Damn it!

We have another ear infection! I hope that this will not turn into a recurrent thing. Unfortunately, It may very well be recurrent. I had recurrent ear infections as a child, which is a risk factor for your child to have recurrent ear infections. And before you ask, I am still breastfeeding the Little Dude. He not really taking any solids at all. Apparently breast feeding only offers so much protection against ear infection. I suspect the reason ear infection rates are lower for breastfed babies is that breastfeeding mothers do not take their babies to the doctor for every ear infection. I feel a little gypped, if you want to know the truth.

On the bright side, there is no fever, and he does all right as long as he gets his tylenol. I just wish the tylenol was not colored red. It can get everywhere! Do people not think of these things?

Oh, the thoughts that come into your head at 4 AM.

I put the Little Dude back in his bassinet, and could not go back to sleep. And I am worrying about stuff I really should not be worrying about. I am sure it will work out in the end.

I am worried about not attending enough staff meetings for my OR job after I start teaching. Stupid, I know. They have staff meetings twice a week. On Fridays, the staff meeting is in the afternoon. At 2 PM. My class is scheduled fron 1-1:50. If I cut class a few minutes short, I may be able to make the Friday meeting. Provided my mother is willing to watch Little Dude for another hour. I think that she will. I just need to ask her.

And then there is the issue of when I can exercise. I really need to make this a priority. I think I should be able to exercise while the baby naps. I hope. I also need to find time to do lesson plans. It helps that I have taught this class before. I just need to break out those notes, and use them. I would like to follow the textbook being used, but most of the research and resources I already have should be fine. Hopefully I will not have to do too much to put stuff together.

And then there is the mommy guilt of being away from the Little Dude more often. I think he can handle it, as he will be about 7 months old when this all starts. There will be an adjustment period. It may be longer as I have to find alternative childcare arrangements for the first week or two. My mother has already planned a trip the first couple weeks of the semester, and will not be here. After that, she is planning on watching him while I teach. But I still need childcare those first couple weeks. I am crossing my fingers that something will work out.

Why do I worry about stupid things? These things will likely work themselves out. I really hope I worrying over nothing.

Out of the blue...

I get an offer to teach a class at the local community college! I was not even thinking about this position, and they call me and tell me they are looking for someone to teach general biology. I would love to! I loved teaching at the community college. I am looking forward to teaching there again.

Now to figure out how to make it work. I think I should be able to add another day with the day care provider for the day I have to teach lab. And hopefully my mother will be able to take him for the afternoons I lecture. It will only be a few hours. It starts in the fall, so she has time to get over the stress of moving, and hopefully get into shape to look after a baby.

I am considering keeping both days at work. Financially, it will make me more comfortable. And it is only 2 days a week. I do not think that they will let me reduce my hours, but I may be able to change the days I work. This needs some thought...

Lots to think about!

Nap time!

Well, nap time for baby. I have cleaned the kitchen, finished folding clothes, and now I am working on a blog post. Amazing what I a mom can do in an hour. I think I like nap time.

My big achievement for the day: I actually put the baby down to sleep! He has done it for others before, but I have never tried it. I thought I would try it today. He fussed for a little bit, but went to sleep within a couple of minutes. Who knew? I will have to try that again when he gets fussy. He really sleeps better in his own bed, not in my lap. Oh, and he actually slept from 8 PM to 4:30 AM last night. I actually got sleep! It was incredible. Hooray for nap time!

I even went to the gym and played on the treadmill for a little while, and then I went for a short dip in the pool. I thought about taking the baby, but I think I would rather take the baby when someone else is there to help hold him. I like to swim, too! Maybe that will be our family outing this weekend.

Sick.

I really hate being sick. I hate seeing my baby sick. It is not fun for me right now, as both the Little Dude and I are both sick. We took the Little Dude to the doctor the other day, and discovered he has an ear infection. He does not have a fever, he is still eating, and he did not seem to be doing so badly. I guess it goes to show that you never can tell.

Little Dude is not doing too badly. It is too early to tell any difference with the antibiotic, but I suspect by the weekend we may notice a difference. He is not letting the cold and ear infection slow him down any. Right now he is jumping away in his jumperoo like it is going out of style.

I think the worst is that I cannot take anything to help with the nasal congestion, so I feel miserable. I have some suda.fed nasal spray, and a neti pot. They help some, but I am still congested and wiped out. I hope it is because it is draining. I am also drinking ecinaecia tea hoping that will help boost my immune system and soothe my throat. It would probably be more soothing with honey, though. I also took the day off work to hopefully help myself get over this. They probably do not want someone hacking and coughing in the OR.

Anyway, I am still alive, but barely. Apparently mothers do not get sick days.

Back to it.

Back to work yesterday after about a week off, thanks to Memorial Day Weekend. I think they are about ready to kick me off of "orientation." And I think I am about ready to go off of "orientation." As long as they do not put me with temperamental surgeons just yet. We will see.

I have the day off today. I plan on a hike with my mother at a local reservoir, and then lunch with my parents. I am considering a jaunt to the store this afternoon. I know we need cat food, and I am sure I can think of some other things we need.

We got our high chair yesterday, and have started trying to eat at the table. It is wonderful to eat with both hands. It is also nice to be able to talk to Hubby. At least have a little time together where we can be a family. Hopefully this weekend we can do a family outing. I think it is good for us to get out as a family.

It always feels good to have a plan. Now if I coud just stick to it!

OK, After some thought I think I see what I need to do to start losing weight. I think I am not drinking enough water. I am not distinguishing between hunger signals and thirsty signals. And because I am breastfeeding I really need the water! I need to try drinking water before searching for a snack. Otherwise I will end up putting anything in my mouth, and that is not good.

I also still need to do better with my WW food journal, but I am trying. I think I will try recording food over the weekend. Hopefully it will start to become a habit. I keep forgetting to journal because I get caught up with the baby, and before I know it, the day is gone and I have not recorded anything for the day. Sigh. I need to make this a priority, as it is not good for me to be at this weight.

One of my first goals is to get under 200 pounds. I think it will take me a few months to get there, but I know I can do it. I have done it before. It takes a lot of work, but I know I can do it. I really hate being this heavy.

Hopefully I will be able to get to the gym this afternoon. I have a well-baby visit this morning, and then I will likely come home for lunch and recover from the trauma of all those shots. If he sleeps for a while, I may just hop on the treadmill here. we will see what happens. May post later with the results of the well baby visit.