Life as we now know it...

Kid friendly cleaning products

2009-12-29T17:20:00.001-05:00

So you may already know that Caitlyn loves to do dishes and scrub the
sink. It is hard to find little gloves for her to wear and I am
worried about the chemicals from dish soap on her skin.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-28T21:15:00.003-05:00

We had an amazing December. Here are a few pictures of our little family:

Cabbage Patch Party @ Golden Inn, Avalon

2009-12-20T22:24:00.001-05:00

This post is way overdue. I have had good intentions on completing it the minute we got back but life sometimes happens. It was our first mini vacation since Conor was born at the end of June. Have to admit the weekend was a blast!

The minute I received the invite from Elizabeth Norton @ Party Planning Professor I knew it would be an amazing weekend. I have followed Elizabeth for the past year on Twitter (@Elizabeth_N) and have had the privilege of getting to know her. The Golden Inn graciously opened their doors to my family and a few others for an amazing party to promote Cabbage Patch Kids.

When we arrived late Friday afternoon our family was pleasantly surprised. The front desk staff was courteous and prepared for our arrival so checking in was a breeze. We got the kids in the room and unpacked a few things (husband has a bit of OCD so he had to have things just right!) then we headed back down to the reception area. There was a beautiful fire and a cart with some tasty hot chocolate and coffee. I immediately recognized Elizabeth and introduced myself and the family... have to admit that I never would have guessed she was that tall. Yes, it is the little things that I really remember. After all the introductions we headed to dinner with Elizabeth's family. Went to Sea Grill Restaurant for dinner. The dinner was very tasty but I was nervous the entire time because it was more of a 5 star place and I had Caitlyn and Conor there... thankfully our waitress was super friendly and talked with the kids.

Once the kids were in bed for the night I met up with Elizabeth, Sarah, Kelly and Mariana stopped by for a few minutes. Let me say that the band was great at the hotel bar... so great that we had our picture taken with them. I also found it amusing that Elizabeth had her laptop on the bar. :-)

Stone Harbor had many activities on Saturday. We had breakfast at the hotel Saturday morning, strolled the beach and then ventured out. Walked around town in the morning, Caitlyn had her face painted and ate some fresh donuts. She made a fun little Christmas ornament at Just Bead It and Conor chilled in the stroller. The kids sat on Santa's lap... it was the first year that Caitlyn didn't freak out and Conor just stared at him.

Sunday morning we had breakfast again at the hotel and it was just as good as it was the day prior. I have to admit that this is one area that they do extremely well in. The bacon was tasty!! We all slept very well on the nice comfy beds... I think it might actually be better than my bed at home. After breakfast we had a few hours before the Cabbage Patch Party so we headed back to the beach. At least the winds had died down and it was comfortable. Oh, did I forget to mention that the hotel is ON THE BEACH?! Yes, you look out the room and there it is.

Party time!!!! Caitlyn was beyond excited about the party. She kept thinking it was her birthday party so it was a bit hard to explain that her own party would be in a few weeks. I managed to get her into a skirt and cute boots (she doesn't do girly very well) for the occasion. She walked into the party room and her little face lit up! There was a green runway for the kids to walk down, lined with balloons. The kids immediately sat down for story time with Elizabeth... all the moms were live tweeting the event.

We were all treated to a nice lunch and then the party really got going with the adoptions! One by one the kids were called back to adopt their own Cabbage Patch. Caitlyn's baby is Lonna Lorraine... no clue how they come up with those names! After Cait picked Lonna she took her to the 'Doctor' to have her checked over. The baby needed a bath so she got one and after everything was just right in her eyes, the adoption ceremony began. She had to take her oath to always love and protect her baby... a very serious matter.

This was all exhausting and a treat was desperately needed. The Golden Inn chef came in and taught the kids how to make their own Cabbage Patch cupcake. He took the time to talk with each kid. Those were gobbled up pretty fast.

The party has ended... it was time to give some feedback to John @GoldenInnAvelon. I know that my little girl and my family had the best weekend there. She definitely wants to go back and it is a place we would have very high up on our list.

Highlights

Family friendly
Courteous staff
Great fireplace (reception area)
Great breakfast buffet
Fun nightly entertainment
Comfortable beds

Needs a little TLC

Would have been nice to have a little mixer planned by the hotel for arrival night
Half the hotel has been renovated (not the part we stayed in, but was still nice)
Exterior sliding glass door - needs external lock so you don't have to run all through the hotel

Once again, it was a perfect weekend for my little girl. Thank you!!

Milestones

2009-12-07T21:41:00.001-05:00

He sits. My sweet little man is so perfect. He is now 5 months old and
has had a tough few weeks. Admitted to the hospital with a UTI and
nasty follow-up doc visits. There are some posts that I need to write
but still need to catch my breath from all that has transpired with my
little man.

Cabbage Patch Party @ Golden Inn Avalon

2009-12-04T22:07:00.000-05:00

We had such an amazing time last weekend that I haven't had a chance to get caught up at work and home. There will be a full post this weekend describing the events.

Caitlyn had the time of her life! She keeps asking to go back.

Happiness

2009-11-09T10:41:00.000-05:00

Cait loves her little brother so very much but over the weekend the
inevitable happened. She asked if could go back in my tummy. But after
she whispered in his little ear "you are my best friend" I was such a
proud mom!

Hearing aids

2009-11-08T19:10:00.001-05:00

This was a pretty big week for my little boy. He is now 4 months old
and received his loaner aids from CHOP. We got them on Monday but had
to wait till Tuesday night for him to experience hearing. I have to
say it was a perfect and beautiful sight.

He was a good little boy and stayed still and calm while I fitted the
tubes. Once everything was just right with the equipment I turned them
on. He sat there quietly for a minute. Looked all around just taking
everything in. Then his dad loudly said hello - it must have
overwhelmed him cause he started to cry. Got this funny little look on
his face when he heard himself cry and broke into laughter. For the
next 20 min he cracked himself up by laughing.

It was truly amazing to witness this.

Now he has hearing aids like his older sister. I remember when she
first got hers. There were so many mixed emotions and uncertainty.
With him it was relaxed and happy. We know what to expect with him.
Caitlyn does so well with her hearing aids and I am positive he do
well too.

It is sad that both kids have a disability but if you had to pick one
this would be the easiest to deal with. With hearing aids both kids
can hear very well.

I am so proud of them.

I'm blessed by you...

2009-10-28T19:47:00.001-05:00

I was asked to leave a comment on @tadahmom blog. Her post is here: tadahmom.com worth taking a peek at her blog... great reading!

So without any hesitation I wrote my comment. It was so easy to think of, no hesitation as I truly do love my kids.

"Less than 10 minutes ago I put my almost 4 yo little girl to bed. She asked politely "stay 5 minutes, couple minutes" and I love it when she asks. I cuddled with her and being silly I put my head on her chest to hear her heart beat. She is my best friend... she has been my entire world for almost 4 years. Her little brother was born 4 months ago and I never thought I could love anyone as much as my little girl but the little guy just made my heart even bigger.

My little girl has started to love writing so she writes notes all the time. I taught her to write "I love you" and I keep it with me at all times.

Honestly, I am a very lucky person. Have two of the best kids in the world."

Test post

2009-10-28T13:06:00.001-05:00

Testing out posting fon my phone.

Sent from my iPhone

8 weeks

2009-08-24T20:41:00.001-05:00

The past 8 weeks have gone by so fast. I am just starting to get to know Conor and it is time to go to work. This week my focus is getting him ready for school. He has issues taking a bottle and I think today was semi-successful.

He has great head control. Typically a great mood. Loves his sister (not nearly as much as she loves him though)

I am so very lucky to have 2 great kids!

Yup - they look alike.

2009-08-17T15:58:00.000-05:00

New School

2009-08-17T15:19:00.003-05:00

Caitlyn had her first day at her new school today and she loved it. She was happy and singing when I picked her up. No grouchy little butt today. I think she will learn more at this new place plus she will start learning spanish again. Her teacher is wonderful with her - this is the same teacher she had at her old school when she was 2.

She excitedly told me about her day and that truly made me happy.

On the home front today Conor and I tried to get some rest to recover from this stomach virus. He slept alot but of course when I tried to lay down he would scream.

The Palmer-Dinh Family

2009-08-14T09:15:00.004-05:00

New Addition
Since I last posted we have a new addition to the family. Conor was born June 27th, 2009 @ 6:30AM. He weighed 7lbs 15.5oz (we are rounding up to an even 8lbs) and was 20.5in long. I will post his birth story separate.

Hearing Loss
In the past week we found out that baby Conor shares his sisters hearing loss. It is so much easier to accept this time around since we have been there, done that.

Work
In 2 weeks I go back to work... at a new job. I am so very excited. I will miss the people at my last place but this new adventure should be very stable. Plus, I will get the ability to expand my knowledge.

Family Fun
In 2 weeks the family is going camping for the first time. Yes, even the baby! We are all excited and plan on making this an annual event. Some of Cait's friends are coming with us and that makes her a very happy little girl.

July

2009-07-19T19:56:00.000-05:00

Best Friends

2009-06-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

Why is everything with a 3yo about Best Friends? If she gets pissed she tells me I am not her best friend anymore.

Every night Q asks Cait if he is her best friend and that sets her off on a lecture "We are all best friends at home and we are all best friends at school." So she won't be a best friend to one of us unless she really wants something and then she is a best friend.

Terrified

2009-06-19T21:10:00.005-05:00

Only a few more days and Caitlyn will have a sibling. I am beyond worried about her and not quite sure what to think myself. Caity will always be #1 for me... we have been through so much together. I know I am sometimes hard on her but for the most part it is for her safety. The kid can be a bit crazy at times. I am so proud of her in every way. She knows what she wants and the buttons to push in order to get it. Even at 3.5 years old she can control any situation.

Every day I try to show her how much she means to me. I don't ever want her to feel as though she is not important to me. Of course we fight at times but I make sure she knows I am here no matter what.

Having this 2nd child has pretty much taken every bit of life out of me. I want to be more active. Do more things with Caitlyn. Just be my old self again but that will never happen... there will be a new normal pretty soon. I just hope my little girl can handle it.

I have been beyond stressed lately. Between work, Cait and her father I don't even know what to think. We are still trying to sell the house. I can't concentrate on anything. Terrified of depression kicking in.

For the longest time Caitlyn has said she wanted a brother or sister. I just hope we can all handle it. I am an only child so I have no clue what it is like to have a sibling. Is it possible that this is only adding to my stress and swaying my thoughts this way?

No matter what Caity Cait is my girl. I love her.

Her first trip to Atlantic City - long time ago
Soccer 2009

34 weeks

2009-05-26T20:43:00.000-05:00

Go Yankee's!!

2009-05-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

26 Weeks

2009-03-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

truly miserable

2009-02-26T08:48:00.002-05:00

This has been a week of pure hell. I can barely move right now, seen more doctors in the past few days than in the last year combined. To say I have been freaking out is an understatement. Honestly I have never felt this sick/bad in my entire life.

A week and a half ago I got a bad headache and was seeing stars flying around. Around the same time I started getting pain in my upper left side - saw my useless OB for my routine appointment last Friday 2/20 and they said I should see a neurologist. By the time Monday got here I was truly miserable. Severe cramping in my left side, from stomach around to my back. Breathing was "off" and daily headache was even worse. So, I suck it up and call my primary doc late Monday afternoon trying to get in... they are kind and let me show up at 6pm. They tell me I look very very sick and should go to the ER. Umm, thanks. Q & Cait take me to the Paoli ER and they are so kind to take me up to maternity ward right away cause I am over 20 weeks along. The strap me into the machines and ask a shit load of questions. Please keep in mind that I could barely think of what my damn name was and they wanted to keep asking me stupid questions over and over. After listening to the heartbeat and thinking the baby is fine they put another gown on me and send my sick as back downstairs for the ER. The ER lady told me there is a 7 hour wait. ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS. The door keeps opening with a cold ass breeze, many sick people packed in everywhere and here I am parked in a damn hospital gown in a wheelchair. Q & Cait were going to leave me there so he could get her home to bed and not expose the little girl to all the sickness. I said screw it...

I grabbed my clothes and went to the bathroom and left. The family was not happy with me but what good would it do for me to sit in that miserable place till 4am and get even worse? I had a plan in mind... call the doc the next morning and do whatever tests as an outpatient.

Tuesday 2/24

I go to work first thing in the morning cause I am a stupidly dedicated employee and start making calls to my OB doc to find out if there was protein in my urine from Friday (they make you pee in a cup every time you are there). Well, after sitting there on hold for 20 min they tell me they never recorded my urine results - WTF! So it is time to call my primary doc again.

Primary doc gets me in. Have to pay a 2nd co-pay in less than 24 hours but it is worth it. Doc has me pee in a cup and what do you expect... yup, protein. Doc also looks up my nose and feels around letting me know I have a sinus infection. This means an antibiotic is required. While he was listening to my heartbeat he keeps going back and listening more and asking do I have a murmur. Nope, but guess what is behind door #1? A brand spanking new Heart Murmur! He tells me he wants me to have a heart ultrasound the next morning.

Wednesday 2/25
Headed in to the doc office for day 3. Strip down and have the echo cardiogram. The woman doing it was very nice but it is painful to lay down due to sinus pressure. The test lasts just over 45 min and I am released to go home. Doc doesn't want me working or doing anything but trying to get better for the rest of the week. He calls me later in the day to tell me the preliminary results from the echo - I have fluid around my heart (pericardial effusion) and he needs to get with the cardiologist for further information.

My fever started to spike yesterday afternoon and thankfully Tylenol is keeping it around 100. I have started a full blown cough and the sinus infection is now in my entire respiratory tract. Can anything else go wrong?

Thursday 2/26
Feel the worst I possibly ever have. Doc called with more blood results. Kidney infection is confirmed and I am anemic as a bonus! What is next?

So I have:
Kidney Infection
Sinus Infection
Upper respiratory Infection
Anemia
Pericardial Effusion

Aruba 2008

2008-12-07T17:05:00.001-05:00

I won, I won, I WON!!!!

2008-11-26T12:42:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I put in a comment trying to win a bunch of pregnancy products and I won! This is all thanks to typeamoms.net. I am so very excited.

http://typeamom.net/12-Days-of-Christmas-Giveaways/On-the-Tenth-Day-of-Christmas-Giveaways.html

Educational Assessments - Eval for initial IEP

2008-11-25T11:08:00.000-05:00

My daughter had her first eval yesterday for her IEP. It was an educational assessment, done in a tiny room and it bothered me. Her IEP is going to be late and the pressure is really on right now. Caitlyn turns 3 Dec 20th and this whole process is upsetting me more and more.

After finding out that she will have to have a delay of approax 8 months to qualify for anything I got angry. Why would the county want her to regress? Why not keep providing services so she doesn't fall behind?

During this eval Cait did very well. At one point the administrator stopped asking her questions because they were in the 6 yr old range. Obviously my daughter is doing very well but I heard all the questions and honestly it is typical stuff that any 3 yr old should know.

My question is - How relevant are these tests? I know my little girl is smart but in no way has the intellect of a 6 yr old.

Hearing loss is hard because she really is "normal" when placed in programs that mainly deal with autistic children. This battle is not fun and I have a feeling it is only going to get worse.

Through this I am trying to keep a positive attitude but it is frustrating. Why don't they see this as a real disability? I can see that she has a hard time in noisy situations, a few problems with her articulation and even becomes shy in new environments becuase she doesn't always hear what is going on and knows that there is someething a little different about her.

Thanks for letting me vent. I am lost.

Guess you can call me Bette!

2008-11-03T13:48:00.000-05:00

You Are a Bette!

You are a Bette -- "I must be strong"

Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me
* Stand up for yourself... and me.
* Be confident, strong, and direct.
* Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
* Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.
* Give me space to be alone.
* Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
* I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.
* When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a Bette
* being independent and self-reliant
* being able to take charge and meet challenges head on
* being courageous, straightforward, and honest
* getting all the enjoyment I can out of life
* supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me
* upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a Bette
* overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to
* being restless and impatient with others' incompetence
* sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
* never forgetting injuries or injustices
* putting too much pressure on myself
* getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

Bettes as Children Often
* are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit
* are sometimes loners
* seize control so they won't be controlled
* figure out others' weaknesses
* attack verbally or physically when provoked
* take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

Bettes as Parents
* are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted
* are sometimes overprotective
* can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Painful and confusing

2008-10-09T19:36:00.003-05:00

So I went to the dermatologist for a follow-up appointment on my ear. 4 weeks ago they took a biopsy or a bad mole on my ear. A few days later I found out that they had to remove all the skin around it. It hurt like hell and just today the doc pulled out the last of the dissoluble stitches. When I was up the mountains last weekend the cold air really hurt my ear so hopefully the sensitivity will go away soon.

I figured today would just be a normal visit, checking the wound. I spent 45 min in the waiting room getting frustrated but what can I do. When I finally went back to be checked he took another look at my arms. There is a spot that hasn't healed very well in 3+ years (right arm, top, near bend-elbow) so he took a biopsy of that. The biopsy didn't bother me, he injected some stuff to make it numb and a minute later he took the punch out and did a punch biopsy. This took a deep chunk out of my arm about the size of a pencil eraser. It is crazy how much that bled! He stitched it up pretty fast and before I knew it he was attacking my left shoulder. So, right now both of my arms hurt. I have more stitches and I wonder what my future holds.

Feel sick to my stomach... gonna go to bed early.

Dark side

2008-10-08T21:32:00.002-05:00

Going there and kinda liking it... if only I posted more than I changed the appearance of this damn thing.

Updates

2008-09-30T21:19:00.002-05:00

I seem to update facebook and twitter a whole lot more often so check them out if you really want to know what is going on in my life. Let me know if you want the links to either one of them... usually updated pictures on there.

Insomnia is really hitting me. I can't sleep well anymore. Not sure what is going on.

One thing I am excite about is Lake Wallenpaupack this weekend. Going with 13 fine ladies - the festivities will beign Friday night and end Sunday morning. While up there a few of us will be going hiking @ Bushkill Falls. I love being outside and seeing new things. Just need to remember to wear orange! Bow hunting right now. I have been kinda shot before but with a blow dart... hurt like hell. Got stuck in my ass. Gotta love military experiences. Bunch of drunken idiots doing stupid stuff. Maybe some of the stupid fun happenings will take place this weekend.

I am so hungry right now. I know it isn't good to eat this late so I am trying to ignore it.

It is after 11 and I should be going to bed but I know I won't be able to sleep.

What sense does it make to go up there and lay with my eyes open?

Thinking

2008-09-15T20:49:00.002-05:00

I had a strange day. Very slow at work and then I got a pretty exciting call towards the end of the day. Sent my resume out tonight and will have another interview this week. I don't post anywhere else about potential jobs but here so if you are reading this please keep it quiet. :-) On my way home spanky called me telling me that the doc called and my biopsy results are in. I got my docs number and called them back. At the time of the call I was still on a high from the potential job but this certainly burst my bubble. One week ago today I had a suspicious mole on top of my left ear biopsied and got the results today. The woman said there are atypical cells and I need to come in next week to have the rest of it removed. So I have a scheduled appointment for 7:45am on Sept 24th. They mentioned that it was spitzoid and I am having troubles finding any real data on that but I haven't looked all that hard... I think I should just wait.

It is now 10pm and I know I should sleep but just can't. Too much on my mind.

Oh Cait is potty trained!! I am still too nervous about panties at night time but she will be in them by this weekend. She even does well all day at school. I am so very proud of her.

The game is close so I doubt Q will be home at a decent time... shutting down for the night.

Seriously

2008-08-28T21:14:00.003-05:00

Life

2008-08-28T20:51:00.004-05:00

Well, I have to admit I am back in my usual spot. Crossroads.

The house is up for sale. Want it to sell fast but I don't know what will happen then. I just want to be with my baby Cait and smile. I love her so very much.

Probably going to sign her up for soccer again this fall. Saturday morning 9am classes. She really enjoyed it and I bet will be even better now.

2 weeks ago I had some issues with her daycare. She has new hearing aids and they sent her to a new room for the afternoon. When I got to her school I saw her aids in her cubby in pieces! Yes, pieces!! They were also wet. As you can tell I was quite pissed. Those aren't cheap. I spoke with the owner and he said it will never happen again but honestly the teachers there suck now. There is no way I will allow her to move up to the next room. That teacher is a complete idiot. She wasn't watching Cait do any of this. When we opened the battery compartment we noticed that both batteries had multiple bite marks... what if she had swallowed one of them??

When I picked her up today there is a new "helper" in her room that had never changed a diaper before Tuesday. How in the hell can they hire someone that has never even changed one? Cait & Tyler refused to let her change them... good thing she is in panties most of the day. That brings me to the next topic -- Potty Training.

She will pee on the potty all day but refuses to poop on it. How do I get her to poop on the potty?!?!?!

There are no more naps. Even found out that she sleeps with her eyes open at times. Later in life she will understand that naps are ok cause you really aren't missing anything!! I want a nap!

Work sucks. They cut half the staff... when I started there were 50 ppl there and now only 24. Last week they made a major cut - I am shocked I made it. Now I have a new boss which is okay but very different. Still unclear on what my new role is. Guess I will find out sometime.

I'm tired. More later.

ENFP

2008-08-28T20:49:00.001-05:00

Did a personality test tonight and got my answers. It actually makes sense.

http://www.personalitypage.com/ENFP.html

Thinking about jumping on here again. Once you read my results you will see why I jump from one thing to the next!!

Testing pictures

2008-07-22T18:59:00.002-05:00

For Cheryl!

2008-07-21T06:54:00.003-05:00

I know it has been a long time since coming on here. I will make sure to take time tonight and give an update!!!

One FIne Spring Day

2008-04-28T20:45:00.000-05:00

Soccer

2008-03-24T20:10:00.000-05:00

My Pink Heart

2008-02-18T20:17:00.000-05:00

Learning new things

2008-02-17T20:45:00.002-05:00

Caitlyn had her audiology appointment yesterday. She has one every 3 - 4 months. Thankfully, they started opening them up to Saturdays cause we are typically there 2 hours. We have been going to CHOP since Cait was a baby and that is where they first diagnoised her. They knew something wasn't right before we left the hospital but we didn't officially know till we went to CHOP. It has been a long and sometimes difficult road. Appointment after appointment. She has her audiology appointments every 3 months but has to go in for new ear molds every other month or so. What can I say -- the kids ears grow fast!

So, she did very well at this appointment. It was the first time she didn't have a tantrum or freak out with all the crap that they do. Her therapist has been working with her on Conditioned Response to prepare her for these appointments. Here is the definition of what we went through: Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA): Generally completed with children approximately 2.5 to 5 years of age. The child is trained to perform a play activity each time a sound is heard. Activities might include putting a block in a bucket, placing a peg in a pegboard, etc. Using this technique, thresholds can be reliably measured for tones of various frequencies. Speech thresholds are typically obtained by having the child identify pictures or repeat words.

Cait did extrememly well with this. She did start to get bored after a little while so her Audiologist kept trying to make it interesting. If you need a good person for your kid Sarah is the best.

Her therapist wasn't able to make it to the appointment but that isn't a big deal. Miss Caity Cait is doing just fine with everything so I am not worried. We did find out that one of her hearing aids isn't producing enough gain so it needs to be sent back. This means she will only have 1 hearing aid till it gets fixed. Oh we are also starting the paperwork to get Cait an FM Receiver. The FM will help when she is on the playground or during story time. I personally don't think that the teachers are ready to use it at her school so that will come at a later time -- once we finally get the damn thing.

I ordered Cait some new Ear Gear tonight: http://gearforears.com got her the pink/purple flowers. She already has the orange/red ones. These are for soccer.

I mentioned that I will be a soccer mom in the previous post. She starts March 22nd and goes every Saturday. This gives us a month to start her skills! I am positive she will have a great time running around the field and kicking balls. Well, she kicks her dad in the balls all the time and loves it so this should follow suit.

Soccer Mom

2008-02-16T20:50:00.002-05:00

I have gone off the deep end and signed my kiddo up for soccer. She starts next month and now all I need is a damn minivan.

Locked down

2008-02-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

No freaks, weirdo's and even "normal" people will be reading this unless you are granted permission! I have been neglecting the blog for quite some time now. Life has been up and down. Probably more down than up. I am going to try to turn that around and get back on track.

A month ago I started a new job and it has totally been kicking my ass. Some days I don't even have time to pee... I know that sounds hard to believe but when you are scheduled as tight as 15 minute increments it makes it hard.

Caitlyn has been doing really well. Even though her routine has changed at home she hasn't skipped a beat. The girl keeps me on my toes. She is very determined with everything she does. Honestly she is what keeps me going. I never thought I could love anyone so much. Of course she gets on my nerves but I try to remember that she really isn't evil -- just a 2 yr old! ha

Right now Quang is away on business. He has been gone since Sunday and shockingly the house is clean and there have been no issues. Well, Cait got a cough and slept with me last night but that isn't anything major. She did most of the sleeping, I got to lay there and dodge elbows, fists & feet. At one point I thought for sure she cracked one of my ribs. Tonight even though she cried for a minute I made her sleep in her room -- I NEED SOME SLEEP tonight!!

Crap, I forgot I started laundry. Need to finish it before I pass out. The damn cat is psycho right now. She is running from room to room. Meowing. Running. Meowing. Possessed.

Life.

To be continued....

2008-02-12T16:40:00.001-05:00

SMILE!!!

2007-12-03T21:04:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-12-03T20:59:00.000-05:00

No sitting with Santa again this year!!

2007-12-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

We attended a breakfast with the other special needs kids and they had Santa there. Cait would NOT sit on his lap. She didn't even want to be near him. Poor kid.

Rudolph!

2007-12-03T20:53:00.000-05:00

Another 4 letter word - F*ck

2007-08-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

Results of your
Attention Deficit Disorder Quiz

You scored a total of 89

It is highly likely that you are presently suffering from adult attention deficit disorder, according to your responses on this self-report questionnaire. You should not take this as a diagnosis of any sort, or a recommendation for treatment. However, it would be advisable and likely beneficial for you to seek further diagnosis from a trained mental health professional immediately.

Yes, IMMEDIATELY was in bold on the page.

Time

2007-08-19T19:55:00.000-05:00

Time -- one 4 letter word with so much power. It truly is what life is all about. What we do with our time makes us who we are. ** No, I haven't been drinking!

Between having a toddler, working full-time, working part-time, play groups, appointments, friends, arguing with Quang and getting minimal sleep I am stretched as thin a can be. Weeks, Months & Years are flying by. I have reached a point in my life where everything is starting to change again. My personality is changing, outlook on life, where I want to go and who I want to be. Things are becoming clear. The most important thing is my little girls happiness.

Over the past 6 months or so, I have come to realize that I probably have A.D.D and just maybe I should see someone about it but right now it is fun. Umm, even writing this post it is evident that there is something wrong. I can't even focus long enough to finish it or have a clear thought!! Right now instead of just sitting here writing this I am checking my email, looking up A.D.D. and symptoms, chatting with Scott and reading a magazine. Someone please kick me! Hard!!

Yeah, enough of this for now.

Me

2007-07-17T19:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, most of the blog is about Cait but sometimes there is a random post about what is going on in my life. There have been so many ups and downs lately it is hard to keep track of where I am or what is going on. Pretty much everything has been stressing me out.

I don't sleep well and have no motivation to do anything. Even going to work lately is a huge pain. There are so many negative things going on there that I don't even want to face the reality of it right now. I have enough of that crap happening at home.

One positive thing (besides Cait) are the friends I have made. An earlier post shows kayaking, I have more things to write about but some people from work and others from my Mom's group have really kept me sane. A huge Thanks to Susan too -- my monthly dinner and a movie chic!

Ahh, I am getting lazy and want to go read a book. I might be back on later.

The best park ever!

2007-07-17T19:06:00.000-05:00

I took Cait to Mandarach Park last weekend and it was amazing. She loved it there and I enjoyed how clean it was and the amount of things for her to do.

Nothing is safe anymore...

2007-07-17T19:02:00.001-05:00

She can reach in drawers, open doors and disengage childproof stuff that I have a hard time with. What is next?! How do you keep a toddler safe? Any words of advice? Lora????? haha

1st Haircut

2007-07-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

Well, only trimmed her bangs cause I was tired of them getting in her eyes but still... some hair was finally cut. It only took 18 months for it to grow long enough to do so!

Not happy with the whole situation!

Ummm, always sticking her tongue out!

Ready for school!

Arnolds

2007-07-17T18:28:00.000-05:00

Cait absolutely loves this place. The playdates there are great cause she can run and bounce all she wants. The slide was a huge hit this time.

Ahhh, the title function is working...

2007-07-17T18:21:00.001-05:00

I was ready to give up for a while. COuldn't put any titles on the posts. What a bunch of crap that was.

2007-07-08T20:19:00.000-05:00

Today was amazing. Kayaking for hours, quality entertainment with friends and a beautiful day. My upper body is absolutely dead right now so I am positive it will be painful in the morning.

I really miss outings like todays. I used to go on them weekly when I lived in Florida. When I moved up here I lost so much of myself. Turned into a person I didn't/don't even like. It is time for me to get back to who I really am. All of this change is within reason though -- no more extreme sports or doing anything without thinking since I have Cait to consider.

I am really starting to feel alive again.

2007-07-07T08:21:00.000-05:00

Waking up in the morning!

2007-07-07T08:11:00.001-05:00

Damn blogger. It wont allow me to add titles to my posts right now.

Kiss it

2007-07-04T19:54:00.000-05:00

So it is now the 4th of July and I officially suck. I haven't been blogging in quite some time but a dear friend reminded me of this and sooooo here I am. It is Wednesday night and the 4th... went to the neighbors house on the corner and now I am drunk. Damn bottle of wine. My ass is kicked. At least it settled my stomach... you are thinking this girl is messed up. YOU HAVE NO CLUE!!! haha. Ahhh, remembering the days where I would do a shot of 151 before really drinking to get the stomach settled in for the night... I will never get to that stage again but damn... I feel pretty good right now. Please excuse if this is just rambling on and on. If you don't like it then kiss my ass. :-) HA! Take that.

Hey, I just noticed spell check on here. You should be thankful for that. My typing sucks the big one. I wonder if anyone acutally reads this? Most likely not so I will keep chatting to myself.

Marco just popped online -- I wonder how he is doing in Acapulco. Lets go and ask him!!! Ahhh, he is going to answer me. I bet the suspense is building inside to see what he says! Funny that he calls me Valeria! Cracking me up right now. Bet you are wondering who Marco is... well, I have "known" him for 6 years now. Really cool guy. He told me how to say very drunk in espanol - bien borracha!!! :-)

What else? Well, I have to pee really, really bad but no desire to get up and go! I am in a funky fun mood. Listening to all the fireworks outside. Wondering where all my friends are and why they are not chatting with me. Bern offered for me to come down and go swimming -- prolly not a great idea. She would get me drinking even more. Gotta love the Irish!!

Tomorrow is going to suck at work. I wish I could explain but it is a waste of my time to do so. To my BF ladies - no more gmail using working hours. Would love to throw in another kiss my fine ass there as well. :-)

My girl Susan is down in NC right now. Hope she is having a marvelous trip! Call me when you get back. Can't wait for our next date night.

Ahhh, I need food!!! Might be back. Might not.

Lately

2007-06-17T19:18:00.001-05:00

For the past 2 months I have been preoccupied mentally and slacking on some of the things I used to love to do. Over the past 4 days I have had time to reflect and contemplate what is truly going on in my life. I am at a cross road and terrified of any direction that I may take.

Each day has a new beginning. No two days are ever alike and it is all up to me to choose my destiny. The hard part about all of this is that my choices now affect my daughters life. It isn't 'just me' anymore. All of those years of doing everything on a whim has since passed. Each move has to be planned and well calculated.

I am typically a very happy-go-lucky person that doesn't stress about much in life. That all changed when I had Cait and it got turned up a notch a few months ago. I found myself becoming dependant and emotional. Yes, I finally have real emotion again. This is a good thing. I know what I want out of life -- happiness. It will be a challenge to acheive it but it is a challenge that I will easily accept and forge forward. Who is along for this ride in Life with me??

Last one for the night...

2007-05-08T19:12:00.000-05:00

Remember to check the actual post a few down.

And even more...

2007-05-08T19:10:00.000-05:00

And more pictures...

2007-05-08T19:07:00.000-05:00

Pictures!!!!

2007-05-08T19:05:00.000-05:00

Tuesday. Just Because.

2007-05-08T19:03:00.000-05:00

This is for thsoe of you who don't have myspace...

Have I told you all that I love you lately? I think I have been slacking in that area. Yes, I have been a bit self absorbed lately. So trying to make it up to you I have uploaded some new pictures and check out the killer playlist I created. Some of you may not appreciate it and you can happily listen to music elsewhere. That is my polite way of saying Kiss my ass. :-)

What a week!!!! Work is crazy this week. I am not a fan of meetings and I am booked till Friday. Definitely time for a drink. Too bad this house is dry. Oh wait there are a few bottle of wine and a very old bottle of bubbly... maybe if I wasn't so damn lazy I would go open one.

Last Friday night a good friends took me out for dinner and a movie as a belated birthday gift. It was a wonderful night. We met in KOP at the theater and walked over to Bahama Breeze for dinner. Well, on the way over there while walking on the sidewalk an SUV cop car came inches from backing me over -- Yes, I wrote while we were on the SIDEWALK. Susan had never seen me jump so fast. So, we cautiously walk over to Bahama Breeze and head for the bar. It was our first time at a bar together and my first time in years! Hers too. She proceeds to spill her drink while sitting there so there was a bright green mess all over the bar. We laughed for a bit about that. More drinks were ordered. We finally got a table.

I must have the smallest bladder and had to pee. Located the restroom and took care of business. Like any good girl I washed my hands. When I pushed the pump for the soap to come out I noticed that it looked funny... all watery. I freaked out a bit not knowing what had just landed on my hand. THERE WAS A MOUTHWASH DISPENSER ON THE WALL!!! Who in the hell mounts a bottle that looks like soap of mouthwash on the wall of a restroom?!?! I walk out of there as fast as I could cause I felt like such an ass! Got back to the table and let Susan know of my bathroom escapades. She later saw for herself.

As usual we had great conversation during dinner. It was very personal so that shall be left out of this!

We stumble over the the movies and watch In The Land of Women. I was pretty sure this movine would suck but it was actually decent. So glad I saw it. After all the cuddling in the theater we walked to the car and said our good bye's. I have to admit that she was the perfect date. ;-) Haha, I bet I caught you on the cuddling part!!! We didn't.

Pathetic Easter Bunny... c'mon people.

2007-04-02T20:36:00.000-05:00

We brought Cait to her first Easter Egg hunt and this was the bunny there... is this bad or what?

Can't blame her for running away!

An Easter Chicken?

2007-04-02T20:35:00.000-05:00

Not sure what is going on here but we got a picture anyways!

My Pink Hoodie

2007-04-02T20:32:00.000-05:00

Goin' on an Egg Hunt

2007-04-02T20:29:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Sandie & Emma!

2007-04-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love the cute little outfit!

Finally, a good weekend.

2007-03-25T19:55:00.000-05:00

For the first time in a very long time I have no complaints about the weekend. Well, of course it ended way too fast but that is only natural. We had a good time Friday night watching tv and I think a movie but my memory doesn't really go back that far! My 20's were way too good for me and has killed a few too many brain cells so now I am dealing with a crappy memory.

Yesterday I got my new picture for my PA license. Hard to believe I have been here 4 years and will be turning 31 later this week. I have the old pic and the new one, doesn't even look like the same person. Of course shopping is always in order for having to do the crappy picture anyways. We head over to Babies R Us to return yet another stairway gate that will not fit the top of the stairs -- I think we have officially given up at this point. Cait can get down all on her own and when she gets old enough to be out of her crib we will just get a gate for her door. Even when we do that I am pretty sure she will know how to get out of it a hell of alot easier than we will. What is a Real Mom to do? I am open for suggestions! lol ** We ended up getting her a new Umbrella Stroller - Chicco C-6 I think it is.

So, we get back home and Cait actually takes a decent afternoon nap. Our Brandywine Club party started at 7pm. Miss Cait walked to the neighbors house and proceeded to have a wonderful time. I think I counted around 15 kids. They had set up a little Easter Egg hunt in the basement, she was more interested in watching the older kids do the hunt but she came out with 4 eggs! We let her play until 8:20 and her Dad walked back home with her and put her down for the night. It was my turn to stay later and I ended up strolling home at 10pm. We have the best neighbors, such a crazy crew and so many things to learn from each and every one of them. I look forward to hanging out with them once a month.

Today was pretty good too. We went to Cait's cousins 1st birthday party. Of course Q's family was there and it was loud and smelly. Let me elaborate a bit on the loud and smelly part -- they are Viet and love loud Viet music (typically kareoke) plus bring on the ethnic food! Before I had Cait I was able to stomach the food but now it truly kills me. I have such horrible gas! When we got there Miss Caity Cait did her 15 min cling to me deal and after that she was running around like a mad woman. We didn't put her hearing aids on since everything was so loud and quite honestly not much was said in English. If you are reading this and know me pretty well, this situation used to royally piss me off. I would sit there and have nothing to do and not be involved in any conversations but since Cait came along it is all tolerable since I have her to keep me company.

It is time for me to fold the clean laundry and go to bed. I am thankful that my husband did all the cleaning this week and has been a good Dad to Cait. Plus, after a 2 month drought I finally got some -- twice!

Are you shocked that I am not posting any pictures?! Maybe tomorrow.

Real moms...

2007-03-20T19:54:00.000-05:00

Are truly stressed out from the crazy things that 15 month old girls do...

Yes, she is standing on the bike seat with no hands. She thinks this is hilarious.

Cold weather sucks

2007-03-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

I really hop ehtis is the last of the ice/snow storms!

Her dad has her obsessed with cleaning!

Snoozin

2007-03-17T09:34:00.001-05:00

Daddy... what are you doing?

2007-03-17T09:33:00.000-05:00

Can we get this girl off the phone?

2007-03-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

A glimpse into the future.

2007-03-17T09:26:00.000-05:00

And now for the new shoes...

Results

2007-03-05T20:48:00.000-05:00

Got the results, no abnormalities on the CT Scan. Of course they are going to go over it again and send out a full report but everything looks fine. So, still no answers. I scheduled an appointment with genetic testing and the earliest available is December 5th! Yes, DECEMBER! Oh well. No rush on that either.

CT Scan

2007-03-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

This morning was tough but we all made it through it. She woke up at 5:30 and we got 2 cups of jello into her since that was the only substance besides water that she was allowed to have. Got to the appointment and they put the little bracelet on her wrist. She started to get a little worried at that point. Then we go back and strip her down to get her vitals. She is still weighing in at 22lbs. Head is 48cm and has great blood pressure & oxygen. She started whimpering when the nurse was taking all of this down. They gave her a cool little yellow outfit to put on, the gown that covers nothing in the back and little pants. We head back to go over her medical history, thankfully there isn't much to mention! Cait goes out and plays with the toys till they are ready for her. It is actually a good thing she is still only 22lbs cause that is their cutoff weight for using the sedative they used – if she would have been any bigger it would have been an IV instead of liquid.

They give her the 2 syringes of medicine and she hates it. She would have done better if they didn't make her lay down. Little Miss D. got upset from this and puked a little bit. As soon as she calmed down she passed out in my arms. She hasn't slept in my arms since she was a tiny baby!! The lady comes back in and we wheel Cait down to get her scan done. She never wakes up, sleeps through the whole thing. We bring her back to her room and she sleeps for another hour then we are allowed to see if she is awake. Gave her some juice and cookies. She was definitely hungry. Waited another 15 min to make sure she wasn't going to hurl all over the place. Got her dressed and headed home.

She passed out again in the car. She is home with her daddy for the day. We were told not to let her walk around that much cause she is like a drunken sailor right now and prolly will be all day.

Saturday at the Park.

2007-03-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

Stomach in knots

2007-03-04T19:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, when Caitlyn was just a little baby we were told that she would need a CT Scan to rule out any additional issues with her hearing loss and they said to do this between 12 and 18 months old. She is now 14 months old and tomorrow is the day. After 2:30 am she isn't allowed to have any solid foods and after 6:30 am she can't have any clear liquids either. We plan on giving her some jello at 6am and hope it will tide her over till after the procedure.

Since she is a baby still they have to sedate her for the scan. I am sure she will not be pleased with this. Thankfully, her daddy has taken the day off to be with her. I will go to the scan and then go to work after. I am positive I will be nervous all day!

We have to be there an hour early, maybe she will be better running around CHOP and getting into things there. I am not sure how I am feeling about what the results will be or even how bad they could be.

I am off to try to relax. I am sure tomorrow will be a long day for all of us.

Here is a fun picture to leave you with...

I have to add one more thing. Just a few minutes ago I was talking to Q about tomorrow and what the CT scan is for. As usual we aregue about it. Then I ask him what is wrong with Cait's hearing. He doesn't even know, he said mild/moderate hearing loss. No Shit Sherlock. She has had Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss for 14 months and he can't even remember that. Yes, it is in the mild/moderate range but that doesn't tell anyone anything. K, done.

Yeah...

2007-03-04T19:32:00.000-05:00

Nope, she is too cool to say hello... it is Yeah.

Dear Friends,

2007-03-01T20:07:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't been online at all lately. I know I haven't made any calls to you (I think Amy still may get a random call from Cait -- SORRY!). My friendship skills have just been sucking lately.

Please know that none of this is on purpose! Getting back into the working world has taken a toll on me. I go to bed before 10pm now and no more access to IM. The nerve of being a grown up with a real job now! Who woulda thunk it. I miss my little kiddo quite a bit and sometimes even throw a thought in or two about my Spanky. Just don't let him know that I miss him at times too! SHHHHHHH!!!!

My new schedule of getting up at 5:55am and having to shower and look decent everyday is such a hassle. I am not a fan of wearing dress clothes all the time now and especially not the uncomfortable damn shoes that they make for women. I absolutely HATE wearing heels but it is a must with certain outfits. This all comes from a woman that has lived in jeans and t-shirts for the last 3 years and now NO more jeans or sneakers. WTF.

Enough bitching about that. I really do love my new job. The work is interesting. I am surrounded by nice people. My boss is actually funny. Oh, and I am nonstop busy. No more surfing the net 8 hours a day.

So, I have a lunch dilemma. Been at the job for 2 weeks as of tomorrow and still have no lunch buddies. Damn, I feel like the fat kid. How do I go about getting invited to lunch with the cool kids? I wish Susan worked with me. life would be grand then.

This cold weather still sucks. Cait is in daycare for 9.5 hours a day... well, I think it is really 9.25 hours but who is counting.

Miss D is 14 months old now... she has been since last week. The girl still isn't gaining any weight. She actually lost a pound during the hell of a stomach virus she had last weekend and ended up giving to me. On a good note, I lost 3 lbs with it!

Time to go relax.

If any of you want to reach me, send me an email to my gmail account cause I typically check it every other hour or so. You can even give me a call... I am better at answering the phone than making the calls lately.

I'll leave you with a few pics I took last night of Cait eating watermelon.

My Day.

2007-02-07T19:15:00.000-05:00

Projectile vomiting. She puked in her crib, she puked in her high chair, and she puked in the dining room. All I smell is puke. Sour vomit. My back is killing me from carrying her most of the day. I am stressed that she is losing weight and refuses to eat right now. Her poop smells horrible. It was white too... how does it become white? The only food she wanted today was popcorn. Yes, I gave her all the popcorn she wanted. The poor child is in bed early tongiht and I am sure I will find a surprise when I go in to check on her.

Plus, this damn cat is alwyas on my lap! Okay, time to clean up the mess downstairs again. At least it should be the last time for today. There is always tomorrow.

Poor flowers

2007-02-02T21:05:00.000-05:00

I wonder what will happen to them... since we had a warm winter they started to sprout and now there is the cold weather and snow.

Snow

2007-02-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here is Cait's first real experience with snow. We are getting more right now and I will prolly get more pictures tomorrow if it sticks.

Happy Birthday to Susan!!! Thanks for meeting us for lunch today.

Hearing Loss Update

2007-01-26T08:58:00.000-05:00

Cait is now 13 months old and is doing very well with her hearing aids. She is still going in for 3 month evaluations and hearing loss is holding steady at mild/moderate range. Cutting her molars made wearing the hearing aids a bit challenging and there were many fights between her & I over it but we have compromised. I ordered her a few organic cotton pilot caps from Hannah Andersson and she loves them. She now asks to wear her hearing aids and loves to listen to things.

She has weekly therapy with a teacher from the Clarke School. Caitlyn loves her teacher and we get a good session in every week. We have learned that my little girl is very determined to do as she please. Now that she is walking around and getting into things she hears the word no quite often and danger but of course like any normal kid she does ignore me!

We started making a list of the words that she understands and it is over 30 words, I am so very proud of her. She can probaly say 10 words too.

Now if only I could get her to nap and stop throwing food this house would be a whole lot less stressful!

We are making appointments for her to have a CT Scan done at CHOP and possibly the genetic testing. I doubt they will find anything on either test but I think we should do it just to be on the safe side.

Life.

2007-01-25T20:52:00.000-05:00

Lately I have had a few people ask me why I have been so distant, and constantly being asked "what's wrong?" well, there really isn't anything wrong. I have been busy with my own little world for a few weeks and trying to adapt to all the changes.

Just after new years I was told the news I had been expecting for a few months -- you have 60 - 90 days to find a new job. It really didn't shock me and maybe it hasn't even hit me yet. I simply don't know.

Taking care of Cait has become my full time job. I am always trying to teach her new things and try to keep her from throwing tantrums. She has become such a different person over the past week, it is hard to believe she is 13 months old. Last weekend she climbed up on the couch all on her own, sat down, and started to watch a movie. She looked so grown-up. When Quang started talking she gave him a dirty look cause it was interrupting the movie. I know, we are bad parents for letting her watch House of Flying Daggers but she really loved it. During one of the scenes she started waving her hand around pretending she was in the movie. She even started tapping her hand on the couch to the beat of the drum. While she was doing this her dad looked at her and she looked down at her own hand tapping and looked at it like it was alien to her. We both cracked up and she got all offended. I guess you had to be there on that one.

I am still quite pissed at Kiddie Academy and their lack of response. We called them earlier in the week and they didn't get back to us again. I called yesterday and finally got someone on the phone... still a few more weeks till an opening. I am about ready to say screw them. Need to look in the Audubon area if I get the position I interviewed for earlier today. Hopefully they wont be dicks and have openings and if not have the decency to call us back.

Miss Caitie Cait has stopped napping during her regular times. I am lucky if she naps for 45 min in the morning and that is it for the day. It is exhausting chasing after her all day long. Oh, she is getting her 4th molar in. She now has 12 teeth! Maybe once it is all the way though she will be in a better mood and sleep more. We are done with the morning bottle and only have a few days left on the night bottle. I want to be 100% done by 14 months. This should be easy to accomplish. She feeds herself with a fork and has amazing eye hand coordination.

Get this. She has started asking for us to put her hearing aids in!!! Of course she wants the hat on too but hey, whatever works. I go pick up her new molds tomorrow morning in Pottstown. Maybe it will make them more comfortable for her to wear.

I am tired and hungry. write more later.

The duck is still tasty!

Why always the toilet paper?

2007-01-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

What is the fascination with toilet paper?

And dragging it through the house...

More pics!

2007-01-25T20:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Susan.

2007-01-25T19:52:00.000-05:00

1. If you had to choose one vice in exclusion of all others what would it be?

I just sat here for 5 minutes just trying to narrow it down to 1, no luck. Yup, I'm bad.

2. If you could change one specific thing about the world what would it be?

Gotta agree with Susan on Ignorance.

3. Name the cartoon character you identify with the most.

Pinky and the Brain... the Brain of course!!

4. If you could live one day in your life over again which one would it be?

Dec 20th, 2005.
It was such a blur and I was lonely in labor and delivery.

5. If you could go back in history and spend a day with one person who would it be?

Grandma Moses

6. What is the one thing you lost, sold or threw away that you wish you could have back?

My mind.

7. What is your one most important contribution to this world?

Ummm, I'll get back with you on this one.

8. What is your one hidden talent that nearly no one knows about?

*wink* *wink* wouldn't you like to know.

9. What is your most cherished possession?

Spanky the stuffed cat

10. What one person influenced your life the most when growing up?

My cat, Whiskey. I didn't like many people.

11. What one word describes you better than any other?

Slacker

First snow of the year

2007-01-22T09:36:00.001-05:00


She wasn't quite sure what to think of it... pretty cold out too.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-02T22:12:00.001-05:00

Party on!

2007-01-02T21:51:00.000-05:00

Sooooo, Caitlyn is now a whole year old and feels as though she can do grown-up things like hang out at a club and count down to the new year. Girlfriend certainly loves to be in large crowds and meet up with her many friends. I have a feeling she will be a little social butterfly when she gets older. I'll just have to let her know that Mommy has seen and done many things and will NOT allow her to do the same! Her Daddy used to visit this club and he seems to think he was the man back then. I'll have to dig up an old pic and post it sometime soon. Oh and don't ever get him going on his dancing skills!

A chair the perfect size and color!

Playing so well together:

Time to shake the boo-tay again!

We GOT IT!! This toy has been driving me crazy, sold out everywhere... finally found one and it was on sale! What luck. She loves the Zebra though.

There are so many comments I could make about the picute above but it is a new year and I am trying to behave! :-)

Christmas... with the whole rash incident I forgot to post

2007-01-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

About Christmas!

This will mostly be pictures since I am getting tired and would rather forget that this was the first day of the stupid rash.

Even on christmas day the cat is still being chased

Shots suck

2006-12-30T17:03:00.000-05:00

If only I had done all the research prior to her getting the vaccinations. I knew there were some minor risks but never knew this would happen to my little girl.

She had her 12 months vax on Dec 21st. She started with a similar rash on
Monday the 25th and it slowly started to go away and had a low grade
fever - around 101. Yesterday, Friday, she developed a fever over 103
and extremely cranky. This morning her rash is back again and getting
much worse... it is spreading up her neck, on her back and everywhere
else.

When talking to her doctor he said it was viral. She has had many
viral things in the past year and this is not one of them. The shots
she had: MMR, varicella & 2nd flu shot.

Cait doesn't want to eat or drink like she normally does.

Anyone reading this... if you have had a similar experience with shots or know anyone who has please comment.

Look Ma - New tricks!

2006-12-26T22:42:00.000-05:00

Since starting to walk a few weeks ago she has progressed into doing other dangerous things. Just check out the look in her eyes... she knows very well that she shouldn't be doing this.

Of course we get this view quite often too:

Chocolate CAKE!

2006-12-26T22:39:00.000-05:00

Okay so it is Cait's actual birthday so we got her yet another cake. Girlfriend certainly does love chocolate cake. We have a funny pic of her licking the plate trying to get every last crumb but I'll save that pic for those of you that I know well! I think she had a wonderful time turning one. Well, who wouldn't love to eat that much cake!

Yup, officially a toddler! Got the shirt to prove it.

2006-12-26T22:33:00.000-05:00

Oh, check this out... Miss Amy Jo sent a beautiful doll, Miss D. loves it. She takes the pacifier and tries to suck on it.

1 Year Doc visit

2006-12-21T22:28:00.000-05:00

Well, Miss D. had her 1 year doc visit today. She is doing well.
Thankfully the little Bossy Butt has gone down for a much needed nap.
So what if is is a few hours late. She had to play with her dolls for
a while since they had missed her all day.

She had 3 more shots today and was NOT pleased with that at all.

If you are curious here are her stats:
Birth
7lbs 13oz weight
20.5" height
13.75 head

22lbs weight
32" height
19" head

So, in 1 year she has grown 11.5" and gained 14lbs 3 oz!! Not gonna
figure out the math for the head... we all know it is huge.

Her hearing situation remains the same. She still wears hearing aids
as often as possible.

Happy Birthday!

2006-12-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

How to make a baby scream

2006-12-15T12:41:00.000-05:00

This is the easiest way I could come up with!

1st Dental Appointment

2006-12-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

At 2:30pm today Caitlyn visited the dentist for the first time for a routine check-up. She wasn't thrilled that she had to get up early from her nap but she dealt with it, her maturity is already showing through! We get to the dentist office and I could tell she was a bit nervous. They call her name and we follow them back. Her eyes are wide open now... any sign of sleepiness is far gone. She meets her dentist and we sit in the chair. I was told to have Cait face me and then lay her back on my knees so the dentist could check out her teeth. Of course Miss Cait starts having a fait cause she has to lay down and open her mouth. The exam was very short and sweet. All 7 teeth are is excellent shape. She should have another one within a few days! No tarter and certainly no cavities. Just keep brushing 2 times per day and things should be fine.

We are trying to break her of the bottle habit now. She is down to only 2 a day, one in the morning and one before bed. The rest of the day she has a sippy cup. Once we get rid of the bottle by the new year we will work on tossing out her binky. She is only allowed to have that in her crib.

Only a few days left until her 1st b-day. We are all very excited. She even got a really nice book in the mail from her friend Sarah. Thank YOU!!!

Here is a pic of Cait and her new tooth brush: