Okay, i called the dentist first thing this morning and they got me in at 11:20 (I got someone to cover my classes and go back at 12:30, pumped, at lunch, and was teaching at 1:00). The bad news: my tooth is totally screwed up. This tooth, by the way, started plaguing me at age 10! The baby tooth was pulled. The adult tooth wouldn't descend which screwed up alignment in all my teeth. Surgery in 7th grade to scrape off the gum and glue on a bracket for braces. Four years later, the braces come off. 7 years later there is badness and needs a root canal. Then there is a cyst (size of a skittle) to be removed with surgery. Then there is another root canal for some reason. Then Dave says "Hey, why do you have a dark tooth" and I found out it had "died". So it was ground down to a nubbin and a crown was put on. Two years later, a co-worker says, "hey, that crown looks shabby, you should have it re-done" to which the dentist said, yes, it isn't our best work, we'll re-do it for free. new crown. Falls off two years ago. Reglued and replaced since it broke off the stump that held it into the root-canaled empty root. Now it is loose. x-rays later this morning it is revealed that the remaining root (which isn't much) is cracked in half on both sides. what I need: Extraction (pulling it out, don't ask me how or what they'll pull on). Then a titanium root is inserted. Then I get a retainer with a fake tooth on it because there will be a big whole. This will last three to six months. Then they'll put on a new crown. Oh, and after insurance pays the measly $600 or so it covers, I'll owe about $3,000. Nice. oh, and I'm out of sick days so I'll need Jen to take Charlotte to her sixth month appointment on the 16th of May (I'll meet up with her briefly to nurse if someone covers my classes) so that I can take the next day off to start the horrors.
Did I mention that this is a front tooth?
Dave has renamed it "super tooth", which made me laugh (and cry).
Thank you to everyone who sent nice comments about my plight. Just one day at a time, I guess. I suppose this has reaffirmed my faith in god because all I can do is pray for strength right now (remember the old "footsteps" story?).
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
The end of my rope
1. I have a 6 month old baby.
2. I breastfeed, so I am the baby's only source of food.
3. I get up at 5:oo am to nurse the baby pretty much every day.
4. I get up at least once at night to put the cat outside because he is making too much noise begging for attention by banging on walls and doors.
5. I get up for work at 5:55.
6. I work full time.
7. As a middle school teacher.
8. I have a crown on my front tooth that is loose and about to fall off and I have to wait 4 days for a dentist appointment and I don't even know what I'll do with the baby then.
9. The cat is now peeing on things (twice in front of me) because he wants more attention
10. My husband is out of town and has been steadily since March 21.
11. He will be out of town until the end of May.
I am a single mom working full time with a pain in the ass cat and a broken tooth. I don't know how much longer I can take this. Note the lack of cute smilies after that statement. I'm not laughing. I'm not smiling. I'm pretty much doing alot of crying.
2. I breastfeed, so I am the baby's only source of food.
3. I get up at 5:oo am to nurse the baby pretty much every day.
4. I get up at least once at night to put the cat outside because he is making too much noise begging for attention by banging on walls and doors.
5. I get up for work at 5:55.
6. I work full time.
7. As a middle school teacher.
8. I have a crown on my front tooth that is loose and about to fall off and I have to wait 4 days for a dentist appointment and I don't even know what I'll do with the baby then.
9. The cat is now peeing on things (twice in front of me) because he wants more attention
10. My husband is out of town and has been steadily since March 21.
11. He will be out of town until the end of May.
I am a single mom working full time with a pain in the ass cat and a broken tooth. I don't know how much longer I can take this. Note the lack of cute smilies after that statement. I'm not laughing. I'm not smiling. I'm pretty much doing alot of crying.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Ahhhh....spring!
Also, Ahhhhh...a day off! I took a personal day today to just have some Katie time. Jen was kind enough to pick up Charlotte and bring her to daycare so that I could go back to sleep. I slept until 10:30. I have so far mostly laid around. Considering that this has not happened for about 6 months, I think I deserve it. Also, Dave will be gone for the next two week, weekend included, so there are no breaks there. I've enlisted the help of kind friend Jen to give her a bottle a couple of times this weekend. This is because I'm participating in a breast pump study (I get $100) and I have to pump twice a day, even on weekends so someone has to give Charlotte a bottle.
The last week or so I"ve been agonizing about the whole work situation. The question has been: Work part time or no time? Many say that if you CAN do stay at home, to take it! But there are other considerations. The plusses of working part time? Well, I contribute toward years of service and my retirement. I get non-baby/adult time (this is reduced slightly since I mostly see 7th graders). I get extra $$, which is nice and can help us to buy a house in a better school district for Charlotte. Also, I am guaranteed a job year to year instead of having to start all over in the job hunt, and I love my co-workers!
But I'm leaning more toward just being at home. IT is hard to make a decision now since Charlotte is waking up at night and Dave is gone ALOT...so it is really crappy right now. But even with part time I'd likely be at school from 7:30 until noon. And right now my job satisfaction is pretty low. I'm struggling with some of these kids and they are so ungrateful and I"m stressed. Of course, again, I'm doing full time now and teaching three different classes (including science, which is notoriously harder to prep for)...If I went part time I"d just be doing one prep.
Wow, when I started typing, I was 90% sure to stay at home. But now it doesn't seem so bad. Of course, now I'm sitting at home on a day off with no kid and no work. Everything seems easy now. I think Charlotte does need me at home and that I am the best care for her. And if I"m pregnant again next spring, working would suck.
Anyway, the purpose of the post was going to be to about last weekend and how nice it was. We got outside and Charlotte spent some time in her little tent, with her sunglasses on, and in her adirondack chair (got at a garage sale for $1.00 which explains the sticker on her). Remember, you can click on a pic to "enbiggen" as Susan says.
We also gave her her first rice cereal, here is a movie of it.
The last week or so I"ve been agonizing about the whole work situation. The question has been: Work part time or no time? Many say that if you CAN do stay at home, to take it! But there are other considerations. The plusses of working part time? Well, I contribute toward years of service and my retirement. I get non-baby/adult time (this is reduced slightly since I mostly see 7th graders). I get extra $$, which is nice and can help us to buy a house in a better school district for Charlotte. Also, I am guaranteed a job year to year instead of having to start all over in the job hunt, and I love my co-workers!
But I'm leaning more toward just being at home. IT is hard to make a decision now since Charlotte is waking up at night and Dave is gone ALOT...so it is really crappy right now. But even with part time I'd likely be at school from 7:30 until noon. And right now my job satisfaction is pretty low. I'm struggling with some of these kids and they are so ungrateful and I"m stressed. Of course, again, I'm doing full time now and teaching three different classes (including science, which is notoriously harder to prep for)...If I went part time I"d just be doing one prep.
Wow, when I started typing, I was 90% sure to stay at home. But now it doesn't seem so bad. Of course, now I'm sitting at home on a day off with no kid and no work. Everything seems easy now. I think Charlotte does need me at home and that I am the best care for her. And if I"m pregnant again next spring, working would suck.
Anyway, the purpose of the post was going to be to about last weekend and how nice it was. We got outside and Charlotte spent some time in her little tent, with her sunglasses on, and in her adirondack chair (got at a garage sale for $1.00 which explains the sticker on her). Remember, you can click on a pic to "enbiggen" as Susan says.
We also gave her her first rice cereal, here is a movie of it.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Easter
Easter was a good time 
with the Mothers and More easter egg hunt. Charlotte didn't hunt so much, but mom and dad had a good time socializing. Then on Sunday we went to my mom's.
Well, Charlotte and I have had our first colds together. I took her to the doctor on Friday and she got an anti-biotic for a sinus infection. I'm just toughing it out....for now. She is managing it pretty well. I suck the snot out as much as I can. She has a little trouble nursing since she's so congested. She nurses a bit then pulls away and gasps! then goes back to it.
Spring break was great. The nicest part was finding out the good news that Dave is getting a raise/promotion and will at some point actually be transferred to development. The bad news is that we don't know when. The "schedule" has Dave in Ohio until the end of May. This is pretty tough...I don't know if I can do it. Charlotte is wonderful, but it really sucks to be alone. He's already been gone four weeks and a weekend. But he'll be home next weekend (whoa, two in a row) so that is nice :-)
We just took Charlotte on a walk and she had her sunglasses on. So cute. She looked like an extreme snowboarding baby in her snowsuit and sunglasses.
Today we did laundry. Charlotte helped.
I'm pretty sure I won't be working full time next year. I meet with my principal on Monday to discuss part time options tomorrow. I don't think he'll have all that much to say...it's isn't all in his power. Making through the rest of the year will be pretty hard. I just want to be with Charlotte, and Dave. But it is mid-April already and only two months to go. I'll leave you with a video of Charlotte. She is watching daddy eat pizza...I think she might be ready for food.
with the Mothers and More easter egg hunt. Charlotte didn't hunt so much, but mom and dad had a good time socializing. Then on Sunday we went to my mom's.
Well, Charlotte and I have had our first colds together. I took her to the doctor on Friday and she got an anti-biotic for a sinus infection. I'm just toughing it out....for now. She is managing it pretty well. I suck the snot out as much as I can. She has a little trouble nursing since she's so congested. She nurses a bit then pulls away and gasps! then goes back to it.
Spring break was great. The nicest part was finding out the good news that Dave is getting a raise/promotion and will at some point actually be transferred to development. The bad news is that we don't know when. The "schedule" has Dave in Ohio until the end of May. This is pretty tough...I don't know if I can do it. Charlotte is wonderful, but it really sucks to be alone. He's already been gone four weeks and a weekend. But he'll be home next weekend (whoa, two in a row) so that is nice :-)
We just took Charlotte on a walk and she had her sunglasses on. So cute. She looked like an extreme snowboarding baby in her snowsuit and sunglasses.
Today we did laundry. Charlotte helped.
I'm pretty sure I won't be working full time next year. I meet with my principal on Monday to discuss part time options tomorrow. I don't think he'll have all that much to say...it's isn't all in his power. Making through the rest of the year will be pretty hard. I just want to be with Charlotte, and Dave. But it is mid-April already and only two months to go. I'll leave you with a video of Charlotte. She is watching daddy eat pizza...I think she might be ready for food.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Spring Break!
I am officially on Spring Break! Yippee. On Friday, I took charlotte to day care while I cleaned. I've never worked so hard! Every time I wanted a break, I had to remember that this was my one chance to get this stuff done! I vacuumed the house from tippy top to the very bottom and even did all the crevices. I cleaned the kitchen and both bathrooms. I did a load of laundry and one of diapers. I cleaned Charlotte's room. I got her four hours later and was exhausted! Still, I went for a walk with Charlotte and Jen and Kiera since the weather was nice and this time of year you just can't count on that all the time.
On Saturday we went to Muskegon and spent the day with my grandma and my dad. It was a really lovely day and we had fun. Some of the photos are posted on Charlotte's site and I can't remember how to link a site to here, so you'll have to copy and paste it in. http://web.mac.com/bake3310/iWeb/Charlotte%20Jane/St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20and%20Gigi.html
Today we just chilled at home for most of the day and then we went to target. I only needed a couple of things, but walked away with more, like usual. One great find was these sunglasses for Charlotte. It was chilly, so she had her hat on, she isn't going snowboarding or anything!
Charlotte has also just learned how to make high-pitched squealing noises. These are very fun to make and therefore must be made often. She also seems to have gotten her first cold. She has a very runny nose and when she sneezes, great rivers of clear snot come out. It doesn't seem to have slowed her down, though. I use the aspirator (my sister told me I'd need these and I thought she was crazy until now) and suck out as much as I can. I also put a rolled up blanket under the crib mattress so she's on an incline for drainage and I have a humidifier with eucalyptus scent going in her room.
On Saturday we went to Muskegon and spent the day with my grandma and my dad. It was a really lovely day and we had fun. Some of the photos are posted on Charlotte's site and I can't remember how to link a site to here, so you'll have to copy and paste it in. http://web.mac.com/bake3310/iWeb/Charlotte%20Jane/St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20and%20Gigi.html
Today we just chilled at home for most of the day and then we went to target. I only needed a couple of things, but walked away with more, like usual. One great find was these sunglasses for Charlotte. It was chilly, so she had her hat on, she isn't going snowboarding or anything!Charlotte has also just learned how to make high-pitched squealing noises. These are very fun to make and therefore must be made often. She also seems to have gotten her first cold. She has a very runny nose and when she sneezes, great rivers of clear snot come out. It doesn't seem to have slowed her down, though. I use the aspirator (my sister told me I'd need these and I thought she was crazy until now) and suck out as much as I can. I also put a rolled up blanket under the crib mattress so she's on an incline for drainage and I have a humidifier with eucalyptus scent going in her room.
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