Working 9 to 9

Yesterday someone (who also married a Rudd - so we know she's brilliant) suggested writing everyday to get back in to a habit. Even if it's crap - at least it's something and eventually I'll write something good. Isn't there a saying about monkeys, if you sit them at a typewriter they will eventually write Shakespeare? Consider that to be me. A monkey at a laptop. Or maybe I'm more like this girl:

 What the heck is going on here? How did she discover she could do this? Terrifying.

Part of the reason I haven't blogged is that I'm trying to limit my computer time during the day. Another blogger recently wrote that she was not going to get on her computer from 10-10 each day to try and focus more on being present. I loved the idea and wish I could remember who wrote it so I could give her credit. So I set the 9-9 rule. I'm off the computer at 9 and try not to get back on until 9 pm. It's not completely successful, I normally end up logging on while we're eating lunch. But it keeps me from hopping off and on all day and just never getting anything done. I also frequently check my email and facebook with my phone. That's cheating I suppose, but much quicker than if I were to get sucked into the rabbit hole that is my google reader.

My 9-9 rule means that during my Charlie and Lola time, I am furiously reading blogs and tending to my Facebook games. I set the girls up with breakfast and then I ignore their pleas for my attention because Mommy only has ten minutes of internet time left!

I don't feel too guilty because they have my attention for the rest of the day. Maybe someday I'll be productive enough to start knocking out all of those projects I've found on Pinterest.

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

• Take a break from blogging for a while. I'm itching to start again, I just hope I think of something to say...
• Love cuddling new babies. And be so thankful that I get to hand them right back.
• Be glad Riley hasn't had any loose teeth yet. All of his friends are losing teeth and he wants to lose one so badly. But it totally grosses me out.
• Read a book again immediately after finishing it. I read Water for Elephants and loved it so much that I'm reading it again. I've never wanted to do that before. I haven't watched the movie yet, mostly because I'm afraid I won't be able to see Robert Pattinson as anything other than a sparkly vampire.

Head on over to Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay!

Grace's Surgery

Peek-A-Boo in the hospital bed.

Grace's surgery went really well last week. The doctor was able to remove the shunt on the left side of her head and place a new one on the right side. She slept most of the day Wednesday as the anesthesia wore off, but perked back up Thursday and we were sent home around noon.

She now has two semicircle-shaped incisions on her head, one on each side, with a strip of red hair down the middle. We have talked about shaving off that strip of hair, but we decided to just leave it alone and even everything out as it grows. She also has an incision on her belly that they used to guide the tube that goes from her shunt into her abdomen.

Left Side - the red marks are tape burns

Right Side - where the shunt is now. A bit blurry because she won't sit still :)

Once we were home, Grace had some tummy troubles (a common side effect from all the antibiotics) and was just unhappy in general. She wanted to be held constantly and wasn't sleeping at all. So Monday we went in for a CT scan to see if there was a problem. Everything was fine with the shunt, but Grace wasn't dealing well with the changes in pressure in her head so the doctor turned the shunt down. The hope is that if the fluid drains slower it will be easier for her to adjust. Her mood is much better, but she still isn't sleeping. Which means mommy isn't sleeping. It's like revisiting her colicky first few months - something I never wanted to do! She went to sleep around 2:30 last night (this morning?) which is an improvement, so hopefully we're on the upswing. Until then, forgive my non-existent blog posts and please don't visit my home, it's a total wreck. Now I'm off to find a clean cup to drown myself in coffee...

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

• Wonder why Nickelback had a problem with Louisa May Alcott, then realize the words to the song aren't , "Little Women must have damn near killed you" but, "Living with me must have damn near killed you". Makes more sense that way I suppose.
• Want to punch allergies in the face. I hate you allergies!
• Think drinking regular drip coffee tastes like licking an ash tray. My Keurig has spoiled me.
• Still be amazed when God shows me exactly what I need, exactly when I need it.

Last Thursday we found out that Grace's shunt is not working like it should. Her neurosurgeon is tired of "babying" this shunt and has decided it would be best to remove it and replace it with a new one on the other side of her head. So tomorrow morning we will head to the hospital for surgery.

I'm so grateful that we have access to such great medical care. I'm grateful that her neurosurgeon is so skilled and cares so much about her. And I'm grateful I don't have to do this alone. Because frankly this stuff scares the bejabbers out of me.

I'll be with her in the hospital for a few days, so I'll try and post updates. Please think of us tomorrow around 7:30 AM!

(Go see what else is okay at Airing My Dirty Laundry!)