Had the initial meeting for A's hearing stuff; it went well. The testing will be done Wed morning at Beechwood school. I'm hoping the numbers are ok. --enough to get her in speech therapy, but not enough to get her in MSD.

Allison Moffet from the SKI High program is coming out here to do an evaluation on Friday. Someone from the Vicksburg services dept will be with her. ::pffft::

I'm really hoping that things aren't getting blown out of proportion. I've been told by 2 different specialists that there is nothing I can do for Amber. They both told me there was nothing I could do right now and to just wait until she got in school, have her seated on the correct side of the class and perhaps a bit of speech therapy. That was all I was trying to do.

So where is the flaw? Were the specialists insane? I hate doctors. Or is everything now just getting a bit out of proportion? And everyone just assumes that I have medicade. We're not on medicade--we have insurance.

( TMI )

A gets so excited over an animal cracker (shortbread cookie) that she begins to squeel and clap her hands. I told E that I wish I could get that excited over a cookie. I e-mailed one of my favorite authors and she sent a reply :) I guess it doesn't take much more than a cookie. lol.

Read Terry Pratchett's Small Gods; it was a wonderful book. I often find that humor puts us at just the right comfortable yet amenable distance from a subject to really look at it. Pratchett packs so much parallelism and symbolism into his work that I can't help but think about philosophy afterwards. "What the eagle does not realize is that it is participating in a very crude form of natural selection. One day a tortise will learn how to fly."

( possible plot spoiling comment about the book )

I didn't have to call my mom today; she called me. It usually works out that way. She put her foot through the roof deck (while repairing her roof) and got stuck. To make matters worse, it started raining. She didn't call for help, but finally worked her way loose. She is ok now. Gary has forbidden her to go on the roof again.

Oh, and she told me that there is no sales tax in LA on food (groceries.) I'm going to see what stores are right across the river (5 min away.) I could save 7% right off the bat. whoot!

dinner turned out nasty, so E has gone for chineese. ::sighs:: it is just one of those weeks. However, the lime and blue cuarquo (sp?) blender drink I'm drinking turned out well. yum.

A has been an angel today. She is just so happy. Everytime I smile at her, she gets a giggle fit.

The house is still moderately clean. The new furniture looks really good. Now I need new curtains. :)
I can't keep the baby off the dining room table; she keeps moving the chair over to it and climbing up. ARGH. She is in her room right now with the door shut for a short time--not as a time out, but as a breathing point for mama so I don't kill her.

No luck yet on the potty, but she can say pee pee and know what it means. I keep having day dreams about not buying diapers.

I finished Dark Secret by Feehan. It was very well written, but everytime I wanted the book to go one way, Feehan went in another direction. I also finished Hard Days Knight by MacAllister; it was a riot. E told me that if I was going to giggle in bed that late then I had to go up front. lol.

It has been raining off and on since Thrusday. The river was over flood stage. E had to go show me the road to the ferry that was underwater. A truck had broken down, and the water had come up around it--it was up to the doors.

Something must be wrong with me. I didn't take the dysfuctional farie quiz b/c I just didn't feel like answering all the questions. ah well, I'll take it later. Today there doesn't seem to be a point to much anything. If A ever settles down, I'll go watch her play and read.

I need advice from anyone with kids.

Amber keeps taking off her diapers (dirty) and bringing them to me. I'm not leaving her wet or dirty (I change the kid quite often, so it is not that she has been wet too long.) She is only 17 months, weighs 17.5 lb, and cannot put on/take off her own clothing. What in the heck should I do? I think it is too early for real potty training (but I'm taking her to the bathroom with me so she starts to get the idea.) Should I get a baby potty? Safety pin her diapers to her? Scream, bang my head, and clean up another diaper she hands to me?

My 17 lb child can eat a plate full of ravoli and green beans and an ENTIRE slice of pizza. That is almost 6% of her body weight. She is a little monster who growls and chases the animals. lol. Since she reminds me of Max from Where the Wild Things Are, I got her an interactive Leap Pad cartridge of it for the holidays. roflmao. she even holds her hands up like claws and pounces.

I've been without internet for two weeks while moving. I see that several people are upset, unhappy, or preversly happy when they are usually not. ::crosses eyes:: Hugs and good vibes to everyone.

We are still trying to sell the other house, and unpacking the new house. Amber is walking around, and will only eat things she can pick up herself. Joy. I'm both glad and irritated, because the child has two hollow legs, a hollow arm, and a spare mystical stomach that follows her around. There are only SO MANY things she can feed herself. The cats love the new house. The dishwasher is broken. The new fence is not convient to any door so letting the dog in and out is a pain. Dyed my hair bright red again. I'm trying to write at least 10 pages per day. Hum, that about covers it. I'll post something deeper tomorrow.

Slim crowd at the garage sale today, but I still made about $360. I hope tomorrow clears more inventory; I really don't want to move it with me. Some unsold items will be donated, but others will be kept and stored if not sold.

I've twisted my left ankle again--the same one I've been twisting for years. I soaked it in a boiling bath with episolm salts, and it feels much better.

Today the munchkin proved that she can walk without assistance for say 50 to 100 ft chaning direction in midstep whenever SHE feels like it. This is both wonderful (my baby is growing up!) and terrifing (I have way to much stuff laying about she doesn't need to get into.) Oh, and boys love her. 2 year-olds, 7 year-olds, 30 year-olds, and 80 year-olds all have to stop, smile at her, tickle her belly, and make her laugh. ::sighs:: Perhaps I should rethink my no guns in the house stance.

I hope everyone else is manaing broken bones, colds, and other assorted physical problems. Hugs and well wishes to you all.

Baby pulled off her diaper and smeared poop everywhere. --> Convinced husband I needed to get out of the house. :) Dinner out, and then to the bookstore. Bought 4 new books at BAM:
Strange Attractions--Emma Holly
The Royal Treatment--Mary Janice Davidson
The Eternal Highlander--Hannah Howell, Lynsay Sands
Night's Edge--Maggie Shayne, Barbara Hambly, Charlaine Harris

That brings the total to 1198. I'm not sure which I'll read first.

I've been doing a little housecleaning and cooking dinner this week. Yesterday I was standing on the chase cleaning when I fell back off the chase, over the rocking unicorn, and into the play area. The fence gave way, and luckily amber was at the other end of the large fenced area. I barely missed banging my head on my antique metal icecream chair, and only wrenched my back and twisted my ankle.

Took my textbooks back to the bookstore. They won't buy back my $60 trig book b/c it changed additions. Drat. I'll never use that book again.

Amber isn't eating well, but she is slowly acclimating to staying at home with me.

I've been busy this week. I think amber has the context of da-da. Elton left the room and she jumped up, climbed to the top of the play fence and sreamed da-da while looking at the doorway. :D

The house front is progressing nicely--we really think that we want to build. Dh is currently investigating land lots.

After a few pointers from wurmfood--and the realization that my computer is beset by trolls--I have compledted my first C++ project. Yea! I'm not a complete idiot. :)

**edited to add that I've received the program back and I got 100% yea!! Thanks for the tips Wurm!!!

Amber cannot yet walk without holding on to something, but she can climb. Today she climbed out of her play fence. Poor baby! She fell on her head and began to cry. Amber has to be the strongest baby I've ever seen; she even does chin-ups.

Monday was my last day. :D

I registered for classes on Tuesday--Comp I and Western Civ I 1st summer semester. Trig and Comp II 2nd summer semester. I'm taking programming in C+ online for the summer semester also. I didn't eat or drink before I went to register, then I had to trek all over campus. I sweated like a pig and almost passed out from overheating. ::slaps self:: next time I shall take a bottle of water with me.

I've been cleaning a bit of house today (and sleeping late.) Amber has been sick and waking up twice a night, so we are worn out.

Got a new computer for mother's day--Compaq Preario w/ AMD Athlon 3200+, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 160GB, 8x DVD +RW/CD-RW with second CD drive. Front access plugs, nice speakers, HP printer, 17" moniter. Can you tell I'm happy with it? It runs like a dream and is very quick. It suits my needs fairly well. I got a good deal on it too.

I'm really looking forward to being in Texas next week. Meeting some LHCers at the Faire this sunday. And I'll be in Austin on Wed, San Antonio Wed night, Thrus and Fri. It is a week-long vacation for us. I'll be in Dallas next saturday (memorial day weekend) on my way back. Yea!! I'm hoping to figure out where Karen will be that Saturday (probably on the opposite side of Texas from me. lol.)

Two days left. Whoo. I can’t wait. I need to register on tues. Then I’m off to Tx for some much needed R&R.

Amber is trying to get sick again. :(

I have decided to adopt the title

I have been formally dubed Euphrasyne the formidible.

First suggested by bunniee, then picked up by others after I used this phrase one too many times:

"If you do that again, I'm going to grind your balls into chalk and use it to mark out your dead carcas."

Well, we have spoken with my brother about the possibility of him moving in with us. It would be a major life change, but it could work out quite well financially for all involved. We are going to pick up my toy chest from him tonight and discuss the issue further.

Amber ate bananas last night; she likes them better cold. No gagging this time, and she ate almost a third of a jar! She smiled and cooed and didn’t spit them out—for the most part. We have conquered sleeping through the night, and are on our way to solid food. I don’t know what I did to get such a sweet happy baby, but I have indeed been fortunate in her personality.

The nurses were amazed that she could already crawl (as demonstrated after her synagis shot yesterday.) Jackie (the most wonderful nurse EVER) told us that her weight gain would slow since she is now crawling and walking (while holding on to things.) Current weight is 12.5 lb.

The baby is doing well, but still on breathing treatments and steroids. I did end up going to MEA on Tuesday, and it turns out that I have pneumonia. Joy. I convinced the doc to let me to return to work today on a trial basis. I’m here, but feeling pretty rotten. My head is stuffy and hot, and I’m really flushed. I’m taking albuterol, antibiotics, nasonex, and Hydron CP. I’m supposed to start singular when I’m over the pneumonia. The cough medicine is making me dizzy.

joy.

::sighs:: one step forward, two steps back.
Amber (7mo) was adimited to UMC for 36 hours on Saturday for low blood oxygen. She was in for a similar problem in November. The joys of preemies. She has only had 4 oz today, so I'm really worried that we will end up back in the hospital for dehydration.

I am still home with her today, and have cancled almost all of my appointments for the next few days. And, I think she gave me her cold--I'm running a feaver of 101.4. I've called my husband home to take care of us as I do not want to give it back to Amber, the poor little thing. ;x

I miss my rut. I've been a little more social than usual lately, and most of it has been wonderful, but there seems to be much chaos and drama going on. Also, I'm having a hard time going into the right mode. I seem to be the bitch where I should be empathetic, and empathetic where I should be the bitch. Cover everything up with the politically polite facade, and I feel guilty on top of everything else.


The lyrics to ( Is there life out there? ) keep running through my head