West Nile

To test for West Nile you go to the little clinic that is designated for your area. This is to cut down on how many clinics need to be equipped for testing. Also so they can keep an accurate account of how many cases have been diagnosed and in which areas. They do it for free, and they'll treat you for free too. All you have to do is make an appointment and go get your blood drawn and they'll test it and let you know within a week what your results were. And they'll set up care for you and answer any questions you may have.

So as a precaution, since we couldn't figure out what I was sick with, we went last Thursday to get me tested. West Nile is common in this area, and I have many mosquito bites. I always was concerned because while it isn't supposed to be contagious, you never can tell when you're breastfeeding.

Rest assured, Piper is safe. It can't be passed that way. In fact, only antibodies to the virus can be, so she is, in fact, less likely to get it.

If I had it. which I doubt. But I got a call this morning letting me know that the rather large vial of blood they drew a week ago was not enough and could I please come back so they could drain me dry? I may be exaggerating the phrasing a little.

I still have a large bruise from the last time they drew my blood. It's free, and let me tell you, you get what you pay for. She jiggled the needle all around in my arm trying to get the tourniquet off before she took it out, and let me tell you, if the same lady is doing it again, I will walk out of the room.

I have had my blood drawn many times. Many many times. Once I had to fill 10 vials. I know all the different techniques used. This lady had none. She should not have been allowed to hold that dumb vial, much less be the one to fill it.

I don't even have West Nile, and I still have to be put through this riggamaroll to satisfy my husband. And my doctors. This Bites.

So to take my mind off it, and yours, here are some pictures of my beautiful baby.

She loves holding her own hand


And eating her hand

And waving them both at me

And waving them at her fishies. And whacking them.
The fishies, not her hands.

So now I can be in a good mood. She's so beautiful.

Planning

I am a planner.

If I'm planning something then I feel important and like I have a purpose. It doesn't have to be anything more than a girls night out. Or a really nice dinner for me and Logan. If I'm planning I don't feel useless and I don't dwell on the unpleasant things.

For instance, I have decided I am going to plan a tea party for next summer. Yes it's a really long ways away, and no one I know really drinks tea. But I have a plan and since when do you have to actually drink tea at a tea party? See, if I start planning now it's going to be an uber fabulous party, and I'll have time to experiment with recipes, look for a tea set, and figure out how I want to decorate. And with this much notice I'll be able to have the people I want come because I'll be able to plan it when I know they'll be here. So for all that's it's sort of crazy, it's helping me so I'm not. Crazy that is.

I love planning parties and dinners and romantic evenings and family dinners and girls nights out and things like that. I have so much fun and I'm pretty good at it too. Maybe I'll get a calling that lets me plan stuff. I think I'd really enjoy that.

I've also been planning the house. The painting and the arranging and the furniture buying. I don't know if I should try to get all the painting done and then move on to getting the furniture, or if I should do one room completely before moving on to the next. If anyone here has done this sort of thing, I'd love some advice.

Pictures are coming, I just haven't finished unpacking enough yet. So hold on. It won't be long now. Piper has just been taking up my time. Don't worry, it won't be like on the Incredibles. I fully intend to be unpacked within the next week or so. Not three years. :)

Anyways, I have to go, lots to do. Next post I'll let you know how things are going on the work front and hopefully have some pictures of Piper at least. Toodles!