tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81061812011-04-21T18:57:53.157-06:00My kid's knees are straighter than your kid's kneesCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.comBlogger3501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-37754534741960568832007-01-20T18:01:00.000-06:002007-01-20T18:18:43.067-06:00

All the cool kids are moving their blogs or password protecting them or closing down altogether. Some have stopped posting with no warning, and I'm afraid they're dead.I've been debating doing along the same lines, and finally got my shit together to do it.Blogger has been great for me, but I need some features the new version still doesn't have, namely, the ability to password-protect

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-51313055750002091992007-01-15T07:09:00.000-06:002007-01-15T08:00:48.032-06:00

If Peanut had her way, we would be putting the house on the market right now in order to move to Philadelphia so that Big Daddy and I could get jobs at museums so that she could spend every day in them.We didn't get to see as much of the city as I had hoped, but we still got to the important stuff.First up was the Mütter Museum, with Uncle Carlos. Before the emphasis on biochemistry in medicine,

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-91909771031567513682007-01-12T18:21:00.000-06:002007-01-12T18:38:55.673-06:00

Well.We spent six hours at the hospital.The doctor doesn't think she needs hip surgery at this time. Maybe later, so we'll have to keep an eye on it. She might also need surgery later to realign one of her kneecaps, which was pulled off-center by the contractures.They took off the top half of her KAFOs to make them temporary AFOs.They said that with the lighter bracing, she'll be walking

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-83160475293788788112007-01-11T21:13:00.000-06:002007-01-11T21:27:25.757-06:00

... picking off all the pieces of shredded basil from your toddler's slice of margherita pizza while yours gets cold, because she decided she "didn't like the green stuff."We are ensconced in our lovely hotel in downtown Philly with free wireless internet. I will get through tomorrow because Saturday, we will be going to this museum, as well as this one. Plus, there's cheesesteaks, and apparently

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-90329021956968831792007-01-11T07:11:00.000-06:002007-01-11T07:19:07.033-06:00

We're leaving today for DuPont Hospital. We'll spend most of the day tomorrow at the hospital, where Peanut will see the orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. They know what her issues are and are looking forward to seeing her, according to the PT.We just need to keep our fingers crossed that the doctor says, "Surgery? She don't need no stinkin' surgery!"Maybe

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-19531021220172913692007-01-06T20:42:00.000-06:002007-01-06T20:45:54.842-06:00

T. Rexasaurus: Rowr! I'm T. Rexasaurus! Rowr!Unnamed Little Blue Dinosaur: Oh no! Please don't eat me!T. Rexasaurus: Rowr! I'm a nice T. Rexasaurus. Here. Let me pick you up. Oh, baby dinosaur, I love you.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-7024921280666256522007-01-02T14:21:00.000-06:002007-01-02T14:42:51.060-06:00

Peanut and "Zuzu", the brand-new daughter of my best friend from junior high school. When we met almost 20 years ago, never in a million years would I have guessed that someday getting a picture like this would be the best birthday gift she could give me.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-90411716898796257302006-12-31T13:36:00.000-06:002006-12-31T13:47:48.661-06:00

How come none of you told me about how cool iPods are?How would I have ever known that Justin Timberlake actually has a cool song or two?Or that I could get a dance remix of Whitney singing The Greatest Love of All?Or realized that with it, I can listen to Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go as often and as loud as I want without anyone having anything smart to say about it?If you have known me for a

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-71426209160284695512006-12-19T14:16:00.000-06:002006-12-19T15:20:47.664-06:00

Last week, I went to the DMV and picked up our Permanent Disabled Parking ID tags.It was not really a happy day.We were given reason to believe, when Peanut was a newborn, that we wouldn't need them. We've known for a while it would be necessary after all, but it was something else to actually hand the forms over and say, "It's for my daughter" when asked who it was for.I know, I know, I should

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-9220747428805145332006-12-11T21:25:00.000-06:002006-12-11T21:28:38.502-06:00

Bad Mama: Stop licking your snot, Peanut.Peanut: But it's so tasty!***Peanut: Mama, I'm eating the water!Bad Mama: Don't eat your bathwater, Peanut.Peanut: But it tastes so sweet!I'd write more, but the painkillers are kicking in a little more effectively than normal and I don't think I'll be coherent for very long.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-8993113669768138572006-11-30T21:05:00.000-06:002006-11-30T21:14:29.393-06:00

I have a few blog posts percolating that I want to write but I haven't had the time. These include posts on how I felt the first time I used a disabled parking spot because I had Peanut and her walker, how it went at her first dentist appointment, and all of the weird things wrong with my house. I know everyone's writing about the end of NaBloPoMo, but really, I started this blog by posting

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-59587638954694168232006-11-29T20:23:00.000-06:002006-11-29T20:26:33.796-06:00

When the weather map looks like this, it means my head hurts.Extreme barometric pressure changes give me migraines. Kind of like a trick knee, but suckier.Sorry for the lame post.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-65727302484537083502006-11-28T21:49:00.000-06:002006-11-28T21:55:06.687-06:00

I actually have things to post about, but am way too freaking tired. Tonight at the store she stared down a couple of other people who stared at her in the walker. Then, after the third person was explaining it to their child, she announced, "Mama! Another person was asking about my walker!"She doesn't seem angry, just somewhat confused as to what all the fuss is about, and not especially

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-90123953759717297872006-11-27T21:43:00.000-06:002006-11-27T21:46:03.847-06:00

I don't know what you hear amongst the wails of the tantrum that occurs before bedtime, but what I get to hear now is "But I want to walk!"She's going to have to either write for soap operas or run for office with those skills.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-58382177092897446932006-11-26T22:48:00.000-06:002006-11-27T08:06:10.203-06:00

We're leaving the store after dark, and Peanut is looking sadly up at the sky.Bad Mama: Are you looking for the stars, Peanut? I think they're all behind the clouds.Peanut: And the moon?Bad Mama: I think the moon is to, Honey. It's cloudy out.Peanut: I don't want it to be cloudy out! I want it to be starry and moony out!*******So, yeah, that whole walking thing? She's totally into it. Walked all

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-64755811258647044152006-11-25T19:42:00.000-06:002006-11-25T20:13:46.465-06:00

Now that Peanut has figured out that it's more fun to walk than be carried, she wants to do EVERYTHING she hasn't been able to do before. Pushing her toy baby stroller, or walking around carrying her dolls in her arms. I've had to help her name her emotions a little more often than usual--"You are feeling frustrated right now because you can't push the stroller with both hands". How can I tell

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-44237053275236292612006-11-24T23:01:00.000-06:002006-11-24T23:26:13.213-06:00

Tonight, Peanut ate a whole bunch of peas. This may not seem like a big deal, I know. However, I will now list all the foods she currently will eat, and you might then understand why I felt this was important enough to post about:(*Foods she is not usually offered, unless we are eating them in front of her or she is getting a treat for some reason)MilkYogurtToast, with peanut butter or jamPB&J

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1651187518944981252006-11-23T20:29:00.000-06:002006-11-23T20:37:00.911-06:00

And this is why.(Sorry, there's no sound)

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-74673035441252896812006-11-22T21:28:00.000-06:002006-11-28T15:16:03.104-06:00

**To those coming from Outdoor "Logic" and Gun Blogs:If you think that all liberals want to take your guns away, perhaps you should take a look at Howard Dean's stance on the subject. Or John Tester's. Or my drunken former neighbor who decided against "surprising" me in my old apartment when faced with the business end of the deer rifle I was holding. Or maybe ask the pile of fresh venison in my

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-42484337348895233232006-11-21T22:41:00.000-06:002006-11-21T22:50:39.465-06:00

It was this or the story of what my dog did to a rabbit in the backyard the other day, and subsequently what she did on the living room floor last night. This is better.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-26703982068312479582006-11-20T18:53:00.000-06:002006-11-20T18:58:43.105-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-74916624431542699002006-11-19T23:30:00.000-06:002006-11-19T23:47:55.662-06:00

The only interesting thing that happened to me today (and I mean "interesting" as in "somewhat different than the same mind-numbing shit that happens every single day of my life), is that I took down the curtains in the dining room that came with the house to wash them. For the first time. Shut up, there have been more pressing things to wash-- I have a bazillion cats, after all. Anyway, Big

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-41308236002082757452006-11-18T23:12:00.000-06:002006-11-18T23:27:52.616-06:00

Tonight, Peanut and I were playing our usual game of "Let's put off bedtime" by looking up animal pictures on Google Image Search. Her first choice was "an orca whale, Mama!" (Daddy just spent a week working in Seattle, so he brought her home her own stuffed killer whale), so I did the search, and she pointed at the pictures she wanted to see more closely. The first one was this. The next was

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-18595393956991520342006-11-17T17:43:00.000-06:002006-11-17T18:08:43.990-06:00

Came From Cluttergirl, and others[A is for age:] 33[B is for beer of choice:] New Glarus Spotted Cow, but it really depends[C is for career:] Um, you can say Real Estate[D is for favorite Drink] Kir Royale[E is for essential item you use everyday:] Antiperspirant. I take it backpacking.[F is for favorite song at the moment:] Rehab, by Amy Winehouse. I don't know why.[G is for favorite game:]

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-69754990565629480832006-11-16T20:52:00.000-06:002006-11-16T21:07:55.350-06:00

I don't have much to say. I got home tonight at 7:30 after leaving at 8:15 am, and this was the shortest day of the week for me. I'm really freaking tired, and found out that my husband's company has decided some of their employees, i.e. those in my husband's position, don't deserve to participate in the Christmas party this year. These employees are scattered all around the country (there aren't

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-27790670739716171972006-11-15T21:32:00.000-06:002006-11-15T21:36:00.667-06:00

Peanut: blah blah Diego! blah blah blah Diego!Bad Mama: Why do you like Diego so much?Peanut: 'Cause he's a boy! And he gots hair on his head, like I have hair on my head!We're going to have to have a discussion about standards, I see.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-28090542334607213162006-11-14T21:20:00.000-06:002006-11-14T21:22:13.202-06:00

Today Peanut got a walker. Emphasis on "walk".It was a hit.Pictures/video are forthcoming, once I catch up with her.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-10511016999849276672006-11-13T21:49:00.000-06:002006-11-13T21:53:27.111-06:00

Seriously, someone needs to tell me that just because my kid tells me one minute that she looooves her new stuffed hippopotamus and it's her favorite toy ever, and then the next minute she tells me that she's going to "put Gia in the oven and cook her and eat her", doesn't mean she's going to grow up to become a sociopath. Somebody else's kids did weird things like this and grew up to be

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-5315224681308663242006-11-12T21:45:00.000-06:002006-11-12T21:49:52.719-06:00

Peanut: Daddy, would you like some soup?Big Daddy: Sure, I'd like some. What kind of soup is it?Peanut: It's Diego soup!Big Daddy: Diego soup? You're serving me Diego soup?Peanut: Yes, it's delicious!I wouldn't end up alone with her in a dark alley if I were you.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-15277430025585147322006-11-11T14:51:00.001-06:002006-11-11T14:53:46.025-06:00

Overheard:Peanut, on the potty: Daddy, what was that?Big Daddy: You farted, Honey.Peanut: No, Daddy, I passed gas. I was passing gas.Yes, I grew up in that kind of household, and I don't see any reason my daughter shouldn't too.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-2270223686770219492006-11-11T14:23:00.000-06:002006-11-11T14:51:07.171-06:00

On Wednesday I read a quote in the paper from some guy up near Green Bay who said he voted for the gay marriage amendment, because he believed marriage should only be allowed between a man and a woman. He said he didn't have a problem with allowing civil unions, just not actual "marriage". I can't find the article online anymore, but what he said is burned into my brain, because it shows me what

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-10931841085452842902006-11-10T22:21:00.000-06:002006-11-10T22:25:53.493-06:00

With me, my mother and Peanut having colds and Big Daddy being out of town, posting has been and will be light for a bit. I've already failed at the whole NaBloPoMo thing, through a combination of blogger issues and plain lack of time, and I don't think it counts if I manage 30 posts if it isn't one a day. Oh well. Sorry.The good news is, I got the doctor to prescribe me the good drug for my

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-47421600102093003312006-11-07T11:33:00.000-06:002006-11-07T11:43:00.342-06:00

And leave some time. In my voting station, I was #102 at 7:30 am. In off-year elections, I usually end up going late, and am somewhere around #350. The line this morning was out the door and around the corner. In WI, you are allowed to register to vote at the polls. New this year, in addition to your proof of address, you need to bring your driver's license or state ID if you have them, and be

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-40210895863131717492006-11-06T21:23:00.000-06:002006-11-06T21:24:56.392-06:00

I am so tired that even the fact that I have been called by Russ Feingold, Bill Clinton AND Bradley Whitford in the past 24 hours is not enough to keep me awake and blogging. Sorry. Besides, those guys only want one thing from me, and it isn't good conversation.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-26584480418052054402006-11-06T02:58:00.000-06:002006-11-06T03:03:20.589-06:00

We are going to the polls on Tuesday in this state and being asked whether we should constitutionally ban gay marriage, and whether we should reinstate the death penalty for the first time in 150 years. We are not voting on school funding reform. We are not voting on which plan we prefer to make sure all our children have medical coverage. No, apparently the most pressing issues for our state are

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-87169935312686173012006-11-06T00:55:00.000-06:002006-11-06T12:48:04.768-06:00

Ok, first of all, a definition. On my blog, a troll is not defined as someone who posts politely and respectfully a comment that I disagree with wholly and in full. A troll would have replied, "u fag, i hope u die of aids suxxor!" or "repent because you are going to hell for thinking gays are ok, what about the children!" or suchlike. Carlos has a different definition, which he has expressed to

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-86789127413315289262006-11-05T22:19:00.000-06:002006-11-05T22:24:00.326-06:00

Oh my God I just spent two fucking hours writing a post in response to my Anonymous commenter (and to Carlos's use of the troll word, which I disagree with strongly in this case, Carlos, I love you but you know my feelings about that), that was beautifully reasearched and linked and argued and I clicked one one window to close it and suddenly the computer closed four windows including the create

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162618392446514472006-11-03T21:53:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:30.168-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a political button to wear on my coat. I've done this sort of thing several times in the past, either buttons or stickers or yard signs.It reads, A FAIR Wisconsin votes NO. That's it. But never before have I gotten a reaction to a political statement I made like I have with this one.One man saw me and smiled, sticking out his arm so I could see he was wearing the

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162527585291538802006-11-02T22:16:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:30.078-06:00

"Flaghead" has become (naked) "Mrs. Broom".This involves a sticker of a broom stuck down the neck hole of the stripped doll body.You all wish you had my kid, just admit it.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162432702603368552006-11-01T19:54:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.991-06:00

So I went in to say good-night to Peanut (Big Daddy is putting her to bed), where I found her with her doll, Emily. Only she'd pulled Emily's head off, stuck the plastic flag from her pirate ship in the hole, and dubbed her "Flag Head". "Flag Head" then had a conversation with Emily's head (how are you, I'm fine, would you like something to eat?) She protested mightily when I offered to put

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162430712038698252006-11-01T19:15:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.895-06:00

I forgot to get the digital camera back from the person who borrowed it, so I had to buy a cheap camera at the drugstore to take pictures of the cutest kitty ever! last night. So right about the time everyone is sick of looking at toddlers in costumes, you'll get one more! We took Peanut to the assisted-living place where my grandfather lives. They were having trick-or-treat there, and can you

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162268153649767292006-10-30T22:11:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.801-06:00

See this post for an explanation, if you don't read Beanie Baby already.If I could, I'd invent an affordable robot chef, and damn it, the world needsone because we'd eat better if we had tasty salads waiting for us each day.I sometimes buy decorative candles and other tchotkes, because it they are more like the me I want to be than the me that I am.If you came over to my house to play and touched

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162188149251769262006-10-29T23:56:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.706-06:00

In the last few days, Peanut has informed me that:A. Cinderella went to the ball in a submarine, not a coach, andB. Little Miss Muffet must have been a little baby, because only little babies are scared of spiders.This makes up for her decision to go as a kitty for Halloween, instead of the triceratops she'd been contemplating.Also, it turns out that while petroleum jelly is water-soluble, this

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1162166911444737922006-10-29T17:59:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.614-06:00

My friend Nikki, who gave birth to the current cutest-baby-in-the-world titleholder (after the world's easiest labor, you don't even want to know), Madeline, needs some advice. The little darling refuses to sleep unless she is on top of someone. Not next to, on top of. Unfortunately, I didn't solve this problem for months with Peanut, even with the assistance of prescribed narcotics. Anybody have

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1161920748938140172006-10-26T21:25:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.513-06:00

Okay, so it wasn't really a miracle. It just felt like it at the time.When I first got my braces on, the orthodontist promised me we'd be all done by the time I went to college. Yet even though I had delayed college a year, I still had a retaining wire bonded to my teeth (I had to have it bonded because I took the removable one out every night in my sleep. I woke up with weird marks on my back a

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1161140724033307042006-10-17T21:03:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.423-06:00

I'll finish my story soon, when I have more energy, I promise. You'll probably be disappointed anyway.I just HAD to post this, though: For whoever found me through searching for "easy mama", Big Daddy is laughing and laughing and laughing.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1160973443115456112006-10-15T21:51:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.330-06:00

When I was fourteen, I got braces. I also got my first boyfriend, and saw my first horror movie.I also started getting headaches.They began as tension headaches, but no doses of ibuprofen or hot showers seemed to relieve them. All I could do was sleep them off. First once a week, then twice, then more. My doctor gave me some heavy painkillers, and said I needed to see a specialist, because

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1160785346524071302006-10-13T18:11:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.238-06:00

Tonight, after a time-out for hitting Mama in frustration:"Mama, you made me cry! Mama, you are naughty! No, I will NOT say I'm sorry!"Later:Peanut: I'm a little girl. Little girls cry.Mama: Yes, they do, and so do little boys.Peanut: Little girls cry and little boys cry and daddies cry.Mama: That's right, and sometimes mamas cry too.Peanut: NO! No they don't cry! Mamas DON'T cry!****The results

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1160015065158670762006-10-04T20:19:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.135-06:00

My oldest friend (as in known the longest), Nikki, is in the hospital tonight to have labor induced for her first baby. I don't think I've been this jumpy about a birth since Peanut was born. She's so far away, and it's driving me nuts that I can't be there. Not in the delivery room, of course, just reading a book in the waiting room. We've known each other for almost twenty years, and I

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1159563793436275382006-09-29T14:46:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:29.046-06:00

We recently had an insurance change and Peanut's last surgery was not in-network*, so the plan did not cover $2100 of her care (so far--I believe there are more charges coming). But because she is covered by Medical Assistance, through the Katie Beckett waiver**, the state will pick up that difference and anything else insurance refuses to pay. Which is good, because we don't have $2100 now, and

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1158129352180530682006-09-12T23:37:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.955-06:00

I thought I should explain a bit about the clinics I mentioned taking her to. First of all, I am not unhappy with her surgeon. We have been thinking of taking her to a clinic anyway, because we are not happy with her leg braces, which we believe are not helping her as much as they should be. This opinion was seconded by her physical therapist recently as well. While her surgeon is responsible for

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1158125823728288532006-09-12T23:00:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.864-06:00

We got to come home last night. She fell asleep on the ride home at 6:30 and stayed asleep until this morning, when she awoke screaming. A dose of Tylenol 3 and some Little Bear, and she was happy. At least until she realized she couldn't play at her toy kitchen because it hurt to bear weight on that leg (she sits on a stool in front of it, and stands up to the counter from the stool). Even then,

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1158003249290070002006-09-11T13:25:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.776-06:00

Well, her femur isn't in her hip the way it is supposed to be. The doctor couldn't get a really clear look at it, but he's 95% sure it's out of place. He very nearly decided to go ahead and fix it right there, to save having to go back, but that would have necessitated putting her in a spica cast without us having a chance to prepare for it. Plus, since this is apparently the first time he has

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1157980765672193872006-09-11T07:07:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.683-06:00

Yes, I'm still alive. Technically, anyway. But that's not the important thing.The important thing is that Peanut is currently in the OR having her surgery. Yes, really. It seemed kind of weird for it to be happening on this day of all days, but Karen is getting baby Maya today (actually has her by now), so I decided that since she is retaking the day for joy that the least we could do is get over

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1156730152767960062006-08-27T19:41:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.581-06:00

Monday night: Headache + fight with Big Daddy.Tuesday night: Full-on migraine + Big Daddy leaving until Friday.Wednesday night: Storms + lightening-hit tornado siren 1/2 block away + Peanut bad dreams.Thursday night: Blueberry vomit between 11pm and 3am in Peanut's bed, Mama's bed, bathroom, and all but two towels in the house.Friday night: Muscle spasms in neck and shoulder from, and I'm

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1155936390585082942006-08-18T15:12:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.492-06:00

Due to an emergency surgery and another surgery that took longer than expected, Peanut's procedure has been cancelled as of 3:45 pm. They'll call us back to reschedule. Everyone is very sorry, and we got a $10 gas card for our troubles.Not that I am terribly disappointed that she is not the last surgery of the day on a Friday, but really, enough's enough. It's more frustrating, I think, because

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1155854442803232622006-08-17T16:38:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.406-06:00

They called with the surgery time. It's 3-fucking-10 pm, and she can't eat after midnight. She can have clear fluids and popsicles until 11 am. Fucking great.So we're keeping her up as late as we can and feeding her pancakes until she explodes.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1155819568601403042006-08-17T06:55:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.310-06:00

We don't want to jinx anything. She could wake up today with a giant boil or something. But the surgery is rescheduled for tomorrow. [walks away, humming because I can't whistle]

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1155147386478029522006-08-09T12:10:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.128-06:00

Last night when we were driving home, we drove by a practice field where the Santa Clara Vanguards were practicing for the Drum Corps International World Championship, held here in Madison. Being a former band geek, if only briefly, (damn braces), I pulled over to let Peanut listen a little bit.She was enraptured, saying "Music! They're playing music!" After a minute or two listing to the tubas,

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1154664360499211542006-08-03T21:49:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:28.033-06:00

She sang Old McDonald to me all the way home yesterday (Did you know he keeps unicorns? They neigh). She used a banana peel to make "hair" for her stuffed cat.She is obsessed with playacting, and will use whatever is handy to create characters, which have included Mama Hand and Daddy Toe. Or she'll make the stuffed cat moo if a cow is necessary to the story but not available. She loves all the

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1153716284608316052006-07-23T22:41:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.941-06:00

10:30 pm + waking from sound sleep + high fever + vomiting = better than 50% chance of cancellation of surgery in the morning.We're supposed to take her in anyway if she seems at all improved, though the peds anesthesiologist on call said they would still probably cancel. Yay.8:00 amWe've cancelled. She had to go in and be assessed, but since her fever spiked again when she got up and she vomited

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1153670479045385142006-07-23T09:32:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.852-06:00

So, barring any more bicycle accidents, Peanut is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. We have to be at the hospital at the ungodly hour of 6:15 am, which is acceptable only because at least this way she won't be begging for breakfast for very long.This will be the first time she'll go into surgery as a person who actually understands a little of what is going on. She was so young with the

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1152854815652410342006-07-13T23:14:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.657-06:00

Last night she was asleep by 9:30, and today she napped,so I thought we were in the homestretch. But tonight, 10:30 again. The last few nights she has been insisting that I tell her a story. When I asked her what she wanted it to be about, she said, "Dinosawr!" One named "Crunch", specifically. Crunch has been lost in the woods and escaped a T-Rex (or Dinosawr Rex, as she calls them), lived with

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1152674959046843522006-07-11T21:29:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.568-06:00

You think I was kidding about the no sleep thing? Last night it was 11:15. Tonight it is 10:25, and she's still awake, telling me she is afraid because she saw an alligator in her room. And no nap today either.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1152671260680027002006-07-11T20:26:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.479-06:00

Overheard in the car:"Oh, I wuv you, dinosawr!""Oh, I wuv you too, Daffy Duck!"

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1152418721272203952006-07-08T21:17:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.383-06:00

In case any of the 2 people who still read this blog (hell, my mother doesn't anymore) and don't know me in real life are interested, I am not blogging because Peanut has decided that sleep? SLEEP IS FOR LOSERS. Especially naps.The nap thing wouldn't affect me too much (hey, my mom watches her during the day--it really sucks for her), except that on the car ride home she inevitably falls asleep

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1151859588289299802006-07-02T10:59:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.206-06:00

I thank Steve for this game.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1151251985433746282006-06-25T09:43:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.121-06:00

Apparently Peanut's surgeon is a bit of a daredevil on a bicycle. Cracked ribs and a broken collarbone make it difficult to perform surgery, to say the least, so her surgery is cancelled, re-schedulement pending.Yes, yes, it's annoying.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1151102973352014142006-06-23T16:45:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:27.028-06:00

Peanut's surgery is 9:40 Monday morning. Supposed to take an hour, and she'll mostly likely come home the same day. Pretty minor in comparison to the last two, but general anesthesia and the phrase "pain management" never make me happy.Let's keep our fingers crossed the the bad x-ray was as wrong as our bad ultrasound was, and her hip is just fine. Because there is just no way she's going back in

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1150772998836698992006-06-19T21:05:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.938-06:00

She really loves Beatrix Potter books, and gasps each and every time Mr. Jeremy Fisher gets swallowed up by the trout.She puts a diaper on her head, and instead of it being a hat, she becomes a house, with the diaper as the roof, her nose as the door, and her eyes as windows. Who lives in the house? Why, boogula whales, of course.Speaking of those, tonight she pulled open my shirt, looked down

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1150681815204301962006-06-18T19:49:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.846-06:00

I never wanted kids until I met Big Daddy.He's an even better father than I imagined he would be. My friends are all jealous.Happy Father's Day to truly the best dad Peanut could ever have. We love you.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1150171268816976382006-06-12T21:56:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.672-06:00

Sometimes, when I am watching her, I get a vision, unbidden, of her with normal legs. I see her running through the grass after the dog, pigtails bouncing. And I wonder for a moment, when I see her face fall when the dog walks away from the chair she is sitting in when she's trying to pet it, what she would have been like with legs that worked.I really, really, hate those times.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1149950902168520222006-06-10T08:43:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.580-06:00

Want to lose 8 pounds in four days (not including water weight)?Want diet motivation you can't ignore?Do I have the answer for YOU!This amazing new diet system is called GALLBLADDER DISEASE!*It's so simple, even a glutton like me can understand it!Eating food = Moderate nausea, mild to moderate abdominal painEating fatty food = Moderate to severe nausea, vomiting AND severe, unrelenting upper

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1149906226836086052006-06-09T20:16:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.490-06:00

You know how little kids all have at least one word they mispronounce really cutely? Peanut can say "rhinocerous" perfectly clearly, but every night that Big Daddy is home with his laptop, we have to spend a few minutes looking at "Boogula" whales via Google Image Search.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1149905793960668262006-06-09T19:39:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.400-06:00

I have been doing some reading lately. Mostly about disability. I have a long blog post I have been writing in my head, but until I can articulate what I am thinking (if I ever can), it might be helpful to point you to a couple of places with stuff I found interesting, so maybe you'll be able to understand where I am coming from when I write. First, the blog A Letter to My Children. I found this

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1148941580022400732006-05-29T15:49:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.305-06:00

of those who have fallen.Including my great-uncle, Major Harlan E. Stewart, 15 Jan 1915 - 25 Feb 1944, who died after being shot down in the Bougainville area of the South Pacific. He was a Marine fighter pilot, a month away from getting married. From the hometown newspaper:"Enemy landing craft was sighted the day of February 25. The flight officer asked Major Stewart to send two pilots up to

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1148685465212416512006-05-26T17:03:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.126-06:00

So I have decided that I will be grateful Big Daddy had to get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, because that's how we found the hose to the ice-maker spraying water all over the kitchen and the puddle that was turning into a pond across the tile and hardwood floors, and thankful that I remembered where the turn-off valve for it was (downstairs, through the rain of water that was

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1148057963138560882006-05-19T10:44:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:26.039-06:00

Hello!My computer at home is dead.Well, maybe only mostly dead. It might be able to be revived. But not this weekend! Because we will be at a waterpark hotel in Wisconsin Dells for free! About damn time I got some perks for working for the company I work for. So that is why posting has been light, and why my blog still looks ugly. However, this computer thing is a problem becaue I had promised to

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1147551237801171602006-05-13T14:08:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:25.951-06:00

Scene: On Bad Mama's bed, Peanut has insisted on putting on Bad Mama's pajama shirt and pants.Peanut: Now I'm da mama.Bad Mama: Ok, Mama, what is Mama going to do?Peanut: [flops down onto a pillow] I'm tired! [Yawns exaggeratedly, and then giggles]What can I say, the kid pays attention.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1147530145248607952006-05-13T08:19:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:25.864-06:00

Please send your prayers to Cancer, Baby's family.She was the same age as me. Things like this are not supposed to happen to thirty-three year- olds.The National Ovarian Cancer Resource Center has more information on the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1147229318835570332006-05-09T20:45:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:25.781-06:00

Peanut is really into "big" and "little" right now. She also enjoys naming body parts. And she is the only person in the world who can get away with telling me, "You have a BIG vulva" without something ugly happening.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1147229139271225182006-05-09T20:43:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:25.693-06:00

... the moon was asleep, but then it woke up and needed some milk, so she would fly like a bird up to the moon and give it some.She is so cool.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1146591656888614462006-05-02T09:50:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:25.602-06:00

Yesterday was Blog Against Disablism Day, and I missed it, because I waited like a good girl to blog at home after work and then found out my computer is still not working right. Ahem.So I just have a few minutes here to mention a few things. I've had a long post in draft form I've been playing around with about parenting a child with a physical disability, but I haven't been able to quite get it

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1145590607246786522006-04-20T21:02:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.661-06:00

The good news is that her bone has healed fine. She's back to her stand-up/sit-down games, though she's still scared of the slide. The bad news?Let me preface this by saying no doctor is ever allowed to start out saying, "I'm really worried about this" in regard to anything about Peanut ever again. Ever ever ever.What he's worried about is that in one of her x-rays, the ball of the femur appears

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1145387055011126172006-04-18T13:01:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.473-06:00

In the car this morning:Peanut: Twinkle, twinkle, yittle saaaaaaaaar, how I wonner what you ........ aaaarrrre!Me: That was lovely, Peanut. Thank you for singing for me.Peanut: Thank you, thank you very much.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1144809539104640142006-04-11T20:37:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.383-06:00

I've been meaning to write a post about where I've been (overuse injury in shoulder, aggravated by computer use, causing dramatic amounts of pain), but when the doctor describes what happened to you child's femur by saying, "It's like you took a can of pop* and crushed it from the ends, so it bulges out a little on the sides", one really doesn't have the mental energy.The rule apparently is that

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1142828731553593212006-03-19T22:22:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.293-06:00

She can pull herself into a standing position now. She sits in her little chair and holds on to her push walker and stands up. Then she sits down, pushes herself back in the chair, takes a rest, and starts again. It's a lot of work, you know.When Big Daddy gets around to getting me some software I can transfer the video to the computer with, I'll show you. Hint, hint.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1142827154964005402006-03-19T21:56:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.206-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1142826947194309072006-03-19T21:36:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.114-06:00

They need to call him TLM for "The Ladies Man"Big Daddy is prepared to have a talk with him soon.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1141103678726282042006-02-27T23:13:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:15.025-06:00

***You Passed 8th Grade Math***Congratulations, you got 9/10 correct!Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?http://www.blogthings.com/couldyoupasseighthgrademathquiz/Whew. It's been a loooong time since I did any algebra. I forgot what a ^ stood for, and so I think that's the one I got wrong.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1140316393345122542006-02-18T20:04:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.926-06:00

I swear I'll come back and post pictures. I came down with a cold last Monday, which rapidly progressed to ear and throat infections, and despite the antibiotic I can't seem to shake this. Peanut got the cold too, but is not as sick. Big Daddy had one too, but is also almost healthy again. I missed a day and a half of work, the first week of my new position--that's how sick I was. I actually

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1139103466291515442006-02-04T19:35:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.836-06:00

Peanut is TWO years old today. She had a birthday party with her friends at the Children's Museum. I was having trouble with posting earlier, when I had the time to do it, so for now I just have a moment to note the day. Pictures will follow soon, I hope...

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1138874079354029512006-02-02T01:25:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.745-06:00

So Samuel Alito has been confirmed. This terrifies me to my very core. I've been kicking around a post explaining why for a while, and now that I went to bed early and got a nap before waking again at 12:30 am (why do I even try?), I have the time to do it. Let's hope I have the fortitude too.When I was 22 years old, I had an elective abortion. I am not ashamed of this, but it was without a

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1138415253822435472006-01-27T20:25:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.666-06:00

The word is "clock", Peanut. C-L-ock.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1137377365426785482006-01-15T20:01:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.577-06:00

Your mispronunciations are usually very cute, Peanut. Like when you say "Okee" for Okay. But the word Peacock has *two* syllables, not one. Please try and remember that. Especially in public.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1137126228432919162006-01-12T21:54:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.481-06:00

My job seems to involve a lot of people yelling at me. I don't mean this figuratively, either. I am speaking of full-out screaming, pounding on furniture, and slamming doors. It didn't use to involve quite so much of this, perhaps because I was able to stay patient with people who were wrong for a while longer than I am now. I do my very best not to say or even imply, "You are a lying moron,

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1136854929934635942006-01-09T18:38:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.394-06:00

You know that part of The Heffalump Movie when Lumpy finds her call and trumpets so her mother can find her and the mother (voiced by Brenda Blethyn, by the way), comes crashing through the trees? And then as Lumpy tells her that Roo needs to be saved from that giant tangle of logs, and Mummy looks at Kanga and sees the look of fear/terror in her eyes, and goes over and saves him?When watching

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1136656408658599782006-01-07T11:08:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.305-06:00

Peanut has discovered her voice.She talks non-stop. I can't understand most of what she says unless it is in context, but she is certainly trying. She sings the theme song to Elmo's World charmingly out-of-tune. Her favorite game to enourage us to not put her to bed is to start running through all the things she knows: She'll point to and name the parts of her face and body, she'll count,

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1136436673545526162006-01-04T22:09:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:14.195-06:00

Ten years ago today, I was walking back from The Lemongrass Grill in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with my friend Carlos. A skinny guy wearing a green thrift-store overcoat was walking toward us and Carlos said, "I think that's the guy who is staying downstairs with Chris and Nickie" (a couple who were his downstairs neighbors). He nodded at him, and the guy said something like, "How're y'all doin'?" and

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106181.post-1136263577884619462006-01-02T21:22:00.000-06:002006-11-04T11:00:13.447-06:00

This morning, I woke up feeling well-rested, and was surprised to see that it was still dark out. So when I looked at the clock, and it was almost 8, my first thought was, "My birthday is always going to be remembered as the day the sun didn't come up".Luckily, it was only that it was cloudy and rainy outside, but it kind of set the tone for the day. I now know that unless it is to confirm a

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744805149899440965noreply@blogger.com4