Nov 5, 2008

Ok, so last night I had my first panic attack over something Elyssa did. I was getting her ready for her bath and had her in her room. We have a baby gate across her door so she cannot get out and fall down the stairs so she was safe. I was in the bathroom running her water and I heard her door close. No big deal, she closes her door all the time. It is her own little game. Well little did I know, but she learned how to turn the lock on her door and locked the door. When I tried to get in and realized it was locked I did not immediately panic because I knew there was a key above our bedroom door or the closet door. So I ran and got a chair to stand on and looked for the key. The problem was THE KEY WAS NOT THERE!! Yeah, that was when I started to panic. I know, I know you are asking why does her door have a lock on it anyway right? Well Eddie and I put locks on all the doors upstairs a long time ago, way before baby and to honest up till this happened I had never, ever thought about it. So as my heart beat started racing and realizing I had no idea how I was going to get in the door. I did what any good mom would do…I called Aunt Tonia. Yeah, well she was in a movie and said she would be right over…in the interim I called our neighbor Carole who said “oh no problem, I’ll be right over”. Thank God, she ran over in a less than 30 seconds and was at the top of the stairs, gift card in hand. Yes, I said gift card…lol, she used it to jimmy the door jam. Yup, pretty smart woman! Elyssa was in her room standing at her bed playing her stuffed animals and clean diapers! She had no idea she had put herself in a pickle of a situation at all. I on the other hand just wanted to cry, I never in my life felt so helpless. Later that evening when I was on the phone talking to Eddie he said “why didn’t you just use a clothes hanger to open it?” To be honest, I have no idea why I did not think of that solution except for the fact that I was just panicked and could not think straight. All I could think about was that I was unable to get to my baby..lol. Good thing to know that I do not react well in a high pressure situation regarding my daughter all I could do was, yes, panic! So that made me realize yet again, Elyssa will not be sleeping in her own room for a long time. I have such a fear of the house catching on fire and NOT being able to get to her. I know ridiculous but it is my “issue” so let me deal with it…lol! I mean come on... our bedroom is the size of a small apartment anyway; it is not like she is taking up all our space. In fact when I met Eddie I remember telling him that his master bathroom and closet was the size of my apartment…I could have just lived in there...lol! So, like I said my baby is staying my room for just a bit longer.
Today Elyssa went to mother’s day out. They were doing school pictures today. I was so excited about it. Come on, she is 19 months old and already getting school pictures done. I do hope they turned out good. The ladies in charge of her class said she did well and the lady in charge of the program said she had to put on a show for Elyssa in order to get her to smile! We will see how they turned out. I had an appointment with my Endocrinologist today. I started on the Insulin Pump about 3 weeks ago and they were checking on how things were going. I have to say I was o against the insulin pump for so long but now I am soooo glad I decided to start. It is just so practical and of course I got the coolest, neatest most advanced one I could get. It is the One Touch Ping and is just awesome. No more injections 4 times a day I just change my infusion site every 3 days and that is all. It is just amazing. I totally recommend it to any Type I Diabetics out there.
Well Elyssa is getting fussy; better go take care of my little princess…

Nov 1, 2008

Happy Halloween! Well this year was the first year I think Elyssa may have understood a bit about the Halloween season. I know I had mentioned I bought her 3 costumes…yes, I said 3, geez; some people just think I’m crazy. No, I just could not pick 1 cute one! Anyway, I had my heart set on her wearing her Old Navy Ladybug costume because I thought it was the cutest of all three, (ladybug, bumble bee and pink poodle) but Elyssa LOVED her “arf, arf” costume. So the pink poodle won her vote and she loved wearing it. She carried it around the house all day on Thursday and when it was time to put it on she “backed” up into it when I held it up. She was just sooo cute. We went to the downtown festival that was Thursday night. Since daddy was out of town (of course) Aunt Red and Aunt Tonia went with us to enjoy the fun. She did have a great time even though it was so crowed! She carried her little pumpkin around to get candy and was just the cutest little puppy you’ve ever seen. We did not do anything on Halloween night. She went to a make-up day at her Mother’s day out program on Friday and mommy went to the dentist to have a crown done ( fun, fun). We were going to go trick or treating with Aunt Red and her niece but Elyssa was so tired and mommy did not feel real great after her dental appointment. We also had to go pick Daddy up at the airport last night. I dressed her up in her Halloween PJ’s and we went into the baggage claim area of DFW and waited for daddy. She of course got lots of attention looking just too cute for words.

Oct 27, 2008

Wow, did we have an adventurous week! Last week Eddie decided he wanted Elyssa and me to go to Washington DC with him on his business trip. He is actually going to be in the DC area off and on for the next 13 weeks. So this of course meant another plane trip for little Princess Right? Well recently her GI dr put her on Periactin a drug given to people with anorexia to enhance their appetites. She hopes it will help increase Elyssa’s appetite and she will start eating… (We will see). Anyway back to my story, this medication is given to her at night because it makes her sleepy. Well being the smart woman that I am, and that our flight was at 8am I decided to skip her evening dose of the medication and give it to her in the morning. Boy was that a smart move!! She slept the whole way to Dulles International Airport! She woke up just as we were beginning to land and did wonderfully. The flight attendants just loved her and the one carried her off the plane for me so I could help carry off the luggage. Elyssa loved her and did not want to leave! Oh, what a wonderful flight we had, we honestly could not have asked for anything better. But things did get better! I used to live in the DC area and make the trip to Pittsburgh to see my family quite frequently. It is about a 4 ½ hour trip but quite manageable. So we decided to fly in on a Saturday, drive to Pittsburgh and Elyssa and I stayed with Grandma and Pappy till Wednesday of the following week. It was such a surprise of a trip and Elyssa go to visit with her grandma and pappy again. She even got to spend some time with her cousin Mikey who she had never , ever met. We had a wonderful visit and it was great seeing all the leaves changing again. You just don’t realize how much you miss of the seasons here in TX. We have 2 seasons…Very Hot… and Cool. Elyssa had a blast playing in the leaves and playing outside with grandma and pappy. On Monday night we even had the opportunity to visit with some of mommy’s friends Jenn & Lynnette. We went out to dinner and went back to their place where Elyssa had a wonderful time playing with the puppy and their kitty! On Wednesday grandma and pappy drove us to meet Daddy in Breezwood and we went back to DC with him. It was really nice being in the DC area again. I can honestly say it was quite a culture shock when I started driving around the area again. I am soooo glad we have are Garmin GPS!! I would not have survived without it. We got lots of pictures of the area, but of course it was cold and a bit rainy so we did not take Elyssa out a lot. I did not want her getting sick or anything. We got back into town on Saturday night and poor daddy had to fly back to DC Sunday evening! The trip back went pretty good also, I did not give her the meds this time since it was the middle of the afternoon. I decided to take my chances and she did just fine. She made friends with the people in the seats behind us and the flight attendants just loved her. Of course they did right? Who wouldn’t?? We can’t wait to go back again and daddy is already planning another trip for us!

Sept 29, 2008

Wow, I am sitting here in my living room and it is completely silent. Now that does not happen much at all anymore. The TV is not on, cartoons are not playing, no little pitter patter of little feet, no musical or vibrating toy sounding in the distance…just silence. Well, ok, there is the “hmmmm” of the oscillating fan in the background but we wont count that. Elyssa is at MDO (mothers day out) today. I can honestly say I do look forward to these days, my few hours of just this “silence”. I can remember a time before the baby, you know “BB” when all my time was just that “my time”, but now it is all Elyssa’s time. I certainly don’t mind it at all, that cute adorable little fact looking up at me all toothy smiles. The hanging onto my short bottoms and tugging me to where she wants me to go all the time. Her grabbing of my hands so she can walk on my feet around the house. If she were not just so darn cute!!! Eddie is actually home this week. He was supposed to be in Missouri but the trip was cancelled last minute so he is home. Of course he is not home this very second, he is at the dr’s. He really hurt his shoulder last weekend and has been in some horrible pain this week while in California. Since he was off this week he decided to go and have it checked out. So that left me here at the house sitting in silence! I did get a lot of work done thought, you know the wifely duties, sweeping, vacuuming and the sort but now that is all done and I am free to do with my time what I please. Elyssa does not get out of MDO till 2:15.

We have a busy week planned this week. Tomorrow she has therapy in the morning and an appointment with her GI dr in the afternoon. Wednesday she has her group “Feeding Frenzy” in the morning and we are going to the fair in the afternoon/ evening. I cannot wait to take her to see the animals. She has not ever been up close and personal with any animals such as ducks, pigs, cows, or horses so this should be so much fun seeing her reaction. On Thursday she has Therapy again in the morning and on Friday we are going to the “Big Orange Pumpkin Patch”! I can’t wait to get some cute pictures of her at the Pumpkin patch. They also have a petting farm, hay rides and all kinds of kids play areas. She will have a blast. We went last year but she was so young she did not get the full enjoyment out of it.

I have to tell a story of something cute Elyssa did the other night. We were sitting here watching TV and eating Pringles. She would go from me to Eddie to get a chip. We gladly gave them to her since she never wants to eat and if she wanted chips to eat it by goodness we were going to give her chips! Well she was going behind the glider rocker ottoman and what we thought was eating her chips. Unbeknownst to us, we found out the next day, that Eddie’s shoes were behind the glider ottoman as well. Our little dear princess who we thought was eating her Pringles was actually breaking them up and putting them in Daddy’s Shoes!!! Eddie put on her shoes to a crunching sound. Elyssa was there and so proud of her self, started smiling and giggling. I almost think she knew that what she did was funny or it could have been Eddie and I cracking up over the whole escapade! Well chalk one up for Elyssa, what will she do next?

Well I guess I better go enjoy what is left of “my time” it is so very short and so sweet while it lasts!

Sept 28, 2008

Yeah, not a pleasant topic but one I had to deal with this week with little princess. I being the “bad mom” that I am let her prescription for Prevacid run out. So I took it to the pharmacy to get it filled and it needed dr’s authorization to get it filled. Of course this was not an easy process, as most things never are; she ended up going for 2 days without it. I have always been skeptical about whether or not it actually worked for her gastric reflux, but after 2 days without it I have NO reservations about the cost of the $45 copay every month! I was putting her to bed on Wednesday night, same routine as always, she takes a milk Sippy cup and usually falls asleep in my arms, and I put her in her crib right? Well, this blessed evening, I put her down in her bed, got as far as the bedroom door and heard her choking, ran back to the crib to find her sitting up, projectile puking all over the place! She finally stopped and I picked her puke covered self up and took her to the bathroom stood her beside the tub only to have her puke all over the tub and the floor. YUP, fun night for me. Eddie was out of town, of course, and I had to manage to clean it all up and her all by my self. Needless to say, it was no fun. But what I did realize is that she does need the Prevacid, and cannot for any reason go with out it. Soooooo, mom will never, ever let that one run out again…lol.

The next day she had her 18 month check-up appointment. I of course begged for the prescription and got it and found out that she is at 22lbs and holding. Yeah, 18 months old and only 22 lbs. As we all know that is a whole other story, her “eating” therapy is progressing but she seems to be at a stand still. Last Thursday she went on an eating strike and I cannot seem to get her to eat anything right now. This too, I hope will pass. She has an appt with her GI doctor on Tuesday. I guess we will see if there is anything else that may be causing her to not want to eat. I of course wish I had her problem for about a month…lol, could stand to loose a few pounds..lol.

We are preparing for the big Halloween season and of course Fall is upon us.. Last weekend was Oktoberfest in Addison. We had a great time. We went with Aunt Lisa, Aunt Tonia and Aunt Red and of course Daddy was in town as well. They had `the Dashound races so Elyssa loved seeing all the little dogs. I am not sure what she is going to be for Halloween, I have a few ideas but cannot decide on one. What’s a mom to do? What ever it is she is going to be just so darn adorable! Oh, and of course this is also football season. Go Cowboys and Go Steelers!! How about a Cowboys/ Steelers Super bowl this year?? I like the sounds of it.

She is just changing so much, and talking up a storm! Not always sure what she is saying but I think she learns a new word every day. Her newest word is “keys” (she loves playing with keys) and “bub-bubs” (for bubbles-she cant say the whole word). She is very good at letting you know what she wants by pointing or babbling it to you. It wont be long before she is chattering up a storm! She definitely understands more than she can say. I can give her exact instruction and she follows them completely. Just too darn cute!! She can dance, jump, plays with Play doh and build towers with her blocks now, gosh I just cannot believe how much she is changing and becoming a little girl vs. a little baby. I have to cherish every moment, these days will not last forever you know…

Sept 20, 2008

Yes, our little princess got her first haircut yesterday. Her bangs were so long you could not see her eyes. So we took her to this really great hair place just for kids where they take her picture, frame it and give you locks of her hair. It was so cute! She did pretty good while she was there, just wined a bit and cried one tear the whole time. It was almost sad watching her, my little girl is growning up so much! She is not a baby anymore...

Sept 12, 2008

Well lesson learned and well another trip up and coming. I guess we all have to do it sometime, it is unenviable. At some point every parent wants to take their precious little baby or toddler on an airplane. Elyssa has been on a plane before, in fact several times at that! What is different this time, why was this trip the trip to top all trips you ask??? She can walk now…yup, those little legs now know how to get up and going and all she wants to do is run and climb everything, including me. On the plane it was no different. I can honestly say I dreaded the plane trip weeks before we left. We wanted to go see Aunt Heidi and Uncle Ken, we owed them a visit and it had been since Elyssa’s first b-day since Aunt Heidi had seen her. So with all of our free flights we booked that magical trip. We took the DVD player with us so Elyssa could watch Wonder Pet’s or Baby Einstein’s or even Blues Clues or Barney if she wanted. Whatever it would take to keep our princess happy on the plane….yeah, right. What a farce, who said that a 17 month old would actually pay attention to a 7 inch screen that was streaming video of her favorite shows??? Not my child, oh not my little princess!!! From the minute / second we got on the plane we were in trouble. She would not for any reason what so ever, sit still, or sit down in a seat. Since she is under 2 she flies free, but she has to sit on our lap, right? Well neither one of us could make her understand that. Just try reasoning with a 17 month old baby.. I dare you! Our child was “that child”; you know the one, that one that all the passengers, whisper about, and look at you and shake their heads…yup, that was Elyssa. She made a name for herself on that flight and it was not a good one. The really bad part is we had a layover in El Paso on the way to Phoenix which made the trip even longer. By the time we got to Phoenix I was ready to cry..lol. I got off the plane looked at Eddie and told him I wanted to rent a car and drive home. He just kept saying Benadryl; we are going to use Benadryl on the way home. Apparently Benadryl is supposed to put your precious child to sleep as well as take care of any allergies or sinus issues they may have. So I agreed, what did I have to loose, except maybe my sanity. So on the trip back we stopped at Walgreens picked up the Benadryl and headed to the airport. Well let me bet the first to refute the Benadryl claim!! They are FALSE I tell you, FALSE!! The trip back was the same hell that the trip going was, if not worse. I can’t believe that the child on the airplane was my child. I feel like she was possessed on the plane and I feel bad for all of the passengers who were stuck sitting anywhere near us…!!! I have no idea what we will do to prepare for our next trip in a couple months. I am certainly dreading every waking moment of it and it will be an even longer flight because we are going home to visit Grandma and Pappy in Pittsburgh, soooooo I think I need to take some Valium before we leave…lol.

Our visit with Aunt Heidi and Uncle Ken was great! Elyssa just loved the dogs, there were two, a German Shepard named Jesse and a Pitt Bull named Lexi, she had a blast palying with them! We got to go swimming in Aunt Heidi’s incredible pool. Uncle Ken took us to the Air Force Base and we got to see all the Jets and neat stuff. Aunt Heidi took us to one of the state parks where we took some incredible pictures and Uncle Ken even got all his toys out and took Elyssa on her first Quad ride. We really had a great time. The weather was great, the temp was between 107-109 the whole time we were there, but we are used to the heat. Texas has it’s own heat to deal with so after you hit 100 it is all relative. It was sad when we had to leave, I think Aunt Heidi did not want Princess Elyssa to leave, and had I known how bad the flight home was going to be , I just might have left her with her…lol, just kidding, just kidding….I could not live without my little girl (monster) even for a day!