The backpack, I love it. It’s mah baybay. But somehow one of the straps is ripped at the seam. One of the zipper pulls comes off, too, because the zipper can’t hold on to it, but that’s been a non-issue. So I asked Amazon about warranty and they said send it back for a refund. This one is going to cost me a few dollars, though, because the price has gone up a bit for the same one and I’m paying for 1 day shipping (prime). But it’s worth it to me and I get to ship the old one back free and I’ll put it in the box the new one ships in.

Another replacement from within the last few months has been my laptop. My old one was acting really funny and getting so hot it almost burned me. Of course, after I ordered a new one, it started behaving! I’ve redone it for a friend now and it’s waiting to go live with her. This replacement is, of course, costing me, however, I saved about $350 by buying Dell certified refurbished, as compared to a brand new one with the same specs. Oh well, I really did need more power, the way I run this ship around here.

Had to get the Jeep’s tires replaced… Twice. This cost more than the laptop and it was only 3 tires! I had to go in a second time because the first time they screwed up and put the wrong ones on!!

Finally… I have replaced cavities in my teeth with fillings. This has been the least fun! But costs less than the laptop, haha. I think I’m actually coming out pretty good after insurance and my additional 20% family discount, as my sister-in-law is a hygenist there. I’m a baby, though, which is part of the reason I had… Drum roll, please… 10 of these done. Yes, that’s one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, TEN. I sound bad, but I have been to the dentist, until now, only once in the last 11 years. That is what happens when you are afraid and don’t have insurance for a long time. I knew in 2008 that I had 4, but had that miscarriage 2 days before getting them done, so I canceled it and never went back because of how things went after that. I do have to say though, that from a cleaning standpoint, my sis said my teeth were not nearly as bad as she’d expected. Nine of the cavities were between teeth, in the back. Because I’m a big scaredy cat, they gave me Xanax and did them all at once. He said I should have no pain at all… Ha!!!

I was sore right away, but 2 days later, me and both kids were diagnosed with ear infections and were started on antibiotics. I was having horrible pain. I thought it was my ears, then I thought teeth, ears, teeth, ears, teeth… I’ve been taking way too much ibuprofen. Finally, evidence that the antibiotics weren’t duds… Today I went back to the dentist, 9 days after having them done and he saw the problem right away. He said I had a high spot on one, I don’t pretend to really understand it, but apparently that causes lots of problems. He drilled or shaved or whatevered it off there… Not. Fun. But it was quick so I survived. Felt like I had a big hole there for a while though. He says he’ll be very surprised if this doesn’t solve it and gave me Vicodin for the meantime. But he didn’t want to give me the steroids for the nerve while I’m on antibiotics. So, if in 2 weeks from Friday, it still hurts, I’m to call for those. I felt so much better this afternoon. Not sure if that’s just the Vicodin talking or what, but I hope this is the end. It’s been a miserable 9 days so far!!

The one thing that I still don’t get, though, is that she seems to have this really sensitive gag reflex or something. Everything that goes in her mouth, it seems like she gags for a split second each time.

That was actually one of the more humorous gags, but you can hear it slightly there before she pulls it back into her mouth. Usually she keeps it in her mouth and does the gag noise. Most of them she actually ate, too, this time around, anyway. At first I thought it was because I was putting it in her mouth, but she seems to do that when she feeds herself, too. (Which she’s still having a bit of trouble doing with these things since they’re small.)

I hope we get there soon, though, because I’m so done with baby food. I think she is, too, really. She really wants to feed herself (most of the time) so I almost have to hold her hands down to get a bite into her mouth or she flings it all over the walls and my face, etc. We also have an infant feeder so that helps there.

She’s on formula yet through July, too, per pediatrician’s orders. I’m ready for the transition to milk! I’ve given her a very little bit here and there so I guess once we hit July we’ll start increasing the amount of milk and reducing the formula amount in each bottle.

And along these same lines, I’d love, love, LOVE it if this child would stop gritting her teeth! That would make me very very happy indeed. I can’t stand that noise, and it’s not good for her teeth either. I don’t know what to do to make her quit though??? Help!

I guess what is amusing is the break down. They are charged $325 for two of my teeth as “partial bony impaction” (I guess the lower ones) then $195 for the other two as “surgical extraction,” $325 for 30 minutes of anesthetic, $95 for the x-rays, and $45 for the exam. Yeah, $45 for him to look in there and go, “yup, let’s take the teeth out!”

Well, I don’t know why it’s amusing… but it sure is great to only have to pay $124, especially when I was expecting $1200!

Well, now it’s over. Except for the healing process, of course. I just hope it’s a speedy process. I have many projects I have to get done, some by this Sunday. I don’t feel like just sleeping, I can’t fall asleep right now, but I don’t feel like doing anything of any value, either. I’m just sitting here playing Packrat and thinking about switching over to The Sims 2.

Elijah had his ENT appointment at the same time I was getting my teeth out. My mother-in-law had to take him, if we didn’t take this appointment, he wouldn’t have gotten in until September 19! His tonsils are still huge but they don’t seem to bother him much. They’re scary looking, though. So the ENT (which is the same one that did his tongue last year) gave him three more medicines and wants to see him in another month. I guess then if they’re not down, they’ll come out.

So that’s where we stand. I can’t stand tasting blood all the time like I am but putting the gauze in really gags me. So blah. I hope it heals soon. They said I wasn’t bleeding a lot, the nurse kept acting like it was good.

But it was so weird. Before today, I’d never been put out for anything before (that I’m aware of). The last thing I remember was looking at the ceiling, feeling some, like, popping in my head (like when you stand up too fast), then I woke up in recovery. I kept trying to lay down and go to sleep and they kept holding me up. I was really dizzy and my face numb. But I think I was pretty coherent. Apparently when the nurse mentioned they’d give me antibiotics, I told her I wanted a Diflucan, too. I don’t remember that, but Steve says I did. I am bewildered though, that I walked to recovery, because I don’t remember that, either!

So, once again, I’m very glad it’s over and I’m praying I recover quickly!!

– Elijah’s going on week 3 or so with tonsils the size of Texas. He’s been to the doctor twice for them. He got his usual antibiotics the first time but stronger ones later. He goes in for follow-up again on Friday and I can tell you what’s gonna happen. They’re gonna schedule us for an appointment with the ENT (ear, nose, throat doctor) and he’s going to end up getting his tonsils out. He says his throat doesn’t hurt but he also has a hacking cough (but then again, so do I). Poor kid. First his ankyloglossia, that tooth, and now his tonsils in less than a year’s time.

– A friend of mine called me Saturday and asked if I was open to shooing her co-worker’s wedding this coming Saturday. The woman called me tonight and it looks like it’s all set. The wedding’s at a winery, too, looks nice. I’m really excited, but also a bit nervous. But I know I’ll do a good job. They’re really just paying me for gas and time, I’m going to give them the originals on CD and let them print them themselves. I kind of prefer it that way, actually. I still need to find a standard copyright release form and a standard model release form…

– And I’ve already decided that I’m buying this with my pay, heh. (The rest is probably going to go towards paying on other things and maybe I’ll get the remote, depending on how much, maybe maybe a speedlight.) But yeah, my camera did come with a case but I’ve had issues with it since I got it. Granted, it’s a nice bag, it’s got more than enough room, but it’s just cumbersome for me, I have a hard time shouldering it around and such. I already have one of these (for my old camera) and I love it but I can’t even get the D60 with one lens in it, let alone the other (I tried!). Granted, they’re more expensive than what I’d normally spend (heh, my purses typically fall in the $10-20 range) but they’re durable, comfortable, etc., I just really like the products.

– As embarrassing as this is… My wisdom teeth are in and they haven’t hurt in a long time, but there’s just not room for them so here come the first real cavities I’ve ever really had (my first ever cavity happened when I was 17, dentist said it was caused by my braces). Well, the top right one is the worst and the other day… it broke. Scared me enough I immediately made an appointment to get them removed, so that’s next week. I’ve been putting it off for so long because I’m a big baby who does not put herself in the way of needles if at all possible. Not to mention I’ve never been put to sleep before, so that is scaring me. Someone needs to come hold my hand… and drive me home, lol.

– Had an eye test last week. Did you know that they can do the glaucoma test without the burst of air? I’m SUCH a blinker. So while this didn’t cause me to blink any less, it sure was a bit more pleasant. They put some drops in that – heh, are yellow – and then you look at a very close blue light and I dunno what all they’re doing but there’s no air in the eye! It was really weird though and my eyes did burn a bit later at the end of the day but no air! So my glasses came in and I got them today which is faster than any other time (I’m really liking this new office and our insurance — a lot cheaper than last time). So, anyway, if you wanna see…

– Um… I got more but somehow this post sat stagnant for an hour now, so… guess it’s time for bed. :) It seems to be an epidemic, anyway, how I can just go on and on about absolutely nothing. It’s been a problem since I was little. :)

In case you’re wondering, I’m currently watching Flesh and Bone. The Reese character is stinking annoying…