Day 389 - We're Surviving

Okay, so there's been a lot happen since Thanksgiving...  Where to begin?

Well the first event, and the main one as to why I haven't updated the blog - Richard fell hanging Christmas lights on December 4 and dislocated his ankle.  He was stepping off the ladder onto the roof and fell.  No body was home with him, but a neighbor called an ambulance.  He's still having trouble with the ankle - he's at least able to walk with a cane now instead of with crutches.

Other than the ankle dislocation, Elizabeth's first Christmas was good.  She saw Santa, and did really well.  She didn't act too scared.  Had two celebrations - one in East Texas  with my grandmother and aunt & uncle from Houston, and one here at home with Richard's parents.  Elizabeth had so much fun!  She loved everything she received and you could tell!

New Year's was pretty uneventful.  Mom kept Elizabeth so I could have a break - I had been having to take care of both her and Richard.  I think Elizabeth knew New Year's Eve was special - Mom said she stayed up late "dancing" at Mom's bed's headboard.  We had one tired baby New Year's Day!

Elizabeth experienced her first snow on January 9.  She sat in her high chair watching it out our back door.  I know watched for at least half an hour before getting tired of it.  I bundled her up later and took her outside to see what she thought.  She watched the flakes falling and then I got her to touch some that had accumulated.  She didn't know what to think of the accumulation, but she enjoyed "snow watching."

Mid-February Richard went back to work from his injury.  He got put on the day shift, and we quite liked that.  It felt like we were having things pretty normal.

In March, Richard and I began discussing having an actual wedding ceremony.  Plans are in effect and the event is the end of this month.  We, Richard and I both, started going back to college!  Richard's getting his degree in IT Management and I'm getting my degree in Marketing Management.  So far things are going good for us both.  March 23, Elizabeth turned a year old.  We had two birthday "parties" for her - again one in East Texas and one at Richard's parent's house.  I made rainbow cupcakes for her East Texas party - she liked the chocolate icing more than the cupcakes.  She also received and got to ride home in her front-facing car seat!  She was so happy - she loved it!  I know all the recommendations and safety guidelines - she had gotten to the max weight and height for our rear-facing seat, we had to get a new one.

And now we get to April 1 - April Fool's Day.  Elizabeth and I had gone out to do errands, and we got home mid-afternoon.  Richard's truck was in the driveway.  I didn't think much about it - either he had been moved back to the night shift or he had been sick at work or something.  I walk into the office and say, "Oh you got fired; April Fools!"  To which he replied, "I did."  Of course, I thought he was playing along - I should have known better, he doesn't joke about things like that.  It got to the point where I said (through tears) that if he was joking, it wasn't funny anymore - he promised he wasn't joking.  Back at Thanksgiving, Richard worked the holiday weekend from home.  It was hours over his normal schedule, so he put in an overtime sheet.  It was denied because "their department didn't get overtime."  Basically, Richard fought it, they still denied it, Richard gave up because he needed the job, and his boss got mad.  He was on probation for something along the lines of misuse of a company document (overtime sheet) when he had his accident and went on disability.  Texas is at-will employment, so when his boss decided to, he fired him.  No real reason given.

Richard got approved for unemployment benefits and is working on getting another job.  For now, we're surviving.  And our wedding ceremony is still on, so at least we have something to look forward too.  Of course, Elizabeth is loving it right now because of how much Daddy time she's getting!

Day 253 - I finally decide to update Project Elizabeth.

Oh my little Elizabeth is advancing so fast!  She can sit on her own, pull up to a standing position, and is "talking" so much!  She'll be walking any day now.  She has her bottom two middle teeth.  The top middle two teeth seem to be coming in - I felt one the other day, but I can't any more.

She's started eating mashed up table food.  She had Thanksgiving dinner with us!  She loved it all!

Day 135 - I remember I have a blog.

God, I haven't updated in awhile. This is going to be a short post, have got so much to do. I have been so busy. Richard's sister is coming down from Canada later this month and I'm trying to get the house in order before she gets here. The garage is mostly cleaned out, but now I've got boxes in the house that need to be gone through.

Elizabeth has started doing so much more than last time I updated. She can roll over from back to front and front to back. She's almost crawling. She's eating some solids. She wants to walk so bad - she can support her own weight on her legs.

I can't really think of anything else notable right now.

Day 82 - I finally have a car!

Well, a lot has happened since my last post. Elizabeth has learned a new trick - how to scoot herself along on her back by kicking her feet. I'd be more enthusiastic if it hadn't caused us a trip to the emergency room... She scooted herself off of the changing table. Richard thought she was asleep and laid her down on the changing pad. He turned away for a second and boom... I heard a sound, thought, "I hope that wasn't what I think that was. What is Richard doing?" and then heard crying. I don't think I had ever gotten out of bed that fast before. If there was any doubt in my mind that I shouldn't have had a baby, it went away that moment. All I wanted to do was take her pain away and soothe her. I was hysterical. I started bawling and I knew it wasn't helping her, it was making her more upset, but I couldn't help it. I was worried about my baby girl. Richard kept trying to calm me down, telling me that she would be okay. He told me later that he had every intention of going to the ER and that checking her eyes to make sure they dilated for a light source was to help me calm down - not so that we wouldn't go. She is fine. They did a CT scan of her head to make sure there wasn't any bleeding - she hated that with a passion. She has always hated being swaddled and not being able to move and they had to strap her arms down. I felt so bad - I kept telling her that it was okay, it would be over soon, it was to make sure she was alright, etc. When we got home, I fell asleep on the couch with Elizabeth in the bouncy beside me. Every time she tossed her bottle and started crying, I jumped. The bottle made a thump noise when it hit the ground.

The next morning while I was changing her diaper, she puts her feet up like she's going to scoot, I tell her not to even think about it - that's what got her in trouble the day before and she just wriggles her hips and grins at me. I swear she's just screwing with me now. A little later, I was cradling her in my arms on the sofa and she decides to spring-board off of my arm. I could tell what she was doing and was quick enough to turn to where she landed on a pillow on the sofa. Again, she just grinned at me. I find it funny in a "let's mess with Mommy" way.

So Richard and I are working on getting packed to move into our new house next weekend. Mom took Elizabeth today so that we could get stuff done and was keeping her overnight. I forgot to pack the medicine droppers, so Mom had to come and pick them up. I needed a break, so the three of us went out shopping. When we got back, Richard asked me if I wanted a car. I thought to myself, "What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I do." and said questioningly that yeah, I did. He told me that his dad asked if we wanted his '96 Infiniti I30. I want an SUV at some point, but right now, I really don't care as long as I have a big enough vehicle. I told him that I had no problem with that. So tonight, I made "Thank You" pound cake for Richard's parents. The recipe I had made two loaves, so I divided it up and made one a Mayan Chocolate and the other Mocha. (Mayan Chocolate is chocolate with cinnamon.) I'm giving half of each flavor to his parents. The other halves we're going to taste and share with Mom. I have really missed baking. I haven't really cooked since before I gave birth to Elizabeth. Hopefully, I can start cooking and baking again soon.

Day 66 part 2 - I am too tired to drive home.

Well, I drove over to Mom's to let the cable guy in. By the time we went out to the new house and got back to her apartment, I was way too tired to drive home. Thus Elizabeth and I are crashing at Mom's tonight. We adjusted the stroller into the full reclining position and put some blankets down. She's asleep right now. It is the funniest thing though, Jake is "protecting" her. He is keeping constant vigil by the stroller. She made a noise earlier and Jake jumped up from laying down and gently raised up and peered over the side of the stroller to make sure "his" baby was okay. I told him that she was sleeping and not to disturb her. He's now laying on Mom's bed as close as he can to the stroller. When she fidgets, he raises his head in concern. It is so cute the way he worries over her. I knew he would be okay with the new addition to the family, but never did I imagine the love he has for her. I think I mentioned before that he'll be moving into the new house with us. I bet I know who's room he'll be sleeping in!

Day 66 - We have a house!

We closed on a house on Tuesday and we get the keys today! I'm so excited. I'm taking Mom to the house tonight to show her - and so I can remember the exact layout. We looked at so many houses a lot of them started running together in my mind. I've got to go to Mom's apartment today to wait for the cable guy. Her internet has been out all week and her cable boxes are acting weird. I was over there earlier this week and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I'm going to start going through things while I'm over there. I need to get my stuff sorted out. There's a lot of stuff I need to find. I bought a lot of stuff on sale back in 2007 when I thought I would have my own apartment. Mom and I thought we'd be moving two different places - she thought she would be in Houston and I thought I would be in College Station. Things happen for a reason though.

Day 62 - She's 2 months old!

Well, today was Elizabeth's two-month birthday. Yesterday, she and Mom went to see Grandma in Palestine. They had a good time and I was able to get things done around the apartment. Looks like we'll be closing on the new house next week. I'm so excited about that. We're trying to set our moving date for the weekend of June 18. I'm trying to round up help. I can't wait to be in our new home.

I've got a lot of measuring to do. I can't wait to decorate. Three years ago, I bought things for "my apartment" that I never got. Finally, I have a place to decorate!

Am watching the Lost series finally. I had TiVo'ed it, so I'm a bit behind.