Week in Review ~ 1/8

We are catching our breath from a very busy week. Jumping in with both feet was a bit of an understatement. And of course, it was back to school which I wasn't exactly thrilled about. I was still not feeling well and not eating much at all. Apparently Ned and I had the same bug, if that's what it was, but by Tuesday I was feeling better. Two years ago exactly I felt the same way, but I was 10 or 11 weeks pregnant. I was starting to get a bit suspicious.

Ned had meetings on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week and all fell right at the dinner hour. Avery misses seeing Daddy, and I miss the extra hands for serving dinner, wiping messes, and bathing. Once I get Avery in bed I'm good with a little alone time though.

We took Avery to the pediatrician Tuesday for her ear check. The waiting room was as full as the last time, but luckily we were seen quickly. Avery cries as soon as we start to undress her these days, sitting on the scale is unacceptable, and taking her temperature is uncalled for. I had to wiggle out of my coat while she was on my lap, and that caused continued tears as well. Most of her exams take place right in my lap. Her ear (it's usually the right) looked better but still had some clear fluid. The doctor said there was about a 50% chance of it becoming reinfected. She's off of the Bactrim but will remain on Claritin through the winter. On this particular day, putting her clothes back on upset her. Avery left the office a puddle of tears, and I left a puddle of sweat. They keep assuring me that she'll love coming in one day.

Before Ned's meeting Thursday, we went and finalized our house plans. That was a fairly easy process, and we never had to make huge changes to what he did originally. Now we're ready when the time is right. It was an eye opening experience as far as cost in some areas. Did you know a working chimney/fireplace costs around $15,000? Ned and I would love to make $30,000 on the two we have in this house. Avery went with us for the first time and did well sitting in our laps and crunching on some Cheerios. I didn't realize we had gone past her dinner, so we stopped on the way home to pick up something quick. Ned had dinner at the fire department, and Avery just wasn't happy with what I provided. I went to put baby food fruit in her plain yogurt and she fell all to pieces when I stirred it up. She has done the same thing before when I broke a piece of bread in half. Poor baby evidently knows what she wants and Mama is missing the message. I finally had to call quits on both of our dinners and put her to bed. I figured she was out of sorts because of a late dinner and a nap cut short by a bathroom issue. The week had finally caught up with me and I was asleep on the couch when Ned got home.

She was in better spirits Friday night even though we were late with dinner. Ned cooked steaks on the grill and Avery played happily. She was very tired by bedtime and fussed off and on in her sleep until we went to bed. That's so rare for her, and my policy is to stay out unless I can tell it's a big emergency.

Avery slept until a little after 7 Saturday morning which was much appreciated since Ned had gone hunting. We woke up to more snow but just a dusting. She took a good nap and then we braved the cold wind to go to Walmart. Her eyes and nose were already a bit runny, and she didn't like the wind one bit. While I was getting her back in her seat to go home, and man approached us asking for money. He left when I told him no, and there were others around, but I am such a weenie about things like that and was sure he was going to steal us both. Avery had another meltdown waiting for her dinner but did enjoy some pizza. She cried again when Ned took her out of the bath and couldn't get it together. She seemed so tired even though she had slept well. She cried off and on after she went to sleep, so I finally went in with some medicine. Her poor little foot was hung in the railing above her bumper. Not sure how she managed that since she's in a sleep sack, and I don't know if it was really bothering her, but I scared her when I touched it, and she did the no sound cry. On the rare occasion I do go in to her, I hardly ever pick her up, but I scooped her right up then. I'm really not a mean mama, that's just what's worked for us, and she's a great night sleeper. I rocked her for a minute or two, put her down awake, and left without hearing a peep.

We're definately worried about sickness now with the way she's acting. She came off her antibiotic this week and was back around the children at the sitter's. I was back at school with children who've been coughing for months. And since I'm late posting, tonight (Sunday) she has a fever.

I'm hoping for no winter weather this week since we have a 4-day weekend coming up. I'm especially hoping for no ice. Avery needs to get well for her 18-month pictures Friday, and Ned and I will probably go out to celebrate my birthday a bit early. I'm having a hard time coming up with gift ideas because I just got gifts at Christmas. I'm considering Kindle though, because a blog I read has given me a huge list of must-read books. Ned keeps tempting me with an iPad. I think he wants the laptop back.

Here are a few fun pictures from our week. Avery loves get Pepsi cans from the box before I put them in the fridge.



Popping the top after a hard day.



Ned thinks this is the funniest thing ever. I think it's funny because I put my Pepsi on ice and don't drink from the can. She knows exactly what to do, though.



Avery also decided to love Bitty this week. I honestly think she thought it was a real baby when she got her. She would kiss her but did not want her in my lap. She carried her around a good 15 minutes one night and alternated between patting her back and banging her head on the floor. We'll need to work on that before baby #2.