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| Monday, May 30th, 2005 | | 3:01 pm |
| | Saturday, May 21st, 2005 | | 10:11 pm |
That in between time
The worst thing about having surgery, or being sick or laid up for any reason really, is that in between time. That time when you're not completely helpless or immobile or wacked out on pain meds, but you're really not "all better" yet. I've had a few of these lately -- I'm in one right now. I've taken myself off the Vicodin, so that must mean I'm on the mend. But I still hurt, I can't move around very well, and I just don't feel very chipper. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but my doctor has said no tub baths, and my husband is at the end of his multi-day-take-care-of-everything rope. So I can't use my normal means to soothe myself, and since I'm no longer laid up I'm expected to perform at full capacity. But nothing really sounds good. Except the bath, of course, which I can't have. I guess I'll just go to bed, assuming things will look better tomorrow. Current Mood:  sad | | Thursday, May 19th, 2005 | | 9:58 pm |
body part - gone
The gall bladder surgery went smoothly. We had to be there at 6:45am and I didn't get home until 5pm, but I slept most of the day. Our friend Debbie came in the late morning to give Steve a break from the babe, and both kids napped for him in the afternoon. I'm using Vicadin and Advil for pain relief, which sometimes works and sometimes not. I need to be sure to breathe deeply -- expand those lungs. I'm surprised at how much I hurt. But I had some yummy pasta for dinner, which was *not* low fat. Appetite is a little off, which won't harm me in the least. I still have about 35lbs of "baby weight" left to lose. Hmmm... I wonder how much a gall bladder weighs?
Current Mood: uncomfortable | | Thursday, May 12th, 2005 | | 9:12 pm |
mmmmmm...
My house smells wonderful. Tomorrow is "dinner co-op" night, and it's my turn to cook. I started a few days early this time. I made almond anise biscotti last night, and tonight I made the chicken pesto meatloafs. Tomorrow I'll make colcannon - an Irish dish of mashed potatoes, leeks, and kale. Should make a nice dinner for us and my friends. Dinner co-op has been going for six weeks, and it is great. Twice a week somebody cooks for all four families. We each take turns, so every ten days or so it's your turn to cook. We usually get more than one meal out of what is given to us. On those weeks (like this one) where there is a long stretch between co-op nights (Monday to Friday), I'm at a loss what to fix for dinner half the time. Of course, this week I've been hampered by my new gall bladder diet (low fat, no fizz). Our meals have included: chicken/tortilla casserole, beef bourguignon, pesto stuffed chicken breasts, pork loin with pasta, shredded beef tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, lentils w/brown rice & collards, chicken cesear salad with veggie quiche, chili with corn bread, enchiladas, and chicken currry. They almost all came with either a salad or veggie, plus dessert (brownies, cupcakes, fruit crumble, cookies...) Next week will be great, since we're having dinner co-op Monday and Wednesday. I won't have to worry about feeding my family before or immediately after my surgery. And maybe by the weekend I can eat normally again! Current Mood: salivating | | Friday, May 6th, 2005 | | 10:05 pm |
stones
I have galls stones. No big surprise -- I've been waiting about 20 years for the news. It runs in my family, and when I was in college I had a couple of minor attacks that I'd mostly forgotten about until now. Wednesday night I got a stomach ache driving home from the grocery store, and within 20 minutes I was in excruciating pain. A trip to the ER revealed a couple of probable causes: reflux, gall stones, or food poisening. I was hoping it wasn't food poisening as that was "dinner co-op" night and my friend Tracy would be horrified if she poisoned me. (more on dinner co-op later) So they doped me up and sent me home, with instructions to schedule an ultrasound asap. This morning the radiologist took one look and said, "gall stones." I looked at the image -- man, I've got a lot of gall stones! Tons of tiny white specks. So I'll see my doc on Monday and probably have to have the darn thing removed. This afternoon I had another attack (curse you, cheap cookie!). I had some left over pain meds from my c-section, which the ER doc said were OK to take. The first one helped a bit, but I was still in some pain four hours later so I took some more. Feeling much better now, if a bit high. Current Mood: dopey | | Saturday, April 23rd, 2005 | | 2:27 pm |
synchronicity
Both my kids are asleep -- at the same time! I love my children, but after three or four hours of being in charge of both of them by myself, I need a little break. I'm feeling so lucky that they both agreed to snooze at the same time. I don't know how single parents do it. Lots of TV? Current Mood:  pensive | | Saturday, February 26th, 2005 | | 8:29 am |
More delicious dinners
Oh, the meal calendar is so great! Here's what we've been having lately: Roasted chicken w/black bean and corn salsa, apricot fudge. Roasted chicken w/potato salad, french bread, and spice cake. (It should be noted here that I am not a big fan of whole poultry. But both chickens were quite tasty.) Stuffed shells w/ceasar salad, brownies & ice cream. Baked chicken thighs, kale salad, cold sesame noodles, chocolate/cherry soy ice cream, tulips (nice touch!). and last night: Puerto Rican chicken stew, salad, and tuscan bread. Yum. My parents arrive tomorrow and they will be feeding us for a week. Then the calendar starts up again... Current Mood: lucky | | Saturday, February 19th, 2005 | | 10:53 am |
meal calendar
The people with kids around here have a great tradition of setting up "meal calendars" for new moms, especially for second or third babies. We were blessed with an abundance of willing participants, and have been having food delivered to us. It is supposed to be every other night, but we missed a few while in Seattle last week. They will be reslotted at the end of the calendar, which currently runs through March. Here's what we've had so far: Chicken/tortilla casserole with salad (greens, apples, walnuts) and lemon-honey cookies. New England Boiled Dinner (corned beef, potatoes, carrots, onions) with salad and chocolate chip cookies. Ground beef tacos with lettuce, sour cream, salsa and cheese, plus Mint Milano cookies. Next dinner is tonight...! Current Mood:  loved | | 10:46 am |
Athena's first trip to Seattle
Sammy had a very bad cold (plus fever) when Athena was born. We tried to keep the germs away from her, but a week after we got home she got sick too. Her "cold" worsened last weekend, and by Monday 2/14 we were at the clinic. They sent us to the ER, and after several hours of oxygen treatment, continued refusal to nurse, and a chest X-ray, we were shipped off to Swedish in Seattle via ambulance. I got to go with her, and the boys followed behind. Athena spent three days there, under the care of experienced pediatric medical staff. I was able to room in with her, and the boys got to stay the first night. Then they were kicked out to a hotel room, as the hospital thought they needed the other bed. We did end up getting roommates the last day. Baby girl did really well, and by the third night when her oxygen tank ran empty nobody even noticed. Guess she was breathing OK on her own. Then Thursday morning she pulled out her IV, so they took that off too. By then she was nursing 12+ times a day, pooping and peeing well, and giving lusty cries when hungry. By 5pm on Thursday the doctor pronounced her well enough to go home. We couldn't get out of there fast enough! Her official diagnosis was RSV, a very common respitory virus that is generally only dangerous to very young babies. It has been rampant this year, both here and in Seattle. She *may* have had pneumonia as well, but they didn't do a culture to be sure. Instead they put her on antibiotics, just in case. She had some cloudiness in her lungs, which was improving before we left. We'll do another chest X-ray in a few weeks to make sure it's all gone. So, that was our adventure. Poor Steve had to be essentially single dad to Sam for three days. Not much fun in a hotel room and a hospital room. But they had lunches and dinners with family, hit GameWorks and a couple of shopping malls (escalators!), and bought some fun new toys. But we are all so glad to be home. Current Mood: grateful | | 10:36 am |
massive stupidity
Many years ago I broke a tooth while chomping on some Jordan almonds. My dentist told me not to eat them anymore. Some years later, I ignored her advice and ate them anyway. And broke another tooth. Last night I went out sans kids and went a little wild at the local gourmet food store. I bought some Jordan almonds. This morning, I broke another tooth. Can I really be so dumb??? Yes. But hopefully never again. Current Mood: disappointed | | Friday, February 11th, 2005 | | 7:37 pm |
The gorgeous little girl
Athena Rebecca Wilmart has arrived. She was born via planned c-section at 8:05am Tuesday February 1, 2005. Weighing 8lbs 1oz and measuring 22" long, she was longer and leaner than her big brother Sam. She has light hair (not much of it) and looks like a Wilmart. Long fingers, long toes, and dark blue eyes. She's lovely. I've been struggling with how to tell her birth story, partially because it was a planned c-section and partly because it was so, well, perfect. We knew when to go to the hospital, everyone was where they were expected to be, the staff was so nice and encouraging and happy for us. Getting the spinal hurt a little bit, but then I was numb but not dumb like last time. Steve and I chatted while they cut me open, and I could actually feel the process of giving birth to Athena (I felt nothing last time, once I got the spinal). They told Steve to stand up when she was born, and he said, "Look at that!" She screamed immediately and continued to holler for several minutes. I asked, "Is it a girl?" (I had some lingering doubts). Under her thick coat of vernix, she was most definitely a girl. Steve went right to her, helped clean her up, and then brought her to me. She was beautiful. After they stitched me up and took me to recovery, I was able to hold her and help her nurse. She was still nursing when they wheeled me upstairs to our room, and I finally unlatched her after an hour. Our girl was hungry! The room was the same one we had with Sam, the "view room" at Jefferson Healthcare. We had five different nurses during our stay: Penny, Yvonne, Mari, Lizzie, and Marly. They were all wonderful. They had a bed brought in for Steve; a real bed, not a cot. I had morphine in my spinal so I didn't have to have it in my IV, which was a big improvement over last time. Athena never touched the basinette, except for diaper changes. She was "in arms" for three days straight. She nursed well, pooped early and often, and I progressed nicely too. They let us go home on Thursday afternoon, which Steve was eager to do. Sam had developed a fever on Wednesday, and although my sister Rebecca was providing excellent care for him at our house, Steve felt that he would rather have us all in one place. I was physically ready to leave the hospital, but it was a very emotional time for me. Raging hormones, leaving the comfort of being nurtured day and night by trained professionals, knowing that I would never go through this experience again. That same feeling, aka "baby blues" has hit me each night since we came home. The same thing happened with Sam, so I was expecting it. But just because you expect to burst into tears for no reason doesn't make it any easier. So we've spent the last 10 days getting used to being a family of four. Athena caught Sam's cold, but thankfully she has no fever. Rebecca went home Sunday, and the Wilmart Sr.'s came Sunday and Monday. Our meal calendar (dinner delivered by a different friend every other night) started Monday too. Everything is going as planned, more or less. But since I'm writing this in the evening, my "sad time", it's still a little overwhelming. If only I could take a bath... (doctor says no tub baths for two weeks, but I'm going to cheat and take one on Valentines Day). Current Mood:  tiredCurrent Music: Athena snuffling | | Monday, January 31st, 2005 | | 5:17 pm |
Last Day
Well, today is my last day of being pregnant, ever. It's been a great one so far... my sister arrived yesterday and has been a big help. Everything is ready for Athena to arrive tomorrow. Surely there is more to philosophize (sp?) about at this moment, but really I'm just ready to go get dinner. They told me to eat lightly, as that will make my recovery easier. I can't wait to meet my little girl... Current Mood: cheerful | | Sunday, January 16th, 2005 | | 6:35 pm |
"The tastiest thing we've had in a long time"
According to my husband, tonight's dinner of lentils, collard greens, and onions was (see above). Very simple food, easy to prepare, and inexpensive. I served it with some grated fontina cheese, but it would have been good with bleu or gorgonzola too (once I'm not pg). Which should be in 16 days. Yes, I'm finally "counting the days." I've been having lots of pressure and b/h contrax, doc says baby is head down but not real low yet. That's all good, as I am just now 36 weeks. I will feel much better if she comes as planned, via scheduled c-section on February 1st. Much as I want to meet her, what's the point of having a scheduled c-s if it doesn't happen on the date you have it scheduled?! So... no labor vibes please. Athena needs to cook for another 16 days. Current Mood: fullCurrent Music: sonics on TV | | Saturday, December 11th, 2004 | | 8:45 am |
this week
I've been slacking lately because we've had holiday events nearly every night this week. Sunday night we had fish tenders, peas and corn. Monday night was the annual Quimper Sound holiday dinner at Lanza's - yum. Best Italian food in town, and only three blocks from home. Tuesday we had tri tip steak, broccoli and Pillsbury grand rolls. Wednesday we went to the Main Street board dinner, which was a bit trying for the little man. The event started at 6pm, and we didn't sit down to eat until 7:45pm. We were all starving! The tiramisu cake won me over, though. Thursday was our Playschool holiday dinner and auction. Sammy liked the lasagne, garlic bread and cookies, but he had a lot of trouble sharing the toys and slide. He had to leave early (how old are you Sam? TWO!) Last night we had a Cowboy pizza from Papa Murphy's - very good. Current Mood: busyCurrent Music: playhouse disney | | Saturday, December 4th, 2004 | | 9:52 pm |
the last week
I'm drawing a blank on Tuesday night... did we go out? Who knows. Wednesday I left for a three day conference in Tacoma, so my meals were pretty good - salmon at the gala dinner on Wednesday and sushi with a friend on Thursday. Friday night we went out for Mexican food back home in PT. I had tortilla soup which was pretty good, although quite different from the tortilla soup I usually get at the other place we go. Tonight we went to some friends house and had hot crab dip, beef roast, mashed potatoes, and spinach salad. Topped off with chocolate cake to celebrate a Birthday - yum! Current Mood: good | | Monday, November 29th, 2004 | | 10:12 pm |
tortellini again?
Last night was steak (very yummy - I have mine with this hot pepper jelly that is to die for), served with peas and corn. Tonight was cheese tortellini with pesto (sub par, Trader Joes is way better) with grilled zuchinni and onions. eh. Need to find some new things to make. Current Mood:  annoyed | | Saturday, November 27th, 2004 | | 9:32 pm |
Saturday night
We went to Tracy and Jon's house (aka Hayden's house) for dinner tonight: chicken enchiladas with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cilantro and tomato, rice with sweet onion, ceasar salad (my contribution), and chips. Very yummy. Then we went to see The Incredibles and ate popcorn and Whoppers. Sadly, Sammy was not able to keep quiet for more than an hour, so he and I left and Steve stayed for the rest of the movie. Hayden was doing fine, and his brother Graham (6m) was quiet too. To Sammy's credit, it was his bedtime and he had a very short nap today. And hey, he's only two! Current Mood: beat | | Friday, November 26th, 2004 | | 10:48 pm |
gobble gobble and the day after
We had the traditional Thanksgiving repast at Wilmo Sr.'s yesterday: turkey with all the trimmings, pies, and some killer appetizers made by Steve's brothers. How can you go wrong when you stuff a jalepeno with anything? Tonight was a quick dinner - I had a scrapbooking date and Steve worked a very full day. We had cube steak with melted cheese (was supposed to be cheeseburgers but I didn't like the looks of the hamburger at the store), Sam and I had baked potatoes and Steve had a ceasar salad. I don't think I'll do the cube steak again but the baked taters really hit the spot. I have one left over plus another - the size of Sammy's head - for another meal. Yum. Current Mood: heartburn! | | Wednesday, November 24th, 2004 | | 11:00 pm |
Bayview
We went to the Bayview for dinner tonight - your basic family restaurant/diner. I had halibut & chips, Steve had chicken strips & fries, and Sammy had a litte of everything. I felt a little guilty that we had also gone out to lunch (quesadillas, yum). But I got most of the dishes washed, another pie baked, and a big plate of brownies made. Tomorrow it's off to Grandma's house (take elevator and ferry boat, eat pie, says Sammy). Current Mood: heartburny | | Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004 | | 9:48 pm |
bored yet?
Tonight's dinner was cheese tortellini with an assortment of leftover stuff from the fridge: a little brocolli, some fresh spinach, most of a sweet onion, some pine nuts, a glob of pesto, butter and olive oil. It was actually quite tasty. Sammy had several helpings. Then I baked some scones to take to our class tonight. Also yummy. Current Mood: virtuous |
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