Some milestones

Annaliese went to her 6 month check-up this week.  When Craig lost his job we were able to get medicaid for the kids and since our favorite pediatrician doesn't accept medicaid we decided to try this new doctor in Canton.  Every visit we wait at this small practice with only himself as the attending physician for over an hour...just to be seen.  This time I had Trinity bring her home school work so we could be productive and not lose another day of work to a doctor's visit that should only last an hour but ends up taking over half of our day.  After the nurse weighed Annaliese in at 18lbs and 26 inches (I find it so ironic that as an adult I constantly try to keep my weight low and to a minimum but when I talk about my babies I always brag and get excited about how chunky and big they are).  The problem with being reliant on the government for health care is that right now we cannot get certain vaccines through our physician because the state only allows him to order so much and will not reimburse him.  We were upset because she is missing three different vaccines that I think are needed and he acted like it wasn't a big deal...but when I asked if I could go to the county health department to get them and if I need to worry about timing the vaccines and her immune system being too overloaded he got upset that I would go there to get her vaccines.  Ughh...I wish people would just tell me the truth and not play games.  I am really debating on going back for Brendan's visit to this doctor...especially since one of his nurses wrote a note and nervously asked me to hold tight to it and read it at home.  When I got home she had written that some of the stuff the doctor had said were lies and she and the other staff want to leave but with the economy they need the job and then went on to list two other practices she recommends us going to for better care.  Not a good sign.  Anyway, Annaliese is healthy and I praise God for that.

Another milestone, Trinity wrote her first research paper this week.  She did it on cougars and got the idea from her Ranger Rick magazine her Aunt sends her each month.  The kids love these magazines that are filled with bright and beautiful pictures of God's creation and games and great articles they learn from without even knowing it.  She did a great job and she typed her finalized report and as a treat for her hard work we rented the movie UP! by Disney.  It was pretty cute but for Brendan the villian was a little scary.  But they don't get things like that often and that's what made it special.  After the movie we went outside and enjoyed the gorgeous afternoon watching the kids riding their bikes and playing Larryboy.

On another note, I have weaned myself off the coffee.  My IC is flaring up something awful and last year I got off my strict diet that doesn't allow any kind of nitrate filled foods (thinks hams, hot-dogs, smoked meat), most fruits (except non-acidic pears, blueberries, certain apples, and watermelon), no spices (so no italian, chinese, or mexican food) and anything that is considered acidic or irritating to the bladder.  When people are bringing food and you don't have the ability to get what you know you're supposed to eat and you need to eat because your pregnant you just eat what your given.  Now I'm paying severely for it.  My back pain I think is from a muscle sprain and a slipped disk and now my IC is fueling that back pain.  The last few months I've been sleeping maybe 2-3 hours a night.  And the pain is so intense that I'm dreaming about it when I do sleep.  The last week I've been walking thinking that will help strengthen my core and boost my endorphins and allow me a deeper sleep.  After that I was weaning myself off the ibuprofen (I'm taking 4 a night to dull the pain).  Last night I went to sleep with no meds and I wanted to die.  I really need to get to the doctor and see what in the world I've done to my back.  I ended up giving up after doing hot and cold therapy to no avail and at 4 am I broke down and took 4 advil.  I finally drifted to sleep after 5:30am and then Annaliese woke at 7am.  Craig got up and I changed her and dressed her and he brought her downstairs so I could sleep a little more.  By 8am the pain was back and I just got up because I couldn't sleep.  What a night...or nights because most nights are like this.  I just don't know what else to try because I'm breastfeeding I can't take muscle relaxers or any more potent pain meds.  Anyway, I'm praying God takes this pain away or gives me some idea of how to get rid of the pain naturally.

Until then here is a cute picture of Brendan playing with his little sissy.