Outlander

I recently finished the book An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I loved it. There are lots of series in my tops faves. For example: Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight, Black Stallion, Little House on the Prairie and Ender's Game. The Outlander series is definitely in my top five though. I just can't get enough of the time traveling, swashbuckling, historical love story craziness of it all! Sometimes I think, "Just let them have an easy time of it for once!" But then it wouldn't be so exciting would it? The ending to this last one is killing me. Now I have to wait YEARS to get my last fix! ARGH. Is anyone else in this boat with me?

Dental Rant

I just came back from the dentist where I was supposed to have 3 cavities filled. I kept feeling the drill on one cavity. It was a shooting pain down through my tooth. I felt it on the other tooth, but not enough to stop him. He didn't quite believe I felt it, so he tried to sneak in the drilling I think after working on the one I didn't feel. I felt it every time even though he gave me the max amount of novacaine. Now it's half done, and I get to go back.

This is never ending as my teeth are too crowded, my enamel is thin, and I have deep grooves. Chalk up more disbelief when dentists don't buy that I floss at LEAST once EVERY SINGLE DAY. Then there's Hub who takes much less interest in his teeth than I do and has minimal problems. There's a reason why I hate going to the dentist and avoid it, thus exacerbating the issue. Sigh

Vaccination Debate

For those who choose to not vaccinate their children, could you please educate me and let me know what your specific concerns are?

And if you could be really specific since I don't think it's fair to compare chicken pox to polio to pertussis. All have different issues. Thanks!

Bereft

It's no secret that having a baby has made me desperately wish for family that lived closer. I had 2 family links here until just recently. It was one of the reasons we chose Florida over a few other states. However, they just left to move far up north. We didn't see them lots, but having them here was a lot of comfort for me. I was looking forward to E having family to see on holidays and having others to give him the kind of undivided attention that we do. I've been feeling lonely and disconnected to begin with. Now that they're gone, it's worse. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy overall. I just want to see E playing with cousins and for us all to get hugs from family members more than once every 6 months. I never thought I'd feel this strongly about it.

Anniversary!

Happy anniversary to the man I chose to spend my life with. We've been through multiple funerals, family losses, moves, visa hurdles, family strife, surgery, over 3 years of fertility treatments, buying a house, the loss of our first, and the glorious though scary and difficult production of our second. Now I couldn't imagine parenting with anyone else. Love you.

For our anniversary, we decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory. It brought back some memories from another time there. We met some wonderful friends there, but this time was decidedly more special. I have to say I'm quite impressed with them. I've always loved their food, but they offered us a complimentary banana and bread plate for E.
The staff was also exceedingly helpful about all things baby. Thank you Cheesecake Factory! We had a beautiful day all around. Now if the heat would just start to abate. I'm not digging the "record highs." Thanks.

Random Speculations and Observations

• "They" say keeping a fan on and turning the temperature down to 68 degrees (yeah. Try that in the summer in any southern state) in your house reduces the risk of SIDS. I've always wondered if that's because the babies are uncomfortable and can't sleep deeply enough to "forget" how to breathe.
• Research supposedly shows that men benefit from being married to women health wise but that women don't share that benefit. Is that because women are the ones trying to keep men healthier and it's just stressing them out?
• Hub and I caught a "Desperate Housewives" in Spanish this morning. No, not just Spanish, a completely alternate Desperate Housewives universe complete with a Hispanic cast and a slightly altered Wisteria Lane. And not only is it the Hispanic version, it's the Hispanic version that mimics the English version word for word and scene for scene. Made us do that cartoon slack jawed head shake.
  

Nephew Vignettes

We now have four nephews. Two of them are not big talkers yet and two of them are getting funny. We haven't talked about them much lately, so here goes...

Nephew #1: My don't like Uncle.
Me: Why??
Nephew #1: Him never come home!!
(after waiting every night excitedly for Hub to come home so he could "pway" with him when they visited, but falling asleep before hand every single time.)

Nephew #1: Grandma, am I handsome enough for school?

Nephew #2: Uncle, are you my fweeend?
Hub: Yes, I'm your friend.
Nephew #2 babbles on about something else.
a few minutes later...
Are you my fweeend?
Hub: Yes sweetie, I'm your friend.
(repeat a few more times)