make me remember how tired I was.

I got up, dressed, moved the car seat to my car, and put the poinsettia and wreath stuff in the back.  Then I got the jumperoo, lunch, and drinks and finished loading the car.  I came in to get Eisley and her diaper bag and then my dad and I left for Heights by 0800.  We made good enough time to stop in Georgetown so I could get a drink at Starbucks.

When we got to Heights, I took all my stuff inside and Emery showed up as I was getting Eisley.  He and my dad set to work straightaway.  It took an hour and forty-five minutes for them to get all the big stuff and they were done, since my dad was there all day yesterday getting everything he could carry on his own.  While they worked, I sat on the floor next to Eisley and made a new wreath for the front door.

I tried not to do anything that seemed seasonal.  Plus, I tried not to do anything too girly, but it's quite difficult.  All I can think of when I see the wreath is a lush forest floor.  I like it quite a bit, but it was hard to choose colours.  I thought about only greens, but dark and light felt springy, so did using most colours.  Dark purple was the only colour that didn't trigger a specific season, in my mind.

What do you think?  I think I have good vision, based on this and previous things I've made...

When the guys finished, I gave Emery some money and food I'd bought him and he headed out.  Dad went to the storage place to sweet it out and pick up the dolly.  I packed everything up and put Eis in the car and when Dad got back, we headed home.

It was 1320 by the time we got home.  I nursed Eisley, then got out of the way of the maids by taking Eis out back to sit with Dad and Puck.  When the maids were done in the main part of the house, we went in and began working on refinancing the house.  It cost $350 already, which we will get back if we're not approved or will be applied toward the closing costs when we are approved -- I paid this with Ty's credit card, since I was on his bank page, not mine.  I started off on mine, but he's the borrower and the only one with an income, so I had to switch it over.

I put Eisley down for a nap with the intent that we would all go out to dinner when she woke up.  However, she only napped for 40 minutes.  I knew she'd be fussy, so I sent my parents to go and bring me back some food.

Eis nursed, then sat in my lap for 15 minutes.  She was getting tired again, so I put her in the crib for another nap.  I sang songs, I read, I soothed her, but she was not happy.  Eventually, I tried putting her in the swing, but even that was no use.  I changed two diapers during her fuss-fest and finally my folks came home.  I gave her to them and they did all they could to calm her down.

However, it was no use.  When I finished eating, I took her for her bath, then tried to nurse her, but she was too fussy.  I knew she needed to eat and she definitely won't eat from her spoon when she's screaming, so I put some formula and a bit of oatmeal cereal in a bottle and had my mom give that to her.  She really enjoyed it and was happy as a clam while eating.  After a couple burps, I took her and nursed her.  She fell asleep while nursing, so I put her in her crib to sleep.  She just woke up a minute ago... after sleeping 45 minutes :(

Day 209: Errands

I must be quick, since I have to get to bed here pretty soon.  Not only am I exhausted, but I have to be up early, too.

Today, by the time I was up, Mom was already dressed and said she was ready to go when I was.  So, I didn't get to shower this morning, but threw on some clothes and a hat, then got Eis ready and we headed out to run errands.

Dad was in Heights doing more moving.  He got all the things he could move on his own and tomorrow we will go back and he will have help to get the last few loads of heavy things. Emory will be there to help, but we have to be there by 0930, since Emory has to go to Waco for some baseball stuff at 1145.

Mom and I drove to Starbucks, first, to start our day.  She gets a tall, toffee-nut cappuccino with whipped cream.  It's a strange drink because a cappuccino is like half foam, so it's strange to put something heavy, like whipped cream, on the foam.  Though she prefers cappuccinos to lattes because she doesn't like so much liquid.  I told her she should order a short latte because she'd get the same amount of liquid, but it'd be cheaper and she wouldn't have to mess with all that foam.  She's not trying it, though.

After we got our drinks, we drove to the UPS store and I dropped off the lockbox for the house, since I finally was able to get it removed.  I was pleased to have that off my plate!  Since Eis was napping, we decided to go to Buy Buy Baby, since it was furthest away and would give Eis the longest time to nap.

We bought some bath toys, ordered the high chair, and got another winter hat and a couple pair of gloves for her.  After, we drove to Hobby Lobby because I needed to pick up a few things.  I had an idea for how I wanted our Christmas tree decorated next year and went to buy the stuff, since it was on sale.  I also picked up some things with which to make a new wreath for the door of the house in Heights.  Our other one was dead and crumbling, plus I wanted one that didn't feel seasonal.

When we finished at Hobby Lobby, we drove to the mall.  We exchanged my house shoe/boots and I got slippers and leg warmers, instead.  The boots were too big, but one size down was too small, so I had to get something else.  After we left Nordstrom, we went to the food court because Mom was hungry.  Eis napped while Mom ate some soup.  I wasn't too hungry, so the few samples I ate was plenty to satiate my belly.

Macy's was our next stop where we looked at baby stuff.  I scanned the tag of the outfit the Espinoza's had bought and we asked if it could be exchanged, even though we didn't have a gift receipt.  She said that they didn't carry Ralph Lauren for babies (Domain does, though), it could still be exchanged.  I looked around and found an adorable set with a romper and a dress for almost three dollars less than the other outfit cost.  It's a nine month age, but it's summery, sine she'll be nine months around summer.  We also looked for shoes for my mom's New Year's Eve party, but she couldn't find anything she liked that she could wear.

We headed home after a few uneventful stops and let Eisley finish her nap in the car, while we unloaded and started organising the house.  They maids are coming tomorrow, so things have to be picked up, so they can clean.  Mom went to Stein Mart while I made a veggie burger and took care of Eisley.  Before I ate, I nursed Eis and did her nails and she seemed to be tooting a lot.  It was really smelly and when I got up, I decided to check her diaper and she'd pooped!  It was bigger than her fist and not like baby poop, but like regular poop.  It was so strange and gross because it stunk.  Booo for stinky poop, not to mention, it was more difficult to clean her bum.

When Mom and Dad got home, I left to run to HEB to pick up some food and drinks for tomorrow, since Eisley was napping.  She woke up a few minutes before I got back, so I fed her, then put her in the jumperoo and let her watch some Baby Einstein while I showered.  My mom was shocked at how attentive Eisley was with the Baby Einstein video.  After jumping, we did some tummy time, then took a bath, read some stories, and went to bed.

I have to be in the car by 0800 and I think that may be cutting it close, if there's traffic.  I still have to put the car seat back into my car from the Lexus, so I will probably get up when Eisley wakes up at 0645.  I have to get myself ready, nurse Eisley, get her dressed, make sure our rooms are maid-ready, move the car seat, pack up the jumperoo, pack and bring the cooler, and make sure the diaper bag is ready, plus I have to bring the stuff I purchased today at Hobby Lobby.

Today's picture of the day is something I saw at Buy Buy Baby, which is disgusting. Behold, the Snotsucker:

Day 208: Heights

I have cut out desserts and am trying to eat healthier to help get rid of these last eight pounds.  I decided to start once I got home from Martha's, since it would just be easier.  The only "dessert" I allow myself, is a cup of hot cocoa at night made with water, so it's not too caloric.   I have been dying to do Zumba, since it's been 10 days, at least, since I've been able to work out.

I told my mom I was going to go today and she said she'd get up to watch Eisley.  Unfortunately, Eis woke up at 0640, which meant by the time she finished nursing, I would have about 45 minutes to sleep before I had to get up to get ready to go.  Zumba is so hard to go to in the morning because I would rather sleep than work out because once I'm up, it's impossible to take a nap, even when Eis does.

I dragged myself out of bed, got ready, and was out the door by 0805.  It wasn't until I was on the road that I had a vague memory of a "holiday schedule" email.  Unfortunately, I couldn't check my email until I got to the place and saw no cars.  Luckily, there was Zumba today, however, it was not at 0815, but 0900.  I was irritated; I could have slept another hour!

I went home and sat there trying to figure out when Eis would be awake and when she'd need to nurse.  I checked on her at 0835 and she was waking up a bit, so I nursed her a little before I left, so she could make it until I got home.  

Class was a Zumba/bootcamp combination and lasted an hour and a half.  I wore my ankle weights which added five pounds and it didn't feel too difficult.  Needless to say, I don't feel that way, now.  When I got home, I showered and figured my weights had stained the tops of my feet where they had rested, so I scrubbed, but the marks didn't come off... turns out they're bruises.

No, it's not bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was surprising.  Everytime I saw my feet, today, I thought, "Really? Wow."  Also you can see the results of my pedicure, too.  I chose a glittery polish from Katy Perry's line of colours... I think via OPI.

Anywho... I showered, dressed, nursed Eis, and got her ready as quickly as I could because we had to get up to Heights to re-move all the stuff from the storage unit BACK into the house.  Mom drove because I was texting with Tyler and we stopped at a Starbucks on the way up, which was nice, since I hadn't eaten anything yet.  

Emory showed up about 20 minutes after we arrived and he and my dad got to work, while Mom and I worked on things in the house.  I vacuumed the master bedroom and living room; I cleaned the vacuum, since it smelled like dog; I put things back together; I also took care of the baby, obviously.  We had a realtor stop by the house to look at it, so he would know what it's like, in case he had any buyers who were in the price range and looking for something similar.

Eventually, Dad and Emory were tired, so we packed up and headed home, except Mom wanted to stop by Loft Outlet and I was with her.  I had to hold Eis the whole time because I didn't have the stroller or Ergo in the big Lexus, but we weren't in there too long.  She's deciding Loft isn't for her.  I suppose that's somewhat true... Loft works best on skinny women.  She's been gaining weight for a while and wanting to lose weight since May.  However, she didn't want to be on a  diet while in Europe and miss out on food.  She didn't want to start when she got home because it was summer and she likes eating out for lunch and dinner.  She didn't want to start dieting when school started because they provided lots of snacks and treats.  She didn't want to start and have to miss Halloween candy... then it was Thanksgiving... then it was Christmas...  There never seems to be a good time.

Odd thing is, she's totally unhappy with her body and she feels better, both mental and physically, when she's thinner -- as we all do.  However, she's too into food to have much self-discipline.  Luckily, my dad gained weight over the past month or so, which means if he has self-control, she'll have a prayer of losing weight.  I will say that it's so much easier to eat healthy when I don't live here, but they pay for my food, so I'll make do.

I am really trying to get back into shape because Tyler is skinnier than me, which drives me nuts, and it just sucks when your clothes either don't fit or they fit, but there's fat and dents to be seen through them.  I miss being skinny and having no dents.  My Zumba instructor is so tiny, but not gross tiny, just very petite and not a drop of fat on her whole body.  I am not sure if that's motivating or disheartening.  As of now, I think the latter because I look at her and think, "Oh, I'll never be that skinny," which is true also because I have a different bone structure/body frame.

My hair is still falling out and my bald spots are expanding.  It's quite sad.  My mom said it breaks her heart every time she sees me pulling hair off my shirt... which is constantly.  My wig should be here in 10-20 working days.  I hope it look ok, if not I'll wear my blonde afro wig.  I know I look good in it :)

Today's picture of the day is Eisley.  She's been eating a few bites of prunes before getting her oatmeal cereal.  I call it chocolate pudding, instead of prunes because prunes are gross.  And she's sporting her new hairstyle: a mohawk.

Tomorrow, I plan on buying a high chair, water-proofer for my Uggs, and stuff with which to make a new wreath for the door of our house in Heights. 

Day 207: Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Eis was incredibly fussy and gassy last night.  She woke up right after I finished blogging, so I didn't get to go to sleep for a bit.  She began screaming and after about 10 minutes, Martha came in and asked if she could hold her.  I, of course, was more than willing to accept help and Martha held her and walked her around, then brought her back about fifteen minutes later.  It was then that Eis finally fell asleep.

Unfortunately, she woke up at 0330 because her belly hurt and was up for thirty minutes because of it.  I was massaging her belly and doing leg things to help her.  She finally let out some toots and was able to get sleepy.  I rolled her to her side and held her legs in a 90º angle and that helped her fall asleep.  Needless to say, I had to sit up while she was fussy, so it woke me up a bit more than I would have preferred.

She took a good nap this morning and I showered, then started getting our stuff together to pack up the car.  When she woke up, I was about done, so I gave her to Sharon and I packed the car.  When I was finished, I took Eis, nursed her, then gave her to Ray while I ate a sandwich.  It was really funny watching her with Ray because he would take a bite of sandwich and she'd stare at him, then he'd put a chip in his mouth and she'd put her fingers to her mouth, mimicking his movements.

We set off and drove home.  It was an easy drive.  Mom drove with me because Dad may have a cold and she didn't want to be confined in a small car with him if he's sick.  When we got home, I nursed Eis while Mom and Dad unpacked the cars, then Mom took Eis to the jumperoo while I unpacked our bags. By then, Eis was ready for a nap.  We had eggs for dinner and I uploaded pics to Flickr until Eis woke up and was ready to eat.

I fed her some prunes and oatmeal cereal, then we watched The Closer and Eis kept squealing and talking almost the entire show.  It was pretty funny and, as I had her in the kitchen, my parents kept turning around to look at her because she was being so incredibly vocal.

After a bit, she was ready to nurse and get a new diaper, which we did and I watched another show I had recorded.  Then we said goodnight and took a bath.  I read a new book to her and finished up book four of Harry Potter and she was out.

I have five pictures to help catch up on from my stint in Conroe.  I have one of Eis putting her fingers to her mouth while Ray ate, another of Ray holding her to show off her new boots, a pic of my manicure with my OPI Shatter nail polish, one of Eisley's crazy food-face, and then Eisley in her jumperoo on Christmas morning.

Day 206: Tired

Eis slept a five hour stretch, then a three, then woke up for an hour and a half and I was so tired. Eventually, we came back to go to sleep, but Ty texted me, so I couldn't go back to sleep, however, she only slept for 45 minutes.

She was then awake long enough for a diaper change, to get dressed, and for me to have time to grab a bite to eat, then she started screaming because she was tired. I out her down and she slept for two and a half hours!

While she was down, we played Bananagrams and I had the best words each time, but only won twice. Some of my words included: hooligan, jettison, turmeric, riesling, queues, and fretted. I think it would be a fun game to play with Tyler.

When eis woke, I nursed her, then my mom, Martha, Eis, and I left to go see Sue and Buzz. We were there a while and martha, mom, and I helped Sue on the computer while Buzzy walked around with Eis. They looked at all the mirrors, the he rocked her in the chair and sang to her and she passed out on his chest. He was so good with her and she really liked being with him.

Time flew and we had to head back home to heat up dinner before we knew it. We stopped by Kroger on the way home and I bought oatmeal cereal and some puréed prunes. I had time to eat real quick when we got back while Eis jumped, then I tried to feed her, but she was too tired and started screaming. It took a while to get her calmed down and then she finally fell asleep.

She slept 45 minutes, during which I worked on a puzzle with my mom and Martha. when she woke, I fed her the oatmeal cereal and a few bites of prunes. She did well eating, then Sharon took her and entertained her until 2115, when I took her for her bath. It was funny during the bath because she gpkeot grabbing her little star sponge thing then trying to suck on it, which is gross. She would make a face when she did put it in her mouth, then whine and I would pull it out of her hands.

I got her to sleep fairly easily tonight and I, myself, am totally exhausted. I will either go home tomorrow or Wednesday... I'm not yet sure.

Day 205: Christmas

Eis slept ok last night, but she is a bit constipated, I noticed, as she hasn't pooped in three days. I imagine it's the rice cereal, since I read that it can do that. So, I don't know why it's recommended to start with over oat or barley, if they're less likely to cause constipation.

I dressed her in her new dress today, with her tights and boots. After breakfast, we all went to the living room to open presents, so I out eisley in her jumperoo in the middle of us, so she could see everything. She watched us all open stuff and I showed her things that were hers. Puck was excited about his bones, though I told him we would have Hanukkah for him, since he couldn't have all his bones in one day; I don't think he would understand opening them, but not getting them.

Anyway, I got: two pair of earrings, house shoes, Uggs, nail polish, a hat, two pair of gloves, VS undies, face powder, eyebrow gel, modelling clay, and possibly some other small things.

Eis took decent naps today, between 45 minutes to an hour, so she was not super fussy. She took one of those naps as we were eating dinner, so that was nice to not have to worry about her while I ate. Then she bounced and I danced around to music, while puck laid next to Martha and rested his head on her leg -- it was sweet.

We started watching a movie and I didn't think eis would make it through, but she and Martha played and chatted in the other room and she didnt fuss once! I didn't get to finishe the movie because Martha, eis and I went to pick my folks up from the airport. When we got back, we had chocolate martinis, then I bathed eis and put her to bed. It took her a long time to fall asleep; she just kept talking and talking before she finally gave in and passed out.

I got to chat with Ty today for eight minutes, which is better than nothing, but I was mad at myself for missing it the first time he called. It's my first Christmas without him and it's just not like Christmas when he's not here. It was like when I was in England and everyone else was in the Christmas spirit, but to me it just felt kind of lonely and cold. I'm lonely and cold without Tyler.

Day 204: Christmas Eve Day

Eis was up every three-ish hours last night. For the most part, she went right back to sleep, but it was still not great. She also didn't nap for shit today...and speaking of shit, she hasn't pooped yesterday or today. I suppose her body is just trying to get used to real food. Dr. E said she wouldn't worry if she went three days without pooping, so I suppose I'll worry Monday if there's been nothing by then.

I had to put puck in the shower with me today because he rolled in poop yesterday when Martha had him. I thought something had smelled odd, but didn't register that it was poo, until I took off his jingle bell collar and saw the poo on it. I tossed out the collar, then wiped puck down with a washcloth, then sprayed some of my poo-pourri on his neck, since I couldn't bathe him last night. Anyway, it was a pain to shower him because he doesn't exactly stand under the water, so I was bending down a lot. Plus, I had to blow dry him again. Talk about irritating.

I tried to put eis in her jumperoo more today, in hopes of her getting worn out and napping better. It did not work. Her naps were all 30-40 minutes. I even drove around, hoping for her to get a good nap in the car, but she woke up before I got back to the house.

I couldn't even go to the movie today because she was so off her schedule. Though, it wasn't a movie I cared too much about. I have already missed so many that I'm not much fussed anymore.

I did play a mid-morning game of Bananagrams (or something) with Martha and Max. I was behind for 2/3 of the game, then pulled ahead and won. For those who don't know the game, it's similar to Scrabble, but you have 21 tiles (depending on the number of players) and you have to use all your letters to make your own scrabble-type grid. When you finish your tiles, you say, "Peel," and everyone takes a tile from the pile. However, if you have a letter you don't want, you say, "Dump," put it the pile, and pick three new tiles in place of it. And you just keep going until the pile is gone and the first person to use all their tiles, once the pile is gone, wins, assuming all their words are legit.

I used the word "polygon" last time we were here. Today, I had the letters for "trapeze" as my first word. Other than that, I didn't get much done today. Eisley was a handful with her crap naps. I fed her the rice cereal, which she eats with gusto. I just hold the spoon and wai til she's ready and opens her mouth -- it's quite cute. My parents will be here tomorrow, so I'm sure they'll want to feed her or watch her eat, like everyone else does.

We did take a few pics by the tree. Paul laid on the floor and held her in a sitting position until she toppled sideways away from him and cried. She's such a weenie. As soon as I picked her up, she stopped. I hope she gets over this stranger thing by the time I go to DC because I don't want her screaming every time one of the outlaws wants to hold her. I can't I agile that would make them feel too great.

I did order a wig. The long, brown one, but a less curly version than the one I posted. I don't know when it will be here though. I have decided I will buy a high chair when I get back home. It's hard on my back to feed her in the bumbo.

I will take some pics tomorrow do eis in her new dress. I can't wait to have Christmas with just Ty, eis, puck, and me at our own place. I want mind if people want to come visit on occasion, but I will not be travelling every Christmas to see his or my parents. I did it forever growing up and I missed out on Christmased at home.

My folks were really good though, once I was out of college (and perhaps once or twice during), they let me go off and travel on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's so nice to not feel pressured to visit someone. Don't get me wrong, I have great memories of Christmas or Thanksgiving in Florida or East Texas... Me of my favourites was when my cousin, Ben, had just come back from Africa and had three djembes; he and I drummed for hours and my mom, aunt, grandma, and other aunt were dancing around the kitchen, cooking. Eventually, the guys wanted to watch football, so Ben and I were sent outside to drum, but it was so fun.

I hope I haven't missed any crazy autocorrects in my iPad posts. I type faster than the letters register on here and it comes up with some crazy stuff. I can't be bothered to read back over it because I am trying to hurry and go to sleep, but also because the font it is showing me is terrible and small and it would take more effort than I have.

On a last, and mildly unrelated note... I totally judge people who don't know when to use certain words. I taught English with a girl who mixes up "gone" and "went." How terrible. I saw someone post on FB and used "sense" instead do "since." Other horrible mistakes include: chester drawers, butt-naked, right away (right-of-way); and the basic: then/than, weather/whether, effect/affect, it's/its, their/they're/there, and making possessives plural and vice versa.

I actually get somewhat paranoid when Ty makes an accidental glaring error because it's usually because he's tired, but not everyone knows that and I don't want people to judge him and think he's stupid because that's what I think of people who write poorly. It's mean, perhaps, but it's also not hard to write and speak properly.

Supposebly
Ek-cedra
Asterick
Irregardless

Day 203: Conroe

So, eisley slept pretty good last night; she had a six and a half hour stretch, which was nice. However, I woke up about four hours into it, then couldn't go back to sleep. I had to play sudoku until I was sleepy. It didn't help that my body temperature was all over the place. I was freezing when I got in bed, sweltering when I couldn't go back to sleep, then freezing a couple hours later. Stupid thyroid.

Eis took some decent naps today, not great, but ok enough. I decided to stop the fruit and go to the rice cereal, in case it was just too much for her tummy and that was the cause of her gas and fussiness. Paul picked up some premixed formula and rice cereal on his way home, which was great. Eis took to it immediately.

I have noticed that just in the past few days, she has been more fussy with strangers. She fusses when Martha takes her and she fussed when Sharon took her, too. However, she didn't
fuss with Max or Paul, so I'm not sure. Sharon even tried to feed eis, but eis would have none of it; she just screamed. It was sad, though it does make me feel a little special when she wants me over everyone else. As long as she still wants my folks, it'll all be fine :)

Martha sent me to get a mani/pedi this afternoon, which was sweet, though the place she goes to is 30 minutes away! That's nuts. There are places much closer and I'd bet they're just as good. Anyway, I got my nails done, then I tipped 40% cause I'm dumb as a post and couldn't do math on the spot. And to top it off, I passed Longmire Way and drove 30 minutes out of the way. It ended up taking an hour to get back, instead of 30 minutes, which was too log to begin with (as far as I'm concerned).

Eis didn't nap well while I was gone because Martha didn't want her to cry, so I took her in the car with me to Walgreens, so she could get a good nap; she ended up sleeping almost an hour. Tween she woke, I nursed her, then gave her more rice cereal (imagine wet cream of wheat, it's like that). She wasn't up long before she napped again! After that, she hung out a bit before we took a bath, then headed to bed.

Tomorrow, I'm going to take some pics of her in front of the Christmas tree in a festive getup.

My pics of the day would be the hair that came out just while drying my hair and one of eis,ey and her rice cereal, but I can't upload pics from my photos on the iPad... At least I don't know how to do so, so I will put them on Flickr.

Day 202: Travel

First, I will not be bothering with much grammar, since I'm on the iPad and whatever it doesn't fix, I can't be bothered with.

Second, welcome Malaysia and Indonesia! I see I am expanding my readers from Russia, the US, and Germany (along with the occasional Brazilian). Yay!

Third, pardon any gross information provided at the end of today's post :)

So, eisley slept great last night and this morning. I woke up at 0800 and took a shower, bathed Puck, then dried him with the hair dryer, since he takes all day to dry if left to his own devices. It took thirty minutes, at least, before he was dry enough to where I didn't have to worry abut the leather seats in the Lexus. After I dried me, too, I packed me clothes, packed puck's bag, then proceeded to slowly load the car of everything that was not in the nursery. I didn't want to wake eisle py, then have to deal with her while trying to get everything done.

I will say that I put puck's seatbelt thing on him when I started getting his stuff together, so he would know for sure that he was going on the car trip, too. However, when I opened the car, he jumped in and stayed there for the next two to three hours while I packed and got eisley ready. Eventually, he came to see what the hold-up was, which was good, since I needed him to go potty before we left.

When I got everyone into the car, I punched in the address and we headed out. I had to stop npby the library, since my mom had left books she needed returned. After I did that, I noticed the gps wanted me to go a really odd direction...multiple times. I made it recalibrate at least six times before I stopped for gas just past the airport. It was then that I decided to try to see where it was taking me, but it was not simple. Eventually, I got it set to the route my car usually takes and I was off, again.

When I hit Bastrop! I decided to stop for Starbucks. Then, within minutes of getting on the highway again, eisley started fussing, so I had to stop, again. She had a dirty diaper, so I changed her. It kind of sucked driving in the Lexus because there is no auxiliary input, so I had to listen to normal radio. I need music, so the drive seemed to take forever. Eisley didn't sleep much on the drive, which did not bode well for the rest of the day.

I took puck to potty when we arrived, then got rid out of the car and nursed her before I unloaded the bags. Martha held eis as I brought everything inside. I then tried to give eis some apple baby food, but she was too tired and fussing. I put her down, but she only slept 30 minutes. I tried to get her to g back to sleep, but she wasn't having it. She was fussy soon after and she only slept 40 minutes. Then she was too tired to utprse without fussing, so she got her bath and I other down to sleep. However, she had terrible gas, which I didn't realise until over two hours later because she was so sleepy, but also because she eventually let out some big toots and calmed down. We had been moving her legs and rubbing her belly for at least 30 minutes before anything came out.

Finally, I nursed her because she was hungry again and she fell asleep. Let's just hope she sleeps well tonight.

My hair is still falling out, since I am still stressed and everything else is the same. But to top it all off, I got my period yesterday. At first, I was thinking it was just going to become spotting, but no. It's a full-fledged massacre and sucks. I had forgotten how terrible cramps are. I broke down and tooks meds to alleviate the feeling that my uterus was in a meat grinder. But, perhaps, the worst was that I took out all the super tampons and le the regulars, since I ASSUMED it would be light. Stupid me. I have had to change every three hours today. How crap is that?!

Tomorrow, Martha is sending me to get a mani/pedi, which is great because I desperately need one. I must go to sleep because I'm a bit stressed out and my muscles are overcompensating.

No picture today, but will have some tomorrow.

Day 201: 'Round the House

Eis slept a six hour stretch, though I got up twice during because she started to rouse.  We'll just have to keep up the routine at all costs.

I didn't do much today.  I showered and dried my hair a little because it was cold and I don't want to get sick.  I skimmed some of the leaves out of the pool and emptied the baskets and polaris.  I cooked some potatoes and carrots, but I didn't have any meat, so it wasn't that great.

I did get to talk to Ty for a while and see him, which was nice.  It's always nice to see his face.  He got to see Eisley for a while, too.  I ended up having to put her in the swing to nap because she just wouldn't stop screaming in the crib.

I watched a couple Netflix movies.  I finished Buried, and I finished Meet the Rileys, which I had started a long time ago -- it's a weird movie... Kristin Stewart looks gross in it.  I started Last Night, but haven't gotten too far into it.  I brought the jumperoo into the nursery, so I could knock off a few of my shows on my recorded list, so it wouldn't get full while I'm gone.

Eis ate bananas after each nursing.  She seems to like them alright.  We will finish the bananas tomorrow and start apples.  Hopefully, I have enough, though I can always go buy another pack of whatever or just blend up an apple or banana in Martha's Ninja blender.

I looked at wigs, today.  My parents vaguely scoffed at the idea, but I think they aren't fully sure how to react.  My dad keeps reassuring me that it'll grow back.  I know it will, but that doesn't mean it's done falling out and that's still another six months away.  My mom told me to call Dr. L, but I told her he's a thyroid surgeon who works in the cancer centre.  He's going to tell me, "Yep, that can be expected.  It'll grow back in about six months when your hormone levels begin to level out."  And may I say that hair starting to grow in six months from my scalp will take months to years to become long.  It's not like in six months, my hair will magically be restored to it's previous glory.

I know long hair would be difficult with a baby who is starting to grab at things, but I could pull it back, which would be nice.  Plus, all the short ones are too short and it would be more difficult to hide my hair.  The medium length wigs are just few and far between.  Here are the two I like the best and I know if I were to get one, it would be the brown one, since red is probably too flashy for my parents to see :/

Day 200: Not A Good Day

Eis was up about every hour last night, though she did have one three hour stretch in the middle.  Her naps were ok, but not great, though.

We went to rehab at 1015.  I put her in her reindeer jammies, since it was cold out, and I packed her jumperoo into the car.  I left her sleeping and set up the jumperoo when I got there, then brought Eisley inside.  Kim (therapist) asked why I didn't just bring her carseat in and let her keep sleeping and I let her know that we have a convertible carseat, so it doesn't get to leave the car.

Eisley bounced around while I side-stepped on the treadmill, then we moved Eis over by the tables, since that's where I was headed.  Kim mashed on my sore spot in my thoracic spine, then worked her way up my spine a bit, then out to the left, over my ribs and it was so agonising.  I had no idea that I was messed up out there, but that's obviously where the pain was starting.  Then she mashed on my SI and it killed, too!  My body was very unhappy with me and Kim was fighting my muscles.  Next, she had me sit up and she mashed on my traps.  Holy crap! It was painful.  However, it felt so much better after and even now.

I did some exercises, then packed up and headed home.  Eis was asleep by the time I got home, so I shut the garage to keep the cold/wind out, opened a car door, and opened the door to the laundry room and hung out while she napped in the car.  When she woke up, I changed her diaper, nursed her, then we headed out to pick up my new prescription for thyroid meds.

I had spoken with Walgreens, since they told me they didn't have the right dosage, and I asked them what the new dosage would be.  They told me, "Point eight eight." Then I called Dr. E's office to ask them to move the prescription to a different pharmacy.  I asked the nurse to tell me the dosage and she said, "Point eight eight."  When I got to the pharmacy, the guy (probably the only guy of all the people there, who DIDN'T know how to deal with Tricare insurance) said he'd help, then spent five minutes on the phone trying to figure out how to help.  Eventually, he gave me my meds and the pharmacist spoke to me about them and said they were, "Point oh eight eight."

Ummmm. Huge difference.  One is almost nine times higher than my original dosage of point one.  The other is just barely lower.  So, that was a surprise.  I knew the nurse at Dr. E's office was an idiot because she's had her arm on the scale at least twice when weighing Eisley and thought nothing of the weird-ass weights.  However, it was surprising to know that one of the pharmacists of Walgreens was an idiot, too.  Though the biggest surprise was learning that instead of a .88 dosage, I was getting .088.

I called my parents and talked to them and was frustrated because I am losing my hair.  I didn't mind the cancer because me having cancer wouldn't effect Eisley's development, whereas if I had hormone problems, it could delay her developmentally -- as the problem began when Eis was just a fetus.  I didn't mind the two surgeries because they were fairly small, as far as I'm concerned, and I knew it was for the best.  However, I am NOT ok with the effects of all of these things.  It's just too much.  And, unfortunately, I keep being told, "Try not to stress because that could make it worse."

Ok.  Yeah, no problem.  I'll continue to see balding patches on my head and remain calm. Oh, and I'll pretend Tyler's here and just supremely unhelpful, instead of across the world playing with death.

Anyway, my parents said I looked fine on Sunday and it's probably fine.  Needless to say, I emailed them pictures and they didn't say I was being dramatic.  They apologised.  That's never good because it means I'm right and there's reason to be upset.  Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do, except wait for my hormone levels to even out and then wait for my hair to grow back.  Should be six month minimum. Too bad the rest of my hair can continue to fall out in the meantime.

Eis took another nap in the car when we got home.  Then she played in the bouncer and I watched Die Hard 3 and started watching Buried.

I'm really upset about this hair thing.  I feel like it's just one thing too many.  I'm tired of not having friends to talk to or to see.  I am appreciative of my parents, but I need more than them and I need relationships that they cannot provide.

I can handle no friends.  I have for 15 years.  But right now, I can't handle no friends and no husband.  He's probably the only one in the Brigade who missed his baby's birth.  Did he get to come home for my surgery? No.  And it makes me harbour such feelings of loathing and hostility toward his job and those for and with whom he works.

I have no one to talk to and I'm tired of it.  As embarrassing as it is to post these, I think I should get used to being hideous in public.  You can see where my hairline used to be and how over a square inch is gone on both sides...

Day 199: El Doctor

Eisley slept so unbelievably crap last night -- it was astounding.  She was up every hour to two hours.  Needless to say, I am exhausted.  I woke up at 0845 and showered.  Eis was up, but I put some music on while I showered to try to keep her from fussing.  It worked, but she went back to sleep.  I woke her up at 0930 because I had to nurse her before we left for Dr. E's.

We got in the car at 0945 and headed out for the doctor's.  I ended up waiting longer than usual to see Dr. E -- it was very busy in the office.  We discussed my thyroid, plus we talked about my hair loss.  I knew I would lose hair after I gave birth, but I never knew it would be so much and so often.  It wasn't until today when I was drying my hair that I noticed I had these two pieces doing something weird, then I realised they looked weird because there was hardly any hair around them!  I was shocked.  I checked my left side to see if I could change my part, but the thinning was just as bad.

Dr. E said pregnancy is a cause of hair loss, but so is thyroid problems and because I've had both, I've been hit harder.  She said it is not permanent, but it would take six months to come back -- I just hope it doesn't get worse before then.  She said I could take Biotin (supplement) to help strengthen my hair, but it wouldn't help it come back.  She also said that my thyroid hormones levels could be too low.

I also told her about my blood pressure and how it's been worse recently.  While in the shower today, I bent my knees for a second to be able to reach a shampoo bottle (standing on the edge of the tub) and I blacked out!  I mean, come on!  She said she'd check my mineral and electrolyte levels, too, to see if anything were amiss.

After, I had a few errands to run and I finally decided to go to Target because I could get it all done in one stop.  I got a pretty decent parking spot, despite the entire world being there.  I put Eis in the stroller and covered her up with her blanket and we headed inside.  I got a green tea latte, since I was starving and hadn't eaten yet, then we started our shopping.

I looked all over for chocolate oranges, which I was going to get for Ty, but was finally told they don't sell them.  Then I contemplated gifts for my parents as I made my way to baby things.  I picked up some rice cereal, pureed apples, pureed bananas, two kinds of spoons, and baby toothpaste.  I want to be prepared for when Eis decides she's ready for food.  I also picked up some RainX because it's so damn hard to see out my windows when it's been raining and I got some small food item things for Martha and Paul, since I have to give them something, as I will be at their house.

It was mildly difficult to shop, carry the basket, push the stroller, and drink my latte, but I managed.  I wasn't able to enjoy my latte as leisurely as I would have normally, but it was still delicious. I checked out and headed home, since I was beat and Eis was tired, too.

Eis was asleep when I got home, so I pulled into the garage and unloaded the bags, then began cleaning my windows and applying RainX.  She soon woke up and I nursed her, then put her down for a nap in the crib.  It was at least thirty minutes before she fell asleep, but I kept an eye on her with the video monitor while I kept doing my car windows.  I learned that I have numerous and giant windows on my car and it was a lot of work.  Then I realised that I would be taking the big Lexus to Conroe, so I should do the front and back windows of that, in case it was rainy on the drive.  Those are some giant windows, too.

The rest of the day consisted of playing with Eisley, taking Puck out, and watching Die Hard and Die Hard 2.  I've got about ten minutes left on the second movie, so I'm going to go and finish that.  I need to remember to ask Tyler what he sent for Eisley and when because I've still got nothing.

Day 198: Nada Mucho

Let's see... it was a very uneventful day.  Eis did sleep a five and a half hour stretch, which was very nice.  She also went to sleep earlier than normal because she didn't nap well during the day.

I woke up at 0900 and Eis was still sleeping, so I hopped in the shower and had my dad on alert for if Eis woke up.  When I was all done, Eisley was up and had already had a poopy diaper for my dad to change.  I took her to nurse her, then we came back out to see what was going on in the rest of the house.

My parents spent the morning packing, since they were leaving for Houston today and would fly to Florida tomorrow.  I did some tummy time with Eisley and got her to take a couple naps.  However, at one point she had gotten so sleepy (because she refused to nap well) that she was just screaming no matter what.  She didn't even stop when I was holding her, swaying, and humming/shushing/singing.  She was super worked up and it was pitiful.  Eventually, I got her to calm down and go to sleep and she took an hour and a half nap.

I finished icing the spritz cookies I had made Thursday.  They're quite pretty; I should have taken a picture.  I also made a few other cookies, since I had store-bought sugar cookie dough.  I made snicker doodles, chocolate chip, and heath bar cookies.  I should have made some sugar cookies, too, but I didn't think of it, surprisingly.

I did get to watch The Expendables on Netflix.  It was a good movie.  I love Jason Statham.  I think he's awesome... may be my favourite male actor.  He plays a total badass in every movie in which I've seen him.  I am drawn to men who can do dropkicks because Alex O'Laughlin can do one, too, and it's pretty sweet.  It could also be his gritty voice and British accent that makes me enjoy watching him -- Jason, not Alex -- but who knows?!

Anyway, Eisley played in her jumperoo quite a bit tonight.  She rocks back and forth, rather than jumps up and down, but she still enjoys herself.  She even fell asleep in it twice today.

Tomorrow, I see Dr. E to get my blood drawn to check my thyroid hormone levels, so I can get more pills, as I am running low.  I made a list of other things I need to do, including: buy a card for Grammie, my mom, dad, Martha, Paul, mail the Espinozas' cards, get Puck a Christmas present, and possibly buy some baby spoons and food.  I also need to call Scott & White and get that bill sorted out, too.

Yay for errands when I don't have help!  Unfortunately, I can't just not do them... I have to and there's no copping out this time.   Hopefully Eisley will sleep in a manner conducive to our schedule for tomorrow.

No picture of the day, since I took a video instead and don't have it on my laptop.

Day 197: Livin' It Up

Eis slept ok last night... two four-ish hour stretches, then a two, then I asked my dad to get her if she cried, so I could sleep an extra hour.  I woke up at 1045 to a text from Ty and then my alarm.  It took my phone buzzing twice before I realised I had a text.  I had actually dreamt that I had received texts from Tyler, but they were in a handwritten font (not his because I could read them and they were in cursive)... however, the texts were very foreboding... like he was about to snuff it and was saying his last goodbye, though it was short and metaphoric.

I showered, then got dressed and dried my hair, before I went to get Eisley from my parents.  Then I nursed her and left her with my mom so I could go get a massage.  I was excited to have the knots in my traps and thoracic spine worked on, since the one in my thoracic has been killing me since Monday. I told the masseuse about my trouble spots and she got to work.  However, she passed over my thoracic spine numerous times and never really worked on it because she didn't feel any knots (I assume).  I certainly didn't feel the pain of it, so I knew I wouldn't be able to point her in the right direction.  She did work hard on my traps.  It almost seemed like she was exasperated by their persistence.

It wasn't until I got in the car that the agony of the thoracic knot exploded and screamed at me the whole way home... and throughout the rest of the day.  When I got home, Eis had only napped for maybe 20 minutes.
Oh, I forgot! Last night, I got home from the party and Eisley was still up (it was 2220).  My parents said she didn't nap for longer than 20 minutes and if they put her down, she would scream.  And that at one point, she was screaming so bad they thought something might be poking her and checked, but nothing was and my mom said she cried because she said it was so hard to hear Eisley crying like that! Ha!
Eisley totally has them wrapped around her finger!
Anyway, I spent forever and finally got Eisley to sleep, but it was only 45 minutes that she napped.  We tried again later, but it was only 30 minutes, that time.  Eventually, I had to change her clothes, so she could be pretty for my parents' party.

I put her in her new long-sleeve onesie and I had on her tights and boots, but my dad didn't like the shoes with the outfit and my mom didn't like the tights, so I put on her Santa pants.  I will have to take and post pics of these things to Flickr.  It's been awhile since I've taken a bunch of pics.  I need to get on that!

Anyway, I got ready and helped get the wine stuff ready.  I was the bartender for the party and never had to hold Eisley, as there was always someone who wanted their "turn."  She was definitely the hit of the party.  Puck was pretty good, too.  He let some people pet him a bit, which was a nice change.

Eis got in one more 30 minute nap after everyone left and was just fussy from not sleeping well all day, so we took a bath, read, and went to sleep early.

When I got home from my massage, I had been talking to Ty about presents for his family and began ordering what I could online.  However, I had Eisley in one hand and was also talking to Ty, not to mention my back hurt and I was sleepy... (can you tell this isn't going somewhere good?)  Anyway, I ordered Easton's, then I ordered Bran's as a print-out that I would mail with his card, then I ordered Tim's, and it wasn't until I was ordering Michelle's that I realised I never put the STREET name on Easton or Tim's.

I emailed the customer service for Hot Topic, but they sent me an email saying they shipped the card, as opposed to saying they fixed my mistake.  And I never got any email even saying Tim's was being processed.  I checked USAA (just now) and none of the purchases have registered yet, which I find odd.

I am not sure what to do about Tim's and Easton's.  I don't know if they'll get to them.  I am sure if they get to another address, then the addressee may just take them and spend them because it's not like a check or anything.  I suppose if they don't make it, I'll just let them know that I did buy them something and we will try again next year.

Pictures of yesterday and today include all that was left to put in the storage unit, before we changed our minds, then (a giant one of) Eis and me.

What was left in the garage...

A closer view of all we had left to go into the storage unit

Day 196: Busy Busy

I will have to make this quick, since it is late and I am exhausted.

Eis slept for three-ish hour stints, then woke up at 0700 this morning.  I put rubadub back in and she slept til 0720.  I nursed her, but she wouldn't sleep, so I took her into my bed to try to nurse her some more and get her to sleep, but she would have none of it.  At 0750, I gave up and put her in the swing and went back to bed.  Unfortunately, I had to wake up at 0830, so I was rather tired when I woke up.

I got ready to go and woke Eisley, nursed her, then packed up the car and my dad and we set off for Heights.  We stopped by Starbucks before I met with the rental agency.  I told the lady I wanted to terminate the contract because we wanted different things and she said we could change them later and she'd keep it on hold.  Being terrible at confrontation, I just nodded and said ok, then left.  My dad wasn't pleased, but eventually figured it'd be fine, since there was an email of my saying I wanted it terminated and an email from them saying there would be no termination fee.

We then went to the house and I nursed Eis, then put her down to nap while we started fixing the garage.  My dad took the truck to go get the shelves and a couple other things and I vacuumed the second and third bedrooms and cleaned the baseboards really good.  When I went to clean the laundry room, I opened the door to the garage and saw what looked like a giant Dalmatian walk by.  I walked outside and saw that it was a Great Dane and it was over by the mailboxes, then I noticed a small, fluffy, white dog pooping in our front yard.  I tried to call them both over, but they weren't interested.  The white one caught up to the big one and they went off around the corner.

I kept waiting for someone to come by and ask if I'd seen any dogs, especially since the GD had a leash hanging off its collar, but no one ever did.  Eventually, they did walk by again.  The white one came closer when I called them, but he didn't let me touch him.  I hope they found their people and are safe!

Dad came back and put the shelves back, then we started making sure the rubber-maids were labeled correctly and began to organise the garage.  A few things weren't labeled, or were labeled incorrectly based on their contents.  Tyler has so much garage stuff, it's ridiculous.  He asked me for an example of something and I have one now: two electric saws.  Now, I won't say that no one has those, but I will say very few 27 year olds have them... and that goes for a number of items.

My dad did say that Tyler will have to turn in as much army stuff as he can when he returns (the stuff he doesn't need/use) because the army will only move so much weight and his army stuff weighs a lot, but more than that, he said, "Tyler has some of the heaviest furniture I've ever seen."  Apparently, our headboard is our heaviest item, followed by the dresser with no drawers.  I told my parents that when we move to wherever, I do not want to move our own stuff.  I want the army to do it.  My time and labor is much more valuable than whatever we could "make" off the move.  Besides, it's just unnecessary stress with which Tyler and I don't need to deal.  I'd rather have our stuff taken care of and just have to worry about our drive and Eisley.

Anyway, we got everything put back in order and organised... in the garage.  By that time, I decided it would be better to just head home than try to get another load.  We left and stopped by BabyEarth on the way to pick up Eisley's boots.  When we got home, I nursed Eis, then put her in her jumperoo.

While she jumped, I iced some of the spritz cookies I made last night, then I cut up the candy I made.  The candy was delicious, but it was really sticky when they were no longer chilled.  I nursed Eis once more, then I got ready to leave for my party.  I tried on a few dresses, but I felt like they may be too "nice," but more than that, they still didn't fit well enough to wear comfortably.  I ended up wearing my jeggings, thigh high boots, and a hand-me-down top from Martha or my mom.  I looked decent, but everyone was dressed fairly well.  Men had on blazers and women had on dresses, skirts or something shiny.

The house was enormous!  It was so beautiful.  I really wish I could babysit for those kids or tutor them, just to be in the house.  They family has three sons, one of which was the bartender.  He knew all about beer and wine (the dad is German and they lived in Germany for a while) and I told him he'd make a great sommelier.  The other two boys were younger and adorable.  It was a bit awkward, since the average age of the crowd was 45 and I knew about five people of the thirty to forty that were there.

However, at the end, I went and sat next to this woman who had brought her eight week old baby and I talked to her about her hospital and everything else.  She was really nice and fun to talk to, so I got her number, then I texted her.  I hope we can hang out.  It would be nice to see another mama and even better to have a friend.  She is 38, but she seems young and this is her first baby, too.

I have a few pictures, but I will put them up tomorrow, since my back is killing me right now.

Day 195: So Sore

Eis slept pretty dang good last night.  No, I'm not naive enough to believe it'll last, but it was nice.  She slept for five hours, then four.  Though she woke up for a few seconds at hour two and three of the four hour stretch.  So, I slept five hours, then two, then one, then one.

I got ready for Zumba and packed a bag with extra clothes, since I had to leave Zumba and go straight to physical therapy.  I taught three routines today, which was nice because it turns out that today was my last day for a few weeks, at least until my parents come back home.  I couldn't even stay for the toning portion of class because I wouldn't have had time to get to rehab.

I changed in the bathroom at the studio and wiped my sweat as best as I could and wet the sweaty parts of my hair, so it wouldn't be so gross.  Then I changed clothes, put on deodorant, and went to my car.  I cleaned my face with an astringent pad and turned the air on to help cool me off on the drive.  By the time I got to rehab, I had stopped sweating, so I could powder my face and I put my hair into two pigtails so it wouldn't touch the therapist's hands when she messed with my neck.

She started off my trying to get the spasm in my thoracic spine out, then she had me do 10 minutes on the arm bicycle.  I was next to this kid from UT, so I talked to him about his major and what he wanted to do.  It made the time go by faster, until the last three minutes when he finished and moved on to something else and I was left "peddling."  I ended up going a bit over a mile.  Needless to say, my arms are beat!

Kim, the therapist, mashed on my back more, then set me up with some neck exercises.  After those, she mashed on me more and then sent me on my way.  My whole body is so sore.  I think it's a combination of starting up with Zumba after three weeks of doing nothing and also starting rehab again, plus sleeping wrong.

Mom said she would watch the baby Saturday so I could get a massage.  Yay!

I talked with my dad for a few hours, once I got home, about the rental contract from the property management place.  There were many things the manager neither mentioned or even referred to in the contract, plus the date was not what we had discussed.  We emailed and said we wanted to meet tomorrow to discuss the contract.  Then we spent an hour discussing and charting the finances of renting now vs keeping the house and refinancing, then renting when we leave the area.  Turns out, it's the best deal to keep the house and refinance, then rent it when we leave Texas.

I emailed the manager and told her I was terminating the contract because "status upon returning from Afghanistan has changed," and I asked her to advise me about the termination fee of $100.  I also alluded to working with her company in the future when we rent.  She emailed back and said there would be no fee and we could terminate the contract now or put it on hold.  I'll tell her tomorrow to just terminate it because Ty may want different things at that point in time.  


I also told her to not worry about the lock box, since Martha will be in the area at the end of December and will remove it, but we'd get the shipping box tomorrow.  The only downside, which is HUGE, is the fact that we now have to move everything from the storage unit BACK INTO THE HOUSE!  Holy sheets and pillows!  As if it weren't hard enough the first time!


We won't put everything back where it was.  We will load up the third bedroom, then put one of the beds back together and leave it as packed and moveable as possible.  I wonder if Anthony and Donald would be interested in another blessing... (When my dad kept trying to pay them for their help, they said, "You're ruining our blessing!").  I figure we'll have the storage until mid-January, but it'll give us time to bring things back to the house in a leisurely fashion. 


I called USAA and told them that I had misunderstood my husband's request to look at rates of the Fire Policy and had accidentally changed our policy and needed it returned to how it was before.  They changed it all back with no trouble.  I will call later and start the refinancing.


I also called Dr. E and set up bloodwork for my thyroid.  She wanted me to wait until January, but it turns out that I don't have enough pills to get me through to January, so I will go in on Monday to get my blood drawn... with Eisley, since my parents leave Sunday. 


Once we were all done with those issues, I had to make a candy for my party tomorrow night (with my Zumba people).  It was a three-part recipe.  It's basically homemade snickers.  Then, my mom said she wanted something for her party on Saturday, so I used the cookie press she had bought and made some spritz cookies.  Trouble was, the dough wouldn't stick to the cookie sheets well, so I had to throw half a tube back into the bowl of dough each time.  It took twice as long as it should have.  


Eis was getting frantic from sleepiness, so I had to leave a huge mess for my mom to clean up.  I felt really bad and kept apologising.  She made me stop trying to clean and take the baby to bed.  


I've noticed that Eis loves to have a really soft blanket against her cheek or over her eyes.  She's so weird.


From Zumba, rehab, waking up early, only sleeping in naps, and all the baking/cooking I did tonight, I am so exhausted!  I can't wait to get that massage.

Day 194: Heights

So, after Zumba and rehab, I drove to Heights.  My dad was already there with Eis.  He took my car and I took the big Lexus.  We packed up the truck and disassembled things in the garage, but couldn't go to the storage place because it was alternating between mist and rain.

We met a realtor at 1500 and talked to her about the house.  She said she could sell it, but we would end up bringing a check for $15k to closing, which is hard to do.  She suggested putting a small picket fence in the backyard to separate the hill from the flat and make it more family-friendly.  With the yard as is, the only person who'd buy it is a bachelor.  We mentioned that's who bought it in the first place.

To rent, we would need to do it for 4-5 years before trying to sell again.  However, I've already called USAA and told them it'll be rental property and changed the insurance.  I will try to call them again tomorrow and tell them it's not being rented.  Then I'll try to refinance.  The rental insurance is almost double what we were paying before -- yikes!

My dad looked over the property management contract and said it went through Dec 31, 2013 and I said I think she wrote it wrong.  Then he got all fussy because it's been signed and because I said I couldn't do anything about that right now.  It's 2230 and they're not open, so there's no point in freaking out because that's just a lot of time I won't sleep if I am stressed about it until I can do something about it.  I think he's upset because when we got to the place, he said he would stay in the car until the baby woke up, so I was in there all alone.  So not only did he leave me on my own, but he didn't catch it when he finally did come inside.

It's shit that I have to do all this bs with the house right now.  I'm almost as dumb as I was when I was pregnant.  I can't focus. I can't remember anything.  I can barely speak properly.  It's just not a good combination. Oh, you're an idiot, here, do this really important stuff and don't screw up! Jeesh.

Needless to say, I'm stressed and my back is killing me, I am exhausted, and I feel nauseous.

I forgot to say that I made pot roast yesterday and it was delicious.  I will get a better cut of meat next time, but the flavour was phenomenal. I had some for breakfast today because it was so good.

There is no picture of the day because my phone is over by the changing table and I can't be bothered to get up, lest it is to go to sleep... which is what I'm going to do now.

I have rehab again tomorrow at the same time.  Eleven fifteen in the morning.  I told Ty yesterday (it was 1145 at the moment), "I have rehab tomorrow at this time for an hour."  Then I said, "So I'll be done by 2200 your time."  He must not have a clock, otherwise he would have said, "Uhhh, it's 2215 now."  Again, I'm an idiot.  So, he messaged me at 2200 today, when I was just starting physical therapy.  I think I should just stop giving him things in his time because I cannot think.

Rehab. Tomorrow. Eleven fifteen in the morning start time.

Day 193: Errands

Eis was up every three and a half to four hours last night.  It wasn't great, but what made it worse was that after the first awakening, I couldn't go back to sleep, then during a later sleep stint, I slept wrong and got a crick in my neck and tweaked my back.

Even though Tyler is always busy during his daytime, at 0230 (my time) I had a very strong feeling that I should check my email.  I did and Tyler had written me an apology.  It was fairly good.  I was not angry after reading it, which is a good sign, but I had mixed feelings about a few things he said...

He was totally right in saying that girls take longer to get over stuff, which is true.  It will take me a bit, but I think after writing out my thoughts, I should be nearing the end.  He said he was just "talking" to her, but if that's the case, then he used a poor choice of words with many of his comments.  I can almost guarantee that she assumed him to be flirting, as I imagine any third party would agree.  I would have read it differently had he said, "I saw your post about the wedding and wondered how you were doing," as that comes off as friendly.  Saying, "For some reason, you came across my mind," then having her try to get him to tell her why he has been thinking of her, has a different vibe.  Especially, when he finally answers and talks about 12 month back to back deployments giving him time to think about the past -- wha?!  That would have been another great time to say, "I saw your post about the wedding," as that leans toward being appropriate.

Why is it unfortunate to remember a lot about someone unless you're mildly pining? Then she tries to get him to say more by asking, again, why he's thinking of her and drops something about being adorable.  But instead of a, "Haha," or something less guilty, he agrees and says that must be why he STILL thinks about her.  Wha?!  "Still" implies, frequency.  And the final nail in my humiliation coffin is her saying she's glad she can be an "escape" for him and talking about hugging or squeezing him for a long time last time they saw each other (hopefully ten years ago) and he doesn't respond.  Not responding lets her know she's right.  If he wanted her to know he was just "talking," then that would have also been a fabulous spot to say something like, "Well, life is pretty serious, yes.  I haven't yet met my beautiful daughter.  Though, to be honest, my wife is my true escape," and if he really wanted to send home the message, he would have added an adjective or two to describe me... like: beautiful, amazing, perfect, etc.

So, if he genuinely believes he was just "talking," then there's a strong chance that man could get himself into some hot water one day.  If he knows that he flirted, but is trying to cover his tracks, then it would have meant more if he had come completely clean and said he was flirting.  I know if he stepped back and read it, then he would see that it doesn't come off as "talking."  I wouldn't be any more hurt if he said he was flirting because I (and probably Ms. Homely Magoo) assumed he was, anyway.

Anyway, back to my strong feeling to check my email because I figured I'd have one from him... I have noticed that often I get strong feelings of something that end up being true/correct and more than that, I've had dreams, then later in life been doing something and realised I'd dreamed about it previously.  When I say I dreamed about something, I don't mean within weeks or so of an event, but years.

Example: Long before I was on my dance team in high school, I dreamed about being in this strange gym and practicing a routine in these bright pink tops and doing certain dance moves.  Then, one summer my dance team went to UTSA for a dance camp and we were practicing a routine in this area behind the bleachers and doing some moves and it was like "BAM!"  It was total deja vu (but from the dream).  There have been many more instances such as that and it's always such a weird feeling.

Moving on to the rest of the day...  Eis woke up at 1030 and ate and changed clothes and it somehow took an hour before I was heading out the door to go to Macy's and HEB.  I was supposed to buy a cookie press at Macy's but they didn't have it.  Then I was in the worst lunchtime traffic, trying to get to HEB and when I got there, it was raining!  I had to unbuckle Eis and get her out of the car all while getting rained on -- jeesh!

I didn't have the stroller, so I had to use the Ergo.  Even though she had been napping in the car, she wanted to look at stuff, so I put her in, facing out so she could see better.  Everyone always seems to walk over to us to comment how cute Eisley is.  I don't dare put that on Facebook because everyone thinks their child is the cutest and always comment on how adorable or cute other peoples' babies are, but it's not true.  Some babies are ugly. Most are nondescript.  Eisley is truly attractive due to her giant blue eyes and smile.  I know it sounds narcissistic, which is why I generally don't say anything.

When I got home, Dad was here, so I had him get Eis and change her diaper while I unloaded the groceries and started dinner.  I was making a pot roast in the slow-cooker, so I had to get started.  Then I nursed Eis and put her down for a nap.  While she slept, I made some candy-ish thing called "Fossil nuggets," which is a recipe my mom found that I'd written as a child.  I remember being told the recipe at Vacation Bible School in Jacksonville, TX and then making them in my grandma's kitchen.  Obviously, Jamie had helped me write the recipe because half of the handwriting was hers.   The fossil nuggets were not as good as I remembered.  I think they could be awesome if tweaked... less honey and add some spices or chocolate or dip them in chocolate, since all you can really taste is the peanut butter with a honey aftertaste.

Eis didn't nap well all day and is crying, as I type.  She is so exhausted, but won't sleep!  I don't get it.

Tonight, we all tried eggnog, since we all remembered not liking it.  It wasn't very good.  I think I don't like it because I know it's made with eggs... eggs that obviously are not cooked, which grosses me out.  It's just so thick... and eggy.  Ugh.

Tomorrow I will go to Zumba, then shower, then go to rehab -- I must remember my new "orders" for the therapist -- and then Dad and I will go to Heights to finish moving and meet with a realtor.