BUSY BUSY life

My schooling
As if having a rapid crawling, standing 9 month old doesn't keep me busy enough. I am registered for my 1 class, it's paid for, I have my books, and I've read, highlighted, and made notes for the 1st chapter. Class starts on Jan 15th. The only problem I have is childcare. I have class MWF, Mondays are longer because I also have a lab, Wed and Friday are only 50 minute classes. So I just need part time child care, not something that daycares have and I've had no luck finding in home daycares. I found care.com and put in my info, and there is a babysitter that sounds like she would be a perfect for us. I just have to pay the 1 time fee to be able to communicate with her and hopefully it works out. As it stands, Simon's Nana will keep Ellie on Mondays, my mom on Friday's, and I still don't have anybody for Wed. I'm looking for somebody to temporarily fill that spot, but if I can't find anybody, then I'm pretty sure Nana and my mom will be able to alternate weeks for Wednesday. Hopefully I don't need to use them for many weeks. My mom's disability is getting real bad, her back is TOO bad for surgery. She's in so much pain all the time. Nana is over 80yrs old. I just really don't want to wear either of them out. If Ellie was 2months old, it would be different as she would pretty much stay in one place, but she's very active now. So hopefully this all will work out. BTW, the class I'm taking intro to human biology. If I get a B or better in the class, I will get extra points to get me into the Surgical Tech program I've talked about before.

Ellie:
She's doing great. She has a chronic runny nose, and I took her to the doctor today. They gave her loratidine. As for sending her to an allergist, they said they generally don't do that until they are 2yrs old. However, since she has CF they said to call her CF doctor to see what they though. The pedi's view on it, is that if a young child has allergies, it doesn't just suddenly start at age 2. The CF doctor says it's a parental call, they support it, and told me the one they recommend her seeing. I called the pedi back and told them what I was told. Now I'm waiting to see if the pedi does want to go ahead and send her to the allergist or see if the loratidine helps. Either way I'm happy. I was afraid they would give her antibiotics when I didn't see any reason for it. She's not running a fever, not even a low grade. She's not losing sleep. The only congestion is higher up, and I was pretty sure it wasn't in her lungs, which was correct. So we'll see what happens with the allergist.

Simon:
WOW, ready for drama?? Ready or not here it comes. So he, well we were satisfied with his assigned teammate. He was experienced and got around great in the snow and ice. He has 5 kids, one of which is the same age as Ellie, maybe a few days or week or so different. Well, the only problem when they came home for break, Simon tried and tried to get in touch with the guy. His wife and mother in law kept answering and talking to Simon. He could never talk to the teammate. His family was pissed at Simon, but Simon just wanted to know when they would go back out to make money. Apparently dude didn't want to go back out or something. Over a week later, Simon FINALLY talked to the teammate. Well they met at the terminal and weren't any loads, go figure. The guy was yelling and cursing at Simon in front of other drivers, and Simon laughed at him. I would have been yelling and cursing and throwing stuff at him. I have more of a temper than my husband. He was pretty much blaming Simon for the fact that he didn't get to spend time w/ his family (he was off for over week, wasn't Simon's fault). Then on Sunday, somehow the guy found out his license was suspended. My mail doesn't run on Sundays, so I don't know. But, he had a ticket from some time, and never paid it, now there's a warrant for his arrest. So Simon found another teammate, an older man, like in his 70's. BUT then the company had a slip seat position open and offered it to Simon. What's up with the required 6 months of teaming? Oh well, it's a better option for us so he took it. Now he awaits a truck. What slip seat is, he will get paid a certain amount every week. Beyond that, he will get millage. So it'll be more sure income. He will drive a truck for 7 days then take everything out of that truck and be home for 3-5 days, then go back out in a different truck for another 7 and start the whole thing again. During that 3-5 days, once a month he will probably act like he's really home, spending time with us and stuff, but the other times, he's going to drive the shuttle van for $150 a day to extra income on top of the minimum amount he'll get. The reason for him doing the shuttle van is because if he was out there with a team or solo we would have him stay out for 3-4 weeks then come home for 4-5 days. The other option is 2wks over the road and a crappy 2 days home. Our thoughts were stay out a month, come home for a few days. We would get more money and more time off when he's home. So w/ the slip seat program, he can keep working while he's off, just as he would if he was over the road still. Sure there are downfalls of this plan but it's going to work, we really think it will. After my class is over in May, I will apply for him for local trucking jobs, since most like for them to have 6 months experience. When he's local, if circumstances are ok, he want to try and take a night course in theology. It's looking like we will be keeping pretty busy this year with working, Ellie, schooling, and everything else that comes up.

Happy New Year

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Gave birth and bought a house and cared for a hubby w/ a broke leg, and breastfed.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made a one last year, this year, yes, I'm making a couple. Save more money, and lose more weight.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Goodness yes, I gave birth. Two of my SIL's did, 2 cousin's did, lots of good friends did. Many bloggers gave birth.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
N/A

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Stability, no moves 1 good job for DH.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 4- My daughter was born. April 8- Hubby broke his leg

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having my daughter

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not losing my weight after giving birth as quick I should have.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Umm, not really, I did have surgery to fix a torn sphincter.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
House

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My hubby's for going back to trucking school, getting a good job and enjoying it.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Not sure if other's behavior makes me depressed. Well, if Hubby's depressed I get depressed. I am always appalled at my aunt behavior, she's such a manipulative conniving you know what.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Walmart

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having my baby.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
N/A not huge into songs, don't really know titles and stuff.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
a) happier
b) thinner, much thinner
c) richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Socializing and cleaning

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
being lazy

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home w/ hubby and my baby. My family came for lunch and my MIL and nana came for dinner.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I fell in love with my baby.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
I got sucked into the Teen Mom's and Jon and Kate +8, I got into The Doctors

23. Do you hate anyone now that you did not hate this time last year?
No

24. What was the best book you read?
Don't really remember, but I know there was one.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Um, Ellie, she loves to hit the drums

26. What did you want and get?
House and baby

27. What did you want and not get?
Friends where we moved.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Again, I don't remember, but I KNOW there was one that I LOVED. I'll have to ask DH.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26, we went to Pigeon Forge, TN for one of the shows, and to the Apple Barn, and came home.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Comfy, and scarce, I wore the same things many times. PJ's became my uniform on my favorite days.

32. What kept you sane?
My baby was my sanity most of the time. When she became my insanity, my mom or DH helped a lot, wasn't very often though.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Umm, Dr. Sear's on the Doctor's

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Universal Health Care and all the many bailouts

35. Who did you miss?
My mema

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Ellie

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
This too shall pass.

Happy New Year, 1 day late.

decisions, decisions

Option 1: I've enrolled for a class, MWF 4hr course. It's a class that if I make a B or better I will get extra points and give me a leg up for getting into the limited space Surgical Tech program. I'm sure I'll make a B or better. It's a human biology course, and I just love that sort of stuff. I'm enrolled and all, just need to pay. The class will help me get into the program for 5yrs, so even we did end up pregnant I can take it a year or so later, either way, the class will be behind me.

Option 2: My SIL's MIL knows somebody looking for a part time baby sitter for their 13month old son. If I take the class, I will be looking for a part time baby sitter too. The boy would be coming to my house. There are pros and cons if I decide on this. Pro being extra money, Ellie would have a friend and older baby to look up to. Con means I can't go to school, I would have really baby proof the place quickly and better, and it means bringing another child's germs around Ellie. Plus Ellie is starting to get into everything. I can't imagine having 2 going their separate ways getting into things. I know I will need to baby proof the house soon, but for now w/ me staying home w/ Ellie, so far I just keep a close eye on her, and I really haven't had to do much. I have a make shift gate for the kitchen entrance, which I'm not sure how well it will work for a 13 month old and how well his parents will like that.

I'm leaning towards school. It's what I really wanna do and feel like I need to do. So now I just have to find 1-3 babysitters that can help out. I think Dh's nana is willing to take 1 day, my mom MAYBE 1 day, and hopefully we can fill that other day w/ somebody. We'll see.

Ellie's bronchoscope, talking, walking, and me

Ellie had her bronchoscope last Wed. and she was PITIFUL She was smiling and as happy as she could be before they took her back to the operating room. She was laughing and smiling while they carried her back. Then we waited and waited for what seemed like hours, but it wasn't even an hour. Then here the nurse comes carrying my little crying sweet pea. She had the most pitiful cry. I asked how she did, they said she did great and was asking for me. Whatever...my MIL and I let that go, as we knew she didn't say "momma" yet. But then I heard it...."MOMMMA." OMGosh, it was precious!! When we got home, Ellie and I quickly laid on the couch and took us a good nap, that didn't even last an hour. I woke up to her shaking...she was stiffening every muscle in her little body and relaxing...she kept doing this repeatedly. I was SCARED. I said her name and after about 4times she pryed her eyes open, glanced at me, and closed them again as she trembled. She didn't feel warm at all. I took her to my room and bathroom, then she started showing signs she was going to throw up. So, I held her over the toilet. After she threw up, she continued shaking. I called my MIL and asked her to come back, called my mom, and the doctor. 15minutes later when my MIL arrived Ellie had a fever. They told us she would have a fever for a day or 2. Let the fun begin. She was so pitiful. She just wanted to be held 24/7 as she fought her fever. Thank goodness for my MIL, mom, and Simon's nana. Between all of us we were able to comfort Ellie and nurse her back to health. She threw up several times and didn't seem to be able to keep anything down for a while. But she did say MOMMA.

This past week she is saying a lot more sounds. She is saying "momma", "aba" (we joke that she's saying abba-father in jewish), she said "I lub" when my mom was saying "i love you." She says "hi" and several other sounds. She's pulling herself to stand up on the couch and even making some side steps to get to what she wants. I wouldn't call it cruising just yet, but it's the step before cruising. All this in the last week and that's on top of her being sick w/ the scope and all.

I got my IUD out and I'm on metformin again. Not for TTC purposes, but if it happens then so be it. I have been unable to lose my pregnancy weight, so I've been on a relatively strict diet. I've read that the mireana IUD can make it to where you don't lose weight, plus I was having terrible migraines. No headaches since I had it removed. So far I'm on 1 metformin a day. All this happened last monday. Since then I have lost 4lbs and my pants are fitting lose. I had lost 3lbs before then, so I'm down about 7lbs. While my pants are fitting lose, my other pants still don't fit me. I have to really watch what I eat the next few days because I know from christmas eve-the monday after I'm going to be tempted beyond belief to eat an array of terrible foods. As far as the possibility of getting pregnant...we'll take that chance. Hopefully it wont happen until I lose weight, but whatever happens, happens.

Simon made it home for Thanksgiving. The week following Thanksgiving he tested to upgrade out of training. Of course he passed everything. Then the stinkin company strung him along and claimed they couldn't get in touch with his assigned teammate. Apparently they were telling his teammate the same. Anyway, as of yesterday they are together and have the truck and are just waiting for a load. His teammate has a 4 kids, one is 8 months old; Ellie's 8 months too. Kinda cool. He and his wife think it's important for her to stay home with the kids too. So that pretty cool. They both have many reasons for keeping that truck moving. Team drivers get paid more and both are very excited about earning a good living for their families.

Guess who is ready to TTC#2?? Simon. The first time around I was all over it, that maternal instinct thing, and I really felt Simon was just along for the ride. I mean he wanted a baby too, but NOTHING like I did. And now he so excited about trying for another one. I have been excited about another one since a few months after having Ellie. He wants me to get my IUD out, and for us to start trying in February, then by May or June he will put in a request to come home on expected "right" days. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited. But, I'm NERVOUS. Maybe I'll be more ready in a few months. My BIGGEST fear, is that I will get pregnant quickly with TWINS while having Ellie, and Simon still being over the road. Can you imagine, a lets say 18-20 month old and a set of twin infants. How would I go grocery shopping??? Pull a buggy w/ a kid and groceries, and push a buggy with 2. I'm not saying I will have twins, but there is always that chance since I have a family history of twins. And easy for Simon to be ready for another one, he will only be home a couple day every few weeks. He wont have to deal with the sleepless nights and all the crying. So yeah, I'm glad he's all over having another one, but I'm not all over the idea just yet. BUT, I am getting my IUD taken out on Monday. I stopped breastfeeding just over a month ago and since then I've been getting migraines like crazy. I know it's from the hormones in the IUD, though not much there are still some. I'm just very sensitive to hormones. I couldn't even handle clomid. By the 3rd straight month my migraine lasted a week and it was so bad that I wasn't going to agree to clomid anymore. So goodbye IUD. I mean seriously with a trucker husband what are the chances of pregnancy anyway??? I think we'll wing it.

Ellie is doing great. She still isn't talking, but I think I'm going to say it's because she's an only child and I'm a SAHM. If we still only have "ahhhs" I will talk to her doctor at the 9 month appointment. But I'm not so worried now. She's now pulling up to stand, and let me tell you, every time I turn around she's standing with something. Ellie still has a cough and clear snot. But, they want to still do the bronchioscope next Wednesday. I'm dreading the aftermath with the high fever. She's going to be so pitiful.

We have icicle lights up outside, and I have some garland and lights around the 2 white post on our porch area. It's kinda pretty. I also put our tree up. I had to get a new tree because our old one, was just a bit puny for me. The old one was 6ft, and I wanted taller, though didn't get the one I really want yet. The new one is 6.5ft, and it's pretty nice for now. I have the tree decorated and a lot of presents already under the tree. I'm not quite finished with my shopping yet. I have 2 more things to get for Ellie, 1 more thing for Simon, and small things for some extended family. Most I know what I'm getting, a few I'm at a lost. But I'm at a stand still till next Friday. So I'll be pushing it some. I may get some before then.

Here's what we have Ellie:
-My Pal Violet (It's a leapfrog toy, a dog stuff animal, that you hook it w/ a USB cord to your computer. Put in the child's name, favorite color, food, and animal, and pick 5 daytime songs, and 5 night time songs. It will teach the spelling of the child's name through song and has other personalized songs. You can go online and change it as child's preferences change. I will do that when she develops more likes.)
-toy drum
-tambourene
-Baby Einstein take along tunes (7 classical song, kind of like MP3 player)
-2 PJ's
-Jacket
-Some toys that aren't for bath time, but they will be in our house. We can't use typical bath time toys because of the risk of psuedomonas.
-Leapfrog spin and sing alphabet zoo. (She seemed to really like it in the store)
-Books
What's left to get her, not much.
-Simon wants to get her V-tech sit to stand dancing tower
-I want to get her a small Boombox w/ CD player for her playroom. Found the perfect one at K-Mart.
-I want to get 1-2 outfits, not pricey ones so hopefully I can get 2. She is getting into the sizes that she doesn't have full supply of.
-Potty chair (ok, before you think she's too young, I was her age, actually younger when my mom started putting me on the potty chair a few times a day and early potty training really did work. Now of course it's not going to be complete until she's walking and talking, but I would rather start now than have to deal with it later when she's more mobile and stubborn because of age. So I'm getting it, to try it out).

I know my mom, aunt, grandma, and Simon's mom, grandma, and probably a few others will be getting her some things. So I think Ellie will have a very nice 1st Christmas. Which I've already figured out she will enjoy the wrapping paper above all else.

For Simon I have:
-football
-good winter boots (gave to him early)
-MP3 player (same kind from last year, it got washed in the washer so I got a new one)
-2 PJ's
-electric steamer
-memory card for camera
-may get him a new digital camera
-a case/carrier for his toiletries
I think that's all I got for him

The problem was coming up with things for my list. I was at such a lost, now after he went shopping I think of things. The only thing I could think of were socks, blender, and crock pot. I got myself pj's, and are you smarter than a 5th grader dvd game. But now I want Mad Gab, t-shirts for working out, the storage bags you get the air out of (great for storing Ellie's old clothes), and a couple long skirts. Oh well. What will be the best for me is for Simon and Ellie to be happy. And that's not just a line, that's seriously what I want.

So I'll post again in a few month...just kidding. I'll post again, but not tomorrow. LOL. I guess for me to have half way descent post I have to wait a while between. I'm not as creative and don't live as eventful of a life as others.

Where do I start?

Once again, I have let my blog go. I'm terrible, I know.

Simon has finally went out w/ his trainer and completed training. It actually wasn't so bad being a "single parent" while he was away. Ellie and I got sick w/ a pretty yucky cold and Simon's nana and mom helped out with Ellie while I recovered. I got better, Ellie never did. Then I got sick again. Simon made it back home for Thanksgiving. A couple days later is when I got sick again, and like I said Ellie is still sick with a yucky cough, and Simon is now sick. Hopefully he will be going out with his teammate tomorrow. They are trying to get in touch w/ his teammate, which is proving to be difficult.

Ellie has 2 bottom teeth, and let me say, she was AWESOME while cutting them. She didn't fuss much or anything. She's tough like her momma. She's been sitting up for a while now. Her posture is AWESOME!!! Now she falls over every so often, but really not much anymore. She's pulling herself to stand up, and LOVES to stand. The other night at about 2am she woke up screaming, when I went to her room she was standing in her crib, I'm guessing she was scared because I laid her back down and rubbed her back (she insist on sleeping on her belly), and she drifted off back to sleep.

She's not all that into eating solid food. We were doing great w/ breakfast, lunch, and dinner with either jarred baby food or homemade baby food, but when she's sick, I'm not too good about offering her baby food and she's not to good about eating it. She's been sick now for a month, so she hasn't had much solids. I feel bad about that. Hopefully we'll be able to get back on a solid food schedule soon.

She couldn't have her scope because the first time I was really sick, fever and all. Then she was on antibiotic so they had to postpone it. As it stands, I need to call them to find out if they have a date for it.

I'm concern about Ellie's lack of talking. Ok, I know she's only 8 months, well a few days short of 8 months. But all I've read she should be making sounds like bababa or dadadada or mamamama, but she's just say aaaaaaa, and she says that all the time. She's very verbal she just isn't making the sounds I thought she would be making. I hope everything is ok. The main reason for my concern is DH was deaf out of one ear when he was a baby and had speech problems, I had very poor hearing for my early childhood and had terrible speech issues. I want to stay on top of any problems she may have.

So all in all, there's the update.

pseudomona???

Ellie had her throat swab last week we got the results Friday afternoon. She tested positive for Pseudomonas and staph. They said the next step would be the bronchial scope which was already scheduled. I am clueless with what this pseudomonas or whatever is. I have googled it and I'm not finding the answers I have questions about. If any of you CF mom's or patients have any knowledge...I'm sure you do, then I would appreciate some info. What is it? What kind of treatments will Ellie most likely have??

I'll post later Halloween stuff. I have to wake her up so I can get her ready for a swallow study.

This is what she tested positive for Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas