Monday, November 19, 2007

So Much Work and Housework

By Wednesday, I've got to do tons of housework and work work. I'm really busy at work because of a combination of upcoming court dates and a missed 2 days last week when Ander was sick. I've also got piles of stuff all over the house - unwrapped Christmas presents, unsaved clean clothes, and other random stuff. I need to pick it all up before MIL arrives on Wednesday.

Thankfully, there's a four-day weekend. Excellent.

Etcetera.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

My Day

8:40 a.m. Took Ander to the doctor for screaming and complaining of a boo boo.

9:40 a.m. Left doctor's office. They were calling the pharmacy in the next hour or so with scripts for croup and an ear infection. Went to Barne's and Nobles to wait out pharmacy. Doctor said to give him meds this morning, so no waiting until after work.

10:30 a.m. Arrive at pharmacy. They say 20 minutes, as script just arrived.

11 a.m. Pharmicist reports that insurance rejected us. Asks for his social security number. I look up Ander's number, and give it to him. Roam around Target, Chirstmas shopping since I'm stuck there anyway. At least Ander is in a good mood.

11:15 a.m. Another rejection. Are you sure you gave us the primary cardholder's ssn? Um, no, 'cause you never said "primary cardholder." Look it up.

11:45 a.m. Finally get meds and call Sunny to eat. After all, Ander is required to eat with his meds and now it's three hours after he was supposed to take them. He is again showing signs of pain.

12 noon Eat lunch with Sunny, Jon, and an aunt. On the plus side, Aunt holds a sleeping Ander and pays for lunch.

12:45 p.m. Ander wakes. Try to get food in him, which is necessary with his meds. He refuses. Try to give him the one med that doesn't require food. Insert syringe 5 times. Nothing. Realize that medicine is bottle, though bottle clearly says suspension.

1:15 p.m. Arrive back at Target. Pharmacist calls me Kristy. Nope, I didn't get a med today. I just get so many that he knows my name. :/ Get water added to the med.

1:30 p.m. Sitting at a coffee shop. As soon as Ander wakes, I'll give him food and meds. But he is still sleeping.

Did I get any work done yet today? No. If I drive down, I won't have time to get anything done. Sigh. This sucks.

Etcetera.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Evaluating My Parenting Choices

Remember when Ander was a baby (or even before he was born) and all I ever wrote about was parenting? Well, he's definitely not a baby anymore. So I thought it might be a good time to evaluate my parenting choices. To see if I regret anything, or would do things differently.

CHOICE: MINIMAL BABY WEARING

For the most part, I carried Ander, or used a stroller. I only used a baby carrier in specific situations, such as if I had to feed Ander while walking through the mall. On one hand, wearing him more often would have definitely been more convenient in many situations. But I am so glad that he is "stroller-trained." He he, is that a real phrase? But, seriously, he is happy and content sitting in his stroller. I can shop or walk and he thinks the stroller is a natural way to go. Oh, and if I let him walk, it's the best reward ever.

My grade on the choice: B-. If doing it all over, I would babywear more, but probably not much more.

CHOICE: MINIMAL CO-SLEEPING

Unfortunately, Alan doesn't have the fortitude I have about letting Ander stay in his bed, so while Ander went to bed in his crib, he spent many an early morning in my bed.

My grade: C, but only because we didn't enforce it 100%. I wish we would have, because two days ago we finally managed to teach Ander not to come to my bed in the morning. TWO DAYS AGO. :(

CHOICE: EARLY TIMEOUTS

Many, many people told me that he was too little for timeouts. I disagreed then, and I disagree now.

My grade: A+, he is turning out really disciplined and well-behaved, with minimal meltdowns unless he is sick.

CHOICE: BOTTLE FEEDING

I was probably most criticized for bottle feeding. I swear, if I heard the patently untrue statement "breast is best" said by one more pompous know-it-all once more, I was going to scream. :) I am so glad I bottle fed. It was clearly best for us, and had I tried breastfeeding, I would not have experienced all the advantages of bottle feeding. I would probably have believed the propaganda and been just as judgmental of bottle feeding moms as the people who write and spout the propaganda. I stood my my mantra of "breast is best, except when it isn't." And because of that, Ander doesn't need me to soothe. He doesn't need help going to sleep of staying asleep. He is very self-sufficient and independent, and I love that. I do wish there was a way to get great antibodies without breastfeeding, and because there really isn't, I'm still a huge supporter of breastfeeding. I'm just not an *opposer* of bottle feeding. And I certainly don't presume that breastfeeding is the best thing for every family, despite the hype.

My grade: A, though I would likely make a different choice if I reproduced in the future, because I do understand the value of breastfeeding, and when it does happen to be best, which I believe is most of the time, it is a choice I would definitely make. I also would have gotten over the "mommy guilt" ealier. I no longer feel *guilty* for doing what is best for my family, but I really had to realize that propaganda is just that before I could reach that conclusion.

Etcetera.

Worked All Morning

But I haven't met by billing goal. I just have so much nonbillable stuff to do and catch up on. Sigh. So much to do.

I'm about to have lunch, and then I'll return to this coffeeshop table and get more done. I was supposed to be in the office all day, but something came up, so I ended up in LaPlace. I get so much more done in a coffee shop that I might as well stay here, but some of it needs to be billable soon.

I've rearranged my e-mail folders to create an e-mail based task list. It really saves me time not to have to put everything on my pda. I still put non-e-mail stuff and dates, but tasks go in the folders, get done, and get deleted. It is much more efficient, which makes me happy.

Anyone else looking forward to Thanksgiving? Only a week and a day!

Etcetera.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Ranting and Raving

That was me, just now. MIL was defending someone who was wrong, and I just lost it.

No, the father should not abandon his daughter in Louisiana so he can get a job in Texas. Especially since the only reason he doesn't have a job in Louisiana is drug use and quitting jobs because he doesn't want to wake up.

And no, a father has no business yelling at his grown children about what they do with their own stuff.

And yes, that mom on tv with eight kids actually takes care of her kids, which is more than you can say for your grandchildren, so for God's sake, stop judging her and commenting on her as if she is abusing her kids.

I fed up with people who defend the bad guys. And I'm done being quiet about it. I've had my fill of both of our families (Alan's and my family) defending the wicked...being quiet about what they do...helping them out when they put themselves in sticky situations. And I'm done with the talking bad about the good guys. D O N E done.

And I don't care who I tell. I'm irritated and aggravated and ranting and raving.

Etcetera.

Never Catch Up

You ever feel as if you will never catch up. Not with anything specific, but just in general. Good thing this is Alan's last week of overtime, especially with Christmas shopping season ahead.

We've done a great job in the past of limiting our Christmas list and focusing instead on enjoying the holiday with our friends and families. But it's harder this year, because Ander has so many "kid" friends. Some of their parents will no doubt surprise Ander with a Christmas present. And not having a reciprocal present for a little kid is unacceptable, because the little kid does not understand such things. Then again, I don't want to be that parent, showing up unexpectedly with a gift and making the other person uncomfortable because they have nothing for Ander.

Do I get stuff for his playgroup? I think no, but who knows?

What about my friends' kids? Again, I think no, but who knows?

The kids he goes to daycare with? I'm guessing yes, because in the past, that group has traditionally exhanged. But their were different people last time.

There should be a written list of rules. I like written rules. (Oh, I understand the rule among adults, in which you receive and unexpected gift and politely say "thank you," but that does not work for a one year old.)

Sigh.

'Tis the season for sighing.

Etcetera.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Coolest Thing Happened

My mom's group was out for a mom's night out at the Olive Garden. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and meals. Personally, I ordered a pretty expensive Grilled Shrimp Caprese. We were eating, and as a group of 7 women are apt to do, chatting fairly loudly.

Near the end of the meal, a man who was sitting next to his wife approached the table.

"I hope you ladies don't mind. I heard some of you are teachers or former school teachers. I have lots of respect for that, so I took the liberty of taking care of the table's ticket. Enjoy."

And he disappeared into the night.

The ticket was $250!!! Paid in full. You would not believe the waiter's face, or ours!

Etcetera.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

For Dave

There won't be single mommyhood!!! Alan got a new job, with better pay and better hours. So why is this slacker not blogging? I'm not sure. I haven't thought of much to blog about. But I'll try harder. Especially since I complain to Tom that he doesn't blog. :)

And Dave, do you still blog? I haven't gotten a notice of your blog in a while.

Etcetera.