Okay, so normally I would take a shower first thing in the morning before work during the week or before E went to work on the weekends. Today.............I thought I'd wait til he napped since I'm working from home. Well, that turned into taking a shower right AFTER he got up. He had already had his snack and was watching Dora. So I thought I'd jump in and out of the shower. I could hear him wandering the apartment, even stopped in the bathroom to say hi to me. I got out a few minutes later and COULD.NOT.FIND.HIM.
Not a single noise coming from him, not even a giggle.
The front door was locked with a doorknob cover on it, he couldn't have gotten out. His bathroom and closet doors were the same, couldn't get in there.
I checked our closet (it's a walk-through to the bathroom) and even the cupboard in the bathroom (he loves to hide there). NOTHING.
I checked the ottomans, which is usual spot to go when he wants to "get away from it all." NO DUCK.
I start to really panic that I can't find him and he's not answering (gotta love this aspect of his developmental delay).
I finally check UNDER THE BED. I even have a card table under there, but sure enough, that's where he was. He came out after I lifted the bed skirt and saw him. I just said, "come on out Duck" and out he came.
Made me wish that the thing was on the floor or that we had a solid base to our bed.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Diaper Doublers, apartment life and CARPET
I have a lucky Duck. Duck can wear generic diapers with no problems. I don't have to spend oodles of cash on Huggies or Pampers, I can buy Target brand diapers. I only spend about $35 a month on diapers. Yep, you read it right $35.
That's TWO cases of Target size 5 and one package of Diaper Doublers. What are Diaper Doublers you ask? Diaper Doublers are basically maxi pads with no plastic backing. Kind of like the ones you get after delivery in the hospital. Nice and absorbent. The goal is to stop leaking by doubling the capacity of the diaper.
I first heard about Doublers from a mom on my local mommy board. I was complaining that Duck was leaking through his diapers at night. So, I figured at $2.99 for a pack of 30, I couldn't beat the cost of an experiment. So, I went to Publix to buy them. For those not in the south, Publix is a major grocery store here in Florida......oh how I miss Meijer's back home in MI, though. Anyway, I was a bit skeptical at first, but wanted to have a dry Duck with dry pajamas and a dry bed. So, we tried them when he was about a year maybe? Perhaps a bit younger.
Well, at 2.5, it's a nightly ritual. RARELY do they fail me. And that's only when I put it in his last diaper and then he has more to drink. Duck knows that when I change that last diaper and put in the Doubler, that it's time for night-night. He gets up and heads right to his room.
I don't use Doublers because I buy store brand diapers. I use them only a nap and bedtime because he goes so long between diaper changes. I have friends who use them in Huggies and Pampers as well. I just can't see spending $28-$30 on a case of diapers that I can buy at Target for $15.
The sitter even uses them at naptime at her house (well, when I remember to pack them in his bag that is).
Unfortunately for Target, Publix is the only store in my area that carries Diaper Doublers. So, while I'm at Publix, I generally pick up a few other things that I need that I could EASILY buy at Target, like Gerber pear juice. But why make multiple trips, right? Why can't Target just carry these? After all they're a nationwide store, they could help mommies nationwide.
Oh, and for that matter, why can't you buy Target brand diapers on the Target website? I've bought other things on Target.com, Duck's Britax Marathon for example. Which, btw, is an AWESOME car seat.
I've decided to start a list of all the real reasons I hate apartment life:
1. Carpet in Florida apartments is just plain SILLY. Not like you need it to maintain warmth like you do back in Michigan.
2. The neighbor's private life ain't so private.
3. The other neighbor's alarm clock is set at an unGodly hour and typically will wake my toddler by 6:30 so that I don't have to set an alarm.
4. The upstairs neighbor that just moved in likes to vacuum after 9 p.m. when said toddler is trying to fall asleep.
5. The carpet is the cheapest stuff you can find with the lowest grade of padding. Brand new can have obvious wear patterns in just six months.
6. BUGS BUGS BUGS. No matter how hard you try, you can't get rid of them. I mean, I realize bugs are a part of living in FL, but that doesn't mean I have to have them in my house 24/7. My current battle is with the damn ants that live in the walls.
7. No place to play. I know some complexes have really nice playgrounds or tot lots. Ours does not. They have a volleyball court and a pool. I wish we had a playground for Duck to run around in.
8. SPEEDERS. We're in a corner building, right off the main road. Enough said about that.
9. Having to clean up after the last tenant because the complex didn't do so.....we walked into our current place and found DIRTY BOXERS between the washer and dryer.....really, they were pretty much in plain site.
Reason I hate cleaning carpet:
1. infant vomit......when Duck was a baby, I eventually starting feeding him with a bed blanket between us and covering the couch and floor. You know that scene in Shrek 3 where the baby projectiles? Yeah, that was Duck.
2. toddler vomit.......I just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the fact that my child walks out of his room, looks at me, and then vomits right in the middle of the floor. Yeah,my "favorite" was about 20 minutes before company was set to arrive.
3. toddler poop......everything from pellets to the runny stuff. Three times in one week is just insane.
4. husbands......full cans of pop/soda out left out overnight only for Duck to find it in the morning so he can empty the contents onto the floor.
5. water droplets......even the tiniest water droplet that doesn't get sopped up immediately can turn into a black spot within a day or so.
6. broken water pipes.......twice in the first 90 days we were in this apartment, the same pipe broke nearly flooding our apartment. The first time happened in the middle of the night and thankfully E had gone to check on Duck one last time around 3:30 a.m. He stepped in a half inch of water.
7. frozen A/C pipes.......when I was gone for two weeks, E inadvertently froze up the A/C unit.....when it thawed out, I had wet carpet.
8. leak in the wall for Duck's bathroom caused his carpet to get wet every time we gave him a bath. That was not a good thing.
9. takes FOREVER to dry. See #6.....the first time we wound up spending the weekend at Disney so they could get the repairs done and carpet dry.
So, yeah, my Bissell Little Green has earned it's cost. Though I think if we do wind up in a house that has carpet, I will buy a bigger machine. My goal, though, is to find a nice house with ceramic tile and/or hardwood floors throughout. I can buy a rug.....I can Swiffer every day.....but I will not WILLINGLY go into a house that is carpet throughout again.
That's TWO cases of Target size 5 and one package of Diaper Doublers. What are Diaper Doublers you ask? Diaper Doublers are basically maxi pads with no plastic backing. Kind of like the ones you get after delivery in the hospital. Nice and absorbent. The goal is to stop leaking by doubling the capacity of the diaper.
I first heard about Doublers from a mom on my local mommy board. I was complaining that Duck was leaking through his diapers at night. So, I figured at $2.99 for a pack of 30, I couldn't beat the cost of an experiment. So, I went to Publix to buy them. For those not in the south, Publix is a major grocery store here in Florida......oh how I miss Meijer's back home in MI, though. Anyway, I was a bit skeptical at first, but wanted to have a dry Duck with dry pajamas and a dry bed. So, we tried them when he was about a year maybe? Perhaps a bit younger.
Well, at 2.5, it's a nightly ritual. RARELY do they fail me. And that's only when I put it in his last diaper and then he has more to drink. Duck knows that when I change that last diaper and put in the Doubler, that it's time for night-night. He gets up and heads right to his room.
I don't use Doublers because I buy store brand diapers. I use them only a nap and bedtime because he goes so long between diaper changes. I have friends who use them in Huggies and Pampers as well. I just can't see spending $28-$30 on a case of diapers that I can buy at Target for $15.
The sitter even uses them at naptime at her house (well, when I remember to pack them in his bag that is).
Unfortunately for Target, Publix is the only store in my area that carries Diaper Doublers. So, while I'm at Publix, I generally pick up a few other things that I need that I could EASILY buy at Target, like Gerber pear juice. But why make multiple trips, right? Why can't Target just carry these? After all they're a nationwide store, they could help mommies nationwide.
Oh, and for that matter, why can't you buy Target brand diapers on the Target website? I've bought other things on Target.com, Duck's Britax Marathon for example. Which, btw, is an AWESOME car seat.
I've decided to start a list of all the real reasons I hate apartment life:
1. Carpet in Florida apartments is just plain SILLY. Not like you need it to maintain warmth like you do back in Michigan.
2. The neighbor's private life ain't so private.
3. The other neighbor's alarm clock is set at an unGodly hour and typically will wake my toddler by 6:30 so that I don't have to set an alarm.
4. The upstairs neighbor that just moved in likes to vacuum after 9 p.m. when said toddler is trying to fall asleep.
5. The carpet is the cheapest stuff you can find with the lowest grade of padding. Brand new can have obvious wear patterns in just six months.
6. BUGS BUGS BUGS. No matter how hard you try, you can't get rid of them. I mean, I realize bugs are a part of living in FL, but that doesn't mean I have to have them in my house 24/7. My current battle is with the damn ants that live in the walls.
7. No place to play. I know some complexes have really nice playgrounds or tot lots. Ours does not. They have a volleyball court and a pool. I wish we had a playground for Duck to run around in.
8. SPEEDERS. We're in a corner building, right off the main road. Enough said about that.
9. Having to clean up after the last tenant because the complex didn't do so.....we walked into our current place and found DIRTY BOXERS between the washer and dryer.....really, they were pretty much in plain site.
Reason I hate cleaning carpet:
1. infant vomit......when Duck was a baby, I eventually starting feeding him with a bed blanket between us and covering the couch and floor. You know that scene in Shrek 3 where the baby projectiles? Yeah, that was Duck.
2. toddler vomit.......I just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the fact that my child walks out of his room, looks at me, and then vomits right in the middle of the floor. Yeah,my "favorite" was about 20 minutes before company was set to arrive.
3. toddler poop......everything from pellets to the runny stuff. Three times in one week is just insane.
4. husbands......full cans of pop/soda out left out overnight only for Duck to find it in the morning so he can empty the contents onto the floor.
5. water droplets......even the tiniest water droplet that doesn't get sopped up immediately can turn into a black spot within a day or so.
6. broken water pipes.......twice in the first 90 days we were in this apartment, the same pipe broke nearly flooding our apartment. The first time happened in the middle of the night and thankfully E had gone to check on Duck one last time around 3:30 a.m. He stepped in a half inch of water.
7. frozen A/C pipes.......when I was gone for two weeks, E inadvertently froze up the A/C unit.....when it thawed out, I had wet carpet.
8. leak in the wall for Duck's bathroom caused his carpet to get wet every time we gave him a bath. That was not a good thing.
9. takes FOREVER to dry. See #6.....the first time we wound up spending the weekend at Disney so they could get the repairs done and carpet dry.
So, yeah, my Bissell Little Green has earned it's cost. Though I think if we do wind up in a house that has carpet, I will buy a bigger machine. My goal, though, is to find a nice house with ceramic tile and/or hardwood floors throughout. I can buy a rug.....I can Swiffer every day.....but I will not WILLINGLY go into a house that is carpet throughout again.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Hmm, where do I begin with an update?
Well, I had to wait til payday to get my meds. Which is fine. Metformin and Provera are surprisingly both on Target's $4 list. And because of my insurance, I only paid $2.20 for the Provera. Gotta love Target for going with the cheaper charge. Not all pharmacies do that!
Speaking of Target, I really do love that store. I believe that I'm keeping them open.....okay me and a few hundred other people that simply can't get out of that store for under $20 each trip. Mostly, my trips are more than that, but I've been trying to work on that. My staples at Target are any medications...I love both our pharmacists, a case of Target diapers, a big pack of Target sensitive wipes, and 1-3 pairs of socks for Duck. Can't have enough socks.....and I really hate doing laundry.
I only have two beefs with Target...............
First: WHY OH WHY is it Walmart carrying Garanimals and not Target? And, why is Target's Circo line MORE expensive that the Garanimals. So, forgive me Target management, I will buy my toddler clothing at Walmart because I can save $0.50 on each piece. Spending only $3.50 on something that he's going to wear for 6 months at best makes this mommy's day.
Second: I know this is a regional thing.........but I wish Target would carry Diaper Doublers. Publix has them here in Central Florida, but I know BRU has them elsewhere. I already spend a small fortune at Target, why not add these so I can spend more there rather than spreading the love to all the stores in the area?
Okay, back to the meds........not experiencing any side effects yet....Today is only day #9. I suspect that the Provera will kick in by the end of the week. At least that's my hope anyway.
I was referred to a GREAT site by a few friends from two mommy groups I belong to: soulcysters.net It's all about PCOS. Great source of information on everything from being diagnosed to finding women in your similar situation, even detailed accounts of past experiences.
Duck has some news to share.....he can say "wow" and "yeah" at appropriate times. OF COURSE, he has to say "hi" to everyone everywhere, but it's better than crying or screaming. We're working on the paci........it will be a long haul. But I think his 3rd birthday will be the end of it. He starts school August 18 and I know they won't let him have it.........so no more paci during the day anymore. AT ALL. Not even at home. Yeah, ask me in a few days how THAT'S going.
Duck also squeals out "ah deedee" which is Duck-language for "I did it". He gets so excited that really only those closest to him (me, E, the babysitter, the speech therapist) can understand him sometimes.
It's like he's FINALLY hitting that toddler word explosion. I mean, it's not the typical words, but I'll take what I can get. We're so proud of him.
He's also sitting at his big boy table more often for meals. He'd rather sit there than his high chair. But when we have things like spaghetti or tacos, he goes in the high chair. After all, we have carpet.
OMG, TWICE this past week I had to come home and clean toddler poop from the carpet. Thursday night was the worst ever. I had three bad spots, plus his blanket and sheets. Our Bissell Little Green has definitely earned it's cost many times over. I really really really hate freaking carpet.
If we ever buy a house, it must have ceramic tile or hardwood floors. There's no reason for carpet in Florida. Don't need the warmth and God knows the bugs love the warmth of it I'd rather Swiffer every single day than clean carpet ever again!
Speaking of Target, I really do love that store. I believe that I'm keeping them open.....okay me and a few hundred other people that simply can't get out of that store for under $20 each trip. Mostly, my trips are more than that, but I've been trying to work on that. My staples at Target are any medications...I love both our pharmacists, a case of Target diapers, a big pack of Target sensitive wipes, and 1-3 pairs of socks for Duck. Can't have enough socks.....and I really hate doing laundry.
I only have two beefs with Target...............
First: WHY OH WHY is it Walmart carrying Garanimals and not Target? And, why is Target's Circo line MORE expensive that the Garanimals. So, forgive me Target management, I will buy my toddler clothing at Walmart because I can save $0.50 on each piece. Spending only $3.50 on something that he's going to wear for 6 months at best makes this mommy's day.
Second: I know this is a regional thing.........but I wish Target would carry Diaper Doublers. Publix has them here in Central Florida, but I know BRU has them elsewhere. I already spend a small fortune at Target, why not add these so I can spend more there rather than spreading the love to all the stores in the area?
Okay, back to the meds........not experiencing any side effects yet....Today is only day #9. I suspect that the Provera will kick in by the end of the week. At least that's my hope anyway.
I was referred to a GREAT site by a few friends from two mommy groups I belong to: soulcysters.net It's all about PCOS. Great source of information on everything from being diagnosed to finding women in your similar situation, even detailed accounts of past experiences.
Duck has some news to share.....he can say "wow" and "yeah" at appropriate times. OF COURSE, he has to say "hi" to everyone everywhere, but it's better than crying or screaming. We're working on the paci........it will be a long haul. But I think his 3rd birthday will be the end of it. He starts school August 18 and I know they won't let him have it.........so no more paci during the day anymore. AT ALL. Not even at home. Yeah, ask me in a few days how THAT'S going.
Duck also squeals out "ah deedee" which is Duck-language for "I did it". He gets so excited that really only those closest to him (me, E, the babysitter, the speech therapist) can understand him sometimes.
It's like he's FINALLY hitting that toddler word explosion. I mean, it's not the typical words, but I'll take what I can get. We're so proud of him.
He's also sitting at his big boy table more often for meals. He'd rather sit there than his high chair. But when we have things like spaghetti or tacos, he goes in the high chair. After all, we have carpet.
OMG, TWICE this past week I had to come home and clean toddler poop from the carpet. Thursday night was the worst ever. I had three bad spots, plus his blanket and sheets. Our Bissell Little Green has definitely earned it's cost many times over. I really really really hate freaking carpet.
If we ever buy a house, it must have ceramic tile or hardwood floors. There's no reason for carpet in Florida. Don't need the warmth and God knows the bugs love the warmth of it I'd rather Swiffer every single day than clean carpet ever again!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
PCOS
34, half-way to 35, wanting to conceive another baby and that's what I get from the NP at the ob's office. PCOS.
Oddly, I show no outward signs other than being overweight. No skin tags, no excessive acne (just here and there and definitely not all the time...most days my skin is clear), no current BP issues, no cholesterol issues, and my testosterone came back fairly close to normal. But now that I think of it I have had sugar/insulin issues when I haven't taken the time to eat properly.
INTERNALLY? Different story. I have the tell-tale "string of pearls" on my right ovary and one single cyst on the left ovary. Not to mention that I have a tilted uterus and it's SHIFTED to the left. The u/s tech couldn't find my left ovary at first. Hurt like heck with her pushing trying to find it. Finally, she found it....ON TOP OF my uterus, just resting, hanging out like a freaking HAT.
Yep, you guessed it, had to have the good old internal ultrasound for her to see the right one. Poor E. Such a trooper.
So, meds are next to bring back the cycles (haven't had one since Sept and prior was March) and maybe this year we can get pregnant. Otherwise I'm starting to prepare myself for a one child family. Even though E has said, "whatever it takes, we'll do it." I love him.
Oddly, I show no outward signs other than being overweight. No skin tags, no excessive acne (just here and there and definitely not all the time...most days my skin is clear), no current BP issues, no cholesterol issues, and my testosterone came back fairly close to normal. But now that I think of it I have had sugar/insulin issues when I haven't taken the time to eat properly.
INTERNALLY? Different story. I have the tell-tale "string of pearls" on my right ovary and one single cyst on the left ovary. Not to mention that I have a tilted uterus and it's SHIFTED to the left. The u/s tech couldn't find my left ovary at first. Hurt like heck with her pushing trying to find it. Finally, she found it....ON TOP OF my uterus, just resting, hanging out like a freaking HAT.
Yep, you guessed it, had to have the good old internal ultrasound for her to see the right one. Poor E. Such a trooper.
So, meds are next to bring back the cycles (haven't had one since Sept and prior was March) and maybe this year we can get pregnant. Otherwise I'm starting to prepare myself for a one child family. Even though E has said, "whatever it takes, we'll do it." I love him.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Snap, papple and crock
Yep, I did it again.
Oh well, it provides my husband with entertainment for 30 minutes, sometimes more. He's taken to writing my mix-ups on the calendar. Great, now not only do I get to remember them in my head, but I get a visual reminder too.
It's tax time again. I hate taxes. I don't mind paying them, I just hate filing them. We can have a space station that people live on for months, but we can't find an easier way for citizens to file their taxes? We efile, but still, having to wait for each individual document sucks. Finally got E's W2 yesterday. So, I think I have everything: my W2 for Harcourt, my W2 for Disney, E's W2 for Dunkin, Childcare information, and my student loan interest information. That's it right? We don't itemize and we rent. And since we don't pay state taxes, that should really be all I need.
Oh well, it provides my husband with entertainment for 30 minutes, sometimes more. He's taken to writing my mix-ups on the calendar. Great, now not only do I get to remember them in my head, but I get a visual reminder too.
It's tax time again. I hate taxes. I don't mind paying them, I just hate filing them. We can have a space station that people live on for months, but we can't find an easier way for citizens to file their taxes? We efile, but still, having to wait for each individual document sucks. Finally got E's W2 yesterday. So, I think I have everything: my W2 for Harcourt, my W2 for Disney, E's W2 for Dunkin, Childcare information, and my student loan interest information. That's it right? We don't itemize and we rent. And since we don't pay state taxes, that should really be all I need.
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