So, I've Been A Little Busy

Not only have I been a little busy lately, but I also could not share with you what I've been up to either. Just in case my husband read my blog I did not want to write about the little birthday party I was planning for him for yesterday. It started a few weeks ago. I thought it might be nice to have a small little birthday party for him after all he was turning the big three oh. I just invited the family and planned on telling him about it the morning of. I was going to make the giant barbecued turkey legs and have people bring stuff for sides. I also made a huge green salad loaded with veggies. Instead of getting a cake I made brownies and chocolate chip cookie bars and had my sister bring some Haagen Daz Vanilla to serve with it. I asked my mom to make her awesome potato salad and I asked my step-mother-in-law to make pistachio salad. Everything went fairly well after hubby got out of his crabby funk and relaxed when everyone came over. What really stunk was that the turkey legs were horrible. I don't know for sure but I think the meat had been frozen and thawed a few times cause I've made them before and the meat was never so tough. I have a pretty good knack for making chicken drumsticks too. Whatever happened, it was a complete disappointment. I immediately said, "Ooh, these are awful, sorry everyone." So no one would feel like that was my fabulous cooking . . . . . . NOT! Plus I didn't want anyone to feel obligated to eat them, blagh, they were that bad.

I got my husband a bottle of Burberry's London, a striped polo-type shirt from Kohl's, and I Freecycled a used men's bike and a child's pull behind bike trailer for him so we could go on family bike rides. The bike will need a tune-up and new inner tubes and the trailer is fine. I was so excited and was shocked I actually got replies for both items.

The day went well. Little buddy went down for his nap and the women-folk headed to the deck and all sat around the patio table under my (garbage picked) umbrella. I want a black market umbrella with a tilt mechanism to hide from nosey, noisy neighbors, but have to wait for a sale or end of season sale. I was desperate for a patio umbrella so we could have possibly ate outside or sat out there if it wasn't too hot or rainy. I saw one in a big garbage pile while driving down a road one day. So I picked it up and had to glue one of the wood parts that holds up the fabric part. It was raining so we ate inside but all the women sat out there for girl talk for near 3 hours. It was heaven. Being a mom I forget what that's like, at least for any length of time.

The bike is in Bernie's (handicapped neighbor) garage. I feel so bad for him. He has lots of health issues and only has sight in one eye. He had a cataract so he had surgery on it a few months back. Then shortly after he recovered from the surgery he had a hemorrhage in his good eye which made him blind. It was horrible. We tried to help him as much as possible. He did regain his sight after a few weeks. Then I started to help him clear some junk out of his house by Freecycling things that he wanted to get rid of. Shortly after bringing me his house key so I could let some Freecyclers in his house to pick up a giant laser printer he had another hemorrhage in his recently healed eye. So he is back to square one. I go there almost daily and try to help him as much as I can. I have picked up his groceries, done his laundry, made him food, helped him call his insurance, etc. I feel so bad for Bernie. Appreciate your sight, without it, life is an enormous challenge.

Oh, and little buddy learned how to drink through a straw. Yeah, thanks Aunt April!

Everything Good

Well my husband has turned a major corner in his recovery. He feels great and now only has to take ibuprofen when needed. His voice is almost back to normal and he feels great. He is still slightly exhausted from the whole surgery, a little weak. However, he sleeps better than ever and can feel more rejuvenated after a nights sleep. He had tried the cpap machine over the last several years and probably close to 5 different masks. His blockage was so bad that no mask would do the job because after he laid down his throat closed up. The Dr. explained that was why he would not keep a mask on his face because he felt like he was suffocating in his sleep no matter what type of mask he wore. Before the surgery he had another sleep study and the nurse brought in several different masks throughout the night none of which worked. He was wondering if he had made a huge mistake after the surgery because the pain was unreal. Now he does not question his decision and feels better than he's felt in years. He says, "I feel like a new man!" I am so glad. The sleep apnea really disrupted our lives, all of us, something had to give. He could hardly function being that exhausted (and cranky) all the time, us too. It really began to effect his thinking over the last year. Being tired, cranky, and foggy all the time is unacceptable especially when you are a police officer!!!!!

Baby is doing well. 4 teeth popped through just in January alone. He is walking and maneuvering around a little better every day. It's amazing how their little brains take so much in for so long then all the sudden, bang all these great things start happening. He still doesn't like falling though (can't blame him). We ended up going to the mall a few times this week so he could play and walk around where the play area has a rubberized floor. He loved it. He is an only child (so far), and stays home with mommy all the time so he was mesmorized seeing all the kids playing the kids playing. He couldn't take his eyes off all the people either.

I feel pretty good now that my husband is doing better. I have been sleeping in the baby's room so everyone could get maximum rest (if Momma's overly exhausted, the household falls apart, especially with a healing Daddy). My husband was up several times a night and set his alarm for pain meds. Now that he is sleeping better and feeling better I think I may try to sleep in my own bed tonight. Baby who has slept through the night for months has been waking up to nurse a lot since I have been in there with him. Maybe he smells the milk machine, perhaps I snore . . . . . . nah, I'm not even going to go there!

I have been on the Momma Val (not diet), eating less and better regimen. I lost 4 pounds in 2 days. Weird I know. Along with the regimen (not diet) I have been drinking a bunch of tea. Feels good and warms the soul. I like tea. I have been eating some of the Amy's frozen meals. I do from time to time but love them and want to eat them more and more. I am surprised how much I like them, they are vegan and loaded with lots of good stuff. Low in fat and nutrient rich. They are a little pricey and never on sale. My two favorites in the pot pit category are the shepard's pie and the tamale pie. YUM! I love food all around. All kinds, but I do know how to eat healthy and have no problem doing so as long as I'm not pregnant, pmsing, or at the height of breastfeeding which I'm not anymore (still breastfeeding but I am sure it's less production because of the solids). I think I was more hungry in the first 10-11 months breastfeeding than I was during my pregnancy. I just never felt full.

I turn 35 this Saturday. Sad I know. What the heck happened to 34, or 33 for that matter? I don't really mind it anymore. I feel like I've earned it now. I got so much done in my life and waited so long to have kids, I don't mind. I've arrived! Well, at least I've arrived to motherhood. Being a SAHM is a gift. It's the best and the hardest job I've ever had. I love it. Jobs and careers seem so trivial now. Yes, they pay the bills but honestly in a few years the work you do and the people you work with, well, will they ever matter as much as the little person you are raising? Not even comparable. The biggest plus, I can go to work in my pj's, somedays even my underwear (if I am doing laundry and have no clean clothes, or if the last clean outfit I have get's puked, peed, or pooped on, or baby food smeared on it). It's the only job that I could do all greasy, smelly, without a shower, and be overweight and my boss still finds me irresistable.

Despite the 4 pounds. I will eat cake on my birthday!

Post-op

Well hubby is 2 days post-op. He is doing OK. Some times are better than others. The Dr. told us that right after surgery pain is pretty bad and there will be lots of swelling. He also said that around 5-7 days the swelling goes down but the pain is worse because the area where the tonsils were scabs. Yuck! Poor guy! He is drinking a late lunch. He is soooooo hungry but can only have liquids. I picked up instant mashed potatoes and added to his beef broth so it would be a little more substantial. He was delighted. I told him it's like a steak and a baked potato in the liquid form. He is on Lortab. He can have every 4 hours. Right before he is due to take more he get's bad. He takes out 2 big ice packs and holds them on his neck with mittens (my idea). Surprisingly, the little bit of sleep that he has gotten has been better than a full night of sleep pre-op. He looks better too. Oddly, he looks better in his recovery with barely any sleep than he has for the last few years with a night's worth of sleep apnea sleep. We had leftover pulled pork from the baby's party. I was soo hungry and ate it. I felt really bad doing it but I had to eat. He just kept staring at my sandwich saying that looks and smells soo good! I'll keep you posted about the rest of his recovery.

Baby's 1st birthday party went great. We had plenty of food and everybody had a good time. Baby did well. It came time for the smash cake but he was scared. He stuck his hands in it and then cried. We tried to put his fingers in his mouth to show him what it was, but he just cried. He didn't like the messy hands, maybe he gets that from Momma? Daddy always eats with his hands and gets messy. Baby still doesn't use the pinchers to pick up food. He can pick up Goldfish and Cheerios but they do not get to his mouth. We try to show him but he gets mad. Well it will just have to happen when he's ready. I must quit my worrying.

Meanwhile, it's colder than a witches you-know-what outside. Baby and I went to run errands today for a bit and wow it was almost unbearable. Baby was bundled up but Momma wasn't. I really hate this time of year. Can't wait til spring and summer and fall! Should go now. I've been on the puter awhile now helping Electronic Goose with her baby registry before doing this post. Wish I could be there. Last year she was here when I was pregnant and we worked together. That was fun. She was always so happy for me and interested and fascinated. She got to feel the baby kick and see all the pictures of my numerous ultrasounds. Now she's . . . . . . there. I miss her.

Still working my way through Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Little did I know it's actually on TIME'S 100 Best Films List. Check it out. I haven't got the time right now but find it something I should look into once life gets back to normal. I love movies!