Merry Christmas

From our house to yours :)

and now for something completely different

As I was trying to fall asleep the other night, I was doing something I frequently do when insomnia rears it's ugly head, I was reciting song lyrics. For some reason, my mind went to the Eagles song "There's A Hole in the World". (that looks funny written out. ha!).

Anyhow, that song, though repetitive, contains one of my favorite lines ever written, probably:

"they say that anger is just love disappointed".

And suddenly, instead of reviewing lyrics, I was thinking about anger and love, and I decided that whomever "they" are, they are right!

Then, I started considering other song lyrics, and what I thought were some of the better, more meaningful ones. My mind ran the gamut, from an oldie called "You Don't Own Me", to Country, because MM loves the lyric "Bubba hollered out, 'reckless, hell! I hit just where I was aiming!'". So many things to choose from,

and then I fell asleep.

So, now I want to know from you (few) readers, what is your favorite, meaningful song lyric?

really?

So, I discovered something interesting last night. Or more, read an interesting article.

Apparently,

We are supposed to have Mustang Boy bottle free by the time he is a year old. To do this, we get him a sippy cup at around 6 months old, and let him hold it and play with it. When he can hold onto this well, we start filling it with water, or other appropriate beverages to his age. Then we start substituting it for bottles he would get during the day time hours, until he isn't using bottles anymore.

All this, before he's even a year old? Really?

The article(s) that I read were going on and on about bottle rotted teeth, and childhood obesity when you let them keep the bottle too long.

Now, it's not that I want him going to kindergarten with his bottle in his Star Wars lunch box or anything, but I hadn't really given that much thought to when the right time is to switch him to other containers. So far, I've been going by instinct, and pediatrician advice over when to do major things, like feed him solid foods, ect. I think having no bottles by the time he is 12 months old is kind of pushing it though. But he might surprise me.

So, people with kids, how did you know when it was time to faze out the bottle? And how old were YOUR kids?

playing catch up

Thanksgiving did not disappoint! Well, except not having MG there with us... but I guess we have to share :(

We went to visit my parents, and middle sister, her husband and their kids were there. She is the one with 3 boys of her own, and right now they have a foster son who is 2 weeks older than Mustang Boy. We are for sure making up for the years when mostly girls were born to the family :) (at one point, there were 6 girl cousins, and one, lone, boy....)

To say it got noisy at times is an understatement. Along with the noise came all the stimulation, and voices, and arms that wanted to hold MB. He did really good for a long time, but, after MiMi got picture happy, he had an epic crying meltdown, and it took both MM and I to rock him to a much needed nap. He just isn't used to all the people, stimulation, and attention... He woke up smiling again, and we now have a plan to try and make the Christmas visit less stimulating for him. I am aware of the fact that he's going to need to adjust and adapt to the situations, but right now? He doesn't understand that, and his fresh little brain is only going to take in so much stimulation, even if that stimulation comes with love.

My RA is still acting up somewhat on me. I am moving a lot better, and functioning with a lot less pain, but I still feel it in many joints. The medication I'm taking for it is a little scary for me, too. Im taking a low dose of a chemotherapy drug, weekly, and that is frightening. But, I feel okay, so I have to believe that its working. I feel a whole hell of a lot better, actually. So I go with it, and try not to think too much about it. It will be with me for the rest of my life, so, accepting it has to happen, and I have to move on.....

alright. I'm off to clean a long overdue fish tank. (So overdue, I have someone who is really going to clean it for me while I "help".)

I can almost taste the leftovers now!

I am really looking forward to this Thanksgiving, for some reason. Not that I didn't look forward to them before, because I've always enjoyed Thanksgiving, but I think, after having such a roller coaster holiday season last year, my attitude is kind of better towards this year. Last year was all that damn snow, plus, without realizing it, I was barely pregnant. My body sure knew it, I was so weepy! Plus all that snow!

So far, we've had just a small amount of the white stuff. I'm good with that. When MB is older, some snow might be fun, for him. I'll stand at the window with my hot chocolate and watch him play in it :)

Anyhow. Thanksgiving!

Coming soon!

We are going to my parents house this year, along with a large amount of the family. I am bringing dessert items. I think that I am also going to make us a small Turkey here, for our own after T day celebration. MG is with her Mom this week, so she won't get a home cooked meal. (Her Mom likes Boston Market Thanksgiving Dinners.... to each their own..... I have no comment on that....).

Plus, by doing our own Turkey here, I'll have plenty of sandwich fodder, ha ha haaaaa......

The RA thing is improving-ish.. the meds seem to be helping me some, though I just got bold enough to try and squat down to grab something from a cabinet and OH LORDY. Knee popping tearful pain! Obviously, my knees aren't ready for that kind of action yet... but I stood back up, cursed a bit, and walked it off. Thats MUCH better than it was...

Happy Thanksgiving from our crazy house to all of yours :)

Bitter disapointment

Yesterday, I think that I got to witness MB's first real disappointment in life.

We've been introducing him to foods, usually a new one every 3-4 days. One of the latest has been peas.... and also peaches.

He is a HUGE fan of the peaches. His eyes light up, and I cannot spoon them in fast enough. He recognizes the packages of baby food, and I got one out yesterday, it was peas... He didn't realize what they were, until I spooned the first bite of foul brew into his mouth.

OH, the drama...

the eyes got wide, tears started to fall, and the lower lip came out further than i'd ever seen it. Then, the head went back and a full blown wail of sadness, accented by peas running down the chin emerged.

I felt so bad for him.

But yet, I kept feeding him the peas....

RA, RA, RA?

So, its been "officially" confirmed, I do indeed, have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

What does this mean?

It means at least I know what's going on with my silly body, and it also means that I have treatment that will significantly put me in a better place.

I met my rheumatologist yesterday for the first time. I really liked him. He's this really kind of quirky MD who studied mostly in the south (Mississippi) and he was very positive about what I could expect over the next few months. He was also realistic and too the point, which I like.

I've started taking the medications, and, he says in a few weeks I'll feel like a new woman. My symptoms will resolve, over some time, and I have to not get complacent because I feel better and stop taking the medications. I will be on meds for the rest of my life, if I want to not have the pain issues and swelling issues I have now.

He also took me off work until January 1st, so that we can get all the meds and symptoms and labwork sorted out. Apparently I am very prone to infection at this time, because my body is too busy fighting itself to recognize that another outside thing needs to be fought. Makes sense. Working in an ICU full of winter infected people could cause me issues, so, I'm off. Can't say I'm heartbroken, since it gives me the holidays free and clear to spend with my family, BUT, I do like my job too, and was kind of just getting back into the groove after maternity leave.

Ah, well, whats a girl to do

So thats the skinny on me. MB is of course, awesome. He's eating some solid foods now, Applesauce, Carrots, and Peaches. Next on the list of things to subject him to is peas. Yech. But he needs a green veggie...

MG is doing fantastic in her senior year, senior pictures to be taken soon!

And of course MM is still fantastic and has really been supportive over all the recent junk I'm experiencing...

so, onward, upward, ect. ect.

I'm all set to kick some RA ass, and get on with it....