Wow, post number 3 for today. (Beat that, Alana! Remember my old blog I never used?) I feel like an important blogger. (I'm going to hurry up. Our electricity just started doing really weird things.) When we were in Louisiana, we had a sitting with a couple of photographers. Alana won the sitting, so we finally got the whole family together for pictures. Here are a few of them Stacy Landry posted on her blog. I can't wait to receive the rest of them.

I'll be the first to admit, I am not perfect. I can never think of words I want to use, I make tons of typos, but I am a grammar snob. This goes back a very long way. At least back to 6th grade. I had Mrs. Ashworth. She taught grammar. She gave us a HUGE grammar test that only 3 of us passed. (Yes, I remember making an A on this.) This was a big test. She had built it up and was shocked when almost everyone failed. We were able to sit outside and read books for a week while she retaught grammar to the rest of our classmates. My classmates even decided I should be the editor of our little class magazine for Louisiana History. (Oh, that was an AWFUL class where Mr. Morris would lean back in his chair and pick his nose.) Ok, that's not the worst of the nerdiness. I don't even know if I should admit what I am about to discuss. Beth laughed her butt off when I finally admitted this many years later....Ok, here goes. I loved diagramming sentences. I really did. We bought our textbooks and could sell them back each year. Well, I decided to keep my grammar book, so I could diagram sentences for fun once I was done with that class. Ok, please stop laughing at me. I guess I like grammar because it is the one part of English I was good at. It is logical and straight forward. There are definite rules. I didn't have to read something and think of wonderful new scholarly ideas to put into writing. It didn't force me to make sense of all the wonderful (ok, not really) British poets. Wordsworth....he just wasn't for me.

Maybe, I shouldn't admit this because I am sure I have made some mistakes in my blog. (If you notice any, please email me, so I can fix them).

I love this website. I guess it's just the nerd in me. Anyway, today an English teacher sent out a mass email stating, "To whom did I give the locker notebook to?" Ok, if you are going to be fancy and use "whom" correctly, at least finish the sentence correctly.

Here are some of the common mistakes that drive me nuts:
lose v. loose It seems most people want to use loose. I have seen it so often that I started second guessing myself on the correct usage.

myself Oh, this is a big one and really gets to me. Please don't ever start a sentence with myself or use it as a subject of your sentence. Please! You don't sound smarter.

Beaucoup: Being from southern Louisiana and having learned French, I understand that "beaucoup" means many. It is not a noun, and it is not pronounced "boocoos."

One that isn't on the website is mines. You know, "that's mines." My social studies colleagues would like to remind you mines blow things up.

I'll admit, it has taken me years to learn the difference between bring and take. I was probably 23 before I even knew there was a difference. I still mess up when speaking, but I am learning to catch myself (did I use it correctly?)

Another one that gets me is where to put the punctuation with parentheses. I like parentheses (in case you didn't notice). If this had to be APA style with parenthetical documentation, I could punctuate like a champ. It's just my little asides that get me.

Ok, I will stop my rant. Hopefully, I didn't make too many errors or make myself (there it is again) sound like too much of an ass.

Thank goodness the week is over. It has been rough!!!!! I started with a bad sore throat on Friday. I gave in and went to the doctor on Monday. She gave me a Z-pack. I lost my voice on Tuesday. It's always fun trying to teach without a voice when your lesson plans were relying on class discussion. By Wednesday, I was able to get a microphone system to use, so the kids could hear me a little better. I woke up yesterday feeling A.W.F.U.L. Apparently, I hadn't eaten enough with my antibiotics on Wednesday. My stomach felt horrible, so I had a wonderfully nutritious breakfast of gingerale and jello. I went to work thinking I could make it, but half way through first period, I thought I was going to die. The wonderful attendance secretary got me a sub in less than an hour! I somehow managed to make it to Publix to buy some soup and more jello before getting home. I laid on the couch and had to force myself to get up. I was sicker than I have been in ages. I even ran a fever. I NEVER have fever. By dinner time, I was able to force myself to eat some soup and started feeling better. I felt like a new person today. I even have half my voice back. It's really useful to make 6th graders understand they should not talk during a quiz. I'm going to get myself in trouble with that 6th grade class. I don't know how to deal with them. They seem to not fear me or take me seriously when I ask them to sit down and listen. I don't know if it is just immaturity or a bad group. I am now down to only 15 of them though. One was moved from my class today because her parents wanted her to have the other science teacher....oh well. One less paper I have to grade.

We don't have any plans for the long weekend. My mom randomly sent me some money as a nice surprise. I think I may use it to invest in some clothes. I'm down to about 6 outfits to wear to work. I was resisting buying too much because I was determined to be back in my old clothes. I will blame the surgery and now feeling bad for not exercising like I planned.

I can't believe how grown up Carter is. He has been such a sweet baby. Today, he came home shrieking just for fun and cooing up a storm. He is trying to sit up and loves to be held so he is standing. Last night, when I fed him, he would talk if to me and pull up on the tray of his high chair if I didn't feed him fast enough. I don't want to forget any of these moments. We have tons of little 30 second videos just to remember the little things.

I am not getting much work done when I get home in the evenings. I want to spend time with Carter and have lots to do for him. I am trying to use my planning periods wisely, so I don't need to take work home. Of course, I haven't had papers I need to grade yet.

I got my pathology report on Friday. I am fine. The doctor said the nodule was benign, but it was weird that I only had one. I'm hoping I don't ever have to have the other side removed.

I have added new pictures and videos on flickr.

Today, Carter started talking with his spit. I bought a new mirror, so I can see him while I am driving. On the way to day care, I could only see the top of his head. I adjusted it, and on the way home, I could only see his feet. We will try again tomorrow. He did like the angle this afternoon. He talked to himself the whole way home.

Last night, Kevin fed Carter. My too clean husband was fussing at the poor baby because, he had food all over the place. I told Kevin he probably did the same thing to his mom. He insisted he had never been messy. (My husband earned a D in auto shop because he refused to get his hands dirty!) At this point, I decided to call his mom and ask her. She did say that he had gotten food all over both of them when he was baby. That was a major victory for me! We joked that we would just start sending his food to daycare, so they could deal with the mess. Well, when I picked him up this afternoon, his teacher asked me if I had been feeding him any food. She wanted me to send some, so she could feed him. Now, I just need to decide if I will feed him again in the evenings. He has only been getting food once a day. I really loaded him up tonight. Carter woke up to eat at 1:00 this morning, so I decided I would fix him. He got green beans mixed with oatmeal, and a 7 oz bottle (one more ounce than usual). I'm hoping this will hold him over until the alarm goes off at 5:30 (or 5:45 if I can convince Kevin to sleep that late.) It will be my last morning of getting to sleep that late. Ok, I know 5:30 isn't late, but I am anticipating needed to get up at 5:00 to get to school on time. I will try that on Thursday and see how much time I have. I'm hoping I can get up a little later and still make it to school to get a little done before the kids get there. School starts at 7:25. In years past, I arrived around 6:30. I hope to get there by 7:00 or a little before. When I have morning duty, I must be there by 7:00. I have worked it out with a friend that she will do a few of my rotations at the beginning of the year until I see how mornings go. I will pay her back at the end of the year. I'm sure I will regret the swap then, but I want to keep my sanity right now.

Going back to work has proven to be overwhelming. The week leading up to the first day of school has always been the most stressful. Now, I am just not extremely interested in going back and having everything done to go back. I used to stay at school and have Kevin bring dinner while I was setting up my classroom. Now, the AC shuts off at 3:00 on the dot. Who wants to stay and suffocate? We also have very little time in our rooms before school starts. Thursday was a swap day, so we didn't have to be at school. The only other time set aside in Wednesday afternoon. I really need to get myself motivated.

As for Carter, he is doing well. We are continuing to feed him baby food every evening. Last night, we started with peas. I was afraid he wasn't going to like them just by their smell, but he didn't mind one bit.

I've learned that I can put him in his Bumbo seat while we eat or if I need to get something done. He has started grabbing things. This makes feeding time especially fun when he grabs his bib and smears against his face. He also likes to suck on his fingers while I am feeding him.

He is continuing to grow like crazy. Many of his 3 month outfits are becoming too small. I even ordered a convertible car seat for my car. He is about to outgrow his infant one. Too bad I wanted the one that could be used up to 30 pounds. I think he will outgrow it by 20.

This is going to be a busy week. School starts on Thursday!

Eating Cereal

Eating Cereal

Carter likes his new glow worm from Gammy

Eating green beans

Carter is growing up too quickly. He seems to have suddenly matured and grown in the past week. When we got home from Louisiana, he seemed bigger and able to do more things. Before we left, I had to show him the toys on his exersaucer, and now, he grabs them. He is starting to hold on to things, burp cloths, necklaces, glasses, and he even tried to hold his bottle. He is also taken and interest in watching TV. Sometimes when I am feeding him, he will flip over and watch TV instead, so I have to turn it off to get him to resume eating.

We bought him a high chair on Friday (when I should have been at home recovering). He had cereal on Friday and a little green beans tonight. He still has his tongue thrusting reflex, so it makes eating hard.

Carter has been rather cranky. I don't know if it is the extra attention he got while my parents were here, or if it is teething. I think it is the latter. I can slightly feel two little bumps on his bottom gum.

My recovery is slowing a bit. I felt great on Thursday and Friday. Yesterday and today have been a little rough. The doctor gave me percocet, but I hate to take it. It gives me nightmares. I would have thought I was crazy, but one of Kevin's coworkers had the same experience. My neck and my throat are very sore, and I feel lightheaded at times. I tried to convince Kevin to let me ride in the shopping cart at Wal-mart today, but he wouldn't go for it. Tomorrow is my last day off. I should take it easy, but I have some craft ideas I want to try out.

We have been busy around here. On Friday, we flew to Louisiana. Carter was SO good on the airplane. After we landed, the lady behind us said she was upset there was going to be a baby in front of her, but he was really good and didn't bother them.

Carter and Kevin on the plane

We flew into New Orleans and ate at Five Happiness, a yummy Chinese restaurant. After, we drove around to show Kevin areas affected by Katrina. It seems that much of it has been cleaned up and restored. We got to Lafayette around 10:00, and my sister's family arrived shortly after.

Saturday, we had an appointment with a photographer to take pictures of the kids. My sister won a session with Stacey Landry. She and her husband work together and were great with the kids. We took pictures at the UL Alumni center. Their grounds are beautiful. We can't wait to see the pictures. Saturday afternoon, we went to get good ol' Louisiana snow cones. I was able to get a yellow cake flavored one. YUM! We had some close family friends for dinner on Saturday and enjoyed seeing them.

Zachary enjoyed being the "big cousin" and was great with Carter.

Carter's christening was on Sunday. We went to mass before and sat in the cry room. What a miserable experience!!! The christening went well even if the deacon seemed to get lost a few times.


After the christening, we had a small gathering of 23 people at my parents house. Many of them had never met Zoe, and none of them had met Carter. It was great to see relatives, former neighbors, and family friends. My sister's family left on Sunday afternoon.

Zach performing

We flew out of New Orleans on Monday. My parents came with us to help out this week. We got home late on Monday.

Carter had his 4 month check up on Tuesday. He got 4 shots! He weighs 17 lbs 7.5 oz. and is 26 inches long. He is in the 95th percentile for weight and 97th for height. The doctor said he perfectly proportioned, but just a big boy. He was rather grumpy for the rest of the day after his shots and needed to be cuddled.

Kevin and I left for the hospital around 5:45 yesterday morning for my surgery. I was more nervous about this surgery than others I have had. They gave me too much information about the anesthesia and the breathing tube. I freaked out when they told me they would wake me up before removing the breathing tube, but they guaranteed I wouldn't remember it. I was miserable when I woke up in the recovery room. I was in pain and burning up. They usually don't let visitors back there, but they let Kevin come sit with me until he nearly passed out for the 2nd time that day. (We almost lost him when they started my IV...seems to be a pattern with him). My mom came and sat with me after that. I finally got to a room around 10:00 or 11:00 and napped for most of the day. Of course, it is hard to get rest in a hospital. Kevin brought Carter to visit me. My mom spent the night with me. The doctor came in around 10:00. He said the nodule looked benign, but I will get the official results at my follow up appointment on the 22nd. I got home around noon today. I feel great. I have a sore throat and my neck is stiff, but it's nothing a little percocet can't help. The doctor didn't give me any restrictions. He told me I could do anything I could tolerate. I am glad that it's all over.

My pretty scar.