Gemma is 4 days away from her second birthday. I've been teaching her to say "TWO!" in response to the question, "How old are you?" We'll see if she'll do it on cue at her birthday party this Saturday. We're having the party at my parent's house, and swimming part of the time at our neighborhood club, and then coming back for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed party. Very exciting.
What isn't exciting is that I just discovered that Gemma's birthmother was arrested for meth trafficking last month on Saipan. My heart is broken for her. I have prayed for her everyday since I met Gemma- not even since I took custody, but way back in April of last year. I helped her in every way I could while I was there, and was hoping she'd be one of the lucky ones who kick this awful drug and make it. I still pray that, I pray that this beautiful young woman would get the help she needs and make a life for herself. If you are a praying person, please lift her up.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
The One About Mommyhood
Ok, so it's been a little over a month since I've really had anything important to say. Well, we all know that's not true, but I haven't had the time nor inclination to write anything in over a month. Busy busy, what with a budding terrible-two-er whose most recent delight seems to be finding hidden crayons and coloring the walls of the living room.
But in the month since I've been away, Mother's Day has come and gone. It was my first Mother's Day, and it was wonderful. For the past few years, since I had decided I wanted to be a mother (with or without the husband), Mother's Day had been hard on me, almost resenting it, and I can imagine that many women who are struggling to either get pregnant or dealing with adoption feel the same thing. But having a little face wake me up that morning and call me Mommy was all I needed to have a perfect day.
We have been battling the flu and other bizarre illnesses but seem to be on the upswing, and I find that I am just not motivated to write as much as before. My load at work keeps getting larger- imagine that, people keep committing crimes- and by the time I get home at the end of the day, all I want to do is hang out with Gemma, have a glass of wine and take a breath before all the nightly rituals begin- cooking dinner, doing dishes, throwing a load of laundry in, feeding the dog, the cat, the child, bathing the child, and finally, putting her in bed. (Which is still the same bed as me, by the way...) I thought just this morning that I would really love to go see a movie this weekend. I don't think I've seen one in the theater since last year pre-Gemma.
But the routine we are in works for us, and she's growing like crazy and starting to put sentences together more and more. Simple ones, yes, but sentences none the less. Bye Bye Mommy. Bye bye Gemma. Bye Bye Maow Maow (her new word for cat), Bye Bye Ewwwie (the dog). Every morning she has her own rituals of saying goodbye to everything at the house, including kissing her myriad of toys as I scoot her out the door for the day. Then of course, it's the reverse when we get home, Hi Maow Maow, Hi Ewwie. You get the idea. And I just know we are on the cusp of serious potty training, too... can't wait for that. So far the potty has only been used as a storage facility for her toys.
The next big decision I have to make is what to do for her 2nd Birthday party. I have to have it in Atlanta, since that's where the family is, and I'm toying with the idea of having one of those traveling petting zoos that come to your house. My folks have plenty of space (so long as they don't sell the house and move by then!) and Gemma loves any kind of animal, so that's top of the list right now. Depending on my court schedule though, it may end up being an impromptu family birthday party only, since we have trials the first 2 weeks of June.
And so it goes. Never a dull moment, never a quiet moment. But it's my life and I really do love it, even if I bitch about it!
But in the month since I've been away, Mother's Day has come and gone. It was my first Mother's Day, and it was wonderful. For the past few years, since I had decided I wanted to be a mother (with or without the husband), Mother's Day had been hard on me, almost resenting it, and I can imagine that many women who are struggling to either get pregnant or dealing with adoption feel the same thing. But having a little face wake me up that morning and call me Mommy was all I needed to have a perfect day.
We have been battling the flu and other bizarre illnesses but seem to be on the upswing, and I find that I am just not motivated to write as much as before. My load at work keeps getting larger- imagine that, people keep committing crimes- and by the time I get home at the end of the day, all I want to do is hang out with Gemma, have a glass of wine and take a breath before all the nightly rituals begin- cooking dinner, doing dishes, throwing a load of laundry in, feeding the dog, the cat, the child, bathing the child, and finally, putting her in bed. (Which is still the same bed as me, by the way...) I thought just this morning that I would really love to go see a movie this weekend. I don't think I've seen one in the theater since last year pre-Gemma.
But the routine we are in works for us, and she's growing like crazy and starting to put sentences together more and more. Simple ones, yes, but sentences none the less. Bye Bye Mommy. Bye bye Gemma. Bye Bye Maow Maow (her new word for cat), Bye Bye Ewwwie (the dog). Every morning she has her own rituals of saying goodbye to everything at the house, including kissing her myriad of toys as I scoot her out the door for the day. Then of course, it's the reverse when we get home, Hi Maow Maow, Hi Ewwie. You get the idea. And I just know we are on the cusp of serious potty training, too... can't wait for that. So far the potty has only been used as a storage facility for her toys.
The next big decision I have to make is what to do for her 2nd Birthday party. I have to have it in Atlanta, since that's where the family is, and I'm toying with the idea of having one of those traveling petting zoos that come to your house. My folks have plenty of space (so long as they don't sell the house and move by then!) and Gemma loves any kind of animal, so that's top of the list right now. Depending on my court schedule though, it may end up being an impromptu family birthday party only, since we have trials the first 2 weeks of June.
And so it goes. Never a dull moment, never a quiet moment. But it's my life and I really do love it, even if I bitch about it!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The One About Being Slack
I don't know whether I'm a slacker, or if I've really just needed a break from blogging. It's not that I don't have things to say, it really has just been that I have been too lazy or busy or preoccupied to write them here. I would say I won't repeat the drought, but I can't promise anything.
But things are good, and when things are good, for some reason, it seems harder to blog. For me, at least. It's easier to rant and rave and get out my frustrations than it is to paint a picture of how much I love my life, and how great things are going.
Spring has finally permanently arrived, and in its wake brought massive weather catastrophes here in this area of the state... we've had flooding, tornados, massive hail. Thankfully, other than the dirt road leading to my house being closed since it was covered in water, I wasn't affected in any way.
I enjoyed watching the Tea Party coverage last night, and really wished I was there, in spite of my feelings about large crowds. The CNN reporter that cut off the guy she was interviewing should be ashamed of herself... it was clear she had an agenda. And CNN said in its statement that she was "just doing her job." Well, if that's what CNN reporters consider doing their job, they need to rewrite the job descriptions. I am hoping that these tea parties are the beginning of getting America back to where it needs to be. I am not interested in bankrupting future generations, including Gemma. There was even a lunchtime tea party here in Tifton- I didn't get a chance to go, but saw it as I was driving by.
My friend, Mary Mitchell McKinnon- a friend of mine from law school- and I (and Gem, of course) are headed down to Disney next weekend (April 23 through the 27) for the Flower & Garden Festival. It is by far my favorite time of year to visit, as the flowers and displays at Epcot are simply amazing, and they have all sorts of extra things going on, including tons of stuff for kids- all included in the price of admission. I've seen pictures from allearsnet.com (one of my fav Disney sites) and it seems like Disney has really outdone itself this year. Simply gorgeous. I can't wait to see it, and it looks like they've set up a bunch of new playgrounds and different play settings for kids all along the World Showcase promenade. They even have a Mickey garden gnome, called "Gnomickey" available for sale, that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy and put in the yard.
(Courtesy of Jack Spence, at allearsnet.com.)
I mean, seriously, isn't that thing just too cute?
And Gemma had a fun Easter, and got her picture taken with the Easter Bunny at the community easter egg hunt. Here are a few Easter pics for you.
This was taken after her bath, in her super cute nightgown that I bought originally for one of my nieces, but has made its way back as a hand-me-down. I bought it from the Little White Company in London... oh I miss that store.
This was taken at the 3 and Under Community Easter Egg Hunt. I have decided that I am way too competitive to enjoy such a thing.
Gemma's Easter outfit. It has a frog on front, and came with a super cute hat, which she wore for about half a second.
Gemma and the Easter Bunny. She looks like she isn't enjoying herself, but she kept running back over to him when no one else was in line and climbing back on his lap and patting his face. It was so cute!
But things are good, and when things are good, for some reason, it seems harder to blog. For me, at least. It's easier to rant and rave and get out my frustrations than it is to paint a picture of how much I love my life, and how great things are going.
Spring has finally permanently arrived, and in its wake brought massive weather catastrophes here in this area of the state... we've had flooding, tornados, massive hail. Thankfully, other than the dirt road leading to my house being closed since it was covered in water, I wasn't affected in any way.
I enjoyed watching the Tea Party coverage last night, and really wished I was there, in spite of my feelings about large crowds. The CNN reporter that cut off the guy she was interviewing should be ashamed of herself... it was clear she had an agenda. And CNN said in its statement that she was "just doing her job." Well, if that's what CNN reporters consider doing their job, they need to rewrite the job descriptions. I am hoping that these tea parties are the beginning of getting America back to where it needs to be. I am not interested in bankrupting future generations, including Gemma. There was even a lunchtime tea party here in Tifton- I didn't get a chance to go, but saw it as I was driving by.
My friend, Mary Mitchell McKinnon- a friend of mine from law school- and I (and Gem, of course) are headed down to Disney next weekend (April 23 through the 27) for the Flower & Garden Festival. It is by far my favorite time of year to visit, as the flowers and displays at Epcot are simply amazing, and they have all sorts of extra things going on, including tons of stuff for kids- all included in the price of admission. I've seen pictures from allearsnet.com (one of my fav Disney sites) and it seems like Disney has really outdone itself this year. Simply gorgeous. I can't wait to see it, and it looks like they've set up a bunch of new playgrounds and different play settings for kids all along the World Showcase promenade. They even have a Mickey garden gnome, called "Gnomickey" available for sale, that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy and put in the yard.
(Courtesy of Jack Spence, at allearsnet.com.)I mean, seriously, isn't that thing just too cute?
And Gemma had a fun Easter, and got her picture taken with the Easter Bunny at the community easter egg hunt. Here are a few Easter pics for you.
This was taken after her bath, in her super cute nightgown that I bought originally for one of my nieces, but has made its way back as a hand-me-down. I bought it from the Little White Company in London... oh I miss that store.
This was taken at the 3 and Under Community Easter Egg Hunt. I have decided that I am way too competitive to enjoy such a thing.
Gemma's Easter outfit. It has a frog on front, and came with a super cute hat, which she wore for about half a second.
Gemma and the Easter Bunny. She looks like she isn't enjoying herself, but she kept running back over to him when no one else was in line and climbing back on his lap and patting his face. It was so cute!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The One About Being SUPER Busy!
I can't remember the last post I did, but life has just been rolling along like crazy, and instead of documenting it here, I have been leaning more toward facebook for that lately. I am going to make a better effort. Promise.
Gemma and I are both doing reasonably well. I go back to the cardiologist on Friday to find out the results of my latest CT scan of my pericardial cyst- to see whether it's gotten bigger or not. We have another 2 weeks of jury trials coming up and I have been wading through child molesters all week. (Ok, you realize I don't mean this literally, and I realize that gives a very uncomfortable visual, but welcome to my life!) And my third niece was born on Friday the 13th (ooooohhhhh) after a REALLY long labor, so I was up in Atlanta on Aunt duty all weekend. What a sight we were, I'm sure, driving up I-75 in my red bug with a St. Bernard in the front seat, a baby in the back, and a bunch of Disney stickers on the back windshield. The new baby looks like the other 2 did at that age- generally wrinkly and pissed off looking. But they had to use the little baby toilet plunger thing to get her out, so she's a little cone-headed temporarily. I'd probably be pissed too.
Gemma is doing ok, but headed directly straight into the terrible 2s. But poor baby got bitten not once but TWICE at daycare yesterday... they wouldn't tell me which kid or kids did it (I think they thought I'd bite her back). People at the office suggested we get out forensic guys out there to take some toddler tooth molds for comparison. She is fine, and was more concerned with the cat scratch she got over the weekend, and keeps saying, "NO NO Kee Kee!" over and over. I feel bad for Scout, our cat here in Tifton, who didn't scratch her but is getting yelled at simply because she is a cat... Gemma chases her around yelling, "NO NO Kee Kee" at her all evening long. I put her hair in pigtails this morning and told her teacher when I dropped her off that I wasn't sure if they were pigtails or devil horns. It was just that kind of morning.
But in better news, I'm enjoying my first Georgia springtime since 2004. I was here in spring 2006, but was in the middle of writing my dissertation so I missed it. And Tifton is gorgeous, with dogwoods blooming, daffodils, and camellias. I love it, and am SO happy to live in a place that has seasons again. So, happy spring to all of you, and I promise more posting. Promise.
Gemma and I are both doing reasonably well. I go back to the cardiologist on Friday to find out the results of my latest CT scan of my pericardial cyst- to see whether it's gotten bigger or not. We have another 2 weeks of jury trials coming up and I have been wading through child molesters all week. (Ok, you realize I don't mean this literally, and I realize that gives a very uncomfortable visual, but welcome to my life!) And my third niece was born on Friday the 13th (ooooohhhhh) after a REALLY long labor, so I was up in Atlanta on Aunt duty all weekend. What a sight we were, I'm sure, driving up I-75 in my red bug with a St. Bernard in the front seat, a baby in the back, and a bunch of Disney stickers on the back windshield. The new baby looks like the other 2 did at that age- generally wrinkly and pissed off looking. But they had to use the little baby toilet plunger thing to get her out, so she's a little cone-headed temporarily. I'd probably be pissed too.
Gemma is doing ok, but headed directly straight into the terrible 2s. But poor baby got bitten not once but TWICE at daycare yesterday... they wouldn't tell me which kid or kids did it (I think they thought I'd bite her back). People at the office suggested we get out forensic guys out there to take some toddler tooth molds for comparison. She is fine, and was more concerned with the cat scratch she got over the weekend, and keeps saying, "NO NO Kee Kee!" over and over. I feel bad for Scout, our cat here in Tifton, who didn't scratch her but is getting yelled at simply because she is a cat... Gemma chases her around yelling, "NO NO Kee Kee" at her all evening long. I put her hair in pigtails this morning and told her teacher when I dropped her off that I wasn't sure if they were pigtails or devil horns. It was just that kind of morning.
But in better news, I'm enjoying my first Georgia springtime since 2004. I was here in spring 2006, but was in the middle of writing my dissertation so I missed it. And Tifton is gorgeous, with dogwoods blooming, daffodils, and camellias. I love it, and am SO happy to live in a place that has seasons again. So, happy spring to all of you, and I promise more posting. Promise.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The One About a Crazy Week
I told you that I'd been having these blood pressure problems, and the doc had put me on medication. Well, as of Monday it wasn't helping, and she had told me to call back if I didn't feel any better. I put a call in Monday morning to the nurse, telling her my heart was still racing, I was having trouble catching my breath, and was having pains in my chest. So, about lunchtime, the nurse called back and said my doctor said I needed to head off the ER. Which was what I was afraid of. So, off I went, more than a little scared, but dead-set determined not to cry until I knew whether I had something to cry about. They put me straight into a room, hooked me up to all those fun noisy monitors, and took 7 vials of my blood, AND put an IV in my arm (which has now made me look like an IV drug user, seeing as my arm is bruised and nasty). I made a call to the folks up in Atlanta, and my foremost worry was who was gonna go get Gemma from daycare. Mom got in the car immediately and headed down.
Well, after a chest x-ray, full battery of blood tests (clotting, heart enzymes, tox screen-apparently I look like a crack addict- urine screens, you name it), they were talking of admitting me. Ugh. They gave me some sort of medicine that lowered my heart rate and pressure, and then the on-call doc from my doctor's office came and saw me, and HE decided that I didn't need to be kept overnight. But here's the kicker- they released me with a diagnosis of high blood pressure and tachycardia. Gee thanks, folks, didn't know that already. But they put me on a beta blocker in addition to the other medicine, and as of this morning, my pressure had normalized mostly and my heartrate is basically normal too. My appointment with the cardiologist is Monday, so we'll see what he says. No one in the ER had any clue what a pericardial cyst was, and one guy even came in and said, "Well, we checked, and you don't have pericarditis." Um, I could have told him that. In fact, I did. I even explained what a percardial cyst is, and how big the cardiac MRI said mine was. Sheesh. You ever feel like no one is hearing you? It's like they are looking at you, and sort of look like they're listening, but clearly they ain't getting it.
The good news is Mom has been here since Monday, and we've been unpacking, shopping, eating, having a grand old time. Gemma loves having grandma around, although it's been making it harder to drop her off in the mornings... I keep hearing, "Baba?" which, in Gemmaese means, "Grandma?"
I'll keep you posted on the cardio guy next week. This heart business is getting old.
Well, after a chest x-ray, full battery of blood tests (clotting, heart enzymes, tox screen-apparently I look like a crack addict- urine screens, you name it), they were talking of admitting me. Ugh. They gave me some sort of medicine that lowered my heart rate and pressure, and then the on-call doc from my doctor's office came and saw me, and HE decided that I didn't need to be kept overnight. But here's the kicker- they released me with a diagnosis of high blood pressure and tachycardia. Gee thanks, folks, didn't know that already. But they put me on a beta blocker in addition to the other medicine, and as of this morning, my pressure had normalized mostly and my heartrate is basically normal too. My appointment with the cardiologist is Monday, so we'll see what he says. No one in the ER had any clue what a pericardial cyst was, and one guy even came in and said, "Well, we checked, and you don't have pericarditis." Um, I could have told him that. In fact, I did. I even explained what a percardial cyst is, and how big the cardiac MRI said mine was. Sheesh. You ever feel like no one is hearing you? It's like they are looking at you, and sort of look like they're listening, but clearly they ain't getting it.
The good news is Mom has been here since Monday, and we've been unpacking, shopping, eating, having a grand old time. Gemma loves having grandma around, although it's been making it harder to drop her off in the mornings... I keep hearing, "Baba?" which, in Gemmaese means, "Grandma?"
I'll keep you posted on the cardio guy next week. This heart business is getting old.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The One About Mean Little Kids who Bite My Child
Ok, I'm sure whoever it was who decided that my little baby's right cheek would make a tasty snack probably isn't a mean little kid. And I admit that it probably IS some sort of karmic influence coming around the bend to bite her in the... well, cheek. Not that one, the one on her face.
I went to pick Gemma up yesterday only to find 2 perfectly formed half-moons on her little, now swollen, right cheek. This was after I spent the entire (and I do mean entire) day in court listening to whiny defendants telling the judge how they really didn't want to be in jail. So, needless to say, most of the fight was already out of me. I just sort of sighed, looked at her teacher, and said, "what is this?" This was her explanation: "One of the other children bit her." Ok, now I realize that there may be a certain lack of formal education for some of these folks, but by no means are they lacking in intelligence. As such, I expected a little more in the way of an explanation. And they also provided me with what they call an "Ouch Report" (which would be cute if my child didn't have to get hurt to get one sent home) and they put the same thing there: Gemma was playing with another child and was bit on the right cheek. To this I replied, out loud to no one but Gemma in the backseat, "No sh** sherlock." To which Gemma replied with, "Sheet. Mama." Sigh.
So, now she has the dental impression of some random kid on her face, and I don't know why. But like I said, there must be some sort of karmic influence at work, seeing as I have a few scars from her biting days, which I am happy to say seem to be over. Unless she decides to take revenge on said kid later.
I was put on blood pressure medication this week. Turns out it wasn't just the prednisone making my heart work overtime... I swear I think it's the cyst. On Tuesday, my pressure was 140/108, which was down from the last time of 170/120, but my heart rate is still about 130 a minute. And it only goes down to about 100 when I take it first thing in the morning while I'm still lying in bed. I'm supposed to go see the cardiologist here soon, so we'll see. And all the bp medicine is doing to me now is making me have to pee more.
The big news is that Ellie and Scout are finally here! Ellie seems to be enjoying her big yard, but Scout (the cat) isn't quite so sure about things. She spent Sunday through Tuesday hiding out in the laundry room on a hunger strike. But she has relented, and is now sleeping on the bed with us. Every morning since they've been here, the first thing Gemma says when we wake up is, "Doggie? Kee kee?" It's very cute.
So, I'm glad it's Friday, and I'm headed to pick Gemma up (and hoping she doesn't have any more bites on her) and then it's off to Wal-Mart to buy stuff for tacos tonight! Wahoo!
I went to pick Gemma up yesterday only to find 2 perfectly formed half-moons on her little, now swollen, right cheek. This was after I spent the entire (and I do mean entire) day in court listening to whiny defendants telling the judge how they really didn't want to be in jail. So, needless to say, most of the fight was already out of me. I just sort of sighed, looked at her teacher, and said, "what is this?" This was her explanation: "One of the other children bit her." Ok, now I realize that there may be a certain lack of formal education for some of these folks, but by no means are they lacking in intelligence. As such, I expected a little more in the way of an explanation. And they also provided me with what they call an "Ouch Report" (which would be cute if my child didn't have to get hurt to get one sent home) and they put the same thing there: Gemma was playing with another child and was bit on the right cheek. To this I replied, out loud to no one but Gemma in the backseat, "No sh** sherlock." To which Gemma replied with, "Sheet. Mama." Sigh.
So, now she has the dental impression of some random kid on her face, and I don't know why. But like I said, there must be some sort of karmic influence at work, seeing as I have a few scars from her biting days, which I am happy to say seem to be over. Unless she decides to take revenge on said kid later.
I was put on blood pressure medication this week. Turns out it wasn't just the prednisone making my heart work overtime... I swear I think it's the cyst. On Tuesday, my pressure was 140/108, which was down from the last time of 170/120, but my heart rate is still about 130 a minute. And it only goes down to about 100 when I take it first thing in the morning while I'm still lying in bed. I'm supposed to go see the cardiologist here soon, so we'll see. And all the bp medicine is doing to me now is making me have to pee more.
The big news is that Ellie and Scout are finally here! Ellie seems to be enjoying her big yard, but Scout (the cat) isn't quite so sure about things. She spent Sunday through Tuesday hiding out in the laundry room on a hunger strike. But she has relented, and is now sleeping on the bed with us. Every morning since they've been here, the first thing Gemma says when we wake up is, "Doggie? Kee kee?" It's very cute.
So, I'm glad it's Friday, and I'm headed to pick Gemma up (and hoping she doesn't have any more bites on her) and then it's off to Wal-Mart to buy stuff for tacos tonight! Wahoo!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The One About the Heart and Steroids.
I've had this awful bronchitis stuff that's been going around for what seems like forever. The whole house was infected in Atlanta, and then when we got down here, Gemma and I just seemed to be passing it back and forth.
Well, last Thursday, I woke up and could barely talk and was hacking and coughing up what seemed to be pieces of my lung, I swear. I took Gemma to school- she seemed to be ok- and then went back home to bed, planning on sleeping the day away. About 9:45am, the daycare called, and said that Gem had a fever of 102 (again) and I needed to come and get her. So much for my day of sleep. But then I had another dilemma... she has to be fever free for 24 hours before they will let her back in, and I had to be at work Friday, since we were in the middle of a jury trial term. So, I called mom and asked her how'd she like to spend the day friday with one of her 3 favorite grandkids. And God bless her, my mother packed her car up, woke up before dawn had even thought of breaking, and drove about 3 hours down here so I could go to work to get ready for trials.
So, Friday after work, we went to a walk-in clinic here, and found out that Gemma had an ear infection, and I was rapidly losing my voice. A lost voice spells trouble for a trial lawyer. I told the doc I had to have my voice this coming week, so he put me on prednisone- a steroid- telling me it would keep my voice working.
I've decided that prednisone is the DEVIL. As soon as I took it, I couldn't sit still, I was shaky, sweaty. The only good thing that happened was I nearly got the entire house unpacked simply because I couldn't sit down. (Which is very unlike me... I like my veg time.) So, by the time Monday rolled around, my heart was racing and I knew my blood pressure was skyrocketing. I picked a jury Monday, not feeling anything like myself, and then proceeded to try the case yesterday- with a bad outcome (not related to the steroids, just a lousy case). So, after the case fell out, I went to the real doctor's office (not that the doc in the box guy isn't a real doc, but he can only do so much). My pulse was 130 and my blood pressure was 170 over 120. They gave me an EKG, said I was tachycardic, and that if I was 10 years older or so, I probably would be having a heart attack- all related to the prednisone. Now, my question was, and still is, whether this stupid pericardial cyst is exacerbating the whole thing. I'm making plans to go see a cardiologist here in Tifton soon, and I go back to see this internist next week. I'm hoping it was just the prednisone that had/has me so out of whack, but the worrier in me is wondering.
Let's just all pray that this Valentine's Day, my heart settles back down!
Well, last Thursday, I woke up and could barely talk and was hacking and coughing up what seemed to be pieces of my lung, I swear. I took Gemma to school- she seemed to be ok- and then went back home to bed, planning on sleeping the day away. About 9:45am, the daycare called, and said that Gem had a fever of 102 (again) and I needed to come and get her. So much for my day of sleep. But then I had another dilemma... she has to be fever free for 24 hours before they will let her back in, and I had to be at work Friday, since we were in the middle of a jury trial term. So, I called mom and asked her how'd she like to spend the day friday with one of her 3 favorite grandkids. And God bless her, my mother packed her car up, woke up before dawn had even thought of breaking, and drove about 3 hours down here so I could go to work to get ready for trials.
So, Friday after work, we went to a walk-in clinic here, and found out that Gemma had an ear infection, and I was rapidly losing my voice. A lost voice spells trouble for a trial lawyer. I told the doc I had to have my voice this coming week, so he put me on prednisone- a steroid- telling me it would keep my voice working.
I've decided that prednisone is the DEVIL. As soon as I took it, I couldn't sit still, I was shaky, sweaty. The only good thing that happened was I nearly got the entire house unpacked simply because I couldn't sit down. (Which is very unlike me... I like my veg time.) So, by the time Monday rolled around, my heart was racing and I knew my blood pressure was skyrocketing. I picked a jury Monday, not feeling anything like myself, and then proceeded to try the case yesterday- with a bad outcome (not related to the steroids, just a lousy case). So, after the case fell out, I went to the real doctor's office (not that the doc in the box guy isn't a real doc, but he can only do so much). My pulse was 130 and my blood pressure was 170 over 120. They gave me an EKG, said I was tachycardic, and that if I was 10 years older or so, I probably would be having a heart attack- all related to the prednisone. Now, my question was, and still is, whether this stupid pericardial cyst is exacerbating the whole thing. I'm making plans to go see a cardiologist here in Tifton soon, and I go back to see this internist next week. I'm hoping it was just the prednisone that had/has me so out of whack, but the worrier in me is wondering.
Let's just all pray that this Valentine's Day, my heart settles back down!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The One About Nothing, Really
I still haven't unpacked. I've gotten most of the kitchen done, but it seems like everytime I open a box to unpack it, Gemma wants me to pick her up. Or she wants "chiz" (cheese) or "jews" (juice) or something else. At the rate we're going, I'll never get anything unpacked until she leaves for college. But, at least she didn't cry when I dropped her off this morning... that's something. Maybe we're turning the corner on that one.
Oh, and she also got into a fight at daycare yesterday, with some tiny little boy. Apparently he had a toy she had decided was hers, and her teacher heard her give her battle cry, "MIIIIINNNE!" and then charge him. She was the only one with marks on her, thankfully. I would have felt bad otherwise. She has a scratch on her lip and one on her check. I told her teacher on the very first day that she was a bully and liked to pick fights, and that she'd even made her 5 and 4 year cousins cry and that she needed to watch her. Maybe now she'll listen to me.
I have my first trials here in Tifton beginning Monday and running for a 2 week term. I've got some pretty interesting factual situations, too. 2 defendants had 23 pounds of pot mailed to them by DHL. Busted. Another guy broke into a BBQ joint and stole a bunch of ribs and stuff and went home and had a big cookout with his buddies. Busted. Another guy shot his girlfriend in the chest because she told him (he's 60 years old) that she had another lover who was older than he was and better than he was. It's going to be an interesting few weeks. And it sure beats the heck out of copper wire theft in Saipan.
This will be our first weekend spent in Tifton. I don't count last week since we were technically moving. I'm trying to think of something fun to do with Gemma on Saturday- I've decided that is going to be our day to hang out together and do fun stuff. She's too little to go to a movie, but maybe we'll head to the park if the weather's nice. It has been really great here the past few days- almost Saipan-ish. My apologies to my readers to the north who are dealing with horrible cold/ice/snow. Glad I'm not you. I'd toyed with the idea of driving down to Disney for the night- it takes just as long to get there as it does to Atlanta- and I probably would if I didn't have trials on Monday. Sigh. Maybe when they're finished.
Oh, and she also got into a fight at daycare yesterday, with some tiny little boy. Apparently he had a toy she had decided was hers, and her teacher heard her give her battle cry, "MIIIIINNNE!" and then charge him. She was the only one with marks on her, thankfully. I would have felt bad otherwise. She has a scratch on her lip and one on her check. I told her teacher on the very first day that she was a bully and liked to pick fights, and that she'd even made her 5 and 4 year cousins cry and that she needed to watch her. Maybe now she'll listen to me.
I have my first trials here in Tifton beginning Monday and running for a 2 week term. I've got some pretty interesting factual situations, too. 2 defendants had 23 pounds of pot mailed to them by DHL. Busted. Another guy broke into a BBQ joint and stole a bunch of ribs and stuff and went home and had a big cookout with his buddies. Busted. Another guy shot his girlfriend in the chest because she told him (he's 60 years old) that she had another lover who was older than he was and better than he was. It's going to be an interesting few weeks. And it sure beats the heck out of copper wire theft in Saipan.
This will be our first weekend spent in Tifton. I don't count last week since we were technically moving. I'm trying to think of something fun to do with Gemma on Saturday- I've decided that is going to be our day to hang out together and do fun stuff. She's too little to go to a movie, but maybe we'll head to the park if the weather's nice. It has been really great here the past few days- almost Saipan-ish. My apologies to my readers to the north who are dealing with horrible cold/ice/snow. Glad I'm not you. I'd toyed with the idea of driving down to Disney for the night- it takes just as long to get there as it does to Atlanta- and I probably would if I didn't have trials on Monday. Sigh. Maybe when they're finished.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The One About 25 Things
Ok, so all these people keep tagging me on facebook, trying to get me to write this 25 random things about me, which I know I've already done on this blog. I've tried to type it up on facebook twice now, and facebook keeps eating it, so I'll do it here.
1. I can see the courthouse and 2 church steeples from my office window.
2. The power in the office was out my first and last day of work in Saipan.
3. The house across the street from my office looks too much like Amityville Horror.
4. I named my daughter after Gemma Volz, the little girl I cared for in London, and my mother Kathleen. Together her name means "precious jewel."
5. I crack my knuckles when I'm thinking.
6. I've been to every Disney park except Hong Kong Disneyland and the original Disneyland.
7. I listen to Disney park music in the office, courtesy of live365.com.
8. There's no place I'd rather be than in front of a jury trying a case.
9. Ok, addendum to 8- no place except Walt Disney World.
10. I love to eavesdrop on people's conversations and I learned this from my mother. She and I will go to dinner and sit in silence while we listen to everyone else's conversations.
11. I won an iPhone from some drawing Mercer University had for its alumni. I gave it to my dad since it wouldn't work in Saipan. Now I want it back.
12. I am 35 and wondering if this is when I should be having a midlife crisis.
13. My daughter loves pickles and calls them "ick-ewwwwlllllls."
14. I cannot resist Gemma when she cocks her little head to the side and says, "pwweeeese." It's like superman and kyptonite.
15. I broke my first bone at the age of 3 and have basically hurt something every year since.
16. I seem to get weird and rare health problems, like a pericardial cyst and a pituitary tumor.
17. I hate going to the dentist, and have to have gas to even get me in the chair.
18. I am lousy with money.
19. I color my hair with henna from LUSH. I was a blond when I moved to London, but started going darker once I was there to blend in better.
20. I am a sucker for fun, smelly-good bath products, preferably from LUSH.
21. I dated a semi-famous, award-winning bagpiper (who turned out to be a lying sack of ...)
22. My immediate family represents 3 continents plus oceania and 4 languages.
23. I have had premonition dreams, so I try to remember my dreams as best I can.
24. I am convinced I have the best friends on the face of the earth.
25. I have never been as happy as I am now, being Gemma's mom.
Ok, so there's that. I'll try to cut and paste it on facebook.
In other news, we moved this weekend. Not so much fun with a 19 month old. I don't know how it's possible for 1 person to have so much crap. But I've managed to get most of the kitchen unpacked and some of the boxes rearranged so it's a little more like home. Gem had a christmas moment when she got to open up the box of her toys from Saipan. She kept saying "Ohh!"
And now, a word about new words. Gemma has just recently been saying "Go" and "stop" and now, fresh from daycare- "MINE!" She usually says "Go" when someone, i.e., ME is doing something she doesn't want me to do. She did it with my dad when he would lay down with her for a nap.... she'd push him and say, "gooooo!" And Stop comes out "Dopp" and she's using this to tell me when she, well, wants me to "dopp" something. She also likes to yell it at the dogs next door when they are barking.
This mine business is new this week. This morning she grabbed my brush, and when I tried to get it from her, I got an ear-piercing shriek followed by a "MINE!" To which I replied, "Um, no, it's mine actually. Thanks." I think we're venturing into the terrible 2s. She is also saying the s word. The S dash dash dash word, if you will, which I am positive she picked up from her GRANDMA while she was with them that week. Thankfully it comes out "sheet." It takes all I have not to laugh at her.
I had a stomach bug yesterday- think I ate something bad- and so I took Gem to school and went back home to sleep. It was certainly what I needed. I think I'm over it, thankfully, and I'm glad Gem didn't get it.
So, that's all for now. We're settling in at the house. Gem and I spent some time yesterday afternoon out in the backyard playing with bubbles and playdoh. It was nice to be able to let her run around without having to chase her... a fenced in yard is a blessed thing.
1. I can see the courthouse and 2 church steeples from my office window.
2. The power in the office was out my first and last day of work in Saipan.
3. The house across the street from my office looks too much like Amityville Horror.
4. I named my daughter after Gemma Volz, the little girl I cared for in London, and my mother Kathleen. Together her name means "precious jewel."
5. I crack my knuckles when I'm thinking.
6. I've been to every Disney park except Hong Kong Disneyland and the original Disneyland.
7. I listen to Disney park music in the office, courtesy of live365.com.
8. There's no place I'd rather be than in front of a jury trying a case.
9. Ok, addendum to 8- no place except Walt Disney World.
10. I love to eavesdrop on people's conversations and I learned this from my mother. She and I will go to dinner and sit in silence while we listen to everyone else's conversations.
11. I won an iPhone from some drawing Mercer University had for its alumni. I gave it to my dad since it wouldn't work in Saipan. Now I want it back.
12. I am 35 and wondering if this is when I should be having a midlife crisis.
13. My daughter loves pickles and calls them "ick-ewwwwlllllls."
14. I cannot resist Gemma when she cocks her little head to the side and says, "pwweeeese." It's like superman and kyptonite.
15. I broke my first bone at the age of 3 and have basically hurt something every year since.
16. I seem to get weird and rare health problems, like a pericardial cyst and a pituitary tumor.
17. I hate going to the dentist, and have to have gas to even get me in the chair.
18. I am lousy with money.
19. I color my hair with henna from LUSH. I was a blond when I moved to London, but started going darker once I was there to blend in better.
20. I am a sucker for fun, smelly-good bath products, preferably from LUSH.
21. I dated a semi-famous, award-winning bagpiper (who turned out to be a lying sack of ...)
22. My immediate family represents 3 continents plus oceania and 4 languages.
23. I have had premonition dreams, so I try to remember my dreams as best I can.
24. I am convinced I have the best friends on the face of the earth.
25. I have never been as happy as I am now, being Gemma's mom.
Ok, so there's that. I'll try to cut and paste it on facebook.
In other news, we moved this weekend. Not so much fun with a 19 month old. I don't know how it's possible for 1 person to have so much crap. But I've managed to get most of the kitchen unpacked and some of the boxes rearranged so it's a little more like home. Gem had a christmas moment when she got to open up the box of her toys from Saipan. She kept saying "Ohh!"
And now, a word about new words. Gemma has just recently been saying "Go" and "stop" and now, fresh from daycare- "MINE!" She usually says "Go" when someone, i.e., ME is doing something she doesn't want me to do. She did it with my dad when he would lay down with her for a nap.... she'd push him and say, "gooooo!" And Stop comes out "Dopp" and she's using this to tell me when she, well, wants me to "dopp" something. She also likes to yell it at the dogs next door when they are barking.
This mine business is new this week. This morning she grabbed my brush, and when I tried to get it from her, I got an ear-piercing shriek followed by a "MINE!" To which I replied, "Um, no, it's mine actually. Thanks." I think we're venturing into the terrible 2s. She is also saying the s word. The S dash dash dash word, if you will, which I am positive she picked up from her GRANDMA while she was with them that week. Thankfully it comes out "sheet." It takes all I have not to laugh at her.
I had a stomach bug yesterday- think I ate something bad- and so I took Gem to school and went back home to sleep. It was certainly what I needed. I think I'm over it, thankfully, and I'm glad Gem didn't get it.
So, that's all for now. We're settling in at the house. Gem and I spent some time yesterday afternoon out in the backyard playing with bubbles and playdoh. It was nice to be able to let her run around without having to chase her... a fenced in yard is a blessed thing.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The One About the House!
I found a house. It is super cute, in a quiet family oriented neighborhood, and is only 2 miles from my office. It's on a corner lot with a HUGE fenced in backyard for Ellie and for Gemma- I'm definitely thinking swingset. For the kid, not the dog. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a dishwasher (something I've been without since 2004) and washer dryer hookups. I love it. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he gives it to me... I meet him over there tonight to find out for sure. If I am approved, I can move in right away! I'm so excited to be finally settling down.
Last night, Gemma and I went to church. I joined the choir, and had SO much fun singing at practice. Gemma was the last kid in the nursery when I went to get her after practice, and she was asleep on the woman's lap. Boy, did I feel guilty. Of course, as soon as I picked her up she woke up and then wouldn't go to sleep until 10. So this morning, she was a huge grouch and screamed bloody murder when I left her at school. I think she finally figuring out there's a pattern and routine developing. I know she'll adapt.
So, keep your fingers crossed that we get this house. It is perfect for us.
Last night, Gemma and I went to church. I joined the choir, and had SO much fun singing at practice. Gemma was the last kid in the nursery when I went to get her after practice, and she was asleep on the woman's lap. Boy, did I feel guilty. Of course, as soon as I picked her up she woke up and then wouldn't go to sleep until 10. So this morning, she was a huge grouch and screamed bloody murder when I left her at school. I think she finally figuring out there's a pattern and routine developing. I know she'll adapt.
So, keep your fingers crossed that we get this house. It is perfect for us.
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