May 30, 2003
Had an exciting day or
Had an exciting day or two. Saw my eye dr yesterday who said things looked good and that unless I have problems I dont have to go back. Saw my neurologist today and we discussed stopping my meds for baby making purposes. He said that the medicine has not been tested for pregnancy and he would understand my wanting to stop it to see if I can do without. So with his ok we are stopping my pills. Therefore leaving the only pill I take daily being my multivitamin. My pcm wouldnt write me a RX for prenatals so I figure a multivitamin is better than not taking anything. My neuro suggested I make an appt w/ an ob and discuss my condition before I get preggo. I had the talk w/ my pcm and didnt think I'd need to discuss it w/ an ob/gyn before I was preggo but he thought it would be a good idea since I need to find one here anyway. I loved my dr in Ohio for Caleb, but at least I have lots of friends w/ new babies that I can get referrals from. So we'll see how the next month goes w/out my tumor medicine. I am scared but thrilled at the idea of being off all meds and doing well. My bp was perfect today, 120/80 and I havent taken that medicine for a month. Think that has to do a lot w/ getting my butt of the couch and getting out to play w/ Caleb and cutting my salt. So until winter comes I am sure as long as I stay active I'll be good. In the winter maybe we'll be able to afford a fitness club. Until then just Caleb crunches, walks, and other things the count for exercise like cutting the grass and stuff. So I am excited and looking forward to a brighter healthier future. Amazing how things can change w/ a little time and motivation.
May 27, 2003
Pics
I know that this pic looks like it was ripped out of some ad somewhere, but I promise you it is indeed Caleb's new improved room. Still waiting for his bed set to arrive that I won on ebay, waiting not so patiently I might add.
And this says it all:
Isn't he just a gorgeus little guy?!
BP
Wohoo!! Had a doctors appt today to check how my blood pressure is doing since I've been off the meds for it for about a month, and it was great, 126/80!! So no meds and no more checks for another 6 weeks. Unless of course I get preggo before then and she said if I do and go to any other dr appts and my pressure is up then to call and make an appt w/ her. Got lots I want to write about , but thats the most exciting news to me so far, and I've got to go get Dean from work. so maybe more later....so no one wants to comment bout how the page looks??!! thought for sure I'd get more feedback, but I guess two comments is better than none.
May 25, 2003
05/25/2003
Cant believe how the day went. Or the weekend so far for that matter. I cant even believe its already Sunday night. Friday night well I already told ya, Dean went out and I stayed home cleaning. We stayed up late that night working on my webpage. i love how it has turned out. yesterday we had dinner at some friends' and then headed out to Radical psalms since I had never been and was dying of curiousity. We took Caleb with us so he was up late last night. Didnt get in bed til around midnight last night. Then up and out early for church and then home for our party. Ended up w/ lots of people and kids. It was great, even though we were rained in we had plenty of room. The kids were mostly entertained w/ each other, toys, and game cube. Caleb ended up w/ a black eye but he never came to us crying so we're not even sure how it happened. Being the good parents we are we left him to play w/ the kids as there were a few older ones, oh well, at least no one had any major injuries! After the church folks left my mom and step dad came over as did Stace and her new hubby. Had to fight w/ caleb until he gave in to exhaustion so now Dean and I are just chilling in front of our computers. Going to a friends tomorrow for a party. It's socially draining on me, as I am not an extrovert at all. But today was very fulfilling to have time to spend w/ so many old and new friends throughout the weekend. But I am about worn out! So off to bed, sometime soon I hope if I can drag the hubby away from his puter.
May 24, 2003
Fun Button
I am sooo excited!! Yes, it's 3 am and I am redoing my webpage, geez what is my problem. I need a beer or some caffeine or something. With the help of my lovely hubby I think we've got it working now. This is my biggest accomplishment as I had no way to search my archives before. 
5/24/2003
It's 12:50 am do you know where your spouse is?? Well mine is out clubbing!! No really, he's at a christian club. He's gone the last few weekends after Caleb is in bed. I've taken the time as an opportunity to get things done in a quiet house. Tonight I am doing the last final touches of cleaning to make the house truly ready for our party this Sunday. It's actually worked out well. Dean goes out, and I get to get things done so that when the weekend is truly here all the chores are done and we can both enjoy our time. I kind of wish I had someplace to go on a Friday night by myself, but I wont be bitter about it. Dean needs time to himself and I do get a lot done. But I know if he was home I'd prolly be sleeping, and I'm not sure why I just dont get to bed on time, but I figure if he's up I can be too. Plus I sleep much better once he is home. Something about being safe in the arms of the man I love. I'm only sitting here now waiting for the floors that I just scrubbed to get dry so I can get a drink in the kitchen! I dont know any one as silly as me, scrubbing floors and bathrooms after midnight on a Friday night. Ah the life of a boring sahm w/ a social butterfly of a hubby out and about and a quiet sleeping toddler tucked in in the next room. I find it odd how comforting it is to know that my hubby can be out alone on a Friday night and know for a fact I dont need to worry about him cheating. If I didnt know where he was going I might worry, but knowing he's out w/ a trusting friend in charge of the wonderful youth ministry there helps. Well I think I'm 'bout done the chores for the night, now if I can just keep the kid and hubby from making it all messy again tomorrow....good thing is I am going out in the morning, yard saling, wohoo, and we have dinner plans out of the house. So there wont be much time to mess up the house, but there will also be less time to clean it up if they do happen to be the boys that they are. Good night folks!!
May 23, 2003
TGIF
TGIF!! I haven't wished for the weekend as much as I have this one for a while. Not sure why, just looking forward to a long weekend w/ my family. I am exhausted this morning, had slightly raised temp this morning and my eyes were filled w/ goo so I am hoping I am not getting sick. I havent been in a while so it's prolly about time for a good cold! (specially w/ all these goofy weather changes) Just hoping if I get sick it clears up soon or waits til after Sunday to set in.
I made Dean drive himself to work this morning, Caleb didnt wake me up til 8:10, which was sooo nice. He's usually up much earlier, and we have to wake him up to take Dean to work. So it was nice. I really needed some extra sleep, although I think I could use some more. I might just take a nap w/ Caleb today, I havent done that in a while.
Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. We've got plans for tomorrow and Sunday but nothing tonight or Monday, hoping on Monday to do something family oriented. Did I already say this, TGIF!!! Wohooo!!
May 22, 2003
Nothing in particular...
I thought rain helped lower the pollen count?? For the last few days my allergies are going bananas!! I wish the rain would wash away whatever it is that is bothering me.
In other non whining news, Caleb is talking away lately. His not so complete list of his vocabulary: store, home, eat, more, Jonah(as in the veggie tales newest movie), Monsters(for Monsters Inc), Elmo, spin, jump, ribbit (w/ a jump added for emphasis of course), out(meaning: up, out, and let me past this darn baby gate mommy!), light, tv, COOKIEEE, Phish (fish), potty, bath, noodles, outside, puppy, cat, juice, bottle, milk, cheese, pizza, crabmeat(he loves the stuff! he is a true seafood lover)...and the list goes on. He can pretty much mimmick any word. He knows that Daddys name is Dean and mommys name is Amy, and of course he knows his name is Caleb. Ah...they grow up sooo fast!
May 21, 2003
Despite the nagging back pain
Despite the nagging back pain since I woke up, I've been quite motivated today. A few weeks ago while working on cleaning up the closet in the playroom I discovered that under our basement steps we have tons of storage space. There's rods for hanging clothes and everything. I was so excited but it was also very dirty down there. Since it's a rainy day I let Caleb play while I worked in there, he mostly played at trying to see what I was up to! I got it all cleaned up and moved boxes of stuff that we dont need to get into for a while to that storage spcae. Now dean has more room for his tools and stuff in our back storage space. We've got a cool little nook in the basement w/ shelving and hooks for tools and the like. Until today it's mostly been jammed w/ bins of old stuff. Since we've moved in I've done little by little to rid us of that extra junk. Today I made great strides in getting it out of the way. I am hoping Dean appreciates the space. He hates going down to look for tools and being unable to get past my junk. So now that Calebs napping I'm off to finish up that and my big sanding/ painting project in our basement bathroom. My biggest motivator is our party this Sunday but I dont really care, at this point I knew the project wouldnt be done in time, but at least now it might be easier to have guests downstairs if it rains. Or so by the end of the week I hope things are looking that good down there. Until then, work work work.....geez, I think I do more work than if I had a paying job...
Did I mention I've got my first batch of homemade spaghetti sauce simmering in the crock pot while I work....mmmm! It's a perfect day for a big ol' plate of spaghetti...
May 20, 2003
While I may agonize over
While I may agonize over the flaws in our home I will never forget lazy afternoons spent on the deck w/ my family. Today has been great. Caleb painted and played w/ his cars while I enjoyed the new American Baby magazine. Now we are both tinged w/ sunshine, Calebs ears must have taken most of the sun as they are red. His cheeks are pink but not too bad. Me on the other hand, well my arms are quite red, as I purposely sat my chair in the sun so I could watch Caleb so he'd be mostly in the shaded part of the deck. It's a beautiful day. All this sunshine has turned my mood around quite nicely. Just hoping Caleb is all tired out and ready for a nap. The fact he just dropped all my freshly made chocolate cookies on the floor and I found the stinker sitting next to the mess eating one leads me to believe otherwise. I didnt know whether I should spank him or grab the camera. Instead I shoved a cookie in my mouth to keep him from seeing my laugh! He's rotten but so darned cute!!
My main thought for today
My main thought for today and how this week is going : sometimes it sucks to be a woman. Am grateful for the sunshine today and yesterday but they say it will be raining starting tomorrow til at least Saturday. We have a cook out planned for Sunday I am praying it clears up in time!! Until them I am dealing with too much stuff right now to think about a rainy party that is a week away.
I've recently been told that some people like how my webpage looks while others dont. Please comment on if you think this layout is good, or if it's time for a change. I'll consider all comments, but unless someone tells me I dont know that it's not working on other peoples browsers so until I hear otherwise I'll just be considering changes.
May 16, 2003
When will the storms stop!!
When will the storms stop!! The ones outside the window and the ones inside our lives...things are calming down now, although the abrupt change to being a house filled w/ people to just a mommy daddy baby house is hard for Caleb to adjust to. he's been throwing horrible tantrums and he's just not my normal little guy lately. I am sure he sensed something was up last week, this week I think it's just hard for him to not have soo much loving as he did last week. Although I am doing my best to interact w/ him. We spent the morning playing cars , puzzles, painting, coloring, making more and more messes. Meanwhile outside the buckets of rain kept falling and still do. it doesnt help my mood any when I've got a fussy kid and cant take him out to play.
Nothing too exciting going on lately with us. Dean's going to a concert tonight and tomorrow night we are helping w/ nursery at the church plant and Sunday in the nursery at our church. Other than that hopefully helping Caleb adapt to his old schedule, post family and funeral mode. Hope it's sunny in someones side of the world today!!
May 11, 2003
happy mothers day!!! Miss seeing
happy mothers day!!! Miss seeing my mommy today but too much going on around here. Love you mom!!
May 09, 2003
Mourning
taking a break, sadly to say Dean's granddad passed away this evening. Even more prayers needed as our family deals w/ this loss. He told the nurse he had talked to Jesus and was ready to die. Shortly afterward he just went to sleep, we pray that he is now enjoying his heavenly home. We'll miss you pop pop.
5/9/2003
Well I finally had my drs appt, and the great news is I've been off of my bp medicine for a week and a 1/2 and when they checked my pressure it was 120/80 which is normal!! The dr thought maybe the nurse wrote it down wrong so she took it again herself and it was then 126/78, still not too shabby! I was thrilled, not sure what happened to change it, but things are looking good. Still taking lasix for my pseudo tumor until I have my f/u appt at the end of the month w/ the other dr for that. So no more bp medicine!! All that worrying I did and after my body did the initial adjusting to being off the medicine(thus the horrible headaches last week) things are fine. Had my lovely "annual" exam as well to make sure the baby maker is in tip top shape and unless the results come back abnormal then we have the drs ok for trying for baby # 2. So needless to say, I am very happy about how my appt went.
Dean's parents arrive today so they can be near pop pop at the hospital. Which I am sure will make Dean's mothers day a little brighter w/ his mommy here. I spent lunch time w/ my mom today. We were supposed to be getting together w/ my brother and his family too but my sister in law got sick. So we just ate lunch and hung out a little bit. Exchanged gifts since pending how the weekend goes I am not sure I'll keep my plans to have lunch at my moms on Sunday. Right now we're putting all our plans on hold til we see what Dean's moms plans are and see how pop is doing.
My "little" boy is growing so fast. he's growing quite a vocabulary and has reached a comfortable height not only to be able to open doors but yesterday he figured out how to take the child safety door knob covers off of our bedroom door! I asked him to show me how and he went up to the dr and laughed and ran away so I couldnt put it back on the door knob. He's a sneaky little fella. His favorite thing to watch is Monsters Inc. it's usually always on the tv even if he's off playing elsewhere. He insists that it always be on. Used to be Elmo was his favorite but now he's captivated w/ Monsters. At least its a movie I can enjoy too.
May 07, 2003
05/07/2003
I spoke too soon .....Dean's pop pop is in the hospital. Around Thanksgiving he kept saying that he wouldnt be around for the holidays. He's still here, but Dean got a call from his mom saying things are looking good. I'd say more but thats all I know. Please pray for Dean's family this week!
May 06, 2003
05/06/2003
Went to lunch with Dean and the Baltimore Bloggers. It was nice to actually see Dean during the day. We dont do lunch because parking is expensive and so is eating out! But today I splurged, mostly because I was getting jealous of his getting to eat out while I am stuck at home making Caleb and I lunch of either leftovers or mac n cheese! So I thought I'd join them. It indeed turned out to be quite expensive since we got seafood and dessert and had to pay $8 for me to park(I was only parked there for 1 1/2 hours). But it was nice, got us out of the house. I am not a social bug so I didnt talk much if at all, but its nice to put a face to the words.
I've been motivated to get our house looking better. Not quite w/ spring cleaning, more like spring painting. When we moved in we did just enough to make the house livable, but after being home lately I am getting sick of living in a badly painted house. So I've spent many a nap and bed times for Caleb painting or sanding to prepare for painting. We finally got Calebs room redone. I'd take a pic but we lost our battery charger for the digital camera on our Easter vacation. So until we get a new one or find the old one no digi pics. but it looks 100% better than it did. Started prepping the ceilings last night, or rather got Dean to, so we can paint them. Am looking at some new slipcovers on Ebay since they are so expensive elsewhere. I dont not like our house now, well ok, maybe, I just wish we had bought a new house instead. I love the amount of space we have and knowing Dean grew up here but I am sick of having a unfinished house. Our bathroom has needed finished for a long time now and its driving me mad. I am sure if I were a working girl we could #1 afford to have someone else do it, and # 2 I wouldnt be home to notice it as much. Dean loves this house but until we get it looking better I am not at all happy being here. Too much to do and I've done and am doing my best to do repairs that I can do alone w/ a toddler or during nap time, but that gets hard and tiring. So w/ any luck some big projects will get touched soon. I am definitley feeling a little better now that Caleb's room is presentable. My biggest frustration I guess is that we want to have guests over but I just dont feel like our house is nice enough yet to show off. I love hosting, I really do. We've done so much hosting lately and I love the preparing the food, getting the house neat, the stressful last minutes of waiting for guests to arrive, I am suprised actually at how much I've enjoyed it lately. We are planning some big parties soon and I really want the house in shape by then, but I know I am expecting lots but I am doing a good job of doing my part to get things done during the day or preparing to do work in the evenings when Dean gets home. He doesnt want me to deal with the work but I know if I dont get moving on things they will never get done. So I'm being pushy but when am I not? In the last few months I've gotten the playroom redecorated, Caleb's room redecorated and am in the process of a major paint problem in our 3rd bathroom by the play room as our old roomate did some test painting that didnt work out and now I have to sand a lot to get rid of it and it's a chore and I think we may have to rent a sander to get the job done. And that annoys me, having a non functioning bathroom next to the room where I want us to spend most of our time during the day. OH well. Just another thing.
Thinking about removing comments from my page. I know everyone has a right to write but I get so easily hurt by what others think/say.
My grandad had surgery yesterday, his corrated artery was 90% blocked and they have to correct it. A friend from church's dad was diagnosed w/ cancer less than a month ago and passed away this weekend. Last night we got a call that Dean's dad is in the hospital w/ chest pains and that they are keeping him for observation. I dont know if Dean isnt worried or is doing his usual ignoring things so he doesnt have to think about them routine. Me I was unable to sleep cause I kept wondering what's next. We've had a pretty calm month or so around here and anyone who knows us knows that thats not common. It's usually chaos central. I am grateful that we are going through a time of blessing but it usually always come w/ a cost. I thought that last week when we heard about my granddads being ill that that was it, that we'd be dealing with funeral arrangements soon, and I'm not the only one who thought it. It's the calm before the storm and I'm enjoying it as long as we can. I thank God my granddad is doing better, at the same time, being still and knowing that while we rejoice a friend is mourning the sudden and unexpected illness and death of a loved one. Some friends are heading to their house tomorrow to help set up food for a gathering after the funeral. I am no good at funerals, and I dont think we'll go, but will gladly do what we can to help out. Even if all that means is helping cook or set up food or clean house. I dont know what I'd do if I lost my dad, and I always have that fear that one day we'll get the call that the man we never really knew other than as knowing he was dad is gone. All I can do is pray for strength to find the words to comfort our friends knowing I can never understand the depth of their pain.
May 02, 2003
05/02/03
Attack of the killer headache!!!
I think i wrote this the other day, but I stopped taking my blood pressure on Sunday, well rather Sunday was the last time I took it. I ran out of refills and want to see the dr before getting more so I can maybe switch it to something that would safer for if and when I get pregnant again. The last few days I've felt ok, but have been having some bad headaches. Since I had my eye surgery I havent really had headaches and they are horrible. Today has been the worst. The visual impairment is not good either.
I did a lot of work outside today and I think it must have raised my blood pressure more and I thought I was going to pass out. So I did my best to get things finished up and to feed Caleb lunch. Then I convinced him to nap with me. I awoke about 30 minutes later w/ no headache, which may have been due to my resting or the fact I took tylenol before we laid down. I thought I could get up and finish some chores while he napped, but as soon as I started moving around I was greeted w/ a huge wave of pain and my headache is back in full force. I called the drs office before we laid down to tell them what was going on, since I keep reading that it's not good to stop taking blood pressure pills cold turkey. They havent called back yet. Until then I think I'll try to nap, although its hard knowing I have stuff to get done....ahhh the phone is ringing and yes, it's the dr's office.......wohooo! Great, they are calling me in pills but I still dont really want to take them, I want to switch them but she said I cant go w/out taking them as long as I have to and it was just the nurse so I need to see the dr to switch to a whole different medicine. So oh well, guess I'll have to deal with it, but I'd rather deal w/ my feelings over not wanting to take it then deal with these monster headaches.
We are talking about baby two, and it's hard to imagine that my body will be able to handle another baby if I cant stop my bp medicine and my psuedo tumor medicine. I know that God will provide for us and keep our future baby healthy but all of the stuff I've read on taking bp medicine says that it shoudl only be taken during pregnancy if there is a greater risk of harm to the mother than the baby if it's not taken. And at this point I think the bp medicine must be essential for me cause I've not been taking it and I feel like I've been run over by a truck. This is hard for me, to think we might not be able to naturally have another child. I really dont want to wait til Thursday to see my dr about it, but I know we have to right now due to insurance problems and our schedules. It's hard reading other peoples blog about being pregnant now when I really want to be, but know physically it's not a good idea. I am hoping the dr can ease my worries next week. I am a worrier by nature and with any luck things will be fine. I just worry that these last few late periods w/ pregnancy symptoms were really aborted pregnancies due to the medicine I am taking. I know that the medicine I am on is very harmful to fetuses in early pregnancy, which makes it crazy that we are even thinking of trying while I am still taking it. Since by the time we coudl find out if I am pregnant my body could be in the process of aborting the baby due to the effects of the medicine. It's scary and I know I could just be making things worse by worrying, but it's hard knowing I cant be in control of this. I probably wont be around for a few more days, it's going to be a busy weekend and I've got lots to deal with right now w/ my health. Theres not much energy left over after a long day of caring for home and Caleb.
May 01, 2003
Been busy socially lately, and
Been busy socially lately, and around the house. Yesterday I was supposed to have a drs appt. and Dean got off of work early to watch Caleb. We got there and she asks me who was I supposed to see and what time and if I called after hours to schedule the appt. I told her everything and that I had called during the day not after hours. She looks and tells me my appt was scheduled for May 28 at 4 pm. Someone screwed up. There wasnt a dr who could see me then so we left. Dean said I should have explained that I was out of blood pressure medicine and I told him I did. They didnt really care. So my next appt is now for next Thursday evening. Until then I wont be taking my blood pressure medicine for many different reasons, and I was ok with that until everyone starting saying how dangerous it is to stop it suddenly. I have been feeling achy and tired and having horrible headaches so I know that that is probably not a good thing. I am sure I will be fine, I am going to up my water intake and cut all salt from my diet in aids of helping but those are things I should be doing anyway!
Caleb is growing like a weed, physically and mentally. He repeats a lot of what we say and is now forming small sentences. He amazes me each day. He's been going down for a nap earlier and earlier, I think he would sleep longer in the morning if we didnt have to get up to take Dean to work. So I dont think he gets enough sleep at night and these last few nights he's spent coughing all through the night so I dont think he's been getting any restful sleep. Other than that he's doing great. If I didnt feel so bad I'd say he's been wonderful, but when I feel bad it's hard to deal with him when he's not listening to us. But thats my own fault not his, he cant help it that I am sick and not up to caring for him. Despite not feeling well myself I have pushed myself to be very efficient and are getting lots done. My new favorite tasks is mowing the yard. I think its more because I know if I can do it during the day than that will give Dean more time on the weekends or evenings since he wont have to deal with it. so I mow as much as I can w/ Caleb playing out back w/ me mowing and then finish up the rest during his nap time. It's worked quite well these last two weeks. But I hate how quickly it grows back in!
Well I'm procrastinating cleaning up our lunch mess and Caleb is already napping so I better get to work while I have the time.