Watch that last step, it's a doozie!

While at the lake this weekend, Dellaina & I took a tumble down the uncovered wooden stairs leading down to my parent's unfinished bedroom in the basement. I was bringing Dellaina down to them so I could go crawl back in bed and I thought I was at the bottom, but there was actually one more step down before the little landing and we just wiped out. It was a fairly loud crash that woke many other people up and they came running to our rescue; for which I am both thankful and more mortified. Dad scooped Dellaina up and comforted her, and mom held me while I cried from the pain and humiliation. I twisted my left ankle pretty badly and have bruises on my left leg and forearm. I thought I'd saved Dellaina by not dropping her on the ground, but she got a nice matching purple knot on her forehead from hitting the wall we landed against. Beyond the physical pain was the embarrassment of falling magnified by dropping your child! And I'm reminded of it through the stiff ankle and the bruises on each of us. Luckily, the bruises will fade and possibly some of the guilt with it. I'm sure there are many more tumbles in Dellaina's future, but I hope they don't come by me and I'm actually able to save her from many of them.

Happy Happy

We had a wonderful, extended Christmas. It seems like such a whirlwind, I was glad Dellaina & I got to stick around Granny & Granpa's for the week and really get to relax and visit. We just got back from the lake for our 3rd round or opening presents today. We left the laptop at the lake so I don't have pictures to post, but thought I needed to make attempts to get back into the swing of things with blogging and also needed to recap or at least address the close of the year! It's been an amazing one for us. Dellaina has been a true blessing and delight. She is growing so big, so fast and becoming her own little person and is truly a little miracle. We are so thankful we get to experience it. She's still not quite walking, but is definitely getting more confident daily. She's jabbering a lot and loves to "sing" and dance. She's getting taller and reaching up for things that shock me! Being back at home when we've been away for over a week, I realize how much she's changed. She has learned her family and lights up for each of them. I am thankful for their love and support and involvement in her life and glad they are getting the fulfillment of knowing she knows them all!


We are thankful for our boys, too, and love Boss & Hank immensely. Greg got a call today from his mama that their family dog, Milli, had passed away. He'd been around for over 16 years, so it's a big loss to us all. He was a sweet little boy and I know it will be an adjustment to pull up and not have him there waiting. But, he is at peace and there is comfort in knowing that fact.

May you all be safe and happy now and in the new year.

Happy 1st Birthday!

It's officially Dellaina's first birthday! She was born at 2:34 in the afternoon one year ago. We got to bring her home (bundled up tight!) on Christmas Day. It's hard to believe it's been a whole year and also that it's only been one year. She's changed so much and brought so much love and joy and happiness into our lives and the lives of those around her. We are very thankful for such a sweet (and advanced) girl. Happy Birthday, Dellaina Lee!

It's a bird, it's a plane. . .

Dellaina & I headed back to the doctor today to recheck her ears and see if the shot cleared things up or if she'd need another shot. As soon as she saw the nurse that stuck her 4 times on Monday, she started screaming. She about threw herself off of the scale and just clung to me during most of the exam. I had her calmed down when Dr. Roy came in and she did not want him near her either. She was screaming when he tried to listen to her breathing (helpful, I'm sure) and look in her ears. Because her face was red, her ears were a little bit, too, but he thought they looked better and we didn't need another shot. Whew!! I was worn out after that and tried to go home and lay down with her. She tossed and turned and tossed and turned forever and by the time we actually got to fall asleep, Greg was getting home and I had to get up to go to the gym. (He too off from work this afternoon and did some running around, which I think bodes well for me for Christmas!) Dellaina slept until just before I got back, too. But, surprisingly, she went on to bed tonight. I had Greg give her a bath the other night and also read her stories and try to tuck her in another night this week, just to give him a chance to do those things with her. He was very impressed with her signing "bath" and knowing the routine. She's particular about what books she wants to read/likes these days. She really likes the interactive books like "Very Hungry Caterpillar" where we stick our fingers through the little holes or "Spot's First Christmas" that has little flaps on every page. Greg said she knew exactly where each one was on each page. I told him it had only taken her one time watching me flip them down or open before she started trying. At first, she wasn't coordinated enough and would try to slap her whole hand and squeeze them or pull open but her thumb would be in the way. After a few attempts, she figured out how to manipulate her fingers and thumb to actually get around the edges and open it easily. She's been signing "more" a lot now and even says the word. Sometimes it comes out more like, "boar" with a 'b' rather than the 'm' just like "mama" can have more 'b' sounds at times. Lots of things are "mama" now; the dogs, the dog food bag, other people. She'll point and say, "mama" but like I said before, at least she's saying it now. She's taken a few more brave steps between things the past few days. Even Ms. Georgia said she let go and took about 3 steps to her the other day.

It feels like it should be Friday already, but I can't believe Christmas is only 5 days away! Craziness. And it's still in the 60's! On my run the other night, I noticed a neighbor that, if we gave out awards, would win the award for most redneck Christmas decoration, in my opinion. Ah, Kenny Lee (and with a name like that, he's already in the running, right? like Buddy Lee) He's got a lighted snowman floating way up in a tree above his house! Tell me the relevance of that, please? I mean, maybe if it was a Santa in his sleigh with reindeer, he'd get creative points, but a flying snowman? And it's not a normal-shaped snowman, either, it's one of those square-looking ones that they make Smores/marshmallow ornaments that I've seen around in stores. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Very weird. Who came up with that concept? It's cute, in a way, but very obscure. Anyway, I just wanted to share and see if anyone has a rival neighbor competing for the award.

We are going out with my work folks tomorrow night for our annual holiday dinner. Always a good meal with some merry drinking. Emily will be babysitting Dellaina. I think it might be her first official babysitting job? Usually we just leave her with the dogs, so hopefully, this will be more of a treat! The dogs will be here, too, but at least she gets Dellaina, too!

From our family to yours, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! (This was very close to being our Christmas card this year. I rushed and got ours to the post office by 5:00 yesterday and I think many were delivered today, yay! We got a lot today, too, so I didn't feel so bad about being too late. I ordered them from Snapfish to be picked up at Walgreens and they were ready after about an hour or two! I was very impressed and like I had even less of an excuse for being late if it was that easy and quick!)

ENT

We had Dellaina's one year check up yesterday! She's in the 50-60th percentile for height and weight, but still the 98th percentile for that big ol' noggin! As we suspected because of her tugging and recent restlessness at night, her ears hadn't cleared up on the Augmentin. So, we could try Augmentin again or get a shot. Since she was already scheduled to get shots, what's one more, right? Well, 4 is a lot to take and it was fairly traumatic, but we had to wait around for 20 minutes to make sure she didn't have a reaction anyway, so it gave us time to calm down before getting back in the car. We go back on Wednesday to see if she's going to need another one! (How could anyone stick those cute chunky thighs?) We also got a referral to go see an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor, too, to discuss options; possibly even tubes! I did the "unthinkable" and left her sleeping in the car while I ran into Wal-green's to pick up something that I knew was ready. After all the trauma, I couldn't stand waking her up to drag her in just for fear of the social scorn I might get for leaving her (even from the impatient lady that pulled in and immediately honked at me, but I pointed at the car I was waiting to back up - Granpa was taking his time, that wasn't my fault, she could hold her pretty little horses).

Dellaina had LOTS of blow outs the past few days, so I'm going to look into some anti-diarrhea medicine for her. Too much birthday cake on Sunday, possibly? Yesterday, I forgot to mention to Georgia that I was picking her up early to go to the doctor, so I got there and they were finishing up art (finger painting, naturally -- Aden had green eyeshadow and Kailee had a big purple mouth!) so that in itself was a good bit to clean up, but Dellaina also soiled her outfit, so we got to strip her down (unbuttoning her sweater and turtleneck onesie while she's crying and squirming) and change her. Apparently, Georgia mixed up the diapers or had some old ones in there that were a size smaller! While at the doctor's office, I was watching Dellaina crawl around in just a diaper and thinking, I guess it's time we move up a size, because those are definitely getting snug. But it wasn't until the blowout when we got home that leaked out the top of her diaper and onto the carpet and everything that I realized they were actually the wrong size. She got a bath and then she had another blow out in her high chair and got changed again! I changed her right before bed, too. It wasn't too much that time. Then, this morning, we are all ready to walk out the door and I pick her up and put her on my hip before I realize she was leaking again! It was a lot and she was wearing such a cute outfit, too. Mine wasn't that cute, so it wasn't nearly as upsetting. I just called to check in on her and Juana said that she'd had a blow out before her nap and a little bit after.

I was thinking that I was in good shape for Christmas and only had one or two things left to finish up, but today, I've been panicking thinking about all that I have to do with only a mere 6 days left and no time to do it in.

I went for a run again last night with Boss. I was hurting!! Normally and abnormally; for hours after the run, my abdomen was very sore. It was weird. Every time I think I might actually be fully healed from the c-section, I get a sharp pain or something. Thankfully, it feels more normal again today.

Question of the day: is it really cool if you drive a Nissan Maxima, but put Fire Bird stickers on your car? really?

Birthday Bash

The birthday celebration for Dellaina was a success. We had lots of folks come shower her with love. And toys! and clothes! It was chaotic, but fun. All the hard work and planning leading up to big events seem to far outweigh the time you actually get to spend enjoying the event.

Yesterday I was attempting to clean the house with Dellaina and it was just so disheartening to be cleaning up one pile while I'm having to watch her make 3 more! Where's the karmic balance in that situation? It's much easier to make the messes and pull things out than it is to put them up, so I was really struggling to stay ahead of the whole process. I baked the cookies and realized I needed another box of powdered sugar. Plus, Emily is the expert icer, she makes it look much prettier than I can, so I called her up and she came over to help me finish up. I love having my sis close by and willing to help out so much!!

Greg & I had a nice time out on the town last night at a graduation party for someone he works with. Several other folks from his work were there and it was nice to put faces with names of some of the significant others I've heard about for years, but never actually got to meet. We sat at a table with his boss' daughter and her husband who were both UGA grads and had 2 kids, the graduate's sister who went to UGA and worked in Athens for years, but just moved to New York and had lots of great stories and the sister of the graduate's girlfriend, who also goes to UGA. I enjoyed being at the "older" table, but not quite the "old" table very much. It was fun to get out and socialize and to have immediate connections made it less awkward or uncomfortable not knowing anyone you were sitting with. It was a wonderful 5 course meal, which was nice and spread out and allowed for lots of conversation and portion control! And plenty of refills on the mixed drinks! The graduate's dad gave a little speech at the end and I was tearing up. He talked about not really knowing his parents too well; they both had passed on by the time he met his wife, so even she never got to know them. He said his daughter was a lot like his mom, though. And that his son (the graduate) was exactly what he was looking for growing up; he was the hero he never knew in his dad. It was just the greatest compliment he could give, I thought.

This morning was more of the same mad rush to clean up and finalize things. It was nice having Grandmama & Grandaddy here to help out and Granny & Granpa got here early, too.

The first toy Dellaina opened was a huge caterpillar tunnel! (or as Greg said it looks like a cat that ate a caterpillar. Neither of our caterpillars had great faces, with the cake being weird, too. not that I know what a caterpillar's face should look like, actually, come to think of it) We opened it and it popped right open in the already full living room! I was excited, though, because I knew Dellaina would really have a blast with it, once we were able to make room for it. We put it out on the deck, since it was a beautiful 70 degree DECEMBER day! It took 20 minutes to figure out how to get it back in the bag it supposedly folds up into and it still wasn't quite right! I took it back out once we cleaned up some and she played all in it, rolling around and back and forth. She played with each of her gifts for a long time, so I'm glad she's got some new stimulation and some new duds! She got a cool animal train that sings and moves from Granny & Granpa. She liked to hold on and push from behind. Each of the animals is separate and moves and makes noise, too, so there are lots of different things to play with. (After the party, changed into her comfy play clothes -- Thanks Grandmama & Grandaddy and Uncle Doug & Aunt Morgan got her the cute t-shirt that says, "Does my head look big in this?" We had to keep tucking her dress in her bloomers so she could crawl around properly without getting hung up) Her aunts knew she liked the Peek-a-boo blocks and got her an alligator that eats them! Unca' Josh got her a cool riding bike. She got some great new clothes (keeping her high fashion thanks to Haydne! Fur and silver shoes!) and even some kid-size crocs from Uncle Doug & Aunt Morgan. Cousin Joe even sent some new cute kicks! Mama Megan & Ella sent a great package last week with a special addition for the time capsule and a Kansas Alphabet book! Our neighbors each gave her some PJ's and Olivia book. Little bit of everything. So, she's really set. And Christmas is next week! Thanks again to everyone.

Dellaina had lots of help opening her gifts from Matteo, Jacob, Abby & Cooper! I was surprised how interested and entertained by her toys they all were (Cooper was the youngest at 2, I think and then Jacob and Abby are both 4, while Matteo is 6); even before she opened new ones, they had been playing with her other toys around.

She maintained her dainty finger poking during cake time. She eventually got a real taste of the icing and then was really going to town with licking her finger and got a little messy. I was scrubbing crusty stuff out of her hair in the bath tonight, so I think she enjoyed it!

She has said "mama" a few times, pointing at different things. She was doing really well signing this weekend and yesterday she pointed to her jar and I said, "bananas" and she pointed to and touched her left index finger and I was so excited and said, "very good, banana" and did the sign of peeling the banana [left index finger]. Right after that, we could see Greg working out in the yard and I signed, "daddy" when I asked if she could see him and she touched her finger to the side of her forehead! Then, she signed, "more" for me. Not the exact sign, but something that I know day care accepts as a good start, just touching her right finger to her left palm. She continued to sign it several more times and today, she signed it after just about every bite, and she was even saying something that closely resembled the word, "more!" When I tucked her in, I sang her "Happy Birthday" again and she took her paci out and said, "Happy Birthday!" and I continued to say it and she continued to make attempts at something that was a very good effort of mimicking me. She's so advanced.

Mad dash to the patent office

We had a late night (partying with Emily) and then an early morning! For some reason Dellaina decided to wake up at 4:30 this morning. The first time she was sitting up in her crib crying, I got her out and rocked her and then put her back down. She was quiet for a few minutes, but then crying again. So, I got her to bring her back to bed with me. She was restless and fussy and fidgety and ruined the last bit of Greg's sleep (sorry, hunny) and was just awake and ready to play. I made her a bottle and she worked on that while Greg took a shower. Then, he sweetly took her with him into the other room when he was ironing his shirt and getting ready to let her play in the bookshelves she likes to play in. When he brought her back and left for work, so was still fidgety for a while, but eventually, she finally konked back out.

Dellaina very clearly pointed at Boss sitting at the door to come back inside this morning and said, "mama!" Oh well, at least she's saying it now!

Tyler brought me in a CFA biscuit this morning! What a great surprise to walk in and find on your desk. And I've just gotta say, thank goodness for foil packaging! Even when you're 40 minutes late, it's still warm. Speaking of smart inventions, I was thinking about one on the way into work after dropping Dellaina off and having to change her stinky diaper at the day care (we have about a 5 minute drive, but more days than not, she still manages to fill her diaper on the ride and I get to change her when we first get to school!) I was thinking about making Desinex easier to apply. It takes both hands to squeeze it out of the tube now and you can't hold the child still and squeeze at the same time. There's got to be a better extraction method that's more one-handed. A pump? A wipe? But that's just more abrasive on the area you are trying to protect. Then I thought about somehow having diapers with Desinex already in them! Maybe it's integrated into the diaper somehow like the super absorbent strips/crystals are now. Or it could be a strip in the diaper and you just peel back the top layer to open (that way it'd still be creamy) but you never have to actually touch the stuff. Because it is some messy, seriously coating stuff! Which is good for what it does (and it does actually work well, even though, thankfully, I haven't had to use it that often) but just makes it more difficult trying to squeeze it out of the tube and apply on a squirming baby. It tends to get on everything within a 3 foot radius. Or maybe it's just me.

Nurse Emily

I know I've been a little sporadic (more than usual) these days. Work has been really busy lately trying to wrap up one study and get another one out.

Emily had her graduation tonight, so she's official a nurse now. Well, I think she still has to take her boards or something, but she's graduated. And she has a job lined up as a labor and delivery RN for Cobb County Hospital! She won't start in the official position until after her boards in February, but will be able to start in a tech position in January. Her new in-laws threw a festive champagne and desserts party after the ceremony for her and her two old roommates who also graduated. It was a fun get together. Dellaina enjoyed herself (watching folks, eating and playing with the refrigerator magnets), as we all did, but we were all up way past our bedtime. Congrats, Em. We are all very proud of you. Love the nurse's hat!

Emily & Daniel have been invited to attend a Christmas sweater party! How great and funny is that?! There will be prizes for tackiest and sexiest. I told Daniel he could win them both. I love the idea; it cracks me up. Speaking of, though, I've noticed that I use that phrase far too often and it annoys me, so I'm in the market for a new phrase. If anyone has any suggestions, please share and pass them my way via the comments. This highly amuses me. I am amused by this. I am tickled. I find it to be very humorous.

Speaking of desirable parties; I've wanted (or at least wanted someone I know and think is cool) to have a dance party. And I don't mean current, I mean an old school dance party, like what we grew up dancing to. Everyone could be asked to bring an old song or something. Classics like "Ice, Ice, Baby" and "Can't Touch This" and "Tootsie Roll" and all those songs from high school and college that we'd have at dances and clubs, but not the stuff that's out now in clubs that I don't know how to dance to. I need the stuff I've already choreographed and practiced in the mirror over and over again. Anyway, I think it'd be a lot of fun to just cut loose again. Ah, the good ol' days. Maybe I should have had Dellaina's party this weekend be a dance party!

I'm so glad that it's Friday, but there's also so much to be done before Dellaina's first birthday party on Sunday! I'm planning on baking more Christmas cookies Saturday, so I've got to get the dough made tonight (Friday.) Mom and dad are coming up Saturday to watch Dellaina while Greg & I go to a graduation party for a guy that works for him at a restaurant downtown. Mom and dad have a secret activity planned first, though, as part of her birthday present from Emily & I. She's had an envelope with instructions for a week now that I'm sure she's itching to tear into and figure out where they are going. Hopefully, they will have fun.

That's all I can think of for now, so I guess I better hit the hay.

Taking stock

Greg went to bed mad tonight. I'm sure he'll be mad again when he reads this post and knows I revealed/divulged that information, but I wanted to write about it because it's part of my life and I know people can relate and it emphasizes some other thoughts and feelings I've had tonight. I'm not here to write specifics or air dirty laundry or anything. I don't even know what happened really, but I was also stubborn and fueled it once it did happen. I could have taken a different approach or made a better attempt to difuse the situation, but I didn't. I thought about going up to tuck him in like I normally do, but thought that he was the one that got huffy and went to bed without saying good-night, why should I make the effort? Later, I'm reading some excerpts in a magazine about people dealing with big trauma's in their lives -- Cooper Anderson's brother committing suicide, Elizabeth Edward's (vice presidential candidate John Edward's wife) loosing her 16 year old son in a car accident -- and I'm just bawling. It brings things into such perspective. It makes other things seem so trivial and silly and you feel foolish to have let things escalate and not taken the high road. Make the effort. When one person doesn't the other person should step in, not be pig-headed, too! It's like the Travis Tritt song I always loved, "Foolish Pride." I had an overwhelming urge to go wake Greg up and give him a big hug and go look in on Dellaina (notice I wasn't going to intentionally wake her up!) We are so fortunate and blessed and shouldn't waste time worrying about the housework. ;) I urge everyone to take a moment and reflect on all the blessings in your life and be thankful and gracious and let those around you know they are important, appreciated and loved.

Speaking of blessings and joys in life. . tonight after Dellaina's bath, she touched her finger to her chin and said, "ma-ma!" Yay! finally! She's only been saying "dadadadada" forever! And "uh-oh" "bye-bye" "all done" and "ba" for paci and a rough version of "thank you" a few times, but no "mama!" I had been waiting, not so patiently. I was shocked and so impressed. It quickly turned to 'ba-ba" but I heard it once. Especially since she was actually signing it, too! Technically, the sign is the thumb to the chin (with fingers pointing up) but Georgia had just asked me if I'd seen her put her finger to her chin, because that's what they do for "mama" sometimes before realizing there's a difference and to use the thumb. I was explaining that Dellaina had been pointing at the jar of food when I fed her and then pointing to her head and I didn't know what she meant. I would say what the food was when she pointed at it, but then I would just tell her, "no, the food doesn't go in your hair!" Georgia thought maybe it was "daddy" which is the finger to the forehead because maybe daddy normally feeds her. I'm not sure still of what she's saying there, but she did officially say, "mama" tonight.

She pointed to her crib again tonight during the bedtime routine and went right down when I laid her in it. Although, she is crying now! Gotta go. . .

Growing up

Dellaina is definitely learning to pitch fits. Kicking when I change her, slapping her hands or you when she's unhappy, screaming and crying and laying down on the floor. Yesterday, she even pitched one when I was picking her up. She was having so much fun playing, she did NOT want to leave! The whole way out to the car she was crying and pointing over my shoulder back to the building like, "take me back!" I'm glad she has so much fun at school, though, right? I should enjoy it while it lasts, because I'm sure it won't always be a battle to take her home! She was crawling around and into everything last night and laughing and playing and Greg made the comment, "I think you're feeling better, little girl." It was after 10 and I said I was going upstairs to read and tuck her in and Greg just laughed out loud and said, "good luck!" He didn't think she was a bit tired, but she didn't even balk when I turned the lights out after our story and halfway through singing, she started fidgeting and pointed at her crib, so I went ahead and put her in it and she rolled over and curled up without a peep! I was so impressed. What a big girl! She's so advanced.

Boss goes to get his stitches taken out in the morning! Thank goodness. He's completely mutilated his pitiful cone. I just laugh when I think about taking him and his ghetto cone to the vet. On a more reserved note, we got the results back on Boss' growths that we had taken out. The one on his back that grew so fast and really motivated us to get them taken off was benign, but the one on his head was a mast cell tumor. It was a very low grade and they think they got it all (edges were clean) so we'll just have to watch for regrowth. That's the best I understand. We have a few more questions to ask in the morning.

Holidays

They are so busy and chaotic and hectic, but I love the holidays. I love getting gifts for people (when you have ideas and can find what you are looking for, at least) and I love getting together with people. We had a nice day today doing all of the above. This morning, we woke up and were productive around the house. We cleaned and went through several "piles" and cleared out some of the things we're no longer using for Dellaina, like her Pack n' Play in the living room! We used it as a changing table and to hold lots of junk. It's nice to be cleared out again and actually see the bottom shelves of the bookcase. We had to go buy a tub to put some of the other junk in, but it's still smaller than the whole PnP. By next weekend for her party, we'll move out a few more items. Then we went down to my aunt and uncle's house (mom's brother) for our annual holiday gathering. It was fun to see everyone, because we can't seem to get together much during the year. My cousin and his wife had a little girl, Anna, 8 weeks ago, so it was nice to get to meet her. Head full of hair! Then, we came back up to the house to meet Levi, Jennifer & their baby Anna, who is 7 weeks old and also has a head full of hair! When we got the announcements for the Anna's, we got one first and then the other a week or so later and both were on the fridge; Greg thought it was the same baby and it was just an updated picture! A lot of babies look alike, but it's funny they were born so close, with so much hair and both named Anna! They aren't going to be able to make Dellaina's party next weekend and wanted to come visit. Greg hadn't seen Anna yet, either, so it was nice to hang out. It's so hard to remember Dellaina being that small. . already!! They brought her a very cool new toy that shoots balls up into the air and plays music. We knew Hank & Boss would like it just as much as Dellaina does! It's very entertaining and doesn't take up too much space! After they left, we went and did some shopping for a few more things on our lists. It's nice to be marking things off! I feel fairly accomplished, actually. I'm sure things will still sneak up on me, but we have been making the effort to make sure we get it all done on time! Hopefully, the things we've ordered will arrive in time!

Bailey's birthday

I started this post last night, but apparently when the computer died, it didn't get saved, go figure. The laptop is on the fringe, I think and it could go at any minute. It just starts giving me fits at the drop of a hat. Where does that phrase come from, anyone know? It's a weird one. Apparently, it didn't like me talking about it and decided to stop allowing me to type. So, now I'm downstairs in the basement where I am FREEZING and not sure I'll be able to access the pictures, so this promises to be a short post (relatively, at least.) Ok, you can stop cheering now. I get it, I'm long-winded.

Anyway, we decided to make our trek down to south Georgia and had a whirlwind trip down for Bailey's first birthday party. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad we decided to go. Dellaina seemed to be feeling much better and was much more active and alert. She hadn't had a fever in days and all kids get snotty noses, right? I had to work late and it was 8:00 by the time we picked up Josh from his office and were actually on the road. Dellaina had a long day and actually slept most of the ride. She woke up long enough to help me with some of my Zaxby's fries and bread, but that was about it. We got to Matt & Stephanie's around midnight and sat up talking until 2:30! Dellaina had a big time playing with new toys. The house was beautifully decorated for Christmas (they had 4 different trees!! Including one in Bailey's room. She was hilarious to watch when you plugged it in, she lit up as much as the tree and gasped excitedly, every time!) and is nice and open, with a sun room, too! I always love sun rooms. I really liked it. Saturday morning, Dellaina & I joined Bailey & Stephanie at another little 1st birthday party. There were 4 girls that were born within 22 days of each other, so they'd had quite a few birthday parties in those parts! Dellaina was the "youngest" and the only one with a paci and not walking. Bailey's little tea party was cute and fun. Loved the cake! Dellaina liked the icing, too. We got on the road right afterwards and were back home by 8:00, so that was nice. Dellaina had missed most of her nap and so she slept most of the way home again, too. The dogs were happy to see us.

Extended version

For the condensed version, see the post below. The weather finally feels like winter! Burrrr. I know some folks have been complaining and I’ll admit the other morning I enthusiastically stuck my boot heel through the ice in the dogs' bowl, celebrating colder temperatures. But cold and wet or really cold and windy are combinations I don’t really care for too much! It was nice to be inside most of the day. There’s something really comforting about waking up and being able to start work in sweatpants and sweatshirt! Although, with the whole plumbing fiasco, and having someone come out to the house, I didn’t get to stay in them long enough to really enjoy that fact much. I had noticed two little wet spots on the carpet last night, but couldn’t really figure out what they were. I didn’t investigate too much, because I just assumed it was dog drool or something similar. But, this morning, I walked back through the spots and realized they were even wetter! I knelt down and sniffed them, but they didn’t smell dog related. Then, I’m on the phone with Tyler having him send me some files I need to get my work done from home and I’m standing there talking and see something fall from the ceiling. I immediately realize with a sinking heart what the wet spots are and why they got bigger overnight! I go upstairs and feel behind the toilet in the guest bathroom and there is some water, but not as much standing as I was expecting for the ceiling to be dripping! It’s the bathroom I use for Dellaina, so I was really worried about what I might have done! I turn the water off and call Greg. He comes home and decides that after it took him months and months to get the new wax seal put on the powder room toilet, it was worth it to call someone else. (one of those jobs he learned doing it once, he didn’t want to have to do again) Also, just in case it is something else. The guy was really nice and we felt like it was very quick. At first he told me the plan that “99% of the time” is the problem and after I’d called Greg he added that for an additional $200 he could replace the old toilet with have that has corroded bolts with a nice shiny new one that is a water saver and oblong rather than round. (Is this really an important feature?) Greg pointed out our water bill isn’t $200 a year, so we don’t really need it. Then, the plumber comes back down and says once he got the toilet up, he realized the real problem was the floor flange was cracked and we’d need a new one. That was $80 more. The next time he came back down, he said there’d been a problem and it was completely his fault. When trying to get the old, corroded bolts out of our old toilet, he’d cracked it. So, he’d be putting in that nice new toilet he’d tried to sell us earlier for no additional charge!
Emily came up to help me out. She was officially offered a job yesterday, so that’s very exciting. She graduates next Thursday, takes her board test in February and will start as an RN for labor and delivery. Until then, starting in January, she’ll be in a tech position. Congrats to her! I’m very proud to have a nurse in the family! Anyway, when she left, she left her cell phone. She called me from the hospital and I offered to meet her at her house to save her the extra 15-20 minutes to get up here and then back. She tells me it will take her about 45 minutes to get home and I say, “ok, I’ll call you when I’m leaving to see where you are” without a thought about the futility. Then, once I get Dellaina bundled up, the dogs in their crate and get in the car, I get my phone out to call Emily. Her phone, that’s sitting in the seat next to me, (because, after all, that is the point of this trip) starts ringing. Still not registering, I think, “oh, it’s probably Daniel calling her, I better answer it and tell him I’m taking her phone back to her.” I pick up the phone, see my name on the screen, tilt my head and give it a quizzical, furrowed brow look, before my eye brows raise in realization and I laugh out loud at myself. This is how my brain has been working, or rather, not, lately. Sorry, it’s been evident in my posts as well.

Tap it out

Ramble too much, Stop. Must condense, stop. Day care has 24 hour rule, stay home with Dellaina, stop. Attempt to get work done, stop. Notice ceiling leaking, stop. Greg comes home to investigate, stop. Call plumber, x$$ later, get new toilet, still need to repair ceiling damage, stop. Dellaina seems to be doing better today, stop. No fever and more alert and playful, stop. Entertained herself well, Aunt Emily came up, too, stop. Still no decision on weekend plans, will see how she does tomorrow, stop.

It's baaaack

I guess it had been a while since we'd been to the doctor for Dellaina. With all of the vet visits we've had, I suppose she was due. We'd at least broken the streak of once a month visits for a month or two. We were due for her one year check up on the 18th. So, Monday after the report from day care when I called to check in that she'd be laying down a lot and had a hot spot on her left cheek, they'd taken her temperature and it was 101.4 under the arm but 100.3 with the forehead scan machine thing they have and they are allowed to stay with the 100 head scan (but not once it gets to 101.) They were just taking her sweater off, though and I thought that usually it's taken off in the mornings, because she's fairly warm natured and they do a lot of moving around and playing. That night she didn't seem overly sick, just a little run down. I gave her some Tylenol right after we got home and her temperature was 100 via ear scan when we got home, but back down to 98 before going to bed. In hindsight, I should have given her another round of Tylenol before bed. By Tuesday morning, she woke up sounding congested and had that bad cough again and was really flushed and warm. She looked out of it and had a runny nose. But, we got moving and I gave her Tylenol and Triaminic and she ate and by the time we got to school, she was coming around and was more alert. When I called to check in at 1:00 she was just waking up and had actually been doing well and playing, so I felt better. But, then, by the time I went to pick her up, she was sleeping when I got there, but was really flushed again and delirious-looking. She gets that glassy-eyed look and zones out. Her eyes get red-rimmed and it's just so pitiful. Even the lady at the front desk was telling me today, you can just tell she doesn't feel good, because her eyes usually sparkle and they are just flat. So, I called and got an appointment this morning at 11:30. I think the doctor's office was eating lunch, because we waited a long time and even when we finally got put in a room, it was soooo quiet. Usually we hear hustle and bustle and other kids in neighboring rooms, but it was super quiet. Dr. Roy comes in and she's got ear infections in both ears again. He was saying it was the 3rd time and I told him it was the 5th! His computer was showing 3 ear infections at their office and I told him, I knew at least one that I'd called and told them to put it in the chart and he said, "oh, it was diagnosed somewhere else" then it would be in the phone call notes, but not where he was looking. So, I just went back through my blogs and yes, it's 5! The other diagnosis came from the ER, just a few days after being in the office. So, March, July, 2 in September and now December. Anyway, Granny kept warning that Greg got lots of ear infections. But, at the doctor's office, her temperature was normal 98 and she seemed alert and not too fussy really for feeling as bad as she's got to feel and for being awake during her nap and having not eaten her bottle. So, I take her back to day care so she can sleep and drop off her 2 prescriptions (one for the rash on her face and obviously, more Augmentin for her ears) and run home to feed the dogs and myself and then finally make it back to work. Then, just before 4:00, I get a call from the day care that she's got a temperature of 101.7 so I've got to go get her. She's just flushed and delirious and I bring her home, get some more Tylenol (which I should have given her another round when I dropped her off) and the first dose of Augmentin. I sit on the couch, holding her and give her bottle and watch TV. We just veg out and she passes out. I eventually go lay her down in her crib so she can sleep. it's just so hard to watch her be so pitiful and be so congested and obviously so sick. I watch some more shows and wrap presents. When Greg gets home, she wakes up and is out of it for a while. She sits in her high chair for a long time watching what's going on; somewhere she's not usually content for long if she's not eating. She didn't really eat too much, but once the next round of Tylenol started kicking in, she began crawling around and getting into stuff. She got a vapor bath and one more round of meds before bed. It's always right before we are planning to travel. We should have learned that first time not to go out of town, so we'll see if we have. We're discussing now the possibility of Greg staying home with Dellaina and the dogs and I drive down with Josh for one night. I just hate not to go at all after we've been planning it for so long, but I don't think we need to drag her out (especially to a kid's birthday party and infect everyone!) and it'd be easier than dealing with boarding the dogs, because we need to board Boss at the vet because he's still recovering and they are closed on Sundays, so we'd have to pay for another day and not be able to pick them up until Monday. That would be torturous to be home a whole day and know they are right down the road locked up. Anyway, I've rambled enough for one night.

Monday

It was a crazy Monday for me. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get things accomplished today. The morning routine was going fine, but then I noticed Greg hadn't taken his container of cookies to work with him and I wanted them to get them while they were still fresh and know all the effort I put into them over the weekend. So, I decided to just go and drop them off before work, even though I know I'd be later to work. Then, I decided to go on and take Dellaina with me. They usually like to see her. Mornings aren't the best time, because they are busy, but I was going to be quick. I needed to get to work. Also, there is one lady that leaves early most afternoons so she misses seeing Dellaina when I bring her after work even when I get off early, so I thought I'd catch her. When I got there, Greg was happy to see us and played with Dellaina for a few minutes. When I asked where the lady was, he said she didn't work on Mondays! I had missed her the last time I'd tried to come earlier, too. Oh well. So, then, I go to drop her off at school. All the kids like to come up and hug on me or talk to me or point at my necklace or the buttons on my sweater as was the case today. I enjoy hanging out with them and watching Dellaina interact. The teacher, Ms. Georgia had me crying, I was laughing so hard, pointing out her sign she'd made really late one night at home and that had hung up for a week with beginners spelled, "Begginger's" and
"It's beggingers to look like
[picture of light bulbs with all kids names on]
Christmas" where she had to cover up another mistake with the arrow because she'd thrown in an extra 'like' before 'a lot like' She was promising me she taught the kids their ABC's better, but then also how none of the parents had noticed or pointed it out to her sooner! I told her I hated that word and I always mess it up and hadn't noticed. It took me forever to notice the 2nd extra 'g' even with her pointing it out to me!

When I called to check in on Dellaina this afternoon Georgia said that she'd been laying down a lot and had a red/hot spot on her left cheek and thought she might be coming down with something. They were going to take her temperature soon. She'd just taken her sweater off (she's very hot natured and usually her sweater doesn't stay on her long, so I kind of thought that had a lot to do with it). When I called back it had been 101 under her arm, but 100.3 with the forehead scan (which they are allowed to stay at daycare with a forehead scan of 100, so she was ok for today). When I went to pick her up, she was sleeping and she was warm and out of it and slightly dilerious for a while. I got some Tylenol in her when we got home and her ear temperature for me was 100-101, but once I changed her into her PJ's she seemed to be doing better to me. By the time I got back from the gym, Greg said she'd eaten well and played and not been overly fussy and her flush was dissipating. I think the Tylenol probably had a lot to do with it, but when we went up to bed the ear thermometer read 98. Her nose is runny and she did sound funny to me this morning and at other times (just that sick, congested, don't feel quite right, sound) but hopefully, it will pass quickly! Tonight when I went to tuck her in, I read stories, then, turn the lights out and sing and it was like she was singing with me! It was really cute. She was very vocal, but it was almost sing-songy, not just spoken words, jibber-jabber. Very cute. I just wonder what song she was singing. . .

Daily dose of humor

Most days, I entertain/amuse myself. Some days, I have help. Driving to work this morning I saw a big box truck parked in front of an exterminator place. On the side of the truck it read, "On site Lubrication." I'm not talking about small print somewhere obscure; that was the name in big, prominent letters! I have no idea what it was for, but I found that choice of name to be amusing and poorly thought out. Or perhaps it is fairly successful, because it does capture your attention and it's not easily forgotten!

Also, apparently Kirk Cameron will be appearing (?) speaking (?) at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock this month. I read it on the scrolling ticker at the big stone entrance sign. Obviously, with a ticker sign and huge stone front entrance column, this church is not your average church; it is a mega complex that is as large as most sporting events and requires cops to direct traffic on Sundays. Seriously, it has like 15,000 members. I'm not sure how many are actually active, but it's quite a congregation. I tried to find a picture of the space ship building, but, alas, they did not have one on their site. Oh, hmm, maybe google maps or something. . .ok, well, it's not quite as impressive from above, but you can see how large the parking lots are. I'm not even sure this is of the new building that has the big dome and spire to the sky. Incidentally, Dellaina's day care is in the picture and if you zoom out you could find our work and home, but since I don't know everyone that's reading this, that seems a little too close to divulge any more specifically. UPDATE: Emily helped me find some pictures of the church. Here are some of the construction galleries.

I find that Blogger helps me cope with certain misfortunes or mishaps. I'm constantly thinking about being able to blog or post things and so, even while possibly upsetting things are happening to me, I'm laughing at the thought of being able to share them. So, it's cathartic to me to write and recap my day, but also, in a way, helps my mood and mind set when dealing with little daily trials and tribulations. So, thanks to those of you that come check out our daily lives. I do enjoy sharing with you and hearing from you. You definitely help me get through the days!

Ok, Blogger's spellcheck told me I had no misspellings, but I found one on my own (and tested it in Word) so forgive me if there are others. For some reason our mouse has stopped highlighting when you scroll over words, so I can't copy them and past the whole thing into Word to check it. I tried "select all" but that tried to capture the whole page I think, or didn't do anything. Anyway, this computer has issues and isn't cooperating much lately.

It's begining to feel a lot like Christmas

It's been a long day, but I wanted to record some things, so I'm still up. Then, I got distracted by some other things online and I'm still up. I'm supposed to be sleeping while she's sleeping, but here I am.

Greg ended up staying down at the lake tonight. He had more to do than time to do it in one day, so he'll hopefully finish it up in the morning and come on home. Dellaina and the boys & I had an. . .eventful day? Nothing terribly exciting, just keeping up with all of them is a lot! I miss being able to sleep in. You'd think since I know I won't be able to, that would make me go to bed, but not so much. We were up not too long after Greg left this morning. Dellaina didn't really have too much of a reaction to the tree when we came downstairs. I started trying to get decorations set out, but it was a constant battle of alternately keeping things away from her and running after her. She did manage to break one wine glass (reaching up and knocking them hanging in the wine rack, she snapped the stem) and fell down the stairs. She was just on the second one and never even cried, but she’s fast and gave my heart a start! I just looked up and see her head coming back down! Luckily, the first step broke most of the fall and she avoided hitting her head on the floor fully. We definitely need to get those gates up!

Then I let Boss & Hank go outside together, something I've been avoiding, but slipped my mind through all of the Christmas decorations and attempted cleaning. After a little bit, I went outside and Boss is down in the yard without his cone on his head anymore. I get Dellaina and we go searching and sure enough it's ripped to shreds. Lovely. Fool me once. . you’d think I’d learn, since Boss helped Hank do the same thing when he was wearing it. Boss just refuses to let these things heal properly. He must like the vet, because he sure insists we take him back a lot. I, of course, tell the vet that he got it off when he was in his crate, because he kept catching it on everything and it cracked and he was able to then work it enough to get it off. Half of that was true – he had cracked it getting in his crate and catching it one morning and it completely freaked him out and he jerked around, catching it on even more stuff. We’d put some packing tape (because we were out of duct tape) on it to hold it together. Anyway, it's about 11:30 before we make it out of the house. I had to take Boss with us, because I couldn't trust him not to scratch if I left him alone. By the time we get there, Dellaina is passed out. I often struggle with the concept of leaving her in the car and just running in somewhere. I know it's looked down upon highly as something completely irresponsible, dangerous and negligent, but it's so difficult to think about waking a sleeping child, just to drag her in to pick up one thing and then force her back in the car seat 5 minutes later! It wasn't like I had an appointment; I had called about coming by to pick up a new E-collar, so it should just be a matter of running inside, grabbing it and paying. But you just worry. And sadly, not so much about her, because honestly, I don’t see the real danger, she’s just like she would be if I were in the car driving, but about what other people would think if they knew! Like if it took longer than I expected and I had to go out and get her out of the car, then what would people think! But, I bite the bullet and I park right at the front door and can stand and look out the window and watch the car. It's not like at a grocery store where I feel I'd really be leaving her blindly and so far away. I walked out and peeked through the window one time to make sure she hadn't woken up and was now screaming when the lady went to the back to get the right size. Unfortunately, they didn't have the right size and we had to get one that was huge. So, seriously, Boss looked like a satellite dish. And not like a modern DirecTV one, but one of those huge monstrosities of yester year.

So, when we get home, it’s more of the same. Then, she gets a really dirty, leaky diaper and I’m changing her before I realize it’s all up her back. How do you get a soiled turtleneck off [a moving target] without getting the nastiness everywhere? I don’t know, but I can tell you how not to! I did a perfect demonstration of that in my attempt. You can’t pull it down, like I normally would, because it’s a turtleneck, so it’s got to come over the head and I ended up with it smeared on her arm and somehow my boob among other places. So, then, I’m wiping her down and debating about taking a bath now when I decide she’s pretty cute naked and I should take some pictures. Then, Granny calls and when I come back to take her upstairs, I go to take her socks off and realize I’ve left her diaper off a little too long. Fortunately, the socks did absorb most of the pee. And it’s not like she produces that much. So, we go get our bath in the middle of the afternoon.

Emily made it over about 5:00 and actually we went with Daniel to Beef O’Brady’s for dinner. Then, he went to photograph by Boss’ daughters’ Sweet 16 birthday party! I bet he enjoyed 4 hours of teeny-boppers vogueing for the camera and listening to teeny-bopper music. I modified Boss's cone so that he's now Boss Dracula. And slightly less freaked out by it? Emily & I made our annual Christmas cookies. We each had mixed up the dough the night before, because it’s supposed to refrigerate overnight. Then, we got together to cut out, bake and ice. Somehow, even though, we used the same recipe and same ingredients, our doughs turned out drastically different! Hers tasted like it had a little more of the secret ingredient, was a little softer and more yellow. The cookies melted away and became really flat when cooked. They were really grainy and crumbly and lost all semblance of shape. It’s like it was more buttery or sugary? My dough was very white and the cookies were really thick and “fluffy” and definitely easier to ice. It’s just wild. We packed up several tins to hand out to neighbors and at work. I’ll have to do another batch before Dellaina’s birthday party for Granpa. That’s the report, for some reason Blogger isn't loading my spell check, font color or image upload buttons, so I'll try to add my pictures later. I’m off to bed.

Subconscious Familiarity

I was watching The Nine the other night, which is the new show about 9 people being held hostage in a bank for 52 hours and how that experience bonds them together. It's a neat show; highlights their lives since the robbery and just has flashes back to it. During one of the flashbacks it showed the older lady - a mom of one of the other hostages - that was released in the early stages of the stand off, sitting with the police trying to describe everyone inside the bank, not just the robbers, but everyone. They profile everyone inside to get a better understanding of the environment and situation and she was having to describe the others to the sketch artist. It just got me thinking. One, it's a traumatic event, I'm not sure I'd be paying attention to what everyone else really looked like. Two, I'm not sure I'd be able to describe anyone well enough for an artist to draw them accurately! Even people I know really well and under normal circumstances. That job of actually interpreting what people tell you just intrigues and amazes me, too. I'd want to compare everyone to a big celebrity or something, just for some basic initial reference. Anyway, the lady was talking about one guy's nose being more bulbous. I've been watching the show for 8 or so weeks now and didn't know who she was talking about right away. But, once they showed the guy in the next clip, I was like, "oh yeah, he does have a really big round nose." I just hadn't really noticed or paid attention before.

That exericise of having someone run through the classroom screaming and then asking everyone to describe them and what they were wearing and most people don't get it right always intrigued me, too. Sometimes, I have this fear that if something happened to my child and I couldn't even remember what she was wearing that day. I know, I usually enjoy picking out her clothes, but I do think about trying to pay attention and retain information like that.

I always liked the instances in romantic movies or stories when the guy pointed out something to the girl about herself that even she hadn't realized or ever thought about. Enlightenment. When it shows you were really paying attention to someone and know their little quirks. Those were the moments that got me.

Dellaina & I went to Greg's work this evening so we could all go pick out our Christmas tree (yea!). I pulled up and Dellaina was sleeping, so I didn't want to go get her out to go inside, just to stick her right back in to go across the street. I could see through the front windows into Greg's office and he was sitting there talking to someone. I sat in the car and watched him for a while. It's weird to watch conversations in silence. I was wishing I could read lips, not to be nosy, but just to be more engaged in what was going on. I watched his mannerisms that are so familiar, but that I've never really thought about. Trying to blindly recall or describe them to someone would be hard, but I know them immediately when I see them. The way he had his arms crossed and shrugs his shoulders and made little smirk faces and tilted his head and absentmindedly wiped off his desk and adjusted his pants leg. I thought about him or anyone watching me have a conversation through a window. I thought I would be more animated, but maybe not. I feel like I talk more with my hands. It was just something to ponder.

We got Dellaina's Christmas pictures with Santa back today and I was showing them to Greg. I was just about to comment on the way she was holding her hands (with her fingers all touching her thumbs, like she'd just picked something up) when he made the comment out loud. It's just funny when something you recognize, but don't really think about, is captured.

We got the tree inside and the lights on it tonight after Dellaina went to bed. It'll be fun to bring her down in the morning! But, wish us luck on keeping the tree standing the whole month! I'm hoping we won't loose too many ornaments either. I'll post a picture once it's fully decorated. Hopefully. I just love sitting with the soft glow of a fresh Christmas tree at night. Glad the weather finally decided to feel a little more appropriate.