madmommy

And We've Decided...

...to go ahead with the tubal ligation.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind comments and support.  Believe me, it was all very helpful in reaching our decision.

Although many of you suggested that my hubby have his tubes tied instead, we'd already discussed that option and feel more comfortable about the success rate for the female version.  We both know too many couples who've had "oops" babies by going the other route, and we felt that was too great a risk for us, so I'll be the one having the fun.

As for adopting, one of the options we've considered was the possibility of raising a deaf child, or one with significant speech problems, as I've recently begun learning American Sign Language (ASL) and Signed Exact English (SEE signs).  We have a few students in our school that are hearing-impaired, and one of the interpreters teaches a signing class every Sunday night at our church (she also interprets the services).  It's great to learn how to sign some of my favorite hymns, and we're each learning how to sign our favorite Bible phrases (mine is Eccl. 4:12--"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken"--our verse from our wedding).  If nothing else, I'm seriously considering going back to school to learn to be an interpreter.

As for the rest of the goings-on around here, my dad visited us this weekend from Wisconsin.  We took the munchkin to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita for Night of the Living Zoo, a Trick or Treat special they have every year.  A big success; the munchkin was all eyes!  As Dad won't be able to visit for Thanksgiving, we had an early celebration.  Dad took us to Walmart to pick out a roaster oven (similar to a Nesco roaster).  That thing is great!  As you might remember, we have a defunct oven (left behind by previous owner) but we haven't been able to afford another one.  Enter the roaster oven, which does everything an oven can, plus much of what a slow cooker can.  We've even done brownies!  And when you're done with it, away it goes onto a shelf!  And it doesn't heat up the whole kitchen like an oven does.  And last but not least, it makes a gorgeous turkey.  I'd show you pictures here, but the family tore into the food too fast before I could get my camera out.  I highly recommend you get one of these!  I even had a woman approach me in the store while we were pondering our choices, and told me how much she loved hers.  No one has ever done that before, and I'm glad we listened to her.

Ok, enough about my roaster. How was your weekend?

A Little Misc.

Here's an amazing photo...

My son, eating meat!!! (okay, so they're mcnuggets, but they're still meat, right?)

And just a quick photo to show how wonderful family can be...

3T and 4T clothes sent with love from my cousin in Wisconsin.  We may never have to buy the munchkin clothes again!  (Thanks Jeff and Kim!)

Need a Little Comfort

Tonight I'm sitting here, wondering if I should come out with a concern that's cropped up recently.  Not really a concern; more like a very difficult decision that sometimes seems simple.  Clear as mud?

As you know, I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and have recently switched medications.  The good news is that it's working wonderfully, now that the dosage is higher.  My personality is back to where I used to be, and my sense of humor has returned.  I'm starting to feel that the old me is back.

But the biggest concern came with our latest decision not to try and have any more kids.  This is a big blow to me right now.  I'd just come to a point in my life where I could look forward to another baby and not freak out about the extra responsibility.  But we had a big reality check during the period where I was between bipolar meds and had such severe panic attacks I had to stay home from work for two days.  To have another child, I would have to be off my medication.  That, plus hormone changes and the stresses of pregnancy itself, had my hubby and I fearing for my sanity, basically.  So he hesitantly broached the subject of not trying for another, and looking instead towards adoption later on down the road.  This isn't easy for him, as he missed the munchkin's birth by two days (he was in Kosovo, and the munchkin came early), and pretty much my entire pregnancy.

So we've talked about a more long-term birth control solution, and I'm looking at tubal ligation.  I mean, if I can't have another, what's the point of staying on birth control?  I'm 35 and have a child, so I figured my ob/gyn wouldn't object to the procedure, so I called and she's approved it for me if I want to go ahead with it.

So I'm asking you, fair readers, what would you do?

Thanks for listening.

Well, Smack Me Silly!

I just won something!  And I'm still in shock!
Recently, Wendy, at Wisdom of the Moon, had a contest to name the color of one of her line of aromatherapy beads.  The bead was a bit of a bright red, and I immediately thought "persimmon".  And that's the name she chose!  So now I get one of her beautiful bead necklaces (I chose denim blue).  Check out her etsy shop for other wonderful goodies!

For those of you who may have wondered if I fell off the face of the earth again, you're almost right.  These past two weeks have been very difficult for me, as I switch from one mood stabilizer to another.  Although my current medication (Lamictal) will ultimately have less harmful side-effects than my previous one (Depakote), it also takes longer to come up to the required dose.  Each dosage step takes about two weeks.  So my first two weeks were on the lowest dose, which caused me to slide into some depression, and two days of missed work due to some severe panic attacks.  Then this week, the munchkin caught the virus flavor-of-the-week and had to stay home for two days with a fever, then gave it to me!

So, hopefully everything will go more smoothly this next week.  We took a family trip to the zoo today (hubby announced we would do something fun today-what a sweet guy!), and my dad is coming to visit in a couple of weeks.

Maybe I'll even do some more sewing.  Hmmm...

Happy, Um, Blogoversary?

Ok, um, I guess I'm really out of it.

I really, really thought my one year blogoversary (sp?) was October this year.  So I started looking back through my old posts, and realized that I started this blog May 4, 2006.  So this is actually a year and a half anniversary.  Oops.

I'm trying to think of a creative way to celebrate, so watch this space for more details soon!