4 a.m.

I woke up at 4am having to pee.

Husband was asleep. Boss and Ellie, our German Shepherds, were snoozing away.

Logan, our nearly 7-month old, was sleeping on our bed. At 2am, we'd given up and brought him to bed with us, in his co-sleeper. It was just easier than getting up to comfort him every hour. And yeah, we have to break him of that... he's got to sleep in his own room through the night. But I can totally understand his not wanting to sleep alone.

I have a bad habit of skin-picking when I'm stressed. I target bumps, bug bites, scars, pimples, scabs, edges of wounds left over after picking out a scab, etc. If I find something to pick in one area, I sometimes branch out in that area, continuing to pick.

Yeah, this is NOT a good thing to be doing to myself. :P I know. It's a form of self-injury, and is something that people sometimes fall into using as a bad coping strategy. It's sometimes triggered by my OCD.

So, the last bug bite or pimple or whatever was in my scalp, near my forehead. Been stressing in general... new project at work in new programming language, taking care of baby at night, sleep deprivation... wee. And I sometimes pick at night while lying awake, trying to fall asleep, and that was the case this night.

Anyway, 4am, and I got up to pee. I walk into the bathroom, turn on the light. There's a few small scabs that I'd peeled out of my hair, that's stuck to my bangs. I sigh. There's another peeled-off scab on the top of my head towards the back. Wow, they moved around after I picked them off.

I do my business, go to wash my hands. As I'm soaping up my hands, I look up at myself in the mirror.

The scab on my hair towards the back of my head...

... has 8 legs and is moving!!!

Where do I start?

So, my parents have been having problems getting online. Last time they had problems reading their email, it was because they neglected to double-click on the email subject. I don't know if the reason they weren't double-clicking was because the web interface had changed and they originally didn't have to double-click, or if they simply forgot how the web email interface worked.

Anyway, I was pretty sure that this situation would be similar. I was thinking that in the long term, I should simply come over and install Eudora, a very good email client that I used to use "back in the day".

My Mom cut me some slack and said she would call Verizon herself, and talk to their technical support. I was very encouraged by her proactive attitude, and hoped it would all go well.

Well, she called the tech support, and talked to a very sweet gal. But there was a disconnect somewhere in the conversation. And about an hour later, while I was at work and about to head out to go grocery shopping, I get a phone call.

Mom: "Well, I talked to the gal at Verizon. And now I can't get the modem plugged back in."

Me: "Huh? What do you mean you can't get it plugged back in?"

Mom: "I just can't get it plugged back in."

After explaining I couldn't come over, being told that was ok, but then hearing of some more difficulties they were having, I groaned and said I was coming right over.

I drove like a bat out of hell to get there. I was hoping I'd lose a minimal amount of time plugging the DSL modem back in, and spend most of the time showing Mom how to reset it in the event it went out to lunch again. I assumed that's why the tech. had them unplug the DSL modem's power... to ensure it got a good reset.

I needed to finish helping my parents out quickly so I'd have enough time to go grocery shopping w/o wearing out our babysitter, aka my Father-in-Law.

It's been intensely and unseasonably hot for a few days. The baby has been sleeping with us in the "co-sleeper" bed, in the middle of our bed. He's too long for the co-sleeper, so I literally took scissors and cut off the end!

Logan's been sleeping with us because the master bedroom is the only one that has air conditioning. It got air conditioning in late May one weekend... about a week after a heat-wave.

During the recent heat wave, it never really cooled off at night. Well, our house didn't, anyway! The heat wave was breaking, but I was really wiped out and in a BAD mood.

I got to my parent's place after cursing out several very slow drivers. Knocked impatiently. Marched into the living room, went straight for the computer. Looked at the DSL modem, which was happily plugged in. Reached to my left towards the computer, and noticed...

...that the mouse was unplugged.

Me: "You unplugged the mouse."

Mom: "Yes..."

Me: "Why did you unplug the mouse?"

Mom: "Well, she told me to do that."

Me: "No, she told you to unplug the modem."

Mom: "Oh. I thought she said the mouse."

In all fairness, in the middle of the conversation with the tech, their portable phone died, and they had to call the tech back later to finish trying to fix their internet connection. So, that could have greatly contributed to their confusion about which device to unplug!

That and their hearing may not be all that great. My Mom is 79, and my Dad is 85! And the fact that they can get online and even check and/or type email, considering how recent that technology is and considering how they certainly didn't start out as computer geeks, is something I have to really give them credit for.

I've noticed that the older you are, the harder it is to go through a paradigm shift, especially if you aren't used to adopting new technologies in general. So in order to survive, you basically have to always be learning something new, if only to keep your brain limber enough to handle the next paradigm shift. And of course you have to watch to see what that paradigm shift is going to be, so you don't get left behind. My parents do keep learning, but high-tech stuff is still difficult for them. It would help if they actually were interested in computers... it's really hard to learn something that you aren't interested in. I know from experience, from starting in the wrong Engineering major before I got a clue and went after Computer Science.

So, back to our story:

There I am, finding out that the device that was unplugged was the mouse and not the DSL modem.

I groan, and reach around to plug the mouse back in.

I can't get it to fit.

It's a PS2 connector. It can only go in one way. It's fairly idiot proof.

I carefully try to push it in the way it should go. It won't budge.

I pull it out and look at it.

The pins are bent.

Me: "The pins are bent."

Mom: "What?"

Me: "What did you do to this mouse cable's connector?"

Mom: "Well, we were having problems trying to get it back on. We tried to turn it."

Me, looking horrified, and turning back to the computer: "Oh, I'm sorry."

Mom: "It's ok, dear."

Me: "I was talking to the computer!" Literally, I was. Hey, I'm a computer geek.

I studied the connector. It might be salvageable. I asked Dad for some pliers, and was unfortunately kinda snotty with my folks at one point. I was tired, but I had no excuse. You're supposed to honor your parents. Heh... now that I'm a parent, am hoping my son is merciful with me in my old age, LOL!

I pulled out the keyboard connector and held the mouse and keyboard PS2 connectors next to each other, to get a GOOD reminder of the CORRECT position of the pins. And then I spent the next 20 minutes with the pliers, slowly pushing the pins back into place. It took 20 minutes in part because I'd think I had gotten it, would try to push the connector back in, and it still wouldn't fit. So I'd have to do more fine tuning.

Early on in my pin-unbending experience, I noticed my Dad hovering behind me. Unfortunately, more snottiness on my part ensued.

Me: "Hovering doesn't help."

My Dad took the Lord's name in vain and walked away muttering. I immediately regretted my impatient comment, and apologized later.

I should say that, given how hard it is to reach the back of the computer where it is in the living room, coupled with their age and the low light levels in that section of the living room, it's understandable that they, uhm, didn't get along with the PS2 connector.

And also, in their defense, they have NEVER thought the CD-ROM drive was a cup holder!!!

The long and the short of it is that the mouse is working again. And that as far as I could tell, their phone line was fine. So it was either the DSL modem or something wrong with Verizon. Or so I thought. Anyway, my parent's not being able to get online was not a PEBKAC at all. [PEBKAC == problem exists between keyboard and chair, i.e., user-error.]

Verizon sent someone out and the tech (who my parents were very impressed with) figured out that there was just too much hooked up to that one phone line. It was a very long line that was split twice to go to an answering machine and a fax machine. So he went ahead and added a jack in their wall, and now they are happily back online.

Still thinking about installing Eudora on their computer, though. ;) Afraid the web-interface for reading email is just SO busy. Very ad and news heavy, lots of popups and distractions. Makes it harder for non-techy people to get around. [No offense, Verizon.]

Anyway, I had thought I was doing really well with maintaining my patience, considering how I can handle Logan crying now, but I was wrong. Still need to work on my patience with people above the age of 1, LOL.

Oh, and my parents are NOW very much aware of the fact that NOTHING ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER REQUIRES TWISTING IN ORDER TO BE PLUGGED IN!!!!

Me: "Even if it acts like you can twist it, just don't!" Don't worry, I was laughing when I said it, and so were they.

Course, after I told them that, and had driven back home, I remembered how you have to unscrew the 2 screws on a serial connector in order to disconnect it. :P

I think I just need to give them a back-of-the-computer training session, LOL! Or hope that no techs tell them to disconnect a serial cable...

Baby crawling still needs work

My husband and I were watching our son try to crawl on our bed. Forward crawling is no-where near sight, but there's a bit of reverse going on, but it feels partially unintentional. The concept of being up on his knees at the same time he's up on his hands is lost to him still. He covers a much larger distance when he rolls, although he also sometimes gets an arm stuck under him when doing this.

We watched him for a bit, encouraging him, laughing with him and playing with him. And it suddenly hit me:

Me: "He crawls like a defective hermit crab."

Tasty knees

I was on the floor with Logan. He rolled over to me and started sucking on my knee. [He's teething.]

Me: "Logan, there's no breast milk in my knee."

He started acting like my knee didn't taste very good.

Me, grinning: "I'm sorry I didn't do anything to enhance the flavor of my knee for you, Logan..."

Husband: "Damn you..."

Milestones and Millstones

I started writing this ages and ages ago, and never finished. Kinda silly, but am posting it now.

Oh, and the skin cancer was removed. The scarring was minimal. And Logan is starting to almost crawl backwards. Forwards is still a challenge. And rolling is getting better, but his arms get stuck under him sometimes and keep him from being able to roll where he wants to, LOL! And he isn't sitting up yet, but is better at holding himself up a little with his arms. And we started solid food when he turned 6 months on June 5th. And I turned 40 on June 10th, but was sick with an intestinal virus. And then hubby got the virus for Father's Day. Weeeee.

And the sleep deprivation feels like it's killing me. But have started taking melatonin, since I'm no longer breast feeding, since (1) made it to the 6 month mark, (2) before the doc knew it might be viral, he thought it was an infection and put me on Cipro... no breast feeding while on that, (3) I was having issues, anyway, as my left boob had dried up due to an idiotic lack of using it that made it start to produce less that made Logan start to want it less that made it start to produce even less that... yeah. So gave up.

Anyway, here's the long update that never got posted. It's from April I think. :)

Oh, and the friend who was out of work is now working at my company. And we got our own Playstation 3 after he took his back, LOL!

Houston, we have roll

He's done it! Logan just turned 4 months on April 5th, and he's rolled over!

We need to get pictures... a sortof time lapse thing. Wait, our camera can take video... so it should be video. Definitely video. :)

Once he got onto his stomach, he managed to pull himself a little, but then got to the point where he didn't know what else to do now that he was there. And he didn't know how to get back to his comfort zone, i.e., lying on his back. So the crying started. So I rolled him back over. :)

He's done it twice today so far. I think I'd better bold the changing pad to the desk in his room, and start RELIGIOUSLY using the changing pad's strap!

Ack! Phbbbbbbbt!

Logan wasn't done with rolling... now we have raspberries! With tongue! So far, he hasn't sprayed anyone in the face. As fas as I know.

That accomplishment was April 6th's highlight. :)

Carpet Cleaning

So there's this new Woolite carpet cleaning thing, called a Rug Stick. You scrub the rug with it, taking care of high traffic areas.

Our entire carpet is one big high traffic area. The German Shepherds track in more dust and dirt than I would have thought possible. And man, do they shed! Husband bought a special vacuum in order to try to reign in the flying fur. He has to empty it for every room he vacuums. And he's vacuuming fairly regularly.

When we first looked at our house, we were told the owner had put in brand new white carpeting. We had been living in an apartment that didn't allow dogs, and knew that the moment we had a yard, we were getting a German Shepherd.

We'd looked at the beautiful carpet, at each other, and started snickering. It was NOT going to stay white for long! He should have just left the old carpeting.

And sure enough, it's more of a beige to tan now... at least we don't get upset at spills, or Logan spitting up.

But now, with Logan, we realize it REALLY needs to be a bit cleaner. Especially now that he's getting closer to crawling.

Crap... we need to get everything dangerous out of range of the Little Guy now. Well, at least he won't chew up and destroy the remote controls the way Boss dog did when he first joined our "pack". :)

Skin Cancer

So, I have this teeny black dot on my forehead. If you look more closely, you'll see that it's actually the black thread of stitches. It's from having a tiny sore on my forehead biopsed. The sore was one of those suspicious sores that refused to heal.

And yeah, it's skin cancer. It's malignant. But it's not something that's moving really fast. I've had it for probably about 2 years. Should have dealt with it earlier, but wasn't up to dealing with it during the pregnancy.

On April 23rd, I go back in to have it removed. If it's significantly large, maybe I'll get a tattoo over the scar... maybe a bulls-eye, LOL. :)

First Day Back

So, I'm back at work. The sleep deprivation and trying to get ready in the morning, trying to clean bottles every night in spite of Logan's fussing... well, sometimes I'm down to 4 hours of sleep at night.

Typing this while Logan is ironically totally asleep in his playpen. Am tempted to leave him there, since he's sleeping so well. Just worried that if I do that, w/o having the SID's monitor under him, that something will happen.

Of course, it's not like, while I'm sitting here typing this or watching TV or whatever, that I'm going to be able to watch him every second to ensure he's still breathing.

They just shouldn't tell new Mom's about SID's. They should just tell them to keep their babies sleeping on their backs because otherwise their noses will grow funny or something.

Oh my God, Ponies!

Well, our friend D came by and TOOK HIS PLAYSTATION 3 BACK. We have a widescreen TV, and so D had brought his PS3 here in... October? And was enjoying playing Warhawk 3 here. It looked so much prettier on our large flat-panel TV vs. his old TV at home that he just left the PS3 here and would come over to play.

He was laid off a few months ago, and he recently became gainfully employed again. He'd saved up enough, and purchased his own huge flat-panel widescreen TV. So his PS3 and his copy of Warhawk went bye-bye. Sigh.

We lasted about 3 or 4 days, and then Hubby went and picked up a new PS3, Ratchet and Clank, and downloaded Warhawk. :) Ironically, I bugged him about doing it... I don't play Warhawk at all, but I LOVE watching him play the game.

And so does Logan. :)

We also noticed that Logan likes Ratchet and Clank as well, but I think he's more fond of Warhawk, as he's more used to watching that game!

Parenting

Which brings us to a sad confession: because Logan enjoys watching PS3 games so much, we call it "parenting" whenever Hubby starts playing. ;)

Almost on a Schedule

Father-in-Law's been babysitting while I'm taking a break from motherhood known as a 40 hour a week job. Father-in-Law's obviously raised children before, and so has been getting a really good feeling for the schedule Logan's starting to settle into.

Random

While bottle feeding Logan, was for some reason playing John William's music in my head.

Is it just me, or is the The March of the Villains song from the original Superman soundtrack VERY similar to the Ewok's theme from Return of the Jedi?