Seven Quick Takes

-1-

I won't lie.  I am exhausted.  Meghan has not slept in at least a week (teething, maybe?) so I haven't either.  During the few hours she does sleep in a day/night, I have been trying to get caught up with work.  She has been crying for the last 24 hours straight, unless held by me.

-2-

Lack of sleep makes me cranky.

-3-

Camille needs to get out of the house and play with other kids.  She is seriously bouncing off the walls and furniture.

-4-

Our reprieve was going to be escaping to Fargo on Monday for a week with the cousins.

-5-

Next Wednesday was the only time in the next 2 months we could see a GI specialist for Meghan (who still has not gained an ounce in the last 6 months).  Post-pone that trip to Fargo.

-6-

In the last 3 weeks we have proven that a queen size bed is not big enough for the 2  3 4 of us to sleep in.  Would someone please buy our house in Florida so we can return to our king size bed?

-7-

How do you spell relief??

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window... the deer have been walking by twice a day since we arrived.  Yesterday during dinner a mallard duck and his mate waddled by.  Who needs a zoo membership?
I am thinking... actually, I have taken a break from thinking the last two weeks.  I am in heaven!
I am thankful for... Ken arranging a workspace for me with two monitors.  The extra monitor makes work so much easier.
From the kitchen... a turkey breast is in the oven.  Yum!
I am wearing... not nearly enough clothes for the cool weather that blew in this morning.  I really need to go shopping with my friend Jennifer, the personal shopper expert.  I don't have anything to wear in this cold weather.
I am creating... a to-do list for all of the work I need to get done.
I am going... to hopefully visit my Grandma tomorrow.
I am reading... not much time for reading right now...
I am hoping... I can get together with my friend from high school, Sarah, again soon.  The girls and I had a lovely playdate with Sarah and her daughter and son this morning.
I am hearing... Camille playing with her electric toothbrush.  After being afraid of the vibrating Sponge Bob for a year and a half, she can't get enough of brushing her teeth.
Around the house... We still need to clean out the garage so I can park my car inside.  We are also going to find a tree  branch to put in a pot and decorate an Easter tree with Granny.
One of my favorite things...  Meghan yells "DaDa" and crawls to Ken when he arrives home from work each evening.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Visit Grandma tomorrow.  My parents and sister are coming to visit this weekend and we will celebrate my Sister-in-Law's birthday on Sunday.  We are so happy to be able to enjoy these family events again.
Hereare a few pictures I thought of sharing...

Meghan helps drive from Gainesville to St. Paul

Hmmm...this shovel is too big.

This spade is just right!

Camille bikes around the cul-de-sac.

Golfing at the Mall of America

A hole in one!

Need I say more?

**It's hard to take pictures of Meghan when I'm wearing her in the baby carrier.  More of her later.

Camille's Little Coconut

Camille usually walks around the house yelling at Meghan, "come here, sweetheart...no, no sweetheart..."  Today she used a new term of endearment.  "Hello my little coconut."  Little coconut actually fits Meghan very well.  Her head is about the size of a coconut, she has hair the color of the exterior of a coconut, and she is smiley and sweet like a pina colada.  I think Meghan has a new name!

Seven Quick Takes

Okay, so today is Thursday.  I'm a day early.  Or 6 days late.  And I have 10, so not really quick, either.

-1-

After four fairly long days in the care, we finally arrived in MN.  Fortunately, we did not encounter any car troubles or other difficulty.

-2-

Two Men and a Truck loaded everything for us in Florida and, as we discovered upon arrival in MN, did not wrap our furniture very well.  Several nicks and scratches were endured.  Luckily we do not have any furniture of value.

-3-

We have nicely settled in at Granny's house.  The girls are sharing a room, which is working out surprisingly well.  They don't talk at bed time and Meghan's cries have only kept Camille up once, so far.

-4-

Meghan had a rough start.  She had a high fever four nights in a row and was really fussy.  After the third night of fever and fussing, I took her to her new pediatrician.  He assured me she just had a virus and sent us home with nothing.  After the fourth night of fever and absolutely no sleep, I took her to a different pediatrician I happened to drive by on the way to the grocery store.  The second pediatrician significantly more helpful.  She clearly saw Meghans very infected ear and understood me when I said she was not at all herself.  We left with prescriptions for antibiotics, ibuprofen, ear numbing drops, and referrals to every specialist Meghan needs to see.  Fortunately, the meds worked and we had a good night of sleep last night.

-5-

As an aside, after the 3rd night of fever, I suspected Meghan had roseola.  Sure enough, on day 4, she broke out in a rash.

-6-

Camille is struggling to adjust to the move.  Initially the new surroundings bothered her at night.  Once I put her own comforter, pillows, and stuffed animals on her bed, she started sleeping better.  Now she's having trouble during the day.  She's not really sure what to do with herself.  I cannot blame her as I'm not really sure what to do with myself.  The adjustment would probably easier if we were in our own home and I could spend time working on the house.  Granny's house does not really have a good spot to sequester the kids and let them play while still keeping them in my sight.

-7-

We are really enjoying spending time with my grandmother and are so grateful that she has room for us.  However, living in an enormous "do not touch" house with two little kids is an indescribable experience.  The knick-knack body count so far:  1 glass angel has lost her halo and some lovely silk flowers lost their leaves.  Not too bad for being here 6 days!

-8-

Oh yeah...Meghan has figured out how to remove the covers from the electrical outlets.  Her tiny fingers are just perfect for removing those buggers that the rest of us have to use a knife to remove.

-9-

I killed a brown spider (the Florida variety) in the bathroom today.  The little guy crawled out of a shopping bag that was briefly in my trunk.  Hopefully we left all other little critters in Florida!

-10-

Granny has deer that wander by her porch every day at 10AM and 4PM.  When I have my camera ready, I will take a picture and post it.  Perhaps I can capture all 12!

Seven Quick Takes

-1-

Ken's parents arrived safely on Wednesday.  It is so nice to have a few extra hands around the house!

-2-

The St. Patrick's Day Party last weekend went really well.  We had a small crowd and are enjoying the leftovers.

-3-

Camille seems to be constantly in trouble lately.  I'm not sure if she's really in more trouble or if I'm just being impatient with her antics.

-4-

Meghan has had her blood drawn 3 times in the last week.  Every person that has tried has had to stick her at least twice.  Today was the last straw for me.  I gave them 2 chances and after they didn't get any blood, I told them I would do it myself.  (I promise I was polite.)  Fortunately I was able to draw ample blood for all of the tests she needed, including one that has been re-ordered 3 times due to insufficient amounts of blood.  The nurses said they could never poke their own child with a needle.  For me it was more painful to hold her and listen to her scream as people kept missing than to just do it.  I am a little bit traumatized after-the-fact, but luckily Meghan has forgotten about it and still loves her mommy.

-5-

So far Meghan's blood tests have come back slightly abnormal and are somewhat pointing in the direction of a kidney disorder.  We still don't know for sure and probably won't for at least a week longer.

-6-

Meghan still has fluid in both of her ears and isn't sleeping.  She is going to the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor next week.  I am hopeful they will be able to squeeze her into their schedule to put in tubes before we leave.

-7-

Pray for my friend Lorrie.  She is a week overdue and hopefully having her baby in the next 24 hours!

Seven Quick Takes

-1-

I have laryngitis, which is turning out to be fantastic.  I whisper to Camille, and she whispers back.  We are enjoying a quiet day at home.

-2-

Meghan's thyroid tests came back normal.  We have been keeping track of everything she eats and will be seeing a pediatric GI specialist as well as a dietician on Monday.  Hopefully they can give us some helpful advice on how to plump her up.

-3-

We had to get a 4th antibiotic yesterday as Meghan refused to take the 3rd one (Septra).  Septra is very bitter.  Now we have augmentin flavored like strawberries.  She is still refusing to take it.  PTSD (post-traumatic Syringe disorder).  I have resorted to the "restrain and force" method.  Ear infection, please go away!

-4-

We are preparing for our annual St. Patrick's Day party which will be tomorrow.  We moved it to our club house so we can keep the house clean for prospective buyers.

-5-

I'm not making soup this year for the party like I usually do.  Soup is too hard to transport.  We ordered 10 loaves of delicious bread from our favorite bakery, Uppercrust, and bought enough corned beef, pastrami, ham, pepperoni, turkey, and cheese to feed an army.  Let's hope an army shows up!

-6-

Please keep my sister-in-law's nephew in your prayers.  He is 12 years old and has a very serious bone infection.

-7-

No, I have not packed a single box yet.  However, we did receive our small shipment of boxes this week, and I have started cleaning out my office at work .  Baby steps...

An update on our littlest Lamb

We brought Meghan to see our friend Tomi, pediatric cardiologist, this morning.  She received a full work-up including an EKG and an Echo.  Meghan's heart is healthy!  She does have what's called an "innocent murmur" and will possibly have it her entire life.  We are so thankful for all of the prayers we have received over the last several days.

Unfortunately, this visit to the cardiologist does not explain Meghan's weight loss.  The near future will likely include visits to several different specialists...