Megan has finally figured out forward motion. It happens inches at a time (maybe less) but it's happening. Especially if there are chocolate chips nearby!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It's spring!
I'm loving being back in Virginia more and more! Of course, ask me again in July and August . . .
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Dr. Carter wasn't at the ER :(
Well we had our first trip to the ER for a child. And it was a joy, let me tell you!
Megan had black stools (usually an indication of blood) and of course it was after hours. The visit can be summed up quite simply:
*Infants get nearly immediate care (no blood in stool -- yay!)
*Ankle ID bracelets provide hours of entertainment (literally -- waiting for blood work results is a pain)
So despite the fact that she was fine, it took them about 4 hours to verify it and send us home. But I need to be counting my blessings that she WAS fine. And I have a whole new appreciation for moms who see the hospital frequently for one reason or another -- you're made out of stronger stuff than I am!
Oh yeah, I got called as the ward Primary President. Chopper's "calling" is to take care of Megan since she's not in nursery yet so I can do my calling. He's quite happy about that.
Megan had black stools (usually an indication of blood) and of course it was after hours. The visit can be summed up quite simply:
*Infants get nearly immediate care (no blood in stool -- yay!)
*Ankle ID bracelets provide hours of entertainment (literally -- waiting for blood work results is a pain)
So despite the fact that she was fine, it took them about 4 hours to verify it and send us home. But I need to be counting my blessings that she WAS fine. And I have a whole new appreciation for moms who see the hospital frequently for one reason or another -- you're made out of stronger stuff than I am!
Oh yeah, I got called as the ward Primary President. Chopper's "calling" is to take care of Megan since she's not in nursery yet so I can do my calling. He's quite happy about that.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Megan Hates Doctors
Of course I don't think anyone is REALLY fond of them (sorry Alicia) but Megan has had a mega dose this week.
The girl has had an ongoing case of diarrhea for about 3 weeks, and they finally asked me to bring her in after I saw blood in her diaper. So this week we had one pediatrician visit, one phlebotomist visit (taking blood from a 1-year old -- I don't know who was more traumitized, Megan or me.), and one allergist visit. We still don't know what's going on for sure but she had three things pop up at the allergists: peanuts, bananas, and soy. We're going back in a month to double-check because they might be false positives - the banana particularly - but in the meantime, she's going off of it all. Peanuts and banana not a big deal (actually she hasn't had peanuts but her cousing Sophie is highly allergic so I had her tested) but SOY?!?!?! IT IS IN EVERYTHING! Even vegetable oil is really soybean oil. I could not find a single loaf of bread without soy in it so I made bread today for her. Graham crackers, goldfish, EVERYTHING has soy in it. It's really kind've irritating actually. Except I do love homemade bread. But hopefully this does the trick and it's not something more serious.
The girl has had an ongoing case of diarrhea for about 3 weeks, and they finally asked me to bring her in after I saw blood in her diaper. So this week we had one pediatrician visit, one phlebotomist visit (taking blood from a 1-year old -- I don't know who was more traumitized, Megan or me.), and one allergist visit. We still don't know what's going on for sure but she had three things pop up at the allergists: peanuts, bananas, and soy. We're going back in a month to double-check because they might be false positives - the banana particularly - but in the meantime, she's going off of it all. Peanuts and banana not a big deal (actually she hasn't had peanuts but her cousing Sophie is highly allergic so I had her tested) but SOY?!?!?! IT IS IN EVERYTHING! Even vegetable oil is really soybean oil. I could not find a single loaf of bread without soy in it so I made bread today for her. Graham crackers, goldfish, EVERYTHING has soy in it. It's really kind've irritating actually. Except I do love homemade bread. But hopefully this does the trick and it's not something more serious.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
If I Were a Teacher . . .
I guess I need to store these ideas for later. My grandma sent me a pile of books (I love that woman), and I just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. It was really good! I suppose that it's not a show stopping, heart rending, rip through the pages read but it was just good. It's a coming of age story set in Brooklyn, NY in the 19-teens. And now that I'm no longer teaching of course, I think it would make a wonderful book for junior English -- American lit. Figures.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Bubbles
Megan is utterly fascinated with bubbles. She likes to look at them but it's taken a long time to get her to touch them. The first time I put her in a bubble bath she cried and to this day she goes in with her arms up and takes a few minutes to get comfortable. Last night we gave her one because we got some new bubbles and wanted to try them out. We didn't realize how much they were going to produce! Plus, they were perfumed and it's funny but in the last few months I've developed a sensitivity to perfume and chemical smells that really bothers me so it looks like bubble baths will be dad's area of expertise.
This is the dress! I'm going to add a flower to the waistband but it's done and adorable. I'm so excited for Easter! By the way, if any of ya'll sew and want a pattern I'll send it to you. I never cut my patterns out, I always trace onto tissue paper and then cut that out so that I can reuse a pattern in a different size. But patterns are expensive and while Joann Fabrics has great sales, there should be some kind of pattern exchange out there to swap them around and stuff. Just a thought.
This is the dress! I'm going to add a flower to the waistband but it's done and adorable. I'm so excited for Easter! By the way, if any of ya'll sew and want a pattern I'll send it to you. I never cut my patterns out, I always trace onto tissue paper and then cut that out so that I can reuse a pattern in a different size. But patterns are expensive and while Joann Fabrics has great sales, there should be some kind of pattern exchange out there to swap them around and stuff. Just a thought.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Learning Curve
Megan and I have spent almost all our time at home this week while Chopper is driving me car to work every day (his is in the shop from the accident). So I've been reading up on easy, fun activities to do with toddlers -- except it seems to be a requirement that they be able to toddle first. Oh well. I'll just store them for later. I've also been sewing her Easter dress. I've decided I need to learn how to sew well, particularly for my girl(s). Since we now live in an area where it is particularly difficult to find modest dresses, I think it will come in handy. Even baby dresses are sleeveless and I just want her to dress right from the get-go so that there's never any question of what's appropriate or not. Plus, I really like making adorable dresses! I'll post pictures of this one later -- our camera is on the fritz -- but I've learned some things:
1. For a fully lined dress, get a light lining. My poor baby is wearing half her weight in cotton!
2. For basting or gathering stitches, use dark or contrasting thread so they're easier to see to pull out.
But despite some difficulties, my backup plan will not be needed (buy an adorable dress from the spring collection at THe Children's Place -- now I'll just wait until they go on sale!). The dress came out really cute.
My blog however, not so much . . . still working on it!
1. For a fully lined dress, get a light lining. My poor baby is wearing half her weight in cotton!
2. For basting or gathering stitches, use dark or contrasting thread so they're easier to see to pull out.
But despite some difficulties, my backup plan will not be needed (buy an adorable dress from the spring collection at THe Children's Place -- now I'll just wait until they go on sale!). The dress came out really cute.
My blog however, not so much . . . still working on it!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Irony
So yesterday Chopper stayed home from work. Government declared a two-hour delay and liberal leave and we got about 3-5" (I don't measure people!) and he was worried about the roads and, more importantly, idiot drivers.
Today it is clear, sunny, and the roads are nice and dry. Chopper got side-swiped by some guy on the way to work this morning.
I swear.
So I took this picture of the snow -- it is the first major snow Virginia has had this year (this area anyway) and I know my friends in Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska are laughing their heads off because of how this cripples the area. By the way, public schools were closed yesterday AND TODAY because of the snow. All you little darlings at Highland High School -- don't you wish? Actually, when I taught there, I wished too. Snow days are mental necessities.
Oh, and the red car on the left is my "new" one. I kind've feel cool driving a red SUV around . . . Oh and I'd like to welcome my sister-in-law Emily to the blogging world -- It's nice to have you on the dark side.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)