Mountain Girls

My daughter, the hick!

I was feeling particularly home sick yesterday and I started thinking about this old tape that we used to listen to when we were kids. It was a bluegrass tape that I think (might not be remembering correctly) my Dad made from a bluegrass radio station that he used to listen to when we lived up in Chicago. In particular I was thinking of the song "Beautiful Blue Eyes" after looking at Elena's eyes.

When I woke up this morning I decided to look on iTunes for that song, hoping to download and play it for her. I stumbled across the CD, 30 Essential Bluegrass Hits, and found that it had so many of the songs from that old tape. In a sentimental wooze, I purchased it.

Now Elena does have a temper from time to time, and at some point in the morning she started screaming bloody murder. Since I figured I would be pacing the floor holding her, I decided to turn on my new CD. The first song, How Mountain Girls Can Love, came rumbling through the speakers. Elena stopped, turned her head, and immediately stopped crying. And then, miraculously, she fell asleep in about two minutes. And stayed asleep!!! This phenomenon was repeated in the afternoon. Elena cries. Elena hears bass fiddle. Elena sleeps. So now I'm calling all bluegrass fans. If you were planning on sending me a baby gift, think hard about tossing in your favorite CD. It just might save my sanity!

Health Update - Final (I hope!)

Just when I thought things were on the mend, I began to feel feverish again. Temperature taken, and it was back at 38 degrees Celsius. 37C is like 98.6F. Needless to say, no one was happy. The midwife suggested trying some different type of home remedies, and the doctor prescribed an additional three days of antibiotics. The mastitis had returned, this time to both sides... big, red, and ugly! But, rest and continued antibiotics seem to have done the trick. Today, the entire day, I have not had a fever. I've had energy, but have tried to not do too much. Trying not to jinx it! The redness still hasn't completely gone away, but I trust that by tomorrow things should be 100% normal. I think that two weeks of illness is enough, don't you?

Christmas

Nate, Elena, and I celebrated our first Christmas together last night. We were all three quite tired, and pretty much just laid back on the couch and smiled at each other. Nate seemed to enjoy his gifts from me... a start to his schnapps collection, and a filter for his camera. I enjoyed my gift from Nate, tickets to brunch and then a Christmas circus. In sad news, his other two gifts to me are lost! Literally! He can't find my Christmas gifts. Ahhh, well perhaps one day we'll be cleaning and come upon movie and popcorn tickets and a nice Fossil wallet!