Not much new to report

Things have returned to normal around the Loy house. But, of course, things are changing, as well.

I started picking up extra hours at the imaging center. It's been good so far. They're training me on the DEXA (bone density) machine and I'm going to be working my first Saturday this weekend by myself. The UAA students also started up their spring semester, and that always adds a challenge to my days.

Todd and I are changing Mason's preschool/daycare situation. It was a LOOOOOONNNG and very hard decision to make, but I (we) really feel like it will be the best for everyone, especially Mason. He has two more weeks left at JEC and then he'll start at the Providence daycare in their preschool room. Hopefully sometime soon we'll get a chance to take Mason by there to see it and meet his new teachers so it won't be such a huge shock on his first day.

I'm going on almost 7 weeks without any MS meds. I'm not sure if things seem like they're worse because I know that or not, but hopefully everything will calm down either way. I did go by my neurologist's office today to fill out the Copaxone paperwork. Dr. Burt (Chicago study doctor) wants me to at least be on this while we wait for my insurance to respond and the Tysabri to fully get out of my system. I'm not looking forward to doing shots every day again, but hopefully it won't be for too long.

Today was 15 degrees above zero, which felt so warm after what felt like forever of 15 degrees below.

Like I said, not much new to report.

Summertime...almost

Our weather has been so crazy the last few months, but it seems as though summer might have finally reached Alaska. Mason LOVES being outside. Actually, loves isn't even a strong enough word for how crazy this child is about being outside, but I don't really have another word in my vocabulary at this moment to describe it. We have been spending lots of time in the yard, going for walks, blowing bubbles, playing at the park, etc, etc, etc.

Mason still also loves his daycare. He still only goes two days a week, but we are thinking about increasing to three once he is able to move up into the toddler room. Speaking of the toddler room, Mason is currently in the baby room, which is from 6-18 months. He is the oldest kiddo in there, and by far the most active, so he gets a little bored sometimes. Now that he's 18 months he will start transitioning into the toddler room, where he'll be once he's 19 months. He is so fascinated by the toddler room, we have a hard time in the mornings having to walk past it to get to the baby room. Friday he actually spent all day with the toddlers, and even got to be the Shabbat helper! I wish I could have seen it, it sounds like he was super cute up with Mr. Joe lighting the candles and saying the blessing over the Challah.

Being back to work at the hospital has been great for me. I was super nervous going back, I was really afraid that I had forgotten everything, but that didn't happen. My schedule is set now, which is SO much better for me, and if I want more than 20 hours a week I (so far) have no problem getting extra hours. I really feel like I'm using my brain again at work, which is something I was definitely lacking before. The only downside is that all that brain usage leaves little time for reading at work, so my book consumption has decreased significantly since I'm not at the clinic anymore. It's a good trade off.

Here's my little man, learning to blow bubbles in the yard. He's actually pretty good at it, as long as it's with this small bubble wand.

And here he is in our closet with my hot pink shoes on. He was so proud of himself for getting them out of box and onto his feet all by himself. Todd was only slightly concerned that maybe it was time for some more time in the "Man Cave" with Daddy.

What's the number?

I went to see the PPD woman on Wednesday. She was actually very nice, and not at all loony. (it just seems to me that a lot of counselors are kind of loony and into meditating and such...which just does not work for me)

Anyway, one thing she does want me to do is start numbering my days. Kind of like the pain scale we use for patients, although instead of ten being horrible, I-want-to-die pain, 10 is beautiful-birds chirping-perfect day and one is a I-don't-want-to-go-on-living kind of day. Along with numbering them, I also need to think about what's going on the days that are lower numbers.

She also gave me names of some books and websites that I still haven't checked out, but I'll probably get around to it this weekend. I have a feeling that once school is over my stress level will drop dramatically...so in 62 days we'll see if that's true. This last semester not only sucks because my classes are lame and require TONS of writing that I just do NOT have the time for, but also because, since it's my last semester, I just don't really care that much. I think in high school we called this senioritis.

And by the way, in case you're wondering...so far, today is about a 4.5 (I thought I would switch it up a bit, using decimals sometimes ala SJP in SATC) No real reason for the lower than average number, but I think this may just be my baseline most days unfortunately.

It's just not fair

I know I've complained about this before, but the program I'm in has the hardest grading scale I've ever seen! It has been really hard for me to give up my 4.0 GPA, but I work my butt off and actually am usually happy with an A-. I did have a 4.0 last semester, but this semester I'll be happy just to pass I think...having a baby does not leave much time for studying.

Here's what the grading scale is:

A 98-100
A- 94-97
B+ 92-93
B 89-91
B- 86-88
C+ 83-85
C 80-82 (this is the "pass" cut off, below an 80 and you fail)
C- 77-79
D 70-76
F 0-69

Finally

I finally finished my final paper for my advanced patient care class. Phew. It was a 4 week class that started the week before Mason was born. 4 weeks, 4 papers. I had meant to finish the entire class that week, but I only got 3 of the 4 papers done. Thank goodness I did that much seeing that it's taken me 3 weeks to finish one! Now I have a little break until the next trimester begins.

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Baby Firsts

Mason had his first trip to Target on Thursday. I know, this isn't exactly a baby milestone noted in any baby book or calendar, but to me it was a momentous event. He of course slept through the entire experience. Before the Target trip, Todd and I took Mason to my grandparents house. They hadn't seen him since he was born, and it's easier for us to go to them. After the great grandparent visit, we drove out to Target. I pushed the stroller and Todd had the cart, and for the first time in my entire life of loving Target, I didn't buy a single thing there for me!

Yesterday Todd dropped Mason and I off at my mom's house for a while so he could go Christmas shopping. We ended up staying a lot longer than we planned, but it is so nice to get out of the house sometimes.

I should really be writing a paper now. I have one last paper I need to write for my advanced patient care class. It's a 4 week class that started the week before Mason was born. My goal was to finish it all before he got here, but with all the kidney stones and pre-term labor, that didn't happen. I did get 3 of the 4 papers done, which I'm grateful for now. I keep telling Todd he should write it for me, but I think I need to forget that dream and get writing!