Just wanted to share my progress.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Misty Morning Vineyard
Just wanted to share my progress.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The start of a quiet week--I hope!
Last week was crazy. Appointments every day, things going on, papers and homework to finish... It was nuts!
Spring is clearly in the air, and the weather feels almost humid today. My bedroom feels kinda steamy, and I am like the cats, sitting in my chair by the window while Skye naps on my bed. Brie went out yesterday and bought her a weeks worth of new clothes because she has limited things that fit her right now. She fits well into the 6-9 month size, but has only a few items in that size, so Brie got her a bunch of adorable things for spring and summer in size 12 months. The first outfit I put on her today looks adorable on her, and I admit, I am a sucker for babies in slightly too big clothes. I had to tease Brie though--she was adamant that Skye was gonna be a tomboy, and NOT wear pink very much; most of what she bought were dresses and skirt outfits, and very girly-girl. I love it! Plus Skye loves to wear dresses and play with the skirts.
Eric and I had a difference of opinion over the rose garden this weekend. I gave in (fairly ungracefully I might add) because he wanted to cut the roses way back, while I was thrilled with all the buds and branches that were leafing out, but up higher on the branch. In MN I cut back the branches that were dead, and cut back to above where the new growth started, but I let the tops (with all their buds) stay, just to see what they were going to do. I did the cutting back myself, but I wasn't happy about it. I am sure in the end it will be fine, and I think a part of what caught me off guard was that they were already budding in mid March--in MN I wouldn't see the start of new growth until mid May. We have the crocus all in flower now, and the tulips and the hyacynth are coming up as well. The maple tree is all in bud with scarlet buds, and the lilac bushes are also budding. I was really worried about the one that seemed to get attacked by something last year (bugs? aphids? the leaves got really funky and chewed looking, but I never saw the cause). The one I was most worried about isn't looking as robust as the other, but it does have buds on it, so I am cautiously optomistic. The forsythia is in full bloom and we are blessed that those are looking good--Eric had been concerned about them too.
I got my paper finished and turned in. I was a little worried about how it would be graded because I had met the spirit of the requirements, but fudged a bit on the letter of it (lost 4 points because of it). I was supposed to interview an expert in child development--a nurse, a doctor, a clinician of some sort--with expertise in prenatal or neonatal development. I chose instead to interview two mothers of children born with rare developmental (genetic) disabilities, including the place development diverged from the norm, what the outcomes look like, and what the experiences were like for these mothers in forming both relationships with their children with the added stressors of NICU involvement (and specialists), AND, the learning processes they experienced in learning to care for children who would develop differently from the norm. We needed to also discuss best practices as related to research and our interviews, so I took the themes developed from my interviews and applied the literature review results I found to them, discussing implications, as a clinician, for working more effectively with families who have chronic/developmental/challenges so that the interventions are supportive, knowledgable, and respectful.
Over-all I was very pleased with the paper, and I was especially thrilled with what I learned in doing this, as I interviewed two mom's I know personally (one far longer than the other), and have an emotional attachment to both of the children (ok, they are teens now). There were perspectives I thought I knew that were validated, and there were also things I had just assumed, and was completely wrong about. I am so grateful to both of these ladies for letting me pick their brains about a time in their lives that was so stressful and overwhelming in many ways. There are parts of it I wish I could have expanded more on, but given the constraints of time and length, there is much I didn't address, or only lightly touched on, but talking with each of them was an experience of laughter, of shedding tears, of sharing commonalities, and of relating on a different level. I have no regrets about diverging from the letter of the requirements because I gained more than just a good grade (got an A on the paper, and an A for the term).
With the exception of sewing the border on it, I have the quilt top done for the silent auction at the school. I will get those sewn on today, and get the backing trimmed up to match it. Then I will send it to the school (or hand deliver it to the teacher) so that they know what I want on the back (the top is just so the kids can see what it looks like, and to perhaps generate some interest in advance). Once I have it back I will machine quilt it, and bind it off. I figure I will cut it close, but if I give just a few days for them to have it at the school that should still give me time.
I continue to have slow but steady success on my WW's plan. Tomorrw is weigh in day for me, but I have lost 4.6 lbs so far. Eric too has lost about 7 lbs, and he too is pleased. It's gonna be a process for me because of my thyroid issues, but if I stick with it, I will be satisfied with my results as time goes by. I am committed to getting a bike too for me, and have been looking at them and pricing them out. Liisa and I were laughing but I am serious about using the bike to get Skye and I to the pool this year--good exercise, good sun, and fun! (which also means buying a bike cart too--one of those meant for babies/little kids).
I am dreading heading downstairs. The dogs got into the trash after (I am guessing) the kids left for school. When I went downstairs to make Skye a bottle and get coffee for myself, there was trash, coffee grounds, spinach stems, and fast-food cups and wrappers all over the kitchen floor, as well as dragged around the laundry room and sewing room. And Po peed on the counter in front of the sink, a major flood that can't be missed. I was so upset I was ready to open the back door and invite them to run free! Honestly, I would never, every really do it, but man I was furious this morning! I'll be going down and cleaning it up after Skye wakes up, but she was fighting her nap and when I tried to lay her in the crib she got way upset. She finally gave in with her bottle, but I didn't want to move her off the bed once she was out. She cannot be trusted to be left alone any more though because she rolls, she squirms, and she scoots.
I have some concrete goals for myself between now and April 11th when my new term starts (Adolescent Psych this coming term), and I suppose I can start on some of the things I can do quietly in my bedroom while the baby sleeps... Time to move forward!
Spring is clearly in the air, and the weather feels almost humid today. My bedroom feels kinda steamy, and I am like the cats, sitting in my chair by the window while Skye naps on my bed. Brie went out yesterday and bought her a weeks worth of new clothes because she has limited things that fit her right now. She fits well into the 6-9 month size, but has only a few items in that size, so Brie got her a bunch of adorable things for spring and summer in size 12 months. The first outfit I put on her today looks adorable on her, and I admit, I am a sucker for babies in slightly too big clothes. I had to tease Brie though--she was adamant that Skye was gonna be a tomboy, and NOT wear pink very much; most of what she bought were dresses and skirt outfits, and very girly-girl. I love it! Plus Skye loves to wear dresses and play with the skirts.
Eric and I had a difference of opinion over the rose garden this weekend. I gave in (fairly ungracefully I might add) because he wanted to cut the roses way back, while I was thrilled with all the buds and branches that were leafing out, but up higher on the branch. In MN I cut back the branches that were dead, and cut back to above where the new growth started, but I let the tops (with all their buds) stay, just to see what they were going to do. I did the cutting back myself, but I wasn't happy about it. I am sure in the end it will be fine, and I think a part of what caught me off guard was that they were already budding in mid March--in MN I wouldn't see the start of new growth until mid May. We have the crocus all in flower now, and the tulips and the hyacynth are coming up as well. The maple tree is all in bud with scarlet buds, and the lilac bushes are also budding. I was really worried about the one that seemed to get attacked by something last year (bugs? aphids? the leaves got really funky and chewed looking, but I never saw the cause). The one I was most worried about isn't looking as robust as the other, but it does have buds on it, so I am cautiously optomistic. The forsythia is in full bloom and we are blessed that those are looking good--Eric had been concerned about them too.
I got my paper finished and turned in. I was a little worried about how it would be graded because I had met the spirit of the requirements, but fudged a bit on the letter of it (lost 4 points because of it). I was supposed to interview an expert in child development--a nurse, a doctor, a clinician of some sort--with expertise in prenatal or neonatal development. I chose instead to interview two mothers of children born with rare developmental (genetic) disabilities, including the place development diverged from the norm, what the outcomes look like, and what the experiences were like for these mothers in forming both relationships with their children with the added stressors of NICU involvement (and specialists), AND, the learning processes they experienced in learning to care for children who would develop differently from the norm. We needed to also discuss best practices as related to research and our interviews, so I took the themes developed from my interviews and applied the literature review results I found to them, discussing implications, as a clinician, for working more effectively with families who have chronic/developmental/challenges so that the interventions are supportive, knowledgable, and respectful.
Over-all I was very pleased with the paper, and I was especially thrilled with what I learned in doing this, as I interviewed two mom's I know personally (one far longer than the other), and have an emotional attachment to both of the children (ok, they are teens now). There were perspectives I thought I knew that were validated, and there were also things I had just assumed, and was completely wrong about. I am so grateful to both of these ladies for letting me pick their brains about a time in their lives that was so stressful and overwhelming in many ways. There are parts of it I wish I could have expanded more on, but given the constraints of time and length, there is much I didn't address, or only lightly touched on, but talking with each of them was an experience of laughter, of shedding tears, of sharing commonalities, and of relating on a different level. I have no regrets about diverging from the letter of the requirements because I gained more than just a good grade (got an A on the paper, and an A for the term).
With the exception of sewing the border on it, I have the quilt top done for the silent auction at the school. I will get those sewn on today, and get the backing trimmed up to match it. Then I will send it to the school (or hand deliver it to the teacher) so that they know what I want on the back (the top is just so the kids can see what it looks like, and to perhaps generate some interest in advance). Once I have it back I will machine quilt it, and bind it off. I figure I will cut it close, but if I give just a few days for them to have it at the school that should still give me time.
I continue to have slow but steady success on my WW's plan. Tomorrw is weigh in day for me, but I have lost 4.6 lbs so far. Eric too has lost about 7 lbs, and he too is pleased. It's gonna be a process for me because of my thyroid issues, but if I stick with it, I will be satisfied with my results as time goes by. I am committed to getting a bike too for me, and have been looking at them and pricing them out. Liisa and I were laughing but I am serious about using the bike to get Skye and I to the pool this year--good exercise, good sun, and fun! (which also means buying a bike cart too--one of those meant for babies/little kids).
I am dreading heading downstairs. The dogs got into the trash after (I am guessing) the kids left for school. When I went downstairs to make Skye a bottle and get coffee for myself, there was trash, coffee grounds, spinach stems, and fast-food cups and wrappers all over the kitchen floor, as well as dragged around the laundry room and sewing room. And Po peed on the counter in front of the sink, a major flood that can't be missed. I was so upset I was ready to open the back door and invite them to run free! Honestly, I would never, every really do it, but man I was furious this morning! I'll be going down and cleaning it up after Skye wakes up, but she was fighting her nap and when I tried to lay her in the crib she got way upset. She finally gave in with her bottle, but I didn't want to move her off the bed once she was out. She cannot be trusted to be left alone any more though because she rolls, she squirms, and she scoots.
I have some concrete goals for myself between now and April 11th when my new term starts (Adolescent Psych this coming term), and I suppose I can start on some of the things I can do quietly in my bedroom while the baby sleeps... Time to move forward!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
A semi-sunny Saturday!
It has been a busy week. It was Eric's long week at work, there have been lots of things on deck, and time has just gotten away from me.
The baby went to the doctor's yesterday for her 6th month checkup and she now weighs 18.5 lbs and is 27" long. She was very good, and got her 4 month shots (Brie had some confusion over the time of the 4 month physical and missed it), and will get the 6 month injections on the 31st. She is running a low grade temp today, so I gave her some infant ibuprofen. She is sleeping as I type, right next to me on the bed. Poor little one is doing better after shots this time around--doesn't seem as sore--but the fever has her glassy eyed and cuddly.
Brie is at drill all weekend, and Eric is working, although he took tomorrow off to go to Aurora's final bowling match, the top 24 bowlers of the district, which she qualified for. It's in Cahokia (whereever that is) and we have to have her there before 9 am. Gonna be fun with the time change overnight. We'll all be overtired and crabby tomorrow!
I started Weight Watcher's online with Liisa about 10 days ago. I had lost 3.6 lbs as of Tuesday's weigh in. We'll see if that trend continues when I weigh again on this coming tuesday. It's going well--I am not finding myself struggling too badly, although there are times my craving certain things tries to get the best of me--like chips or chocolate... So far so good though! As I have said before, my goal is to be healthy, not necessarily model thin. I just want to look and feel good about myself!
I have one more week of class stuff for this term, and then it's on to the next one. I think I am going to stay with one class at a time for the nonce. It's working out well for me generally. I just need to revamp some timing stuff based on Brie's schedule and all the babysitting I'm doing.
Today is a decent day for a change, although it looks like the clouds are coming back. It was so nice to see sunshine this morning for awhile! I need to go check on the bulbs out front again, and the maple tree in the back is budding in scarlet right now, so lovely to see!
One of the kids downloaded a nasty virus onto my MY desktop. I worked with the antivirus company we use to remove it, but it corrupted a bunch of files and now nothing is working right on it. I am locked out of any repairs I can make myself (at least this far); I think a trip to Best Buy is in the offing to have them diagnose it and see what we need to do now. It's not that old (I think somewhere around 2 maybe?) and we paid a small fortune for it, so this is really pissing me off! I hope the fix isn't too costly. Stupid kids anyway!
Enough ranting. Time to get back to infant development. That is the assignment due today!
The baby went to the doctor's yesterday for her 6th month checkup and she now weighs 18.5 lbs and is 27" long. She was very good, and got her 4 month shots (Brie had some confusion over the time of the 4 month physical and missed it), and will get the 6 month injections on the 31st. She is running a low grade temp today, so I gave her some infant ibuprofen. She is sleeping as I type, right next to me on the bed. Poor little one is doing better after shots this time around--doesn't seem as sore--but the fever has her glassy eyed and cuddly.
Brie is at drill all weekend, and Eric is working, although he took tomorrow off to go to Aurora's final bowling match, the top 24 bowlers of the district, which she qualified for. It's in Cahokia (whereever that is) and we have to have her there before 9 am. Gonna be fun with the time change overnight. We'll all be overtired and crabby tomorrow!
I started Weight Watcher's online with Liisa about 10 days ago. I had lost 3.6 lbs as of Tuesday's weigh in. We'll see if that trend continues when I weigh again on this coming tuesday. It's going well--I am not finding myself struggling too badly, although there are times my craving certain things tries to get the best of me--like chips or chocolate... So far so good though! As I have said before, my goal is to be healthy, not necessarily model thin. I just want to look and feel good about myself!
I have one more week of class stuff for this term, and then it's on to the next one. I think I am going to stay with one class at a time for the nonce. It's working out well for me generally. I just need to revamp some timing stuff based on Brie's schedule and all the babysitting I'm doing.
Today is a decent day for a change, although it looks like the clouds are coming back. It was so nice to see sunshine this morning for awhile! I need to go check on the bulbs out front again, and the maple tree in the back is budding in scarlet right now, so lovely to see!
One of the kids downloaded a nasty virus onto my MY desktop. I worked with the antivirus company we use to remove it, but it corrupted a bunch of files and now nothing is working right on it. I am locked out of any repairs I can make myself (at least this far); I think a trip to Best Buy is in the offing to have them diagnose it and see what we need to do now. It's not that old (I think somewhere around 2 maybe?) and we paid a small fortune for it, so this is really pissing me off! I hope the fix isn't too costly. Stupid kids anyway!
Enough ranting. Time to get back to infant development. That is the assignment due today!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Another cute picture!
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Happy baby has met new milestones this week!
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Small signs of spring!
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011
March First!
Wow, where did the last month go? It went by so fast!
I am finally feeling better. The cold is resolving into sniffles, the cough is miniscule, and the antibiotics have generally taken care of the other nasty bugs in my system. So nice to feel human again!
Schoolwork is progressing. This is Eric's last week of classes for a few weeks, and we are both looking forward to his having some down time. He resumes a day schedule at work this week, and we can hopefully find "normal" again to our daily routine. That, and get some regular sleep! I have three weeks left, and it's going well. I love being a student!
The weather today has beein wonderful. Sunday night the temps climbed into the low sixties and we had thunderstorms and tornadoes at midnight. We were out of the danger zone by a number of miles, but a funnel was spotted over Mascoutah that touched down in St Alban's (where we turn off to go to the winery). We had a bit of lawn furniture blown over, and the hail and light-show from the lightening was pretty intense. We actually gathered in the main floor living room (out of bed) just in case because the sirens kept blowing and the weather forecasters showed us the storm was on top of us... They actually got it right! As I said, we were fine, although there were other communities not too far away who weren't so lucky.
Brie had a nice time in Oklahoma, and "Little Bit" was glad to be home. She has had a nice morning with Eric and I and just fell asleep on my bed. She started sitting independently the end of last week and she is so proud of herself--has finally found her center of gravity! The rest of the kids are doing fine; I think they too are getting over their colds, and so forth. I am having some ups and downs with my son right now, and prayers would be appreciated for patience and strength on both sides...
I have started Weight Watcher's online today, with Liisa, and possibly a girlfriend of mine. I have been pondering it for awhile now, and decided the time was ripe to do something for me. Eric is fully supportive of it, and as he wants to lose a bit too, he is going to follow along with me. My sister has done fabulous on it, and I was successful using the program in the past, so we'll see if I can stick with it this time! My biggest issue, if I am honest with myself, is I love my carbs, and I love to eat what and when I want. I need to be more cognizant of portion sizes and eating more fruits and veggies. And for sure, I need to up my movement quotient--I have become a couch potato deluxe! The nice weather is coming though and I enjoy walking, and I think I would like to get a bike too. So I have a plan! We'll see how it goes!
That's the news from down here for today!
I am finally feeling better. The cold is resolving into sniffles, the cough is miniscule, and the antibiotics have generally taken care of the other nasty bugs in my system. So nice to feel human again!
Schoolwork is progressing. This is Eric's last week of classes for a few weeks, and we are both looking forward to his having some down time. He resumes a day schedule at work this week, and we can hopefully find "normal" again to our daily routine. That, and get some regular sleep! I have three weeks left, and it's going well. I love being a student!
The weather today has beein wonderful. Sunday night the temps climbed into the low sixties and we had thunderstorms and tornadoes at midnight. We were out of the danger zone by a number of miles, but a funnel was spotted over Mascoutah that touched down in St Alban's (where we turn off to go to the winery). We had a bit of lawn furniture blown over, and the hail and light-show from the lightening was pretty intense. We actually gathered in the main floor living room (out of bed) just in case because the sirens kept blowing and the weather forecasters showed us the storm was on top of us... They actually got it right! As I said, we were fine, although there were other communities not too far away who weren't so lucky.
Brie had a nice time in Oklahoma, and "Little Bit" was glad to be home. She has had a nice morning with Eric and I and just fell asleep on my bed. She started sitting independently the end of last week and she is so proud of herself--has finally found her center of gravity! The rest of the kids are doing fine; I think they too are getting over their colds, and so forth. I am having some ups and downs with my son right now, and prayers would be appreciated for patience and strength on both sides...
I have started Weight Watcher's online today, with Liisa, and possibly a girlfriend of mine. I have been pondering it for awhile now, and decided the time was ripe to do something for me. Eric is fully supportive of it, and as he wants to lose a bit too, he is going to follow along with me. My sister has done fabulous on it, and I was successful using the program in the past, so we'll see if I can stick with it this time! My biggest issue, if I am honest with myself, is I love my carbs, and I love to eat what and when I want. I need to be more cognizant of portion sizes and eating more fruits and veggies. And for sure, I need to up my movement quotient--I have become a couch potato deluxe! The nice weather is coming though and I enjoy walking, and I think I would like to get a bike too. So I have a plan! We'll see how it goes!
That's the news from down here for today!
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