Girlier

Natalie sure gets girlier everyday. We went to a museum with a sand table and she couldn't stand it on her hands, she would get up and brush it off and run away. Natalie is enjoying putting on 'pretties' to play dress up. Her hair is getting longer, but still looks a little mullet-y in the back. It curls up down at the bottom when she gets hot. She has also started walking with her hand on her hip!


Here is a cute picture of the 3 of us, I think we're a pretty cute family if I do say so myself! Our family now consists of Natalie, Mommy, and Staff Sergeant Daddy. He earns his stripe on July 1st.

Epidural

I had my injection today. It was not too bad. I got 2-3 numbing shots, then the epidural which was a lot of pressure. It felt like someone was sitting on me. I have a condition called vasovagal - basically when I get IV's or injection my nervous system reacts and drops my blood pressure. I get hot and can't breathe well and feel like I will throw up. It first happened with my IV with Natalie and it happened when I stood up today so I had to lay down in the exam room for awhile. Ryan took the rest of the day off of work and helped me with Natalie. He also brought me a Frosty, picked up pizza for dinner, and cleaned up around the house. I'm lucky to have him to take care of me.

Nothing says HOT like a neon pink bandaid in your butt crack...

Gratuitous Pics

Updates

I have been slow to update, but busy as usual in the Windle household. I am busy being on the leadership team for www.tidewatermommies.com Here is a picture of us from our last leadership meeting.

I've been working on a big promotional display board for some upcoming children's events in our community so we hope to get some new members.

We are glad to have Ryan back. Chris and Chuck, husbands of my friends Heather and Sondra missed Father's Day. This past Sunday we sent them on a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings and a go-cart place. They had fun, and we made a nice meal for them to come home to, and had the kids paint posters. Pics added after my lazy friends upload them :-)

I went to a spine specialist today. He said I am having lots of muscle spasms, one of my legs is longer, my hips are uneven and my pelvis is misaligned. On Wednesday I will be getting a lumbar epidural for the pain, then in the next few weeks I will have a scoliosis x-ray, a pelvic x-ray, and an MRI. We will finally get to the bottom of all this (I hope). In the meantime I take an anti-inflammatory once a day and muscle relaxers 3 times a day.

Natalie is growing and changing as always. She likes to play with the Little People brand of toys - she has a camping set she loves. She is also getting more interested in 'whimming' at Water Country USA and my friend's pool.

He's Home!

I didn't really expect him until Saturday, so I have some babysitting plans and a meeting for Tidewater Mommies today. He's willing to tag along on the babysitting though so that's okay. We are all unpacked and put back together, for a week anyway, til we head back for our vacation!

Natalie stayed up to see Daddy, but she played shy and quiet. I hope today she has a little more excitement. Ryan couldn't believe how much she changed in a month, by how much she says, how long her hair is, etc. He brought her a wooden train whistle back. Ryan also picked up some great stuff from my mom - clothes for all of us, books, magazines, cake pans, sewing stuff. It was exciting to go through and see all our 'prizes'.

Good Day

Ryan is on his way home! YAY! He has been in school in Texas the past month. Natalie and I are anxiously awaiting for the end of the day so he will be here. Poor Natalie. Everytime she sees someone in ABU's (new cammo uniform) she says "daddy"! It will be neat to see how she reacts. I didn't think she would really notice he was gone, but the first few days she was very clingy and whiny so I guess she got it more than I thought. I will post some happy pics later!

Happy Father's Day Ryan!

Happy Father's Day Ryan! You are an excellent Daddy and Natalie would not be the amazing little girl she is without your help. You have encouraged her to try new things. You have made her tough by teaching her it's okay to fall down, you just get up and try again. She has so many of your features, both in her looks and easy going personality. Thank you for being the bath giver and the playmate for her after my long days at home. Even though she can't say it (well she can sort of say it now) she loves you and so do I. Happy Father's Day!

Friday at Saddleridge

Went to a BBQ and a girl's night out at Saddleridge. 3 mom's in our group had birthdays, Jackie, Shyan, and Polly. I even ran into Danielle from my old work. And yes, oh yes, I rode the bull!

Dinner Party Week of July 6-10th

I'd like to host a dinner party at my parent's house. They live in IL, but it's pretty much 20 minutes from South County. Susan has come over before as has Matt, so it's not too bad. They have a small boat and pond for fishing and a pool table and bar in the basement.

What day would work best? I was thinking Sunday? Or is a weeknight ok?

Camping Trip

Well, if staying in a camper is camping, then yes we did! We went with my friend Sondra and her daughter Maddie for the weekend to her family campground in New Jersey. Natalie hated the water at first, but by the end of the trip seemed to enjoy it. Neither of the girls would fall asleep on the drive until the last hour, and were kind of off on naps so we are now home with 2 crabbies. But it was a good time!

Dress and Bow Modeling

Check out Natalie's dress and new bows. I love the big pink and brown one. I had to buy the shirt so she had something to match it!

Bad Doctor Day

I went for my biopsy this am. Had to wear a gown, get pushed around in the stretcher, get blood drawn and an IV in my hand. Then I got the numbing shots which were awful burning. Then they did four 'draws' from the cyst. That 'pressure' felt like someone was pushing on my esophgas. Mind you they started an hour late, then I had to wait an hour after to be discharged. I left with a band-aid, ice, and told to take Tylenol. I felt okay until I got home and it worse off, now it feels like the lump you get when you are about to cry...which could also be from the actual crying I did at the back appointment...

I had an appt at 3:40 and I got there at 3:35. When the guy called me back he said "Were you stuck in traffic?" I figured he was asking why I wasn't 15 minutes early, the usual requirement. I said I was a little behind getting my daughter to a sitter. He said "And you didn't call?". Um, no, because I was not late. He said I was supposed to have the appointment at 3:20. I think he took it out on me the whole time. He basically said that he highly doubts I broke it in childbirth because he has never heard of it (while I personally know at least 2 people who did that). He said I took one doctors word as gospel and ran with it. He said even if it is broke, I could "just" have a c-section the next time. Why would I want a C-section if I didn't have to have one? Obviously I had one baby just fine (sort of, minus the injury I am whining about) Everytime I tried to talk he would interrupt. I ended up crying trying to tell him I am 26 and should not be in pain everyday, then making me feel about 11, he says well it's hard to tell how much pain you are really in to someone else. Everything he suggested I have tried. He said he thinks the surgery would cause more pain, and the shots are not that easy to do in a tailbone. I left in tears with an anti-inflammatory for the am and muscle relaxers for the pm. That and told to stand or lay, to sit as little as possible. I am calling the Dr. who referred me to this jerk and asking to be sent somewhere else. UGH.