Uncommon Misconception

Tag Me!

Since things have changed around here since Ms. Liney-Lou's arrival, I thought it was time for a new look.  As always, the fabulous Ms. Aitch has designed a gorgeous new look for the blog.  But while reflecting on the new look, it dawned on me that my tag line is outdated.  Or at least, not quite accurate. 

Since I'm reserving all my brain power for minimal functioning this week, I was hoping you'd help.  I'll tell you my ideas so far (and Aitch's too) and then you add yours.  I'll either pick my favorite or do a poll and we'll get the new look up by the weekend.

Mine:
What happens when you actually get what you asked for.
Everything I ever wanted... and some I didn't.
Everything I ever dreamed of... and some I didn't.

Aitch's:
Getting here took a lot of work, yo.

The new look is really gorgeous, so I may want the tag line to be a bit funny so the whole thing doesn't come off to seriously.  I'm open to whatever.  Bring it!

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Oh - new pumpkin patch pictures up at flickr.  I also have a new user name there, so you may need to update your links.

One Step Closer to Selling Out

I have a job interview Wednesday afternoon.

This is still just in an effort to get us to the actual "discussion" phase, where I ask about things like telecommuting, continuing my freelance career, and the big one: do I get an office or a cubicle?

Then I start trying to decide how I feel about all this.

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Maalox may not be a cure-all, but it does seem to be helping significantly.  I had to do some mama-bird stuff to get it handled, like spelling it out to my nurse that the current situation was unacceptable and that no, I would not be simply waiting around for three weeks to get into the GI.

Many more smiles around here now.  I'll let you know if this seems to be the cure.

And then little songbirds with wee 'kerchiefs on their heads sang and twittered as they draped satin ribbons around my shoulders

... and woodland creatures of all shapes and sorts gathered 'round my feet to join the chorus.

Can you tell I'm happy?  Wanna know why?  Because somewhere underneath all that pain I really do have a sweet, content, happy baby.

The pleasant effects of the barium from yesterday continued through the night.  We got a twelve hour stretch with one wake-up - a feat that disappeared shortly after I wrote about it nearly a month ago.  Then she ate, cooed, yawned a few times and went back to sleep!!

Last night, after I read Eliza's comment about Maalox for infants, I danced a little jig and was so giddy I could barely sleep. (By the way, Eliza, where was this information earlier?!)  The doctor's office called to report that the upper GI was completely normal (yay!) and I told them of our extreme delight with the barium and asked if we could incorporate Maalox or some coating-type medicine into our treatment.  I'm still waiting to hear.

I find it impossible to believe that yesterday could have been an unrelated fluke.  It was just too good.  All I can figure is that the barium provided just enough of a barrier between her irritated esophagus and the acid to get it calmed down significantly.

Now we want more.  More happy, cooing baby! Todd said to call him if they give us the green light and he'll buy a gallon or two on the way home.

Is it Bad

... that I want to give my infant a dose of vanilla flavored barium every day for the foreseeable future?

Caroline has been more herself tonight than I've seen in the past month.  We haven't got the results of the upper GI yet, but something about the coating effect of the barium sat well with her.  Real well.  Giggle and coo well.  I even took pictures of her between the hours of seven and eight at night - something unheard of before.

I have no idea what that means or what the test will tell us, but I'm really wishing there was something like infant's pepto that I could dose her up with each day.

More when we know.

"Cold" Front

Ya know what happens when the weather finally dips below 80 and you've put off clothes shopping until the last minute?  Both you and your two-year-old wander around in completely inappropriate clothing (nary a long-sleeved shirt in sight for either of us) for two days as strangers wonder about your competency... or whether you've bothered to listen to the news.

Then you get to go shopping with a slightly cranky toddler for her entire fall wardrobe.  EN-TIRE.  And trust me, it wasn't nearly as fun as I'd thought it might be.  Oh well.  At least we're clothed.

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We're going to be seeing a gastroenterologist for an upper GI sometime soon tomorrow.  It's clear to me that all of Caroline's issues are related to eating/reflux.  Man, I just want some relief for her.  In the meantime, we're still on the Prilosec.

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No news yet on the possible job front.  My application is in and I'm still plugging away on freelance gigs for them.  The latest earned me an unsolicited "YOU ROCK!" from a hard-to-please supervisor.  I'll keep you posted.

Sixtieth Verse, Same as the... Oh, screw it.

We're going back to the doctor today because Prilosec hasn't helped Caroline at all.  Now she's even fussing during feedings and the quantity of spit up that actually makes it out of her mouth has increased.  I hate this crap because she is so, so sweet when she's not in pain.

Boogie Oogie Oogie

'Til ya just can't boogie no more.

Hannah had a blast at the wedding this weekend.  She danced so much and for so long that I had to LITERALLY drag her, crying and screaming, off the dance floor.  We had to lie to her and tell her that everyone was leaving.  It was nearly 11 o'clock by then.

I call this one "Takes a Lickin' and Keeps on Tickin'".  She fell earlier in the night and we nearly had to take her home because of the meltdown that followed.  But she managed to calm down and she absolutely owned the rest of the night.

More pictures of Hannah, Caroline, and our trip to visit "Big Nana" (great-grandma) and Pop-Pop (great-grandpa) on flickr.

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Please, please, please keep the advice comin' on the job opportunity.  I'm taking all of it in.

Everything to Everyone?

Filed under: "Because I don't have enough going on in my life right now".

One of my newest clients, a global educational publisher, has asked if I would be interested in working for them full time.  At first, I dismissed it because when I asked if work from home or telecommuting was an option, they said no.  But then, the next day, they e-mailed me back and said, on second thought, it would be.  I could do half days, or three full days each week.  The compensation is on the better end of decent.  Which is to say, it's not astronomical enough to make my decision for me, but it's certainly enough to warrant serious consideration.

Have I mentioned that Todd's had a bit of a dry spell lately with work, and that he's more than a bit stressed about it?  This salary could make a big difference for us, financially.  Plus there are benefits.  And I think their willingness to offer some form of working from home says a lot about their general flexibility.

But.  It would mean an end to my current lifestyle, which includes lots and lots of time with my kids.  In particular, Caroline.  It would also do away with other things, like my ability to go and do as I choose, when I choose, and with whomever I choose.

But.  The trappings of freelancing also come with a price.  Literally.  I don't make much money.  And I can't act as if our financial health isn't my concern.

But.  I've had a ton of clients lately, and more coming down the pipeline.  Would I be giving up too early if I took this job?  Or is there a chance they'll let me continue to freelance as long as it doesn't interfere with my duties there?

And what about my Big, Big Idea?!  I'm still proceeding with it, no matter what.  Would this new job be too much of a distraction, or just the financial help we need to get through until the Big, Big Idea is feasible and actually profitable?

If I did take the job, I would likely work mornings.  Todd can arrange his schedule around keeping the girls in the morning (Hannah's already at mother's-day-out three mornings a week), and we wouldn't have to add the expense of childcare or worry about who was handling Caroline at such a young age.

Would this time away from home and the girls be just the sanity saver I need?  Or an intrusion that I feel guilty about?

Gah.  So much to consider.

My current plan is to put in my application and at least get to the discussion phase so I'll have more information.

Help!  What are your thoughts?  What am I failing to consider?   What would you do?

Ah, Reflux, Thou Art a Heartless Bitch

Silent or otherwise, reflux sucks.  Or blows, rather.  Or blows then sucks.  Whatever.  You get my gist.

After Caroline spent about a week of continued daytime fussiness (and by fussiness I mean relentless screaming for approximately 90% of her waking hours), I took her in to the pediatrician.  We were about to travel out of town (road trip yesterday: the packing was hell, but the trip itself was amazingly smooth), and there was no way I was taking a screaming baby with a "please help me!" look on her face out of town for five days with nary a peek from a professional.

She listened to my description: eats well, is happy for about 20 minutes, then melts down and screams for the next few hours until the next feed.  Rinse, lather, and repeat.  Then Caroline promptly put on a performance of said routine.  She looked at her classic arched back, flailing limbs, and crumpled face (complete with silent scream of death) and said she didn't think the Axid was working. "Get thee some Prilosec!" she pronounced.  Or something along those lines.

Two days in and I already think I can see a significant improvement.  Smile time is up and scream time is down.  We'll watch her closely for the next few weeks.  If this doesn't do it, we'll move on to an upper GI and a gasteroenterologist.  Seeing as how that sounds about as fun as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, I'm pinning all my hopes on Prilosec.

Tonight: a wedding.  My first attempt to wear a real dress since giving birth.  I'm wearing some awesome new peacock-blue satin strappy heels in an attempt to "draw the eye downward".

I Waited

Until she did it two nights in a row before saying anything.

12 hours of sleep, one feed over 8 hours in.
13 hours of sleep, one feed over 8 hours in.

It's almost like being high!