Winter BLAHS!

I'm hoping that when I am on mat leave that I will be able to post more often! Although, with a (will be) six year old and a newborn, my life is likely going to become even more chaotic than it is now!

We've had a usual Puddicombe Clan month and a half. It started with an emergency trip to the Children's Hospital and kinda went nutso from there.

I was out with some girlfriends one evening. Actually, I was at a friends house, having dinner with some long-time friends, eating and chatting like we love to do. I got home around 12:30am to hear my daughter weeping and sounding like she was sick. I ran up to our room to see her naked, hot and crying and her dad looking worried. Her head was hurting. After tylenol, two throw-ups on Mommy, a bath, and inability to walk, we called health-links. I was pretty calm and just wanted to know if we could give her something else to help ease the pain and nausea...my calmness turned into FREAK-OUTness, when the nurse started asking me about heart disease in my 5 year-olds life! What does heart disease have to do with a five year old? Of course, those who know us, know that Billy's dad's side of the family ALL have heart disease. I told her that and she then asked me if Abi was having problems walking...which she was. She then tells me to get her to the children's hospital right away. I went from thinking about giving my child gravol, to thinking she was going to die...for those of you who know me, know that this is my typical state of mind when in a panic. I over-react.

When we got the hospital at 2am, they saw her right away, where I was informed they thought she might have mennigitis. After some tests and questions for abi, they told us she suffers from migraines. I thought migrains were stress-related...what kind of stress is my child going through? Aparently though, this is hereditary. Abi has an aunt, two nephews, and a great-grandma who suffer from them. So now we are on to watching her sodium levels and paying close attention to possible triggers.

Then Billy turned 38...and on the same weekend got bad news about some family members. One of which was a cousin who killed himself. So now, Billy is off for a 20 hour road trip to a town outside of Chicago, IL for a funeral. Five days without my husband. Five days of being alone with abi. Five days of trying to make the five year old understand why daddy had to go, and why he was sad. It was difficult for everyone, and we were so happy to see him come home.

On top of this, it's budget time at work. I hate numbers. Always have, always will. Although I do enjoy the puzzle aspect of a budget, it gets mind-numbing after a while. Add the fact that I'm HUGE and can't walk, you get a woman who is completely useless after about a week of non-stop , on the go.

Abi started swimming lessons. We had skipped a year of swimming with her last year when she was in ballet, and I had no idea how much difference one year can make! She was never afraid of the water until this time around. BUT, true to abi style, she puts on her brave face (which breaks her mom's heart) and jumped right in. She is doing pretty good now. She's still afraid to let go of the teacher when floating on her back, and doesn't like not having her feet on the ground, but she is coming around. I don't think I will skip another year with her.

Abi also had her first cavity...GASP. I know, I know, shame on me. BUT I would like to remind you that I only did dental assisting for two years...then got out of there fast! Her experience getting the filling wasn't a great one, so she has the fear in her and brushes and flosses her teeth VERY WELL now.

The baby is growing and kicking and punching. It's nice to feel the baby move, it's very reassuring and I am now starting to enjoy being pregnant. We got the results of the ultra-sound and may have to go for another one later on. The ultra sound showed that the baby is doing well, but that the placenta is lying low. Usually this corrects itself in the third trimester. They will have to check that it has, and if not, then I will likely have to go for a C-section....do you think they would do a free tummy-tuck for me? I JOKE...I know it wouldn't be free :)

Well, that about sums it up. See ya in about a month or two!!!

To those I love, peace.

D