not to us

ENT Update

Hey everyone,

We had Ruby's appointment with the Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist today. We consulted with Dr. Cupero, he examined Ruby's ears, and Ruby had a pressure test performed by an audiologist. She hated all of it. :) At this point, her ears are not infected, but they are irritated, and fluid is present behind her ear drums. The doctor feels like Ruby is getting viral ear infections, not bacterial. That's why the antibiotics don't seem to be doing any good. Ruby has had three ear infections in six months (since January.) Dr. Cupero said the requirements he uses to determine whether a child needs ventilation tubes is 3 EIs in six months or 4 EIs in a year. Since Ruby is right on the cusp, he said he usually leaves the decision to the parents. I told him that I wished he could give me a little more guidance, because I really don't want Ruby to have any unnecessary procedures, but I also don't want to ignore a procedure that she truly needs. Not to mention, I have no knowledge of this subject, and I really don't have a leaning on what would be best.

With that, he said that all of Ruby's ear infections have been in the off-season. The peak season for EIs is the fall. He said he would place his bets that, without tubes, Ruby would end up with six or seven ear infections by the end of the year. He said his best guess would be that we'd be back in six months to have tubes put in.

Obviously, in six months, we're going to be a little busy giving birth or welcoming a newborn into the family. :)

I asked about the risks of the surgery, and he said that it is actually a very simple and virtually risk-free procedure. He said the recovery is generally very easy for the child.

Anyway, I told Dr. Cupero that I'd like to come home and talk to Mike and pray about it. He said that was fine and just to call the office when we knew how we wanted to proceed. He was very nice, and he has excellent bedside manner for a surgeon. :) :)

Please pray that Mike and I will have wisdom, and we'll know how to proceed with this. Thank you!

Ruby Funnies

Our little darling is starting to develop quite a sense of humor. When people around her laugh, she laughs with them (even though she doesn't get the joke). If somone on the radio laughs, she laughs. And such and such... Just recently, she has started trying to make us laugh.

On Sunday, we brought her home from lunch and I was putting her down for her nap. I always sing a song to her, and, this time, she reached her lips up to give me a kiss. She realized that, when she kissed me, I couldn't sing. Somewhere in that sneaky little brain of hers, she decided that, if I couldn't sing and finish the song, then I couldn't put her down to sleep. So...she kept kissing me...over and over and over again. :) It got me, and struck my funny bone. I started giggling, and then she started giggling, because she realized she had made me laugh. Her giggles converted me to full-blown laughter, and she followed suit. We finished a laugh-version of "I Love You, Lord", and then I smoothered her with kisses and sang a calming, non-laughed version. She went down to sleep without any trouble, and my heart was bursting with joy.

Today, I went to lay her down for a nap, and she gave me a GREAT big two-armed hug. I tried to lay her down, but she was still holding on to my neck, so I couldn't. She thought it was hilarious, and she started laughing. Of course, that little laugh gets me everytime, and I started giggling, too. :) I started tickling her under her arms to get her to loosen her grip, and it worked...along with making her laugh even harder. I gave her kisses, snuggled her up, and laid her down. Once again, she went straight to sleep. :) I'm loving these little pre-nap interactions.

Interesting Fact

Many of you might know the popular song titled "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles. I have always like this song, because it's got really smart lyrics. Here is a sample of the lyrics. (I took them out of their rhythmic structure, so it's easer to read the sentences.)

I'm unusually hard to hold on to.
Blank stares at blank pages...
No easy way to say this:
You mean well, but you make this hard on me.
I'm not gonna write you a love song, 'cause you asked for it, 'cause you need one.
You see...

I'm not gonna write you a love song, 'cause you tell me it's make or break in this.
If you're on your way, I'm not gonna write you to stay.
If all you have is leaving, I'm gonna need a better reason to write you a love song today.

Now, I thought these lyrics were smart and catchy when I thought they were written to a boyfriend. (I mean, I've asked Mike to write me songs before, but I've never threatened to leave him if he didn't. I thought it was good for her to say, "Look, dude, if you're going to leave just because I won't write you a love song, then it's time to go. I'm not gonna write you a love song to make you stay.")

Recently, however, I learned that this song was not written in reference to a boyfriend. It wasn't even written with a boy in mind. According to unofficial reports (like Wikipedia), this song was written in response to...drumroll, please...

Her Record Company, Epic Records.

They asked her to write a "marketable love song" before they would sign her on for a contract. So, she wrote them the following words (along with the chorus posted above):

Head under water, and you tell me to breathe easy for awhile.
Breathing gets harder, even I know that.
You made room for me, but it's too soon to see if I'm happy in your hands.

I learned, the hard way, that they all say things you wanna hear.
And my heavy heart sinks down under you and your twisted words.
Your help just hurts. You are not what I thought you were.
Hello to high and dry
(You) convinced me to please you.
(You) made me think this is what I need, too.
I'm trying to let you hear me as I am.

I mean, seriously, it takes some major cojones to walk into a room of producers, agents, and record label representatives, after they've asked you to write a marketable love song, and throw those kind of words at them. It makes me want to stand up and yell, "Yeah! Take that Epic!" Interestingly enough, she obviously got the record deal. In fact, the label chose "Love Song" to be her debut single off her debut album, "Little Voice."

Now, when I hear this song on the radio, I get pumped up, and it reminds me that sticking to my beliefs and being my real self pays out in the end. :)

With that said, Mike and I had a funny exchange that I will not post on this blog, because, even though it's the the real me, he thought it might offend others, and I don't want to do that. We tend to have a crude sense of humor sometimes, and I understand that others don't share that same mindset. :) (Look at me, Amy, I'm editing myself, even after I encouraged you not to do so.) LOL!

Thanks for reading all my rambling! Love to you all!