Fight the Good Fight

This really is worth watching. If you didn't see it, I hope you'll take the time at some point to do so.

On the Mend

Well, it's as I figured: Sinus infections abound. I am now on antibiotics and a prescription strength decongestant. I felt better after the first dose of pills and I'm so glad that I'll soon be feeling like me again, but it's not all happiness and roses in the healing process. The decongestant keeps me awake and gives me the jitters...like I've had a couple of cups of coffee. I made the mistake of taking one last night before bed. Bad idea. I'll be sure to take it a few hours before bed tonight. My poor hubby probably wondered all night, "What is wrong with my wife? She keeps tossing and turning, then getting up to go to the bathroom." As if he didn't think I was already psycho.

I spent yesterday traveling to the doctor, then traveling back to my city to have my prescription filled (which took about a half hour). Then, I stopped and picked up lunch for me and Indy at the local Chinese buffet restaurant. You pay $3.39 per pound of buffet...it seems even crazier looking at it in print here. While inside paying, a gentleman comes up to me and says, "You know, I just want to tell you something and I know it's going to sound funny on this particular day but I feel compelled to tell you." After all that, I was on pins and needles. "What the heck is it," I thought but instead I just said, "Sure. Go ahead." Then he says, "Your hair is absolutely beautiful I mean it's stunning!" He gushes for a few seconds about my hair and I graciously thank him. It was nice to have a compliment on V-day or any day, for that matter and with the way I was looking and feeling overall.

We got home and ate our lunch. I played with Indy a bit afterwards, then put her down for her nap. She slept for three hours, poor kid. She could never nap in the car or while she was out with me because we were constantly moving. Talk about wiped out.

At around 4:00pm, hubby and the babe came home. The babe was equipped with three Mylar balloons, presented to her outside of school in front of everyone by her loving father. Hubby said that she was on cloud nine with all the kids oohing, ahing and pointing at her special present. She also came home with tons of Valentine cards, candy, pencils and stickers from school. It will be June before she's through all of it. Also in hand were lovely flowers from hubby, which I quickly cut and added to fresh water in my favorite vase.

A good day and with some news about our home, made even better. We're in the process of refinancing (in order to consolidate some debt and lower our monthly payments), but we had to have our home appraised to do so. I believe we paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $145,000 back in 2001 for our home. It is now worth $235,000. Nice. All of hubby's hard work is paying off in the vast amount of equity we've accumulated in our home. I was quite pleased to hear this almost unbelievable number.

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, it's Valentine's day and I'm still sick as a dog, so it's off to the doctor's I go. Enough is certainly enough! I called the doctor's office yesterday while I was at work and got an appointment for late this morning. I told my boss and he and my coworkers were basically like, "Yeah, you need to go." So, after I drop off the babe at school, I'll probably head over there. I think I'll get there early and by what I've learned of last minute doctor's appointments, this is a good thing.

I gave hubby his gifts last night, since he gave me mine ( a stunning, marcasite and garnet bracelet). Garnets are my birthstone. I gave him the following inside the same basket I used to give him his Valentine's gifts ten years ago, when we were still "courtin'". He's kept it all these years:

1. 4 crystal shot glasses
2. 1 bottle of Cask and Cream Chocolate Liqueur
3. Liz Claiborne Dress Shirt in Merlot (seen here on the right)
4. Dove Chocolates (dark)
5. The 2nd Season of the Justice League (I know...so romantic)
6. A lovely, sappy Valentine's card (he actually really loves those)

He seemed to like everything...maybe more so than I thought. I was glad that he was happy, just before dropping off to sleep. We exchanged gifts last night because he worked overtime early this morning (2:00am to 2:00pm). Truth be told, he's a big kid at heart and just couldn't wait any longer to exchange gifts.

Now, I'm working a bit and hope to get some more hours in today, despite my ailments. Is it sad to hope for an infection because that's what I'm doing. I'm hoping for an infection that needs antibiotics so that only after an hour of taking it, my life will seem renewed. If not an infection, I couldn't bear to hear, "Sorry. It's a virus...you'll just have to wait it out." Virus bad...bacteria good. Bacteria can be swept away by lovely prescription drugs. (Fingers crossed)

Go Shorty, It's yah birthday!

This water bearer is celebrating her 32nd birthday today. It's been awesome, so far. I woke up and started working on my computer and only a half hour into working, I received my first, "Happy Birthday," call from my dear, sweet hubby. Last night, he had flowers waiting for me when I got home. He'd also prepared dinner (stuffed halibut, mixed red bean casserole, stuffed crab shells and bread sticks). Hey, it was heaven for me and I saw the results of my feast on the scale this morning (ouch!).

I continued working, then went into the kitchen for tea. What did I find? One of those singing cards that television has been advertising for a while. The outside says, "Out of a whole big world, I found my one and only. Lucky Me." Inside, it says, "Amazing you" and plays the song Some Kind of Wonderful. I nearly woke up the baby when I opened the card, but it was so sweet. Also, a new eternity necklace and CZ earring studs.

I went back to my room and received my second phone call; a birthday serenade from my mother (we all do that in my family). It was very sweet, complete with runs, rolls and lots of vibrato. We chatted for a bit about what she was going to get me and I (for the first time ever) declined her homemade biscuits or a red velvet birthday cake. I wonder what she'll come up with, now that she doesn't have to cook? Oh, how I'll miss that cake.

Hubby called again later, to see if I'd seen the cards and gifts yet. He wanted me to take my flowers to work, but I decided that I didn't want to leave them in the office over the weekend in no light to die. They're quite tropical looking and I can keep them alive a lot longer at home. (oh, he just called again. It's 10:50am).

On my way to taking the babe to school, I turned on my cell phone and it started to vibrate after a bit. Hubby had left an "I love you more than you'll ever know," message on my phone from when he'd first headed out to the gym this morning at 3:15...crazy guy. At work, a 9-pack of chocolate cup cakes (I'll have one, only) potted daffodils, a card, a balloon and many birthday wishes. It's good to be the Queen.

Tonight, I have no plans...only to take the babe to dance class. She starts gymnastics up again next week and dad has said he'll take her swimming starting next week, too. That child will have no opportunity to get into trouble. She'll be way too busy! I guess, it's good to be the princess, too.

Happy Birthday, Indy!

A narration on my life one year ago...

I awakened to my hubby coming in from working. My back was sore, my feet hurt and I only got a few hours of sleep. A couple of hours later, we were on our way to the doctor's office. I waddled into his office remembering what he'd said at our last visit, "If your pressure is still high and we don't see any more progress with the baby descending, we may have to admit you." I hoped the baby had motivated herself to move so that I wouldn't have to be induced. The nurse checked my blood pressure and I produced a urine sample, both came back with not so great news. My pressure was high and now, there was protein in my urine. My doctor's comments, "Guess who's having a baby today?"

I called my office and let them know that I would be induced. Hubby called my mother, who had taken my daughter to school, to let her know the news. We then went next door to the hospital and checked in on the maternity floor. My nurse was awesome! Unfortunately, I cannot recall her name but, she was thorough and made sure to tell me (in detail) everything she was doing and everything that was happening. The pitocin drip and other fluids were started and within an hour or so, I was in the midst of heavy labor. Phew! There is nothing like that sensation in the whole world. Your entire body radiates with it and I was breathing like air was going out of style. My water broke with the intensity and my discomfort level increased 10 fold. There's nothing like having major contractions and being covered in water. Eww! The nurses helped me up to change my garments and padding as I tried not to fall over from each contraction.

I finally caved and new nothing was probably happening down below (previous experience) and asked for the epidural. Oh, sweet drug enduced haze how I love you! The contractions were reduced to subtle flutter and I soon relaxed. As I suspected, I went from a 5 dialation to an 8. Unfortunately, that is where I stayed for the next hour. The doctor came in and basically stated that the baby still had not descended and that he was going to prep for a C-section. I told him, "Your the doctor, so I trust you know what's best." He rubbed my forehead and smiled at me. I love my OBGYN!

Another epidural was given to numb me completely from the waist down, hubby entered newly fitted in his scrubs and a sheet was draped high over my chest. I talked to hubby as he videotaped and watched the procedure at the request of my mother (brave man). I had the sensations of tugging and wrentching as the doctor tried to free the baby from my abdomen. He soon told me why the baby had not descended on her own: the umbilical cord was wrapped around her head. Poor little thing. I had been saying things like, "I wish she'd get motivated to leave and move and down," to friends and coworkers for weeks. Then, I realized that she probably would have, if the umbilical cord hadn't prevented her from dropping.

The baby was taken to the nursery and her apgar score went from a one to normal range. My mother, sister, daughter and husband all saw the new baby. I did not. It was 9:30 or close to 10 before I saw my newborn. Oh, what a pretty baby but, oh so pale. We (me, hubby, friends and family) all thought she'd be as chocolatey dark as her sister. What a surprise! She looked more like my mother's side of the family. When girlfriends came to visit a couple of days later, they each held her, her hand in theirs. Hers was the lighter of the two (did I mention my friends who visited were of the European persuasion?). At any rate, Indy was lovely and huge, at 8 pounds 6 ounces and 21 inches long. Her darker ears indicated the color she would become (a warm caramel) and a very visible trace of what the umbilical cord had done was left on her: the hair grew in a circular pattern to suggest where the blood supply was limited...think, Sherman Hemsley during the Jeffersons. I'm glad to say her hair is finally coming in nicely.

Indy will have a small party tonight with the family. A Strawberry Shortcake, baby cake with her photo and Chinese for dinner. We're even more pleased that, after looking for weeks, I was able to pick up a TMX Elmo from Wally World. They've been sold out and nearly impossible to find. We knew that we would wait to get her one for her birthday, but didn't realize that we'd still have trouble finding one, even after Christmas. I'm so glad they had them. I wonder who will play with it more, Indy or big sis? Either way, bring on the celebration!

Happy Birthday, Indy. Mommy loves you!