2012 Early April

VERY hard to believe it has been since November, since I posted last. I do still have trouble believing anyone really follows my blog...

Jessica is 90% potty-trained. She's had 3 accidents in almost 6 weeks, during the day. And she's dry probably 4 out of 7 nights, for the last 2-3 weeks. Her speech continues to improve, and I'm no longer concerned about her hearing. She is learning things from Joanna, from preschool, so I do worry about her being WAY ahead of her group, since she can't start 3-yr old preschool until she is 4, and will already be probably the oldest kindergartener in her class. We'll see how she does in preschool for half a year, then talk about trying to get her into kindergarten "early" if everything seems ready for that, other than her birth-date.

Joanna is day potty-trained completely. She's had 2-3 dry nights in the last 8 weeks or so, not really making progress there. She enjoys preschool.

The girls are now in a twin-over-full bunkbed, but are sleeping in the same lower bunk for now. We have the ladder put up, on the twin, until they are ready to sleep separately, as well as being up so high.

Jeremy is ready for his 12th birthday later this month. He'll be getting a new bike for his birthday (he's definitely outgrown the bike we got him for his 7th birthday!), as he does his own transportation to swim team in the summer, as well as cross-country practice, before school starts again for the 12-13 year. He is in track right now, with his first meet this coming Tuesday. It is a very short season - done by May 12. He'll be glad to be done with band, when school ends in May. He doesn't mind playing, and he's pretty good, but he hates to practice (didn't we all!).

Alex's health is finally settled back down. We were seriously concerned that he had contracted MS somehow, but after a simple change in blood pressure medicine, all those symptoms are gone. Whew! He'll likely go on cholesterol medicine next month. Ugh. Aging is for the birds!

I've had quite a battle with my feet, since being diagnosed with Raynaud's syndrome almost a year ago. I checked out several pairs of socks - the only kind that worked were compression socks, that truly increased my circulation, and made my feet warm. However, when it was time to switch to my everyday shoes, last Sep/Oct, I found that the compression socks didn't fit in my shoes. Then I started searching for new everyday shoes. I went through almost 10 pair (only wore them inside the house, and I was able to return all but one pair, that I still have), and nothing worked well. Finally in desperation, I went back to the podiatrist, to find out I now also have 2 broken toenails (my big toes) from wearing too-small shoes for years, as well as plantar fasciitis. It was diagnosed in my right foot at the time, but I have since developed the same pains in my left foot. I am in Brooks tennis shoes all the time, when I leave the house now, for at least another 1-3 months.

I had to do a similar search for house-slippers, and have finally settled on a pair that have great arch support built in, plus are enclosed, and have enough room for my thick socks.

But I'm back in a quandary now - I can't wear these socks all spring/summer/fall when I'm wearing crops/shorts. They are knee-high socks. So 2 weeks ago, I started taking the Raynaud's medicine (it is actually for blood pressure, and I've taken it before, but didn't understand my reaction - now I know what it meant). I will stay on this another 2-4 weeks on the lowest dose, to see if it increases my circulation. But in order to know whether it is the socks that are doing the circulation, or the medicine, I'll have to stop wearing the socks. If after 6 weeks, my feet are still cold, then I'll increase to 1.5 times the dose I'm on now. I know 2x the dose works, but we have to be careful to lower my blood pressure too much, since I already have a fairly low blood pressure. Case in point, I gave blood last Saturday during a blood drive, and they took my bp at 90/60.

I'm in the process of starting the search for an open-sandal to wear after I get off my 1-3 more months of tennis shoe wearing. This is to hopefully let the plantar fascia heal, but we'll see. I might just be destined to have foot pain, and have to learn to live with it. There could be worse things.

Alex's father passed away 3 weeks ago today. We were "expecting" it, but it was/is still a challenge at some points.

Our 1996 Corolla also had a part that disintegrated beyond repair (ie getting a new engine), so we are now the proud new owners of a 2012 Honda Civic. We were planning to get Alex a new car and give the Corolla to Jeremy when he's ready to drive in 4 years, but that is no longer the plan. Hopefully the guys can just share the vehicle after work/school hrs, and we'll help Jeremy get into a decent used vehicle when he's ready to leave for college. He ought to start saving now!

Probably long enough for one post, especially if only 1-2 people reads it!