Monday Thoughts

I am sitting under my therapeutic light while typing this. I am not sure if it is working or not, but it sure is bright.

Matt leaves for Stamford, Ct this afternoon. I am hoping the garbage bag does not need changed until Thursday. If I have to do it, I can never again claim that I don't know how.

Ava is now using the potty more and more. It is a slow process, perhaps she will be fully potty learned by the time she leaves for college.

I forgot to mention that Emily got her report card a few weeks ago. She received all A's and her conference went well. Middle school really suits her and she is glad that she has some freedom.

I have been wondering if I am too open in what I write. I have quite a few more readers that the three or four that I started out with. I try to be open and honest and keep a record of our daily life.  I often wonder, when I read other blogs, what really goes on? Not that I share everything, like, for example, Matt and I arguing about him starting to watch Saturday Night Live without me.  Seriously though, I try to show an accurate description of what goes on in our daily lives including poop stories.  I wonder if my openness will come back to bite me somehow. I think taking the risk is worth it. I have the hope that by me being honest about my weight issues, depression, grief,  and struggles as a stay at home mom, someone else will relate and not feel so alone. I try tell the good, the bad, and the ugly- and do so with honesty.

I had a lot of blood work done last week. My vitamin D level was low and I am now going to be more vigilant about taking my supplement. My liver enzymes were ever so slightly elevated as well. I may or may not have had a tad too much wine with dinner the night before the blood work. I will never tell. Everything else was completely normal, which was a relief. I also dragged myself into my OBGYN for an annual exam. I had not been in since I was my 6 week post partum check, I know- I should go yearly. The Dr. was shocked that I am still nursing, he didn't say much but his raised eyebrows said enough. I could get into the complete neurosis of our society when it comes to breastfeeding, but I will spare you. I will say that I wish the medical world would recognize that it is completely normal and healthy to nurse a baby into the toddler years. Uncommon in our society, yes. Abnormal, no.

We went to a store specializing in fish keeping( is that what you call having an aquarium?), and talked to them about why all of Emily's fish keep dying. Turns out, everything you can do wrong we are doing. We should get a A for effort though. You can't believe everything you read about fish care on the internet. Whaaaat??? Not everything on the internet is true??? Who knew. Now that we have good information we should have everything in order within a few weeks.

While we were at said fish store Emily fell in love with the saltwater fish. They are beautiful and for a child that wants to, someday, be a marine biologist, a saltwater tank would be a good first step for her. So, she ordered a book on saltwater tanks to educate herself on what it would take to be successful at having a  tank. She is also doing extra work around the house and taking the Red Cross babysitting course this coming weekend in the hopes of saving enough money to get the tank set-up that she wants. I love to see her motivated and have a goal. Now to convince Matt that we need a 100 gallon saltwater tank. My argument is that we need a Nemo fish. I am not sure he will agree.