Tomorrow is a public hearing for the Joint Finance Committee of our totally awesome state legislature in Appleton. Why would I care about that? Well, there are three tobacco related items in Governor Doyle's budget: an increased cigarette tax, smoke free air in all public buildings in WI, and a $1.8 million dollar cut to the tobacco prevention program statewide. Of course, I support the first 2, but not the 2nd. So all of us local pee-ons are pretty much being bullied into attending and making sure you bring others from your area to speak and if you can't then they should at least bring written testimony. So I begged and pleaded and got 5 written testimonies-pretty good I think. The best one is from the owner of a golf course up here. When he and his wife took it over 2 years ago, they ran it as a smoke free place and are the only smoke free bar in Oconto. Unfortunately, he emailed me his testimony after I left work. Luckily I can check my work email from home, so I had to print 20 copies of it (one for each of the 16 committee members and extras) on my home printer. We're out of black toner, so I had to use color. Ouch.
So I have to leave at 7am tomorrow to get to the hearing by 8-8:30am. It's at Lawrence University in downtown Appleton and I get freaked out in downtowns. I have to park in a ramp, and I always forget where I park and then to remember which way to go...yikes. I don't think I'm going to stay all day. I'll sign in, drop off my testimony and see how long my wait will be. The hearing doesn't start until 10am, but we're under strict orders from the powers that be to get there at least 90 minutes early. If it looks like I'll speak before lunch, I'll stay. If not, I'll go because I have a shitpile of stuff at work to do.
Another thing I have to do tomorrow is enter an enrollment for the women's health program I coordinate into our online system. I have to do that before I leave. This woman's income was just over the current guidelines, but they change tomorrow, April 1st. Well she called today and said she has her Pap and mammogram tomorrow, so she absolutely has to be enrolled on or before tomorrow. Well I can't enroll her today, so I had to bring her enrollment form home with me and I'll have to enter it in tomorrow.
And I want to go to a restaurant tomorrow night with my mom's group. It's a place I've never been to before and it sounds yummy. But I'm afraid I might be shot. We'll see.
For this, I'm paid $15,000-$20,000 less than the public health nurses that sit on their asses. Oh yeah, our salaries are public record and I saw what my coworkers make. I just about died. Our Human Services Director makes $93,000 to stumble in hungover almost every day and work from 10am-2pm. Swell.
Paige has an all day retreat at a church about 5 miles away from here tomorrow. The whole school is going and she is beside herself with excitement. She wanted me to pack a lunch and I panicked realizing tonight she doesn't have a lunch bag. So we head up to the Family Dollar in the pouring ran and luckily they had some lunch bags. We lucked out too, I don't think they normally carry them, but they were in this summer/picnic display. PHEW. That is all she talked about tonight-what she was going to have for lunch and her retreat tomorrow. So cute.
I got in to Women's Speciality Care on April 21st with Dr. O'Toole. I hope I don't have to wait a while for the HSG. I felt like such a retard calling to make the appointment. I launched into this monologue because I didn't know how much information the receptionist needed and she kept cutting me off. She was rather rude so I am already a little hesitant about this place. The receptionists are the first line of contact with patients and potential patients and can really set the tone. But I have several friends that go there, so I need to stay optomistic. I just didn't think I'd have to wait that long. I got the impression from the receptionist that I really wasn't a priority. She said rather snottily that I'd need a consult and that it would be at least a month. She just announced a time without checking to see if it would work with my schedule. Minor stuff, but it irritates me.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Entertaining Stories
I worked at a car seat check on Saturday in Oconto and I know you all have been hanging on the edge of your seats waiting for me to post my entertaining stories. Well, here goes.
At around 8:45 am, a coworker and I are attempting to put up this huge ass sign by the side of the road that says "free car seat check here" when this fat chick pulls up in a huge piece of shit car and says "is this where I get my free car seat because I'm on WIC?" Seriously? Does no one have any dignity any more? The check started at nine and you must know that a huge pet peeve of mine is when people come early for car seat appointments. The appointment is for 2pm, not 1:50pm. There's a difference. I know it's exciting because you're getting free shit, but hold your horses. So I was slightly rude to her and said "well the event starts at 9am, and it will be in the body shop over there." I walk away and continue to wrestle with this huge ass sign in 50 mph winds. When it was up, I go back to the body shop and see fattie fatterson and her husband sitting inside the garage waiting for us to start. It is still not 9am by this point and I'm already po'd. Unfortunately I get stuck with her and she proceeds to tell me that she has a 6 year old (who is not there), a 4 year old (a homely fat child) and #3 due in 2 weeks. The older 2 are in boosters that she paid $1 for at a rummage sale. "I couldn't pass them up" she says. Ok, so your kids are worth $1 a piece, got it. Right away, I'm praying that we can get three car seats in the back seat of this car. It was a Jetta that had to have been from the 80's. The backseat was full of shit and I made the dad clean up all the crap that was on the floor of the car. We literally would not have been able to stand on the floor of the backseat, it was that full of crap. Once I got in the backseat, I wanted to cry. It was awful. Crumbs, shoes, socks, etc. It doesn't sound bad, but it was just disgusting. I was honestly afraid to touch anything. Oh yeah and the mom was still wearing her pajamas. Honestly. So this deadbeat mom and dad got three free car seats from us, and luckily they all fit in the backseat.
My second vehicle was a grandma who really had no business driving. She couldn't pull into one of our slots because she "couldn't steer." Oh, ok. So she sort of just pulled in and we had to somehow arrange the other cars around her. She had her 11 month old granddaughter with her still in the infant seat, the straps were completely off her shoulders and it was in super loose. She needed a new free seat because her daughter was due with #2 in a few weeks and needed the infant seat for baby #2. Sure, let's just keep popping babies out. She was pretty nice, but was definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
The last one wasn't so bad. A really nice mom with a fairly well behaved kid. The only thing was his name was Colton which I really hate. When I asked how to spell it, she said Koltyn. Why? Really, why are we doing this to our kids?
So my mom made me cry tonight. I was on my way to my friend Lisa's house for supper and she called. She asked how my appointment went on Friday and I said not good and told her why. So she launched into her "IVF is evil" monologue and really pissed me off. I said something about Kristin living with Tom before they were married and she said she didn't like that either. Whatever. I very clearly remember her saying she didn't like it, but Kristin "doesn't do well alone." UGH. So I told my mom that we are going to have another child somehow and if we go the IVF route, I'm not telling her. Sounds immature, but I'm so pissed about this.
On that note, I've decided to get a 2nd opinion. I'm going to call Women's Speciality Care and ask to have another HSG. I just don't understand how Dr. Gibson could have not seen any problems with my HSG and Dr. Severino said the dye spill was sluggish and that I have swollen tubes. Dr. Severino never mentioned anything about possibly repairing my tubes. On the Women's Speciality Care website, they mention surgery to repair the tubes if there is a good chance to restore fertility.
My friends rock! I had a ton of responses to when I posted on FB what happened on Friday. I knew I had good friends, but it's nice to know just how much people care. Thanks guys!!!
At around 8:45 am, a coworker and I are attempting to put up this huge ass sign by the side of the road that says "free car seat check here" when this fat chick pulls up in a huge piece of shit car and says "is this where I get my free car seat because I'm on WIC?" Seriously? Does no one have any dignity any more? The check started at nine and you must know that a huge pet peeve of mine is when people come early for car seat appointments. The appointment is for 2pm, not 1:50pm. There's a difference. I know it's exciting because you're getting free shit, but hold your horses. So I was slightly rude to her and said "well the event starts at 9am, and it will be in the body shop over there." I walk away and continue to wrestle with this huge ass sign in 50 mph winds. When it was up, I go back to the body shop and see fattie fatterson and her husband sitting inside the garage waiting for us to start. It is still not 9am by this point and I'm already po'd. Unfortunately I get stuck with her and she proceeds to tell me that she has a 6 year old (who is not there), a 4 year old (a homely fat child) and #3 due in 2 weeks. The older 2 are in boosters that she paid $1 for at a rummage sale. "I couldn't pass them up" she says. Ok, so your kids are worth $1 a piece, got it. Right away, I'm praying that we can get three car seats in the back seat of this car. It was a Jetta that had to have been from the 80's. The backseat was full of shit and I made the dad clean up all the crap that was on the floor of the car. We literally would not have been able to stand on the floor of the backseat, it was that full of crap. Once I got in the backseat, I wanted to cry. It was awful. Crumbs, shoes, socks, etc. It doesn't sound bad, but it was just disgusting. I was honestly afraid to touch anything. Oh yeah and the mom was still wearing her pajamas. Honestly. So this deadbeat mom and dad got three free car seats from us, and luckily they all fit in the backseat.
My second vehicle was a grandma who really had no business driving. She couldn't pull into one of our slots because she "couldn't steer." Oh, ok. So she sort of just pulled in and we had to somehow arrange the other cars around her. She had her 11 month old granddaughter with her still in the infant seat, the straps were completely off her shoulders and it was in super loose. She needed a new free seat because her daughter was due with #2 in a few weeks and needed the infant seat for baby #2. Sure, let's just keep popping babies out. She was pretty nice, but was definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
The last one wasn't so bad. A really nice mom with a fairly well behaved kid. The only thing was his name was Colton which I really hate. When I asked how to spell it, she said Koltyn. Why? Really, why are we doing this to our kids?
So my mom made me cry tonight. I was on my way to my friend Lisa's house for supper and she called. She asked how my appointment went on Friday and I said not good and told her why. So she launched into her "IVF is evil" monologue and really pissed me off. I said something about Kristin living with Tom before they were married and she said she didn't like that either. Whatever. I very clearly remember her saying she didn't like it, but Kristin "doesn't do well alone." UGH. So I told my mom that we are going to have another child somehow and if we go the IVF route, I'm not telling her. Sounds immature, but I'm so pissed about this.
On that note, I've decided to get a 2nd opinion. I'm going to call Women's Speciality Care and ask to have another HSG. I just don't understand how Dr. Gibson could have not seen any problems with my HSG and Dr. Severino said the dye spill was sluggish and that I have swollen tubes. Dr. Severino never mentioned anything about possibly repairing my tubes. On the Women's Speciality Care website, they mention surgery to repair the tubes if there is a good chance to restore fertility.
My friends rock! I had a ton of responses to when I posted on FB what happened on Friday. I knew I had good friends, but it's nice to know just how much people care. Thanks guys!!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
In a Daze
I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Severino today. He came right out and said that our best option is IVF. He reviewed my HSG and said the dye was sluggish going through my tubes. It didn't spill out freely like it should have. I don't know why Dr. Gibson see that, but whatever. They don't know why my tubes are swollen, but they are. I may have had some sort of infection that damaged them. I have a feeling it was caused by my ovarian cyst that was endometriosis. So IUI won't really help us that much because my eggs may not be coming down my tubes to be ready for Mike's swimmers.
IVF is really the best option because it completely bypasses the tubes. The main problem with it is that my insurance doesn't cover it. It costs around $15,000. The success rate is about 52%. I thought briefly about asking my grandma to lend the money to us, but then I remembered that the Catholic church is opposed to IVF and my whole family is super Catholic so that probably won't fly. My parents don't have the money to lend to us and probably wouldn't even if they had. I highly doubt anyone in Mike's family has it for us to borrow. It's also a huge time committment. I would have to go there quite frequently for ultrasounds and blood work, plus give myself injections. I'm ok with all of that and luckily my boss is very flexible. She had infertility issues too so she would know what I'm going through. Right now we have about $300 each left to pay Aurora for my HSG and the chiropracter from Mike's back this past summer. We also have about $2400 left on a CC that paid for our new furnace and car repairs last November. I'm thinking once those are paid off, we can start to save for a part of this. Maybe I can persuade Mike to sell the truck too. I'm even thinking of having a rummage sale this summer. I could make a lot of money from all of Paige's toys and clothes. Maybe we can get $5000-$7500 saved up and put the rest on a low interest CC. Luckily we have really good credit, so getting a low interest CC shouldn't be a problem. We could only do IVF once. If it doesn't work, I don't know what to do. Maybe we'll consider adoption. Again I'm just in a daze. I just can't resign myself to the idea that Paige will be an only child. She is made to be a big sister.
IVF is really the best option because it completely bypasses the tubes. The main problem with it is that my insurance doesn't cover it. It costs around $15,000. The success rate is about 52%. I thought briefly about asking my grandma to lend the money to us, but then I remembered that the Catholic church is opposed to IVF and my whole family is super Catholic so that probably won't fly. My parents don't have the money to lend to us and probably wouldn't even if they had. I highly doubt anyone in Mike's family has it for us to borrow. It's also a huge time committment. I would have to go there quite frequently for ultrasounds and blood work, plus give myself injections. I'm ok with all of that and luckily my boss is very flexible. She had infertility issues too so she would know what I'm going through. Right now we have about $300 each left to pay Aurora for my HSG and the chiropracter from Mike's back this past summer. We also have about $2400 left on a CC that paid for our new furnace and car repairs last November. I'm thinking once those are paid off, we can start to save for a part of this. Maybe I can persuade Mike to sell the truck too. I'm even thinking of having a rummage sale this summer. I could make a lot of money from all of Paige's toys and clothes. Maybe we can get $5000-$7500 saved up and put the rest on a low interest CC. Luckily we have really good credit, so getting a low interest CC shouldn't be a problem. We could only do IVF once. If it doesn't work, I don't know what to do. Maybe we'll consider adoption. Again I'm just in a daze. I just can't resign myself to the idea that Paige will be an only child. She is made to be a big sister.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A Parenting Manual Would Sure Be Nice
So on our way home tonight Paige notices that the kid across the street who also goes to Sandi's for daycare is outside playing with her friends. She's 9 and has always been very sweet to Paige, treating Paige almost like a little sister. She's out there playing kickball with her friends and Paige wants to go over there and play. Paige is 4, almost 5. I can tell these kids are all between 8-10. I didn't know what to do because I'm trying to "toughen" Paige up a little bit and get her to play with other kids, but these kids could destroy her in kickball. UGH, what to do what to do. So I say no at first. She cries and keeps looking out the window. She announces that they aren't playing kickball anymore. So I change my mind and let her go. I told her she had to walk over there by herself and that I wasn't going with her. She agreed, so I watched her walk across the street and their yard. Now I'm sort of enjoying a quiet house, but totally weirded out by the fact that I can't see her. I'm assuming she is in the neighbor girl's house, but it's still weird. My baby is growing up.
Last night I was so proud of her! This probably won't sound like a big deal, but we were at a potluck supper with my mom's group. There were 3 other kids there around her age. Usually Paige stays either on my lap or attached to my hip. After she picked at her supper, she announced that she wanted to go upstairs and play with the kids. BREAKTHROUGH!!!! I couldn't believe it. We've been in this mom's group for 2 1/2 years and gone to many a playdate and potluck supper and it's always been the same-Paige not leaving my side. So for her to get up, go out of my eyesight and play with the kids the rest of the night was HUGE. School is definitely having a positive effect on her.
AGH I'm so stressed about daycare and my work schedule. My sitter is closed 4 days in April, the 9th, 10th and 13th because she's having her wisdom teeth out the 24th because she is going out of town. Well the 10th is no big deal because it's Good Friday and I'm off anyway. My dad is babysitting for Dylan EVERY DAY because Kristin has a long term sub job starting on the 13th through the end of the school year. I can probably flex my schedule around the 9th and or 13th, like take a personal day on the 9th, and work Friday the 17th and take Monday the 13th off, but I absolutely need someone on the 24th. I have a super important work meeting in Appleton, so I'm going to see if my dad can meet me in Appleton and I can drop Paige off with him there. All of this is making me really want to switch to the daycare center in town, but my emotions are getting to me. Her sitter is the only daycare she's had since she was 3 months old. They are very attached to each other and I know Sandi truly loves Paige. But all the other kids have some sort of back up for their kids like older siblings, grandparents, etc., but we don't. It's just getting too hard and stressful and I'm the one that always has to make the arrangements. The other thing that sucks about her daycare is that she's closed June 29th-July 3rd, so I either HAVE to take vacation that week or ask my parents to watch her. Or have her switched to the daycare center by then. Normally I wouldn't mind taking vacation then, but I want to take the next week off so I can send her to Safety Town in GB. I have to bring her there at 9am and pick her up at 12pm. It's at one of the schools, I can't remember which one. I'll just kill time in GB every day-I'm good at that. They teach all kinds of stuff that I haven't taught her yet because I don't know how. They'll make it much less scary. UGH so much to think about and plan. And I just have one, I'm not sure how I'll manage when I have 2.
Another dilemma. This chick from my mom's group who I pretty much cannot stand friend requested me on FB and I denied it. That was Sunday. She friend requested me again. I'm going to deny it again. Maybe that sounds mean but seriously this woman is unbelievably annoying.
OK off to cook chicken fajita pizza for supper. YUM!!!
Last night I was so proud of her! This probably won't sound like a big deal, but we were at a potluck supper with my mom's group. There were 3 other kids there around her age. Usually Paige stays either on my lap or attached to my hip. After she picked at her supper, she announced that she wanted to go upstairs and play with the kids. BREAKTHROUGH!!!! I couldn't believe it. We've been in this mom's group for 2 1/2 years and gone to many a playdate and potluck supper and it's always been the same-Paige not leaving my side. So for her to get up, go out of my eyesight and play with the kids the rest of the night was HUGE. School is definitely having a positive effect on her.
AGH I'm so stressed about daycare and my work schedule. My sitter is closed 4 days in April, the 9th, 10th and 13th because she's having her wisdom teeth out the 24th because she is going out of town. Well the 10th is no big deal because it's Good Friday and I'm off anyway. My dad is babysitting for Dylan EVERY DAY because Kristin has a long term sub job starting on the 13th through the end of the school year. I can probably flex my schedule around the 9th and or 13th, like take a personal day on the 9th, and work Friday the 17th and take Monday the 13th off, but I absolutely need someone on the 24th. I have a super important work meeting in Appleton, so I'm going to see if my dad can meet me in Appleton and I can drop Paige off with him there. All of this is making me really want to switch to the daycare center in town, but my emotions are getting to me. Her sitter is the only daycare she's had since she was 3 months old. They are very attached to each other and I know Sandi truly loves Paige. But all the other kids have some sort of back up for their kids like older siblings, grandparents, etc., but we don't. It's just getting too hard and stressful and I'm the one that always has to make the arrangements. The other thing that sucks about her daycare is that she's closed June 29th-July 3rd, so I either HAVE to take vacation that week or ask my parents to watch her. Or have her switched to the daycare center by then. Normally I wouldn't mind taking vacation then, but I want to take the next week off so I can send her to Safety Town in GB. I have to bring her there at 9am and pick her up at 12pm. It's at one of the schools, I can't remember which one. I'll just kill time in GB every day-I'm good at that. They teach all kinds of stuff that I haven't taught her yet because I don't know how. They'll make it much less scary. UGH so much to think about and plan. And I just have one, I'm not sure how I'll manage when I have 2.
Another dilemma. This chick from my mom's group who I pretty much cannot stand friend requested me on FB and I denied it. That was Sunday. She friend requested me again. I'm going to deny it again. Maybe that sounds mean but seriously this woman is unbelievably annoying.
OK off to cook chicken fajita pizza for supper. YUM!!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
I Have Issues
Well I sat here and debated whether or not I should blog about this, but hell I'm going to. It's my blog. I have a major insecurity issue about being left out of stuff. I didn't have a ton of friends in high school and often felt left out and I think that has really affected me. When I see that friends are planning nights out or weekends away without me, it drives me crazy. I sit here and fret about why I wasn't asked to go and become jealous that I'm not with them. Some of these said friends read this blog and this is not an invitation for a pity party. I'm sitting here stressing about this very issue right now and this blog is my place to vent. I think we all have this deep need to feel included and I guess mine is really strong. I think part of the problem is that I have nothing planned for the weekend. But I don't really want to plan anything either because I want to watch basketball all weekend. AGH.
I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself because Mike is going fishing after work so it's just me and Paige all day, except for the three hours this afternoon while she's at work. I asked my friend Carrie to get together today after our girls are done with school but she has to work. The weather got crappy this afternoon so we won't really be able to play outside.
Found out that my bloodwork was all normal, and the only issue with my culture was that I tested positive for group B strep so more antibiotics. Yippee, another yeast infection. Everytime I take antibiotics lately I get a yeast infection. So annoying. So our next appointment is next week Friday with Dr. Severino to discuss our next steps in more detail. We'll do insemination, but I'm just not sure how medicated I want it to be.
One day this week I was browsing the Post Crescent online and there were pictures of the 1974 Hortonville teacher's strike. My dad was a scab/replacement teacher and taught there until he resigned three years ago. It was an extremely bitter strike that got national media attention. There was even an article in Time Magazine about it. The cops had to escort the replacement teachers in and out of school every day because the striking teachers were so bitter. It divided the town. I talked to my mom a little bit about it last night and she said it was basically the worst time in their marriage. They were brand new to this tiny town (pop. 1500), newlyweds, and she said she never knew what kind of reaction she'd get when they told people what my dad did. Do a google search of the Hortonville teacher's strike, it's just unreal. One day the striking teachers sat in the driveway of the school, blocking the busses so they couldn't pull in and drop the kids off. They were arrested.
Off to get the kid from the bus stop.
I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself because Mike is going fishing after work so it's just me and Paige all day, except for the three hours this afternoon while she's at work. I asked my friend Carrie to get together today after our girls are done with school but she has to work. The weather got crappy this afternoon so we won't really be able to play outside.
Found out that my bloodwork was all normal, and the only issue with my culture was that I tested positive for group B strep so more antibiotics. Yippee, another yeast infection. Everytime I take antibiotics lately I get a yeast infection. So annoying. So our next appointment is next week Friday with Dr. Severino to discuss our next steps in more detail. We'll do insemination, but I'm just not sure how medicated I want it to be.
One day this week I was browsing the Post Crescent online and there were pictures of the 1974 Hortonville teacher's strike. My dad was a scab/replacement teacher and taught there until he resigned three years ago. It was an extremely bitter strike that got national media attention. There was even an article in Time Magazine about it. The cops had to escort the replacement teachers in and out of school every day because the striking teachers were so bitter. It divided the town. I talked to my mom a little bit about it last night and she said it was basically the worst time in their marriage. They were brand new to this tiny town (pop. 1500), newlyweds, and she said she never knew what kind of reaction she'd get when they told people what my dad did. Do a google search of the Hortonville teacher's strike, it's just unreal. One day the striking teachers sat in the driveway of the school, blocking the busses so they couldn't pull in and drop the kids off. They were arrested.
Off to get the kid from the bus stop.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I *Heart* March
I love basketball. I grew up in a gym with a dad who coached basketball. I very clearly remember sitting in the boys locker room on the weekends coloring with those stinky black markers while he watched film. Sounds strange, but I loved it. My sister was born in January and was at her first game when she was probably a week old. My mom went into labor with her while my dad was over an hour away coaching.
That being said, March is one of my favorite months of the year. March Madness! I really hesitate to make plans on the weekends in March because I don't want to miss any games. I already asked our old neighbors if they want to come over some Sunday in April so we can cook out if it's nice. The real reason I asked for April is because I want to watch basketball in March! We have a chili supper at our church after the Saturday mass and I don't want to stay too long. Is that bad? I know my mom is the same way. I really am turning into my mom. I know there are games going on right now that I'm missing and it's really annoying.
Ugh I'm on a conference call at work and it's dragging on. Blah blah blah.....
That being said, March is one of my favorite months of the year. March Madness! I really hesitate to make plans on the weekends in March because I don't want to miss any games. I already asked our old neighbors if they want to come over some Sunday in April so we can cook out if it's nice. The real reason I asked for April is because I want to watch basketball in March! We have a chili supper at our church after the Saturday mass and I don't want to stay too long. Is that bad? I know my mom is the same way. I really am turning into my mom. I know there are games going on right now that I'm missing and it's really annoying.
Ugh I'm on a conference call at work and it's dragging on. Blah blah blah.....
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
So You Can't Afford a Car Seat...
But you can afford to eat fast food ALOT?!?!? Yet another round of "Losers, Come Get Your Free Car Seats" today. Only three this time but they were all winners.
10am: Mom and kid have the same last name but only because dad is, according to mom, "MIA". The kid's name is Romin (not a typo), he's three, has a blonde mullet, (mom said she should have put his hair in a ponytail) doesn't talk and is homlier than homely. If you have to tell your 3 year old SON "I should have put your hair in a ponytail" there's something wrong. His hair was past his collarbone. Oh and he dug through my purse, pulled out my hand sanitzer and turned on my mp3 player. He got into the syrup container from their fast food breakfast (french toast sticks) and was all sticky then. She tells us she bought her car seats from Once Upon a Child because she couldn't afford them otherwise. OK, but you can afford fast food breakfast? STAY HOME AND EAT!!!! Breakfast is like the cheapest meal of the day. I make instant oats with brown sugar in it. A huge ass thing of those oats is CHEAP.
10:45 am: Mom couldn't remember how to spell her daughter's name (Arista, like the record company) and her birthday. She claimed it was "too early in the morning" for questions like this. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up people. That one really torked me because I'd been up for 5 hours at this point already, worked out, got ready, dropped the kid off at daycare and worked for almost 3 hours. 10:45am....too early. PUH-LEEZE. 1 1/2 year old kid in a booster. She weighed 30 pounds. So she got a free Graco Nautilus from us because her kid is fat and she is on WIC. $150 car seat. As I'm adjusting the seat for the kid, she walks up to me eating a french fry. Gee, I wonder why you weigh 30 pounds?
11:30am: 3 adults (2 guys and 1 girl) in a 1982 Camry. It's the middle of a weekday. Get a job!!!! I lean in to check on the baby and how he is riding and this wall of cigarette smoke hits me. It's like they all just smoked 10 packs with the windows rolled up. I wanted to cry. Baby is sleeping so peacefully. One of the guys keeps staring at me and giving me the creeps. I can't tell who this kid's parents are. We find out that one of the guys is her boyfriend, she calls him the dad, but he's not the biological dad. The kid is 7 months. So in a little over a year, you get pregnant by one guy, but start dating another one seriously enough that you call him the dad? UGH. Oh yeah and his name is Leland. Leland. What is wrong with people?!?!!? The seat goes in pretty well but I cannot get over the cigarette smoke smell. I hear mom tell my coworker how he has sleep apnea and was 3 weeks early, oh and that he has a cold. Gee, maybe the fact that he's surrounded by cigarette smoke has something to do with it?!?!?!?! They prop the bottle up for the kid and he's fussing because he can't get it right. So I hold the bottle up for him and listen to his sweet baby noises as he sucks away. I wanted to cry as they drove away. Poor kid doesn't have a chance.
What is wrong with our system? Or maybe it's what is wrong with our society? Why are girls spending money on fast food, cell phones, cigarettes, etc. and not on life saving equipment for their babies?
10am: Mom and kid have the same last name but only because dad is, according to mom, "MIA". The kid's name is Romin (not a typo), he's three, has a blonde mullet, (mom said she should have put his hair in a ponytail) doesn't talk and is homlier than homely. If you have to tell your 3 year old SON "I should have put your hair in a ponytail" there's something wrong. His hair was past his collarbone. Oh and he dug through my purse, pulled out my hand sanitzer and turned on my mp3 player. He got into the syrup container from their fast food breakfast (french toast sticks) and was all sticky then. She tells us she bought her car seats from Once Upon a Child because she couldn't afford them otherwise. OK, but you can afford fast food breakfast? STAY HOME AND EAT!!!! Breakfast is like the cheapest meal of the day. I make instant oats with brown sugar in it. A huge ass thing of those oats is CHEAP.
10:45 am: Mom couldn't remember how to spell her daughter's name (Arista, like the record company) and her birthday. She claimed it was "too early in the morning" for questions like this. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up people. That one really torked me because I'd been up for 5 hours at this point already, worked out, got ready, dropped the kid off at daycare and worked for almost 3 hours. 10:45am....too early. PUH-LEEZE. 1 1/2 year old kid in a booster. She weighed 30 pounds. So she got a free Graco Nautilus from us because her kid is fat and she is on WIC. $150 car seat. As I'm adjusting the seat for the kid, she walks up to me eating a french fry. Gee, I wonder why you weigh 30 pounds?
11:30am: 3 adults (2 guys and 1 girl) in a 1982 Camry. It's the middle of a weekday. Get a job!!!! I lean in to check on the baby and how he is riding and this wall of cigarette smoke hits me. It's like they all just smoked 10 packs with the windows rolled up. I wanted to cry. Baby is sleeping so peacefully. One of the guys keeps staring at me and giving me the creeps. I can't tell who this kid's parents are. We find out that one of the guys is her boyfriend, she calls him the dad, but he's not the biological dad. The kid is 7 months. So in a little over a year, you get pregnant by one guy, but start dating another one seriously enough that you call him the dad? UGH. Oh yeah and his name is Leland. Leland. What is wrong with people?!?!!? The seat goes in pretty well but I cannot get over the cigarette smoke smell. I hear mom tell my coworker how he has sleep apnea and was 3 weeks early, oh and that he has a cold. Gee, maybe the fact that he's surrounded by cigarette smoke has something to do with it?!?!?!?! They prop the bottle up for the kid and he's fussing because he can't get it right. So I hold the bottle up for him and listen to his sweet baby noises as he sucks away. I wanted to cry as they drove away. Poor kid doesn't have a chance.
What is wrong with our system? Or maybe it's what is wrong with our society? Why are girls spending money on fast food, cell phones, cigarettes, etc. and not on life saving equipment for their babies?
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Snowy Sunday
OK so 2 days ago, I had my windows open and could hear the birds sweetly singing outside, now we're stuck inside while Snowstorm Kyle pounds us. At least there's good basketball on-Duke vs. UNC. I'm a huge Duke fan.
So I have 8 followers and people reading my blog that I didn't know read it. I've said some very judgemental, honest and possibly abrasive statements here. This is my place to vent and I hope these readers won't think less of me or think I'm a freak. Maybe you people already think I'm a freak!
Tomorrow is our appointment with Dr. Severino. I need to make a list of what questions to ask. I'm nervous about the appointment and I don't know why. I know my mom loves me a lot but she keeps asking about every step we've taken along the way including Mike's SA. It's starting to get annoying. My mom and sister are super Catholic and have both given me grief about IVF and how the unused embryos are destroyed. My sister went so far as to say if we have to have IVF, there'll be "tension" in our family. Tough shit. She has no clue what we are going through. Last time I checked living together before marriage wasn't exactly kosher with the Catholic church but she and Tom did it. My parents hardly batted an eye when she moved in with him, but if I bring a life and another grandchild for them into the world using IVF....whoo boy, that's a grave sin. Hopefully it won't even get to that point, but I'm not closing doors on anything. I want to carry another baby.
Am feeling kind of bad because we made plans to go to a friend's house this afternoon but we called a little while ago and cancelled. I really just felt like being lazy and staying home to watch this Duke game. I know most of you will think I'm a freak for cancelling plans to watch a bball game, but I heart bball. Also Paige actually napped this afternoon for about an hour (Mike and I made the most of it too, =)) until about 3pm and I just didn't feel like venturing out of the house at that time in this snow. They were going to have a fish fry but we know how they operate. They'll start cooking around 6pm and we won't eat until 8pm. It's a school night, Paige needs a bath and I want to watch DH at 8pm. We really shouldn't have even made the plans in the first place. Usually I like getting out of the house on the weekends, but today I just wanted to be home.
Yesterday, I took Paige to Hotel for Dogs, then to Fazoli's for lunch and then out to Kristin and Tom's. Tom and Mike went fishing so I knew Kristin might be bored. It's just so hard to have Paige and Dylan together. Paige wants to hold him all the time and play with him, but she's RIGHT up in face and he's just too squirmy for her to hold. Then she gets jealous because we're giving Dylan too much attention. That part probably is true, but I just love seeing him! He's such a sweetie and getting more and more fun now that he's smiling and cooing.
Paige just flew up here to tell me she hit a home run out of the park in Wii baseball..."for real." She's so dang cute. She was so good in church today. Did kid's gospel for most of it and then kept herself occupied with a word find. I had to help her quite a bit, but she did really well with it.
I really should sew, clean out the back bedroom, list some clothes on ebay, etc. but I really just feel like sitting here. I always think I'm going to get to that stuff on Friday afternoons but I never do.
So I have 8 followers and people reading my blog that I didn't know read it. I've said some very judgemental, honest and possibly abrasive statements here. This is my place to vent and I hope these readers won't think less of me or think I'm a freak. Maybe you people already think I'm a freak!
Tomorrow is our appointment with Dr. Severino. I need to make a list of what questions to ask. I'm nervous about the appointment and I don't know why. I know my mom loves me a lot but she keeps asking about every step we've taken along the way including Mike's SA. It's starting to get annoying. My mom and sister are super Catholic and have both given me grief about IVF and how the unused embryos are destroyed. My sister went so far as to say if we have to have IVF, there'll be "tension" in our family. Tough shit. She has no clue what we are going through. Last time I checked living together before marriage wasn't exactly kosher with the Catholic church but she and Tom did it. My parents hardly batted an eye when she moved in with him, but if I bring a life and another grandchild for them into the world using IVF....whoo boy, that's a grave sin. Hopefully it won't even get to that point, but I'm not closing doors on anything. I want to carry another baby.
Am feeling kind of bad because we made plans to go to a friend's house this afternoon but we called a little while ago and cancelled. I really just felt like being lazy and staying home to watch this Duke game. I know most of you will think I'm a freak for cancelling plans to watch a bball game, but I heart bball. Also Paige actually napped this afternoon for about an hour (Mike and I made the most of it too, =)) until about 3pm and I just didn't feel like venturing out of the house at that time in this snow. They were going to have a fish fry but we know how they operate. They'll start cooking around 6pm and we won't eat until 8pm. It's a school night, Paige needs a bath and I want to watch DH at 8pm. We really shouldn't have even made the plans in the first place. Usually I like getting out of the house on the weekends, but today I just wanted to be home.
Yesterday, I took Paige to Hotel for Dogs, then to Fazoli's for lunch and then out to Kristin and Tom's. Tom and Mike went fishing so I knew Kristin might be bored. It's just so hard to have Paige and Dylan together. Paige wants to hold him all the time and play with him, but she's RIGHT up in face and he's just too squirmy for her to hold. Then she gets jealous because we're giving Dylan too much attention. That part probably is true, but I just love seeing him! He's such a sweetie and getting more and more fun now that he's smiling and cooing.
Paige just flew up here to tell me she hit a home run out of the park in Wii baseball..."for real." She's so dang cute. She was so good in church today. Did kid's gospel for most of it and then kept herself occupied with a word find. I had to help her quite a bit, but she did really well with it.
I really should sew, clean out the back bedroom, list some clothes on ebay, etc. but I really just feel like sitting here. I always think I'm going to get to that stuff on Friday afternoons but I never do.
Monday, March 02, 2009
I'm a Medical Mess
I'm feeling quite overwhelmed right now. I saw my fourth, yes fourth, podiatrist today and this one's a keeper. He's awesome. He asked where my heel hurt and I showed him, he started pushing on different spots on my foot and made the diagnosis that I do not have plantar faciitis! I have a pinched nerve in my foot and basically everything to treat PF aggravates the pinched nerve. Then he took x-rays and confirmed the pinched nerve. In between all this, I tell him about my right big toe, how I think it's infected from the ingrown toenail removal back in December. He looks at it and says it was ingrown again. UGH. So he removes the ingrown part, but says I need to have the root removed or it will grow back again. I thought the first podiatrist did that, but I guess not. It was kind of painful to have him remove the ingrown toenail because my foot wasn't really numb, but it was no where near as painful as when he injected my left foot with some medication to help loosen up the nerve. Holy mother of Mary did that hurt. I was literally doing Lamaze breathing.
So I make the appointment to have the root of my toenail removed and I can't get in until May 4th! This guy must be good. I really liked him alot, super nice and friendly, but very intelligent and professional. I'm feeling overwhelmed because the directions they gave me for the root removal are very strict. The "surgery" will be at 7:30 am, but they won't let me leave until 11am. Toes bleed a lot so they want to make sure I'm ok. I absolutely cannot drive so I have to have someone with me. I can only walk to the bathroom that day, and they strongly advise someone to be home with me the rest of the day. I can't get the bandage wet, meaning no showers or baths, I don't know for how long. I have to go in for 3 post op visits and the worst part is I have to wear a surgical shoe for 3-6 weeks. ARGH! We're getting into flip flop season....not good. I asked the receptionist if this was all for an ingrown toenail root removal and she said it was. They are general surgery instructions, so maybe they will be loosed up a little, but not much. I'm dreading the surgical shoe.
Also this medication he shot me up with doesn't seem to be working and the only other alternative is an in office surgical procedure where he makes an incision and surgically loosens the nerve. i should just have him do that the same day as the ingrown toenail. The post op instructions are probably the same!
Then on my way home I get a call from Aurora, my pap from last week was unsatisfactory for evaluation so I have to have a repeat in 3 months. Great, another time for Dr. Gibson to see my crotch. I swear everytime I've seen this man I've been in stirrups. But yet another dr. apt., and more time away from work.
AND on top of all this foolishness, Dr. Gibson called me last week to discuss my inferility stuff. One of the cultures he took from my crotch show that I have some cervical infection called ureaplasma which can lead to infertility. It's not an STD, basically just an infection. But it can cause infertility because the infection produces antibodies that don't allow sperm through cervical fluid. So he prescribed antiobiotics for Mike and I both. He reviewed the xrays from my HSG and the radiologist says one of my tubes is slightly distended (bent) probably from my cyst that was endo. Finally, Mike's semen analysis was pretty good. His sperm count is excellent (his chest puffed out when I told him that), but he has a few more abnormal sperm than he should. But because he has so many sperm, that's really not an issue. I have low progesterone too. So these are a lot of little things that are adding up and he recommended he see Dr. Severino.
So between my foot and my infertility shit, I'm feeling like quite the mess.
So here's what's on tap for me in the next three months:
March 9th: Mike and I meet with Dr. Severino. Who knows what will come of that? Ultrasounds, blood work, meds...who knows?
May 4th: ingrown toenail root removal (with those post op instructions, I'm wondering if he's just going to lop off my toe)
June 1st: repeat Pap
Maybe I'm being a wimp, but that's a lot to take in.
So I make the appointment to have the root of my toenail removed and I can't get in until May 4th! This guy must be good. I really liked him alot, super nice and friendly, but very intelligent and professional. I'm feeling overwhelmed because the directions they gave me for the root removal are very strict. The "surgery" will be at 7:30 am, but they won't let me leave until 11am. Toes bleed a lot so they want to make sure I'm ok. I absolutely cannot drive so I have to have someone with me. I can only walk to the bathroom that day, and they strongly advise someone to be home with me the rest of the day. I can't get the bandage wet, meaning no showers or baths, I don't know for how long. I have to go in for 3 post op visits and the worst part is I have to wear a surgical shoe for 3-6 weeks. ARGH! We're getting into flip flop season....not good. I asked the receptionist if this was all for an ingrown toenail root removal and she said it was. They are general surgery instructions, so maybe they will be loosed up a little, but not much. I'm dreading the surgical shoe.
Also this medication he shot me up with doesn't seem to be working and the only other alternative is an in office surgical procedure where he makes an incision and surgically loosens the nerve. i should just have him do that the same day as the ingrown toenail. The post op instructions are probably the same!
Then on my way home I get a call from Aurora, my pap from last week was unsatisfactory for evaluation so I have to have a repeat in 3 months. Great, another time for Dr. Gibson to see my crotch. I swear everytime I've seen this man I've been in stirrups. But yet another dr. apt., and more time away from work.
AND on top of all this foolishness, Dr. Gibson called me last week to discuss my inferility stuff. One of the cultures he took from my crotch show that I have some cervical infection called ureaplasma which can lead to infertility. It's not an STD, basically just an infection. But it can cause infertility because the infection produces antibodies that don't allow sperm through cervical fluid. So he prescribed antiobiotics for Mike and I both. He reviewed the xrays from my HSG and the radiologist says one of my tubes is slightly distended (bent) probably from my cyst that was endo. Finally, Mike's semen analysis was pretty good. His sperm count is excellent (his chest puffed out when I told him that), but he has a few more abnormal sperm than he should. But because he has so many sperm, that's really not an issue. I have low progesterone too. So these are a lot of little things that are adding up and he recommended he see Dr. Severino.
So between my foot and my infertility shit, I'm feeling like quite the mess.
So here's what's on tap for me in the next three months:
March 9th: Mike and I meet with Dr. Severino. Who knows what will come of that? Ultrasounds, blood work, meds...who knows?
May 4th: ingrown toenail root removal (with those post op instructions, I'm wondering if he's just going to lop off my toe)
June 1st: repeat Pap
Maybe I'm being a wimp, but that's a lot to take in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)