Baby Shabooblah

2007-09-04T21:07:00.000-05:00

Searching for a picture.

2007-09-04T20:27:00.000-05:00

Damn it. I hate when I can't find something.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE!!!! Way to go, you Virgo you!!!

Wish I could find that picture....

Damn it.

After all the awesome things you did for me on my first day! Thank you. Mwah. If I find it later, I will post it.

Ma had a most wonderful day at work today. Post tomorrow. Tired now.

Twas the night before...

2007-09-03T10:28:00.000-05:00

working!

I AM SO EXCITED!!

The time at home with Sha has been such a privilege. It has been wonderful to spend so much time together bonding and learning and laughing.

But, I'm ready. It is going to be such a great break (yes, work is now my break...) from home and solitude and blah...

I am very busy making lists, (yes, we now have a dinner menu for the entire month), baking treats for the office, ironing my clothes and packing a lunch.

Ahhhh...routine! I can barely sleep. Woo hoo!

Put me in coach...

Sha is napping. He is doing a great job of learning to pull himself up. He has even learned to change the channels and the volume on the TV.

That's the news.

2007-08-31T23:25:00.000-05:00

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2007-08-31T22:53:00.000-05:00

Kentucky Bound...

2007-08-26T22:25:00.001-05:00

Baby Sha and Ma are taking a quick trip together!

I had a friend. A dear friend. And our friendship paused, was on hold, just stopped, for no reason in particular a few years back.

It is something I have regretted since what seems like forever. Maybe it is having Sha, maybe it is just growing up, maybe it is just time, but I know I need to make it right again before I can go back to working.

So, Ma and Sha are flying Detroit to Nashville on Tues and will be back on Thursday. Just enough time to say I'm sorry and I miss you and let's stay in touch. In the personal way. The right way.

And of course, his new trick is on video. Unfortunately, he could play this game over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

He does not understand the difference between requesting the lights to be turned on and off and the smoke alarms that are on the ceiling. He is quite frusterated when I say...no, that isn't a light!

Ma and Pa also took a little getaway to the Windsor area for a night and had a relaxing evening and took in the casino. Although, we both agree that we really aren't casino people...and spent pretty much the entire night saying "do you want to go home, do you?" Ha. We both missed little Sha, very much. It just feels odd not to have him with us now.

Uncle Kabooblah is moving to his new apartment tomorrow and getting excited about his second year of school!

Ta-ta for now.
Ma

2007-08-26T21:49:00.000-05:00

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2007-08-24T01:12:00.000-05:00

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My how you grow!

2007-08-20T20:19:00.000-05:00

Sha is very busy learning, learning, learning. In the past couple of weeks he has mastered commando crawling everywhere! He is making more progress towards crawling on all fours and does it for very short periods. He has accomplished sitting up from laying down and is working on playing on his knees.

Still no words yet! Blech! I just want to hear Ma-ma! Alternatively, "Thank you" would also be a good choice for a first word.

We are still awaiting our appointment with ENT for surgery.

Sha had a physical assessment done and they are going to be coming on a much more frequent basis to closely monitor him. Thank goodness, Grandma C, will be with Sha for the next upcoming months, because it is going to be hard to coordinate everything!

He has an upcoming DFC appointment and pediatrician appointment...and well...we should just buy a gas station!

Pa, Ma and Sha have been extremely busy for the month of August, filling our days with family activities and fun! We have been to Grand Bend, St. Jacobs and are planning on taking off to Niagara before the week is finished, where Pa and Ma will celebrate their anniversary!

Ma and Auntie ventured off to the US to completely revamp Ma's work wardrobe. Success!

Ma also went on a "bonding" trip, tubing down the Elora Gorge, with Auntie and President C. President C will be working with Ma when she returns to work, so it was a blast hanging out before the big "return to work" day arrives!

And that's the news!

2007-08-17T00:49:00.001-05:00

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2007-08-17T00:47:00.001-05:00

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I sleep like my Pa

2007-08-17T00:32:00.000-05:00

2007-08-10T22:40:00.001-05:00

Baby Sha

2007-08-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

You are a busy, busy boy. You can creep crawl anywhere you want to go. Go, go, go. Especially places you aren't really supposed to go. Like under the coffee table or the end tables or to help your Pa when he is fixing. Your going to be handy. I can tell already. You are inquisitive and busy trying to learn everything there is to know about anything you can get your hands on.

You can give kisses. But not on demand. You puck your lips and smack them. There is about a 10 minute delay between the time we give you a kiss and the time you decide to kiss us back.

You can wave. Bye, bye, Ma. You do it all the time. Even when I'm not going anywhere. Especially, when I'm not going anywhere. Because you want to be alone with Pa. It doesn't matter where he is, you need to be by his side. Or against him or slapping him or playing with him or cuddling him. You are a Daddy's boy.

You make us cry. Pa can look at you in the dark, when we are all curled up as a family watching a movie, and cry. We are so lucky. We say it over and over and over again. We are so lucky. Just because you are here. I cry if I watch you sleep. It touches my heart in ways you can't begin to imagine, until you too are a Pa.

You give us silence. Pa and I have many silent dinners. The conversations are always about you and how cute you are, the new things you do, all of our worries and then silence. The silent pause of reflection where no words are necessary. I can read his mind and he can read mine. And we chew and swallow and sit and read each other's thoughts and think about how fortunate we are to have you to complete us.

You snuggle. Only when you are exhausted from a long day of busyness. Then you snuggle up tight right where you belong.

We have so many dreams for you. Ahhhhh.

You are getting another top tooth. Woo hoo! And you love Auntie's kitty, Jinx.

Good night, Prince.

2007-08-09T14:17:00.001-05:00

I wish I wrote this....

2007-08-09T00:24:00.000-05:00

I see trees of green.....red roses too
I see em bloom.....for me and for you,
And I think to myself....what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue....clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself.....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow....so pretty....in the sky
Are also on the faces....of people....going by
I see friends shaking hands....sayin....how do you do
They're really sayin......I love you.

I hear babies cryin....I watch them grow
They'll learn much more....than I'll never know
And I think to myself....what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

Happy Birthday, Ma!

2007-08-08T13:17:00.001-05:00

It's my BIRTHDAY!

2007-08-07T23:09:00.001-05:00

Anybody care to leave a comment? Is this me?!?

Pa found this website.

LEO.

Generous and warmhearted
Creative and enthusiastic
Broad-minded and expansive
Faithful and loving

On the dark side....

Pompous and patronizing
Bossy and interfering
Dogmatic and intolerant

LIKES
Speculative ventures
Lavish Living
Pageantry and Grandeur
Children
Drama

DISLIKES
Doing things safely
Ordinary,Day to day living
Small minded people
Penny pinching
Mean spiritedness

The Leo type is the most dominant, spontaneously creative and extrovert of all the zodiacal characters. In grandeur of manner, splendor of bearing and magnanimity of personality, they are the monarch's among humans as the lion is king of beasts. They are ambitious, courageous, dominant, strong willed, positive, independent, self-confident there is no such a word as doubt in their vocabularies, and they are self-controlled. Born leaders, either in support of, or in revolt against, the status quo. They are at their most effective when in a position of command, their personal magnetism and innate courtesy of mind bringing out the best of loyalty from subordinates. They are uncomplicated, knowing exactly what they want and using all their energies, creativeness and resolution to get it, as well as being certain that they will get whatever they are after. Their followers know where they are with Leonians. Leonians think and act bigger than others would normally dare; the ambitiousness of their schemes and idealism sometimes daunt their followers, their practical hardheadedness and ability to go straight to the heart of any problem reassures those who depend on them. If Leonians meet with setbacks they thrive on the adversity.

On the whole they are powers for good, for they are strongly idealistic, humane, and beneficent. They have powerful intelligence and are of a broad philosophical, sometimes religious, turn of mind. Those who are devout may become very obstinate in upholding traditional beliefs and will cling tenaciously, but with complete sincerity, to practices and doctrines which liberal thinkers regard as absurdly out-of-date. These will be found as the 'lions' of industries, and in the forefront of the cutting edge of technologies.

Their faults can be as large in scale as their virtues, and an excessively negative Leonian can be one of the most unpleasant human beings imaginable, displaying extreme arrogance, autocratic pride, haughtiness, and excessive hastiness of temper. If jealously suspicious of rivals, they will not hesitate to use cunning, lies and trickery to discredit them. Self-centeredness, greed for flattery, boastfulness, and bombast, pomposity, snobbish superiority, and overbearing, and intolerant disdain of underlings; to whom they will nevertheless delegate the carrying out of minor details in their grandiose schemes, and from whom they are not above borrowing immoderately if an occasion necessitates it. Any of these can be characteristic of Leo.

Add to them a passion for luxury, a lust for power, unlimited sexual lust, and emotional indulgence, and a character emerges that no one would want to know either in public life or private. But their pride may go before a fall, as uncontrolled impetuosity is likely to bring them low. Fortunately it is rare that a Leo is so undisciplined as to give way thoroughly to this list of vices, and their tendencies to them are usually balanced by an innate wisdom. Those who are afflicted with them also have the intelligence it takes to consciously and actively overcome them.

In professional life they do well at any vocation at which there is room at the top. As politicians they are content with nothing less than a powerful position in government. In business they may be the chairman of their company's board, or at least directors or managers. They are excellent organizers and overseers, often laying the groundwork for new projects. If from the artisan ranks of society they will aspire to become the boss, partly because they are ambitious by nature, partly because they dislike manual labor, preferring to take charge of others doing it. If artistic, Leos can become stars of stage or screen (their bent is serious rather than light drama), maestros as musicians where they will gravitate toward the grand instruments or activities, such as the organ or conducting of orchestras and as painters; anything grand in conception and scale appeals to them. Leo women make exceptionally good welfare workers.

In his or her relations with others the Leo type is open, sincere, genuine and trusting. Outgoing, spontaneously warm hearted and plain spoken, though never lacking in kindliness, Leos are more disillusioned than the average if let down by those they trust. They are not good judges of character and are inclined to favoritism and an exaggerated faith in their followers which too often ends in disappointment. They have a strong sex drive and are so attracted to the opposite sex that they find it hard to be constant; they can be so intensely sexual as to become dissolute. They may have numerous love affairs for their love of pleasure and beauty is liable to drive them from one attractive partner to another. They are very much inclined to deceive. Their marriages may fail for the same reason, yet they are sincere and generous to their lovers while love lasts, and will remain attached to their homes so long as it is run for their benefit. They demand service but are incapable of giving it.

At least it explains why I asked Pa if it was okay if I trekked through Amishville today looking for an expert seamstress to make children's backpacks so I could start my own business...

Yes, that was on a whim.

He said no. He did take me to Amishville though...and let me buy cheese curds.

Sha has to do the dishes when Ma goes back to work...practice Part 1

2007-08-03T13:36:00.000-05:00

Uncle Kabooblah...as a baby...awwww

2007-07-30T00:06:00.000-05:00

The reason we had to lower the mattress

2007-07-28T23:12:00.000-05:00

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As Impressed as Pa would be

2007-07-27T23:40:00.002-05:00

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I think I will call Grandpa Cush

2007-07-27T23:40:00.001-05:00

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Monkeys taste like Chicken

2007-07-27T23:39:00.001-05:00

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Stand by the mailbox!

2007-07-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

I have ordered it. Peace and tranquility reign supreme in the Babooblah household.

How long? How long? How long?

Sha is much too heavy for me to carry in our front carrier or in our wrap. My back is starting to scream out "please, please stop!". Sha hates, hates, hates the stroller.

Hello Ergo. It can be on your front (for the wee ones) and a back pack carrier for US!! It even has this cool flap thing that you can do up to support his head if he falls asleep and most of the weight will be on my hips. AND I GOT THE HIPS, BABY!

Woot woot!

Audit...ugh.

2007-07-24T23:24:00.000-05:00

I am being audited. F'in eh!

Last year I did our tax return, myself. Which I do every year. But this year there were medical expenses that we could claim for our NICU time in the hospital. So, I did. I'm pretty damn sure I did it right. I read all the stuff, interpreted all the lingo and filed.

Anyhoo...now I get a letter in the mail that they want all the documentation. Which is cool, I have that.

But it also says "If your claim includes expenses for travel to another city...we need a letter from your medical practitioner in the home community stating that the medical services were not available (in your home community)."

I don't have a doctor here. My doctor is in London.

I do, in fact, know where he lives. He lives in the nicest house in the town. He did give me stitches in the local ER once but I really doubt that he remembers that day.

Would it be odd if I showed up at his house, knocked on his door and asked him for a letter for a patient he never saw, doesn't know or dealt with, who was treated over a year ago, in London, to confirm that he was infact a patient in London but was never a patient of his in Glencoe? What the fojijal is that?

He will think I'm a lunatic. I think I might be a lunatic.

I suppose I could take him to the door and ask Sha to raise hand and swear his previous preemie status on a stack of Parenting your Preemie for Dummies pamphlets. If he raise his arm high enough, he could show off his PDA scar. Is that proof enough for ya?

Drama, drama, drama. Of that I am the queenbee.

I'm going to go now and sit in the corner and rock.

Our new seat!

2007-07-23T23:14:00.001-05:00

Ma and Sha trekked out to get a new carseat today!

Sha is a long, lean baby machine!

Sha has outgrown the height requirements for his old carseat. Thankfully, an experienced Mom let me know...'cause I ummmmm really hadn't noticed. I knew his head was almost at the top, but I didn't realize your supposed to have 1" between the top of the seat and the top of their head.

Ooooooooohhhhhh. Yes, everyone pretend you didn't know that either, please....

He does not meet the weight requirement (20lbs) for a forward facing seat, yet. Dilemma time! After some serious hummming and hawwwing and some offers of borrowing (which were really sweet), Pa and Ma decided that it we should just go out and get him a new seat.

The laughable part is that we only need this seat for for 3 pounds!!!!

We thought we had figured EVERY angle of this carseat thing out, and I had assumed (made an ass out of u and me) that he would surpass the height and weight thing at the same time. But nooooooo....

After Sha breaks the 20 lbs barrier (he is legally allowed to face forward), we have a really nice carseat that Grandpa and Grandma McF got for him for his first birthday. :-) It is a much sleeker design and will fit nicely in Pa's car. (Unlike our last seat where Pa had to practically sit on the steering wheel).

The one we bought today would be too bulky for Pa's car but fits in Ma's Blazer.

The good news is, once he hits 20lbs, we will have 2 carseats for 2 cars, so it will mean less fanangaling (is that a word?) all around.

That's our news.

Preemies are expensive litte people! But he's worth every penny. :-)

Our house

2007-07-22T23:58:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow we meet with the real estate agent to FINALLY sign papers to get our house officially listed!!!

We have tried, unsuccessfully, to sell our house ourselves. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME.

Sha has begun to master the fine art of commando crawling and can successfully roam the house. He is not interested in toys. He is interested in the phone, the remote, cords and the computer.

He had a wonderful time at his Aunt Tassie's bridal shower and was fitted for his tuxedo! Oh my, what a little gentleman. Pa, Ma and Sha all had a wonderful time with all of our friends and their children. It is amazing to think that just a few years ago we were the ones playing together. Life moves forward. I am so happy to have so many positive role models in our lives.

Cutest thing that happened: Miss K told me that she had to go to the potty. I took her to the bathroom and we sat and sang twinkle, twinkle little star. Until she looked at me, put a finger to her lips and said "shhhh" and a pointed to her ear and said "listen" and TINKLED!! Hooray and a clapping fest!!! She is also learning to count and says, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9!!

Aunt Mel is doing an awesome job balancing her new responsiblities of two babies to raise. xoxo And of course, Cliffy is doing a fine job as well, he sure does love those girls.

We are also experiencing a pant crisis. Sha is too long for his pants. However, the pants that will fit him in length, will not fit in the waist. So, it is a struggle between wearing manpris or rapper butt.

Sha has a couple of appointments this week, so I will keep everyone posted on the details. Hopefully our surgery letter will arrive soon...I am so damn impatient. I want an appointment NOWWWWWW. Pretty please?

All for tonight, I really should not have had a nap when I came home...oopsie.

What's in a cry?

2007-07-21T23:54:00.000-05:00

I love to hear a baby cry. That shrill, give me attention, feed me, change me cry. I heard it today, with baby Kittykat. So soft, and curl in a ball cuddly and warm.

It takes me back in an instant to the NICU days. Pa and I have known each other long enough that we don't need words. We would hear a baby cry in the NICU and glance at each other. It was the "I can hardly wait until our baby cries" look. I can picture it now. It appears in my memory in a flash.

People would say interesting things. You just wait, when he starts crying you will be wishing for silence. Nope. Didn't happen.

Crying is life. It is breathing, the in and out, and lungs and emotions and recognition and senses and health.

When Sha crys out it means he needs me, misses me and knows me.

Most importantly, it means he is alive.

I just can't look at the little things the same way.

Good job Kittykat! Your making me so very proud! :-)

(ok...and now I'm crying).

Kissing Cousins

2007-07-21T23:26:00.000-05:00

2007-07-21T23:25:00.001-05:00

Hanging with Auntie

2007-07-21T23:20:00.000-05:00

2007-07-21T09:32:00.001-05:00

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2007-07-21T09:21:00.001-05:00

2007-07-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

2007-07-19T22:18:00.000-05:00

Blog Life

2007-07-19T22:05:00.001-05:00

I read blogs. There are quite a few that I peruse on a daily basis. There is one blog that I enjoy, Greek Tragedy. The girl who writes is comparible to a real life Carrie Bradshaw (if you don't know who that is, drop everything and go rent Sex and the City...not the first season though...maybe the last). Her life was fun, dramatic, artsy, downtown...err uptown, and designer. Because she is a tell-it-all person there are lots of personal details and stories that make it a very intense and interesting real life story.

http://stephanieklein.blogs.com/ Incase you want to check it out.

Her life has changed. She has divorced, remarried and had twins. NICU twins. Which have long since been discharged home. However, I started reading her blog long before Sha and long before her pregnancy with the twins.

Today, I click to her page to get the latest on her news and I find that one of her children has been diagnosed with aquired Hydrocephalus, with the cause undetermined. The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As its name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain.

I am shocked. Saddened. What a horrible event.

Tonight, I'm going to be hugging Sha a little bit tighter.

xoxo

Why doesn't Hallmark make a card?

2007-07-18T21:09:00.001-05:00

We are going to visit the NICU on Friday.

I have run into my OB/GYN once post-op. (He was oncall and he was the lucky one. I hadn't picked an OB/GYN, it was handed to me, I was kinda thinking about having a girlllll.) Outside of the hospital. A nonchalant greeting where I just couldn't think of the right words.

What do you think of this?

"I know that we casually run into each other in the hallway. I know that you have phoned me and emailed me about work stuff. Thank you. I hope you don't think I am crazy. I do not handle drugs well. I know that we once had a working dinner together where we sat at the same table and chatted about your kids iceskating. Thank you for being my OB/GYN.

Thank you for humouring me when I asked you for the intracasies of preeclampsia and whether it was the blood pressure or the spilling of proteins that was going to kill me. I did not have Google at my beck and call at my bedside. I understand that you are a high-risk professional. I am not. Thank you not jesting my feeble attempts to convince you that we could wait a couple more days and that I promised not to meet my maker on your watch. That was sweet.

Did I mention I was in a ward room with some very interesting folks who (one day when I learn the fine art of patient confidentiality rules) I will write a book about?

I'm sorry that I introduced myself to the entire surgery staff by saying, Hi, I'm Ma, welcome to my birth story. I'm sorry I asked you if you had up-to-date insurance and if you could make sure my scar would still allow me to wear a bikini (yeah....). I'm sorry I questioned the nurse about how many cathaders she had performed in her career. I'm sorry I made a comment about knowing it was you, by your eyes, even though you had that funny mask on. I'm sorry that I made a kick at your head. I'm sorry that I questioned why the surgical table is a wafer thin (especially because pregnant people aren't skinny). I'm sorry that my husband had to velcro me down to the table because I was thinking about running down the hall with an open C-section. I'm sorry that I asked you to get me a diet coke while you were performing vital, lifesaving surgery.

You did a great job! :-)

Thank you for ordering that the guy with the serious drugs to put me under."

I'm sorry mag sulfate gives me verbal diarreha.

Woman say to other woman who are anticipating labour, don't worry they see it all the time. They won't remember any of it. It is their job, you know.

But I work there. I will cross paths with him again.

I think I should pen a hallmark just in case.

Hey, yo, vomit, stop it!

2007-07-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

When do we lose that zest for life?

I believe (and heck, I could be wrong, it isn't like I did a study or anything), that all babies, have in common, a natural curiosity. This natural curiosity for the world around them begins, most days, around 7 am.

I believe, (and heck, I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it, after all I am pretty damn smart), that as humans age we divide into 2 subgroups. The early risers and the night hawks. (there may be a group inbetween, who peak at about 2:00, but they could not be researched...as they tend to be their most alert during my naptime).

Sha awakes with vigour. If you peek over the crib rail in the morning he is failing his arms and his legs and ready to be plucked from baby jail.

I awake with cobwebs. I awake and my first thought is, I wonder when I can get some more sleep.

Sha downs a bottle as quickly as possible to avoid missing a moment of discovery.

I sip a warm, flat diet coke that I opened the night before. Fizz is too difficult in the morning.

Sha has learned many techniques to aid in his learning. He uses his feet as much as he uses his hands. He has not mastered crawling but will propel himself forward using his feet off of the wall, toys or your eye socket, if you are so lucky. His mind is working as quickly (if not quicker) than his body.

I am numb. Nightcrawler. I make comments, you are so cute, good job friend, awwww...wave, nice. I am thinking, I am so tired.

Sha rolls and rolls and rolls. That is his way around the house. This makes him vomit, this constant rolling (40 at a time). I am thankful for the baby wipe warmer that Dr. C. gave us. Because the wipes are warm and my body is still sleepy.

Sha decides to nap around noontime.

I wish I could wake up like that! Excited to see the same house, with the same toys, and the same furniture.

I wake up about 10:00pm.

About now is when I consider housework, chores or online banking.

I take comfort in knowing eventually he will be a teenager. Who sleeps till noon and beyond. When I will creep into his bedroom at 7am, and flick the lights off and on off and on and declare "lightning storm!". As one generation curses the next. Someday when you have kids...

Thank you Mom.

Brilliant idea.

Playgroup

2007-07-16T23:11:00.001-05:00

Ma and Sha ventured out to the local playgroup today.

It was one of those days where everything I said was blubbering idiot.

Today, I think I probably offended two moms at the group.

The first Mom was chatting about her kids and about her husband (in the present tense) and I said, "oh, what does he do?" trying to be polite and interested. And she said, "he's dead". Shit. What the hell did I ask that for? Being a small community I actually knew that (but apparently memory blocked it). An ass I am. We chatted a lot about how trials in life make you stronger, and that you can always do more than you thought you could and how doing what you think is best for your children is always the right answer. I think a lot of people give advice with good intentions, but really, till you have been there, you just don't know what the right thing is or what you would do.

Of course, I haven't been in her situation, but I hope that our chat brought her some comfort. Even though it didn't get off to the right start.

And the second Mom I saw on my way out the door. She had just made an announcement to the group about a coffee time that she was setting up. She was carrying an infant and she looked fantastic. Makeup, hair, clothes. So I thought she worked there. She stopped to say hi to us and I said "he is so cute, is he your baby?"

Which was LAME. As soon as it came out I just wanted to jut my hand out into the air, collect all the letters and shove them back down my throat.

Apparently, he is her new foster baby and she has 8 children. She came back at me with a "soooooo...is he your only child?". Which was priceless.

I'm sure she is thinking "who the hell are you to ask me questions, when you are just a beginner mother, I'm taking care of 8!!". Much deserved.

Sha was weighed today at 16 lbs 9 oz.

Ta-ta for now. Got nothin' else to say...

ENT

2007-07-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Sha was finally able to meet with the ENT doctor! Yeaaa for us. :-)

It has been a long, long time in the works and it feels like we are making progress.

Sha failed another hearing test and currently has a 40% loss of hearing. The audiologist explained that this means that what he actually hears is comparable to wearing the silicone ear plugs. We have been advised to try to minimize background noise at home, including tv and radio, while we are talking to Sha and to try to speak directly to him. He is concerned that Sha is not babbling or mimicking us.

We are being scheduled (hopefully very soon)to have tubes placed in Sha's ears. The surgeon will also be suctioning out all of the fluid while he is operating.

We will have another preop appointment as well.

We hope that this will increase his hearing abilities and at least help us to understand if he has nerve damage or just a fluid problem.

Check one thing off the list!

After the surgery we will be scheduled for an audiology appointment again.

He has also agreed to take a look at Sha's vocal cords while he is performing the surgery. I have always been very aware that Sha does not have strong vocals and due to his feeding issues, he thinks it might be a good idea to take a peek. He is not able to follow this, if it is a problem, and we will be referred to Children's Hospital in London (but the waiting list is looooooonnnng).

I am looking forward to having some answers...oh and not being puked on would be nice too.

The surgeon is extremely kind and had an amazing bedside manner with Sha. It almost felt awkward not to be rushed through an appointment.

On the list of surgeries (because he wanted us to disclose everything) I included Sha's PDA ligation (of course). Which was met with a "do you mind if I take a look at that?" and a "amazing, that is truly amazing".

Waiting for answers is more difficult then having them!

Oh yes, and EI finally called back. I may just get paid next week. May. Woo hoo! Party at my house. I have to admit that my favourite part of the conversation had to be, "sorry you had to deal with my coworkers, they totally don't understand the policy". Brillant. Talking to someone who wasn't a drone sure made me happy!

2007-07-14T13:27:00.001-05:00

If you can screetch like a girl...you're my kind of woman

2007-07-12T21:55:00.001-05:00

Dear Pa,

I am sorry that I cannot follow rules. It just makes life too damn boring.

Lord Uncle B, Auntie, Lolo, Ma and Sha went to African Lion's Safari.

We may/or may not have driven through the safari twice.

We may/or may not have stopped and unpacked grapes...because Lord Uncle B was outvoted.

We may/or may not have used them to lure Baboons to the car, with blatent disregard to the "Do NOT feed the animals, Do NOT open windows".

We may/or may not have studied the patterns of the zoo keepers for our moment.

We may/or may not have been in a car that was swarmed by Baboons.

The baboons may/or may not have peeled weather stripping off of the car to use as bubblegum.

Our sweet grapes, may/or may not have made Mr. Baboon very excited.

We may/or may not have witnessed Mr. Baboon doing some monkey business to Mrs. Baboon on our trunk, out the back window. (They must have been married...'cause it really isn't a first date kind of move).

Our son may/or may not have seen this as he was in a very safe rear facing carseat.

We may/or may not have screamed like childish little girls and laughed until our sides hurt.

We may/or may not have pictures.

Our son may/or may not need therapy.

I admit to nothing.

Ma

2007-07-11T16:16:00.000-05:00

Nine West Wallet

2007-07-11T00:30:00.000-05:00

I ran over my wallet!

The one I got in Florida that was more of a clutch type, orange leather wallet. I left it on the roof of my Blazer and drove away. I ran it over on Richmond and had to go back and stop traffic infront of Sunfest to get it back. It had been hit multiple times and has black tire tracks all over it.

At least it wasn't the baby! (from Pa).

Charlie Brown's teacher

2007-07-10T09:24:00.000-05:00

Have you ever talked to someone and all you actually take away from the conversation is wah-wah-wah-wah?

Called EI today. 'Cause their time is up. Or my time is up, depending on who you ask. We went over the necessary details, when was your baby born, out of hospital, wah-wah-wah-wah.

Back and forth. Can't be done. Yes it can. No it can't. Yes it can.

She asked me 3 times what date he came home from hospital.

Break. To get policy.

I am read the policy. And yes, I sent in those forms, yes, I have done all those things.

The answer: why don't you go get a note from your doctor and claim stress leave while the baby is in the hospital?

Ummmmm...'cause that was 2006. I can't exactly turn back time.

Oh. Ummmmm.

Then there was a pause. The longwinded pause of someone trying to compute something that they will never understand. 2-0-0-6. All long and drawn out. Extra emphasis on the t-h-o-u-s-a-n-d. As if all of the universe was going to hear the t-h-o-u-s-a-n-d and shed light on the fact that it is 2007.

Can I get a supervisor to call me?

Yeah. Good idea. Give us 2 days.

HA!

I wonder if there is a red flag notice on my account and they get the janitor to answer the call?!?

Oh, what a wonderful world...

2007-07-09T21:54:00.001-05:00

Ma, Auntie and Sha ventured to Adventures on Wonderland today. We met up with lots of Moms and babies and a few from the NICU. It was a take a deep breath moment when we saw Ma's old Ronald McDonald roomie and her babe. All looking so healthy and happy and a few more of our old NICU friends...

Of course, tonight I'm thinking about our friends who could not be with us. Damn. I sure wish there was something I can do or say or be to them. But ahhh, sometimes wearing the other shoe is more difficult. More difficult to be the observer, the cheerleader and the confident then the prime players. Because you feel useless. I really do hope things turn.

Pa, Ma and Sha enjoyed another evening of just enjoying. The ball popper, the crazy garden and bathtime.

Note to someone without siblings: Please do not point to the baby and say...he made me do it...I highly doubt Sha decided to lob plastic blue balls into the kitchen, making contact with my rear, while I am trying to feed the dog.

Kisses.

2007-07-08T23:12:00.000-05:00

Sha tries garlic butter

2007-07-08T23:11:00.001-05:00

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An hour

2007-07-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

of my life that I won't get back.

- I've worked here for 2 years, and it isn't possible to extend your claim. I know what I'm talking about.

OK. I've read all of your policies. And it is. So can you check? (goodie. A newbie!)

You would have needed to return to work.

No. That is a rumour I heard a lot too. But it isn't true. (Totally not true).

- I don't need to check.

I think you should. (maybe take a policy refresher course and invite your coworkers?)

- Hold. ~walk the way the wind blows...hoping for you darling...to be here~

Oh. Ok. Yeah. You can. You need a specialist.

- Yeah. (actually, I think I am the specialist...can I just be paid a salary and get a job with you?)

I see it can be done but I can't do it. (I can hear you typing, you have a computer, can we use it?)

- Yeah. (shock and awe!)

I'll put another request through. It will be two business days.

- Perfect. So I just call back on Monday? ('cause I really doubt your specialist is going to call).

No. We are going to call you back in two business days. (Really?!?)

- But if you don't call, I call you? (thank god it is a 1-800 number).

Yeah.

iPhone

2007-07-05T00:48:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking about getting an iPhone. My research concludes it includes the following features:

1. Phone calling
2. Camera
3. Music
4. Internet

Which, of course, I have. But not all in one device.

Today was supposed to be the day EI called me back. Well, actually, that was yesterday, but I gave them today as a "gimme", a "mulligan", a "get out of jail free card".

Because the specialists at EI don't accept incoming calls. Yeah...I know. You heard this story before. You have to talk to a rep and then they take down your number and the specialist will call you back in 24 hours. But they don't.

And, I can't call them. They don't give out their ext to the public. Real nice.

But this iPhone, I have to have it.

Imagine a world, where I can spend more time on the phone trying to get answers, over and over again. But I can be anywhere. Anywhere! Where I can take pictures of myself rolling my eyes, pulling out my hair, banging my head off the wall, jabbing a pencil in my eye and flipping the bird. And send them in a click of a button.

And I can send them the link to this blog!

Ohhhhh...take me to a place where I can do all this and I can pick my version of music to play during the call. I'm thinking Ozzy Osbourne, Hells Bells or maybe...

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that phase.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space

And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Probably

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice
Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

What to do on a quack, quack, waddle, waddle day?

2007-07-04T16:21:00.000-05:00

Overcast = indoors = boring.

Ma and Sha went out today for a ride to Strathroy. We are in search of an outfit for him to wear as a RINGBEARER!! We perused the speciality shops but still didn't find the one that was just right.

Ma decided to slip into First Choice to get Sha's haircut. Of course, it is not his first hair cut (because that happened at St. Joes) but it is still a first (kind of) moment.

Anyway, my gut told me, do not attempt this at home.

So we slip into First Choice. She buzzes the back a little to get rid of his flyaways and then proceeds to use the scissors on the top.

Not feeling oh-so-comfy with the situation, I say...how about we just use the clippers on top? Because I'm feeling like, this seems dangerous considering he is rocking around and beboping all over the place.

And she says, Naw, we do this all the time.

Then...

She cuts through her knuckle.

I knew it was bad because she said...I'll be right back I just have to clean this up. In a really hurried way and left to the bathroom.

About 1 minute later I realize, Yup, this is bad. And I go to find her. She looks like she is going to pass out, spending some time lying on the bathroom floor and admits she can't stand the sight of her own blood.

I load Sha into the truck. I load hairdresser into the truck.

We go to Emerg for stitches on hairdresser's finger. I help her call her mom and explain the situation at hand...errrr...knuckle.

Ouchie.

I'm starting to worry that Sha thinks that everytime we go anywhere, we have to go to the hospital!

I wish we could just have a normal life...

Thank god I didn't bring my camera today.

Happy Canada Day...yeah it's late...but the pics just came back!

2007-07-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

Where are my boys?

2007-06-30T18:33:00.000-05:00

My boys are gone. I have no idea where they are.

Whoopie! Ma is home ALONE. And there is a People magazine on the table for me to enjoy. Pa must have left it for me. It is so quiet. I slept. Mmmmmm....sleep. I can't believe I missed an entire day. But it felt soooo good.

Thank you Pa. You know exactly what I need.

xoxo

Teething is tough

2007-06-30T02:35:00.000-05:00

Motherhood has changed. Mothers have entered the workforce. They don't have jobs, they have careers. They now have the ability to purchase the newest craze for their child. Moms can afford the best in speciality walking shoes, black and white visually stimulating mobiles, Beethoven's symphony CD...if they make it, we can buy it. We have our own money and the pressure to invest in children's RESPs is, infact, the new black. Mothers are intent on raising the next generation of world changers, stock market brokers, NHL athletes or high profiled lawyers.

No one, it seems, is intent on raising the next local garbageman.

And we will buy it, especially if they claim to make our children into someone smarter or happier or calmer or Bono.

But there is a shift. We are able to afford to purchase the gadgets and the gear. However, there are many things we can't purchase.

Items not for sale.

Home blended babyfood. Is there irony in using Lysol to wipe down the countertop to cut up your organically grown pesticide-free bananas?

Babywearing, breastmilk, cosleeping, sign language. This is the new trend. Heck, some people are even using cloth diapers made from old flannel shirts. If your child is teething and you are awake at 4am you can enlighten your nomadic parenting brain with doses of message board banter.

Once you are attune to the basics you can qualify to shift gears into the top graces of motherhood. The highest advisors who write messages in shortform because they are too busy sewing clothes to type in sentences. A code language only interpreted by an elite few. There is DH (dear husband), BAK (breastfeeding at keyboard), EC (elimination communication - the ability to get your child to forgo diapers and pee on demand), and CIO (cry it out).

CIO is the idea that you would teach your child to self soothe and cry themselves to sleep. Thereby, learning a technique within a week to fall asleep very quickly. On their own.

Teething is my enemy.

I'm tired. I am CIOing myself. Creditcard Infomercial Ordering. CIO. It works. I feel better already!

My rotissery. It cooks food in half the time. You can order now and they will make one payment. An entire payment off of the price. It comes with a cookbook and all of the grease runs off the food and you get two extra baskets. But wait! Call now and you get a knife that is guaranteed to last until doomsday. Only pay shipping and handling....

Yawn.

2007-06-28T21:05:00.000-05:00

Eruption!

2007-06-28T20:37:00.000-05:00

Sha's two top teeth have erupted through the gums today. The last few days have been tough. Sha has been awake for long hours, clingy and a wee bit angry. Currently, he is in his crib...I'm hoping he might just go down for the night...but...I think he has other plans. He is not crying but he is banging. Banging his feet off of the crib rails! Over and over and over. It sounds like he is building an ark or maybe an escape ladder! Bang, bang, bang. Our poor neighbours! They are probably wondering what the heck is going on over here! One more minute and I'm going to go up and bail him out of baby jail...

Speaking of eruptions, my EI was cut off today. Ugh. After assurances from their office that I would be extended because of Sha's hospital stay...whatever. Anyway, I'm not too upset because deep down I had a good idea of what would really happen when the time came. I think I might be prophetic. Maybe I should start a hotline! How could all of this happened a year ago and still be a mess?!? Am I the first preemie mom or does it just feel that way? This topic sucks. I give up. Incompetance wins and I don't care. That feels nice. I don't care. ha.

Okay. I bailed him out. Sha is here "pretending" to read a book and talking to it. "Woo ooo ooo" while he turns the pages with his feet. He has also become very proficient at waving. Tonight he waved "bye-bye" to Auntie and to Daddy (although Daddy wasn't going anywhere!!!). Cuteness.

I wish...

2007-06-26T23:36:00.000-05:00

I had a camera that shot night vision videos in black and white in the dark. You are such a little ham. You lay in my bed, in the dark, where I am trying to not play too much with you, watch Leno, and hope that you will settle to sleep. It is suppose to end with me carrying you, sleeping to your crib for the night. Instead, you roll over and over and over and laugh in my face, your giggly happy baby laugh. It feels like a movie, a scripted Hollywood scene. Something so sweet and perfect and happy couldn't possibly happen in real life. But it is. And you roll around more. You grunt and strain to stay up on your arms so you can touch your forehead against mine until I only have one eye and then you turn your head, back and forth and back and forth, and giggle. Your sweet giggle. And you do it again and again and again. Because it is the funniest thing you have ever seen. And more rolling and giggling and you try to flip off the bed because you think you can fly. More giggling when I save you by your arm and pull back to the middle. It starts again. Over and over and over. Your giggling, your pushing on me with your feet to feel their strength, your tiny fingers shoved up my nose or in my ear or in my eye. Or pulling my fistfulls of my hair. It doesn't sound sweet, but it is, because you are so innocent and happy.

You curl up on the crook of my neck, like a little rag doll and fall into your happy dreams. You smile and you giggle when you sleep and your entire body shakes because you are remembering something fun...hopefully me.

I wish I could share it with everyone. This midnight cuteness. But with the lights on and the camera angles, it just isn't the same. It is a "you have to be there" kind of moment.

Somethings are best kept for Mommies.

Ma is finding it hard to remember when...

2007-06-24T23:55:00.000-05:00

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Bye, Bye

2007-06-24T23:06:00.000-05:00

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Baby Sha first waved Bye-bye to his Grandpa McFadden today! Here we are trying to recreate the exciting event for the camera!

Sha's funny cousin!

2007-06-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

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2007-06-24T23:01:00.002-05:00

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2007-06-24T23:01:00.001-05:00

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2007-06-24T22:07:00.005-05:00

2007-06-24T22:07:00.003-05:00

2007-06-24T22:07:00.001-05:00

Sha in a nutshell

2007-06-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

Well...not exactly "in" a nutshell because he wouldn't quite fit anymore!

Sha updates:

- Sha rolls everywhere. He grunts and growls and pushes himself until he can reach his way to his toy. Most preferably, his rubber ducky, which is the toy du jour.

- Sha can sit up!!! Yippee! All by himself for long stretches at a time. He has impressed his physiotherapist and the occupational therapist. All of those appointments have paid off!

- Sha loves avacados and hummus. Yummy. We are trying to "fatten him up" and our baby food has been changed to some very interesting food groups. Interesting fact: A medium-sized avocado contains 30 grams of fat, as much as a quarter-pound burger. Ma has been internet surfing to increase her knowledge of fattening foods that can be fed to an infant. Who knew there were so many choices?!?

- Sha ate a rice rusk! After one heart stopping (Ma's not Sha's!) choking session (a few weeks back), Sha tried a rice rusk and LOVED it!!

- Sha had his one year needle today. Eek! But our pediatrician made it all better by saying how sorry he was that he had to hurt Sha. Awwwww. I love that guy. And he gave us the referral to ENT!!!!!!!! Mission accomplished.

- Sha has now reached 7.3 kg.

Happy Birthday!

2007-06-18T12:16:00.000-05:00

Dear Sha,

Happy birthday!

Thank you for teaching me so many lessons in the past year.

Life, growth, happiness, sadness, joy, grief, fear, anger, fun, adventure, learning, and time.

You were exactly what I needed.

Love,
Ma

xoxoxo

Sha's First Birthday Part-ay

2007-06-18T07:31:00.000-05:00

Sha's First Birthday Party - Auntie's Pics

2007-06-16T23:27:00.000-05:00

Watch for the Peace sign

2007-06-15T23:59:00.000-05:00

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Monkey toes reads a book

2007-06-15T23:58:00.000-05:00

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Sick at home!

2007-06-15T23:55:00.000-05:00

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Tired!!!

2007-06-15T23:53:00.000-05:00

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2007-06-15T23:07:00.003-05:00

2007-06-15T23:07:00.001-05:00

2007-06-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

2007-06-15T23:05:00.000-05:00

Who wants to be a Millionaire?

2007-06-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

My last post deleted itself. After writing a novel on Sha's development I just couldn't face rewriting it again! Grrr.

Lets try again, shall we?

Sha had another hearing appointment with an audiologist at Elborne college. Unfortunately, we did not get many clear answers on Sha's hearing. The right ear showed (as of last test) acceptable hearing levels but the left ear continues to fail testing. However, during this test, the results from the right ear were not as clear. Sha had impacted wax (again!) in his ears during the test as well. This should not affect the results because testing can be done by bypassing the ear canal and therefore the wax. He also has more fluid on his ears.

We have to reschedule Sha for more hearing testing!

So...Sha had an appointment with an alternative pediatrician (because his normal pediatrician is on vacation...lucky guy!) This ped checked Sha's ears and found no wax issues. However, she did agree that there are still persisting fluid issues. Unfortunately, she would not give us a referral to an ENT specialist as she would like it to come from our ped (who is on vacation)!

Anyway, I called our ped after his return from vacation and left a message with his secretary in regards to getting a referral to an ENT guy (which I really, really, really think we need). Our ped calls and leaves us a message that he got the "alternative ped" notes and he wants to see Sha to discuss his "stridor" and get us a referal for Sha's "stridor".

Stridor is a high pitched sound resulting from turbulent gas flow in the upper airway.

Ugh. Unfortunately, it looks like all the messages are mixed up in translation. Sha does not have stridor (he did when he came home in October!) but the ENT referal is for his ears. Anyhoooooo....again we NEED to move closer to London. Ma and Sha have spent too much time on the road at unproductive appointments.

We have also been out to our weekly CPRI playgroup (a playgroup with a physiotherapist and a speech therapist and more kids!). Sha has been referred to a group called Tyke Talk through this group. This will give us some support with Sha's speech abilities should we need them in the future.

I am hoping that I can also speak to the ENT specialist in regards to Sha's feeding difficulties. Sha cannot tolerate feeding of solids (pureed baby food or watery baby cereal)...this is most likely related to his "low tone" in his upper body. We have spent a good portion of this week trying out foods that Sha will tolerate. The ENT people have a wait list until October (just for a consult!) so we hope to get a referal to the list as soon as possible.

This week has been rather quiet, however, Sha is ill with a virus. Not much sleep in our house!

However, I may have found an idea to make millions!

Sha will not tolerate feeding. He gags (very badly...not just a little gag), pukes, spits, cries, turns his head....etc. It is not pleasant. The food is very watery, with formula, and in very small amounts but it still bothers him.

However, he will eat anything that comes out of his nose. (YUCK!) This does not make him gag.

With all of the genetically motified foods that they are making...why not make baby food that tastes like things kids will actually eat? Dirt flavoured strawberries. White paste flavoured green beans. Plastic flavoured carrots. Snot flavoured baby cereal. And Sha's favourite would have to be any baby food that they could make taste like his feet!!!!

Caution: Genius at work.

New things Sha can do!

2007-06-04T09:51:00.001-05:00

The Cutest Thing...

2007-05-31T00:35:00.000-05:00

Sha just woke up. It is 1:35. Although this is irregular, it sometimes happens. He is HUNGRY. Which is awesome! I am more than happy to respond to his feeding needs (GAIN, GAIN, GAIN!).

Anyhow, I realize Xander is crying and I go to attend to him in his room and get him some food. And then I realize that the baby monitor is still on in our room so I tiptoe in to shut it off. Pa rolls over and whispers, "Shh, shh, shh, it's okay buddy. Just go back to sleep. Your okay".

Pa is still asleep. Sha cannot hear Pa. Sha is in his own room and the baby monitor is only a one-way transmission. However, Pa is shhhing and comforting the monitor.

Awwwwwww...that is so damn cute.

Going back to bed. Night.

2007-05-28T00:34:00.000-05:00

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2007-05-28T00:33:00.000-05:00

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For Donna, Lynn and Kevin at the DFC

2007-05-28T00:24:00.001-05:00

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Day One of Cereal Post DFC

2007-05-28T00:22:00.000-05:00

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2007-05-28T00:16:00.001-05:00

Time Out!

2007-05-26T14:53:00.001-05:00

Today Auntie and I went for a trip to the optometrist. Yes, well, sometimes life is bland. We are old. Adventures to the mall used to contain girly chatter of boys, clothes, shoes, accessories and labels. Now, we go get the old eyes checked.

While we were on our trip to Florida, Auntie and I read a novel. Bill Cosby. We took turns reading aloud and finished it. But our favourite part, had to be his rant about "old parts".

I have old parts.

My last trip to the optometrist was about ummm...more than a few years ago (ok, like 5ish) which is really too long. (Yeah, yeah, yeah I know.) The man doing my exam sang. "Do you see an E?" to a tune. Everything he said had a lilt. I just couldn't handle it. I spent the entire time thinking...is this guy a real optometrist? Or is he just a poser?

So, I have found a new guy. A part of me thinks it is funny, because a new guy, means a new target. He happens to be in the mall. Today was our day.

Guy: Please have a seat and I will take a look in your eyes.
Me: (this is going to be funny...snicker to myself)
Guy: Ok. Just hold this here and look up there and I'll shine a light and HOLY SHIT!!
Me: Yeah.
Guy: Can you see?!?
Me: Yup. (This is really, really fun)
Guy: You have a huge scar on your eye! Do you know that?

My sense of fun. Don't tell the guy and let him DISCOVER the eye injury. He was probably having a really boring Saturday. As am I. I only made this eye appointment so I could have time out. Matter of fact, he was probably dreading the monotony of another Saturday of eye appointments. I mean, why the heck would anyone want to do this for a living? It looks quite boring to me.

I think I made his day!

Me: Yes. I had an eye injury as a child. So, yeah, I know.
Guy: Yeah! But do you know what this is like? Can you see at all? This is a blah, blah, blah...insert technical words here) scar. It's huge! I just can't believe you still have an eyeball.
Me: Yeah. (this guy wants to turn me into a journal article)
Guy: Wow. I've never seen something like this before and you still have your eyeball!
Me: Yeah.
Guy: Do you have a droopy eyelid?
Me: Does it look droopy? (what the hell kind of a question is that? wouldn't you be able to see it? now I'm am wondering about his eyesight..,)
Guy: No. But Geesh. Wow!

Guy scribbles on paper. Scribbling and humming and hawing and scratching and thinking.

Second phase.

Guy: We are going to use this "P". Tell me what you see.
Me: Nothing.
Guy: 1 or 2?
Me: Nothing.
Guy: 2 or 3?
Me: Nothing.
Guy: 3 or 4?
Me: Nothing. It is blank.
Guy: You don't see the P?!?
Me: No. Nothing. White.
Guy: Holy crap! We need the big E.
Me: (Laughing so hard I almost pee.)

Also, recounting the numerous eye exams I had to give at MTO - when I worked there. People would come in and I would say, "please read me all the letters from left to right." They would respond, "1, 5, 3, 5". Which would just about send me into hysterics. "Thank you sir, but they are actually all LETTERS. Try again..." And they wanted a licence?!? I digress...

Exam continues.
Guy: So your vision is 20/400 and 20/200. Does this make sense to you? I can only get a prescription for your one eye. Your one eye is considered legally blind.
Me: Yeah. Everything is kind of like a Monet.
Guy: You should be protecting that one good eye you got and be wearing glasses.
Me: I'll try. Smile. (orrr not. Long live Bausch and Lomb!).

Auntie: How did it go?
Me: Good. I'm lucky not to be a cyclops.
Auntie: Old parts??
Me: Yeah. Old parts.

I think I'm going to train Hyde to be a guide dog incase I need him.

Sometimes it helps to know people...

2007-05-25T00:26:00.000-05:00

Today was our DFC visit. Really nothing exciting to report. Sha has low tone in his upper body and needs to gain more weight. Stuff we already knew...

Anyway, Dr. C kindly checked out Xander's ears for me. He reported that he had a "little bit of wax" in his one ear and Xander would not cooperate for him to get a good look at the other.

As I am aware, you should not stick anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. So, Dr. C recommended a little bit of baby oil at bedtime just to try to get it cleared out before his big hearing test.

So, I put a couple drops in at bedtime this evening. Sha was stirring, and seeing as we would like to see him bulk up, at about 1am, I went up to give him a bottle. He drank it up in about 2 minutes!

I went to lay him back down in his bed and I though...oh, he must have had a little throw up earlier. Because the sheets had a stain on it. But this is odd, because Sha does not throw up formula unless he is EXTREMELY angry. Which he wasn't.

Formula leaves an "orangy stain" when it dries. But the it hits me, that is GROSS ME OUT! THAT IS EAR WAX! Holy crap. No wonder I think he has trouble hearing me lately. That was a lot of ewwww...

I am so excited for tomorrow! I can't sleep!! Maybe when he wakes up it will be like a brand new, clearer, hearing world!!!!!

I am sitting at the computer GRINNING MY DAMN FACE OFF. :-)

Gotta love Dr. C!

New baby!

2007-05-23T22:16:00.000-05:00

Sha has a new baby Cousin, Kitty-kat! Miss Kitty was 9lbs and we are excited to here of her safe arrival. Sha will wait patiently until we are given the go ahead so Sha can give her some slobbery kisses.

Uncle Kabooblah started his new job today with great success.

Our friends, from the NICU have had one of their babies, Baby B readmitted to hospital. Our family will be praying for him during this most difficult time.

Ma

Sha's funny brother....ELMO!

2007-05-22T19:18:00.000-05:00

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

2007-05-22T19:16:00.002-05:00

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

2007-05-22T19:16:00.001-05:00

2007-05-22T19:15:00.002-05:00