Tag: las vegas

Long Week

Eric left last Friday morning for what I expected to be ten days, his normal seven on-call, and then three more for a trip to Las Vegas with his brother. Over Easter. Three days cutting into his week off. Don’t even get me started.

I was beyond annoyed. But was also trying to be the supportive wife that knows he deserves a vacation, and time with his brother. Even though I never get a vacation without the kids… So yes, I bitched some when he booked the trip, but ultimately told him to go and have fun.

Tuesday he texted me that he cancelled his trip. His reason being that he knows its hard for me here alone so much with the girls. I’m relieved yes. But I do feel bad he cancelled on his brother. And I hope to God I don’t hear him moaning about how he cancelled his trip for me for the next month… (My husband isn’t the only one who does that, right???)

It’s Thursday night and thankfully I survived the week, but it wasn’t easy. And daycare is closed tomorrow for Easter, so it could be a long day until Eric gets home…

Three year-olds are little terrors sometimes. Those of you with children surely understand. And then throw on top of that a sick Nadia, and well, it makes for fun times. Daycare called me yesterday afternoon to tell me Nadia had a 103F fever. It was down this morning actually, but she was still very cranky all day, and up several times last night, more so than her usual one time. My fear is hand, foot, and mouth, as I saw a sign on the door when I picked her up that there had been exposure to her classroom. I’m really hoping that since her fever has been down for 12 hours now, and there were no signs of sores when I put her to bed, that she doesn’t actually have that… I’m praying anyway!

In the mist of parenting I did find some time to do a few things around the house that have been on my list way too long. I straightened Nora’s name above her window. Which surprisingly took a ton of time! I put up Nadia’s one-year picture over her bed, and purposely left a space for something else. What I’m not sure yet. I installed a motion light switch in our laundry room. Love it, I need these in more places! And put the curtain rod up in the master bedroom. The curtains still need to be shortened, but I’m leaving that for maybe next week. I’m quite proud of myself!

I also wanted to update on how I’ve been feeling on my new anti-depressant, Viibryd. I want to say I feel amazing, but I don’t. I have a strange list of side-effects…

  • I actually think I sleep better now than when I was on Zoloft, but only if I take Viibryd first thing in the morning. I always took my Zoloft at night, so I automatically took the new med at night. Well, it made me terribly restless, it was impossible to get to sleep for hours!
  • I wake up feeling… I’m not sure the right word, groggy maybe. I’m not sure if I’m just now actually sleeping and I’m not used to this waking up feeling… I’m not sure.
  • Um… the websites all say it does not cause weight gain. I gained ten pounds since going on it. I want to eat all the time. All the time. Like I actually feel hungry, like my hands get shaky like I need sugar. So weird.
  • I always feel…. not sure the word… energized maybe, but perhaps not in a good way. Like I can’t calm down, can’t just sit and rest. Like I have to be doing something all the time. Granted, I got a lot done this week! But not sure the feeling is normal.
  • As well as feeling energized, I would also say I feel far more anxious than I did on Zoloft. Every little thing seems to annoy me. Everything seems overwhelming, like the dog was digging and had mug everywhere, it felt like a huge pain in the butt to clean her up.

I have an appointment with the physician who prescribed me this medication on Monday. Two days ago I actually started cutting my pills in half.. partially to wean myself off if that is what he thinks is best, but also partially to see if a lower dose would make me feel better. Maybe the drug isn’t all wrong, maybe my dose is just too high. I’m curious to see my doctor’s recommendations on Monday.

Damn Snow

If I wasn’t born and raised in Iowa and married a guy also from Iowa, I would not still be here. I hate snow. Yes, it can be pretty. But the chaos it causes, the car accidents, the deaths… I could certainly do without all those. We are supposed to get six inches of this white stuff today, and already the interstate is snow-covered. And of course today is Eric’s clinic day in Ft. Dodge… Why do I feel like he’s going to get stuck there and end up spending another night away??

Today is my mom’s birthday and I wanted to surprise her at work with a bouquet of flowers. Cue snow storm… When I dropped the girls off at daycare this morning around 8:30am I learned they were closing at noon due to the expected bad weather. If I’d known ahead of time I would have just kept them home the entire day… Sometimes the morning struggling of waking up, getting dressed, breakfast, and somehow out the door, just isn’t worth it. Especially for only three hours. Although… buying groceries was easier alone.

I returned home to shower after dropping the girls off and received a call that my afternoon window shutter install needed to be moved to the morning. Again, the freaking snow. So I bought groceries quick as I needed ingredients for dinner, Million Dollar Spaghetti, and by that time it was already 11:35am and thus back to daycare. I’ve made this dish several times and the girls really liked it. Fingers crossed they still do. You know toddlers! And another dish with sour cream, cream cheese, even cottage cheese…

So back home, girls are napping, I’m feeding my face for the first time today (how do I forget to eat??) and wondering how I will occupy Nora’s and Nadia’s busy brains once they wake. Do other people’s kids just play? Do you entertain your children? To be honest, I love them, but I don’t love sitting on the floor playing train or coloring all afternoon… I’d rather be doing laundry, making dinner, and perhaps dreaming up ways to decorate this room with furniture and other fixtures now that the shutters are here… What do you think? A bit hard to see in the pictures due to the lighting. I really like them, but Nora was already banging them open and closed as I was rocking Nadia before her nap.

I was looking at my calendar for the next few months and noticed Eric is away overnight 12 out of 28 days in February, 43%, and 17 out of 31 days in March, 55%. Um, certainly more than the 33% of the time we originally discussed when our decision to move here was made. Granted, there are special circumstances the next couple months. Eric takes his oral boards in Dallas during his vacation week in February, and Eric is going to Las Vegas with some friends in March during his vacation week. And don’t even get me started. I know he deserves a vacation… but… Where does one draw the line? When you’re already away from your family that much, shouldn’t you possibly forgo vacations? I don’t take vacations, how would I? We don’t take any as a family either. I know Eric works so hard, so many hours… But, I don’t know. Part of me feels like perhaps now is not the time for him to vacation with friends, that sacrifices, while they suck, are being made on all our parts. Eric choose this professional, long before him and I even met. Yes, I was probably a little naive as to what I was getting into when Eric and I got married. I didn’t realize the extreme time commitment that was being a surgeon. And while I do complain a lot, I’m handling two little kids here, alone, more than 50% of the time some months. It’s exhausting!

Time Got Away From Me!

Seriously people, time got away from me.  I don’t even remember the last time I wrote…  But I’m back, to Iowa, back to my normal life, and thus, an update!  But where to start!

Materniti21 Results – Let’s start with the exciting stuff!  Last Thursday my doctor’s office called with my Materniti21 results.  And it was all good news!  Results were negative for any chromosome abnormalities, and…. it’s a girl!  I’d be thrilled with either a boy or girl, but I think two girls so close in age will be fun!  We had an ultrasound way back when my blood was drawn for that test, which I don’t think I ever posted.  A profile picture, and then a little foot, which was 1cm long at 12 weeks.

baby us        foot

Belly Pictures – I guess I need to start these again.  I personally hate them, but I kind of like looking back and comparing, so I guess I’ll do them again…  This was taken this morning, so a bit over 13 weeks.  Yes, I cut my head off on purpose 😉  And I think my behind is actually larger than my baby bump…  I better cut back on my McDonald’s runs.  I’m in maternity jeans but regular shirts still.

FullSizeRender (80)

Nora’s IgG Results – Finally got these back!  Last check was only 107, and it’s now 211, which is hugely encouraging.  I mean, it’s still a far cry from normal, which is around 650, but we’re getting closer.  And really, it’s just good to know it’s increasing.  They still want to check it every 4-6 weeks until it’s in the normal range.  Ugh.  But it could be worse.

Las Vegas – I got back last night from Las Vegas, a trip Eric purchased for my birthday, for just my mom and me.  I was seriously scared to leave Nora, but I have to say, Eric really impressed me.  Even if his parents were there to help.  My mom and I had a wonderful time, eating, shopping, sightseeing, etc.  It was just nice to get away, and get an actual night’s sleep, without peaking at the monitor every hour!  We stayed at the Venetian and even had a limo from and back to the airport!  I’m still exhausted today though, as I think we walked over 17 miles!  I took some random pictures, if you’re interested, click here.

Otherwise, I’m not sure what is new…  I lead a really boring life you know!  Nora was really cute this morning when she saw me…  Huge smile!  And she was super sweet all morning, didn’t seem to be as clingy as last week.  She played on the floor without needing me right there.  She even attempted to lay on Kona, and Kona’s bed, which is currently in the middle of our living room.  And, she took a two-hour morning nap!  That never happens!  So I was actually able to shower and relax!

Alright, until next time, I hope you’re all well!

Feeling Icky

I’m really feeling icky today.  After my vomiting incident in the shower this morning I really thought I was completely fine.  But, as the day progresses, I’m feeling more and more icky.  Maybe I’m just tired, or maybe the smokey smells of these casinos are finally getting to me.  I’m not sure which is worse, the actual smoke, or the perfumed air they pump through these places in an effort to cover up the actual smoke.

This morning Eric and I ventured to the strip to view the Bodies Exhibit at the Luxor.  It was not at all what I was expecting…  I pictured lots of gore, maybe even some blood, but there was neither.  The bodies were quite interesting though, probably more so for me than Eric, as he sees the inside of bodies on a daily basis.  I think there were maybe 10 or 11 full bodies to view, but many other sections and specific organs were on display as well.  Eric’ explained a lot to me, far more than you’d probably gather on your own if you’re an individual with no medical background, such as myself.  One room of the exhibit was dedicated to fetal development, and this was by far the most interesting to me.  They had maybe seven embryos ranging from 10dpo to 80dpo.  Very fascinating to see those.  Then they also had fetuses at different months of development.  Really amazing as well.  Not sure why, but the development of babies just strikes me as fascinating, maybe because it really is such a miracle.

After the exhibit Eric and I wondered the strip a bit, but drew bored quickly.  I feel like if you’ve been to Vegas once, then you know what to expect.  And besides that, it’s been 100 degrees all week here, so walking outside wears me out fast.  Eric seemed in the mood to gamble though, so we decided maybe a spot off the strip would be more relaxing for us both.

Green Valley Ranch is a resort and casino on the way to our hotel, which is maybe 15 minutes outside Las Vegas.  This resort is really beautiful as well, and far less busy than the strip.  And in this same area is an adorable shopping district with lots of cute restaurants.  Eric and I wandered around a bit there, explored the shops, had lunch at Kings Fish House, which was super yummy, and then finally surrendered to the casino here.  Since I’m not a gambler I tend to wander while Eric makes himself at home by the table games.  I’m perfectly happy finding a coffee shop to chill with my laptop.  Eric doesn’t understand this, seems to think vacation is about doing things…  But to me, vacation is about not doing things.  It works for us, he does his thing, I do mine.  Once Eric has either won a grand or lost a hundred we’ll meet up for dinner.  Not sure our plan for this evening.  Since I’m not feeling the greatest, maybe just a movie back in our hotel at the resort.  We’ll see…

And for those of you who didn’t see this picture yet of Eric and I, enjoy 🙂

... at the airport...
… at the airport…

Vacation Booked!

I’m learning the fine art of compromising.  Or I’m just too tired to keep arguing with men, specifically my husband.

Eric has the second week in August off work, which is huge because normally he forgoes his vacation time each year and just keeps on working.  But no, this year he told me to plan something and he was damn well going.

So me, I love tropical, plop me on some white sandy beach for a week with my iPod and a book and to me, that’s a vacation.  Eric…  He has other ideas.  He wants to ‘do’ something.  I’m confused by this since we seem to do something everyday, AKA work, so why would this need to continue during a vacation.  But, like most things with men, I don’t understand.

Eric’s favorite thing to do on vacation is gamble, specifically in Vegas, but honestly, if you’ve been more than one, I feel like the thrill kind of losses itself.  Plus, I’m not into gambling, although I certainly don’t turn down the free drinks while Eric is blowing our hard-earned money. If I’m going to spend money on something, I’m taking something home with me, be it a shoes, make-up, you name it, I don’t really care, but something is going in my suitcase home.

When Eric discovered I was checking out tropical vacation spots, his response was somewhere along the lines of, um, what the crap at we going to do there?  He had the same response the last time I tried to book an all-inclusive beach report, and ultimately he won, as last time we went back to Vegas.  To me compromise is perhaps taking turns picking the vacation spot, since I’m not sure any destination is going to 100% satisfy both Eric and me.  My only tropical trips have been with friends, mostly spring break trips, so ultimately I felt like it was my turn to pick the spot.

I googled beach resort with casinos, thinking maybe we could find something for both of us.  And while there are several out there, of course, they range from $10k+ for a week stay.  Ouch.  Further down the page in my search though I came across The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa.  The pictures pulled me in, but I realize sometimes pictures are quite deceiving.  It has a spa for me though, and a pool, and some pretty spots to relax…  And they have a free shuttle several times each day to the strip in Vegas for Eric.  Perfect!  I mean, not what I originally had in mind, but I could certainly use a week there relaxing, and Eric and I will still have the strip to occupy our time each evening for dinner and dancing.

Now, if I can just find a new bikini I don’t hate 😉