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Tuesday
21 February 2006

Baby Update

Dear family,

Baby turned three months old this past weekend. I was planning a
more impressive update, but unfortunately, our little bean is going
through her first cold. She has a heart-breaking cough, but so far
she hasn't had a fever. We hope she'll be better soon and we're
glad to see her immune system in action. She really hates it when
we wipe her nose.

Her hair continues to fall out. Her eyes are still blue. She loves
mommy and baby yoga. She hates the pacifier and spits it out.
She occasionally licks her hand, but not with much effort. She often
sleeps with her arms up (touchdown!) and as of two days ago, she
loves to suck on her right sleeve every time she puts her arms up.
Daddy is not thrilled. We still think she's the strongest baby ever.

I did an hour-long usability study today for a new computer program.
Baby cooed during the beginning and slept through the end. But
about half way through I realized that they were recording everything
I was saying. And because Baby was quite near the mike, whoever
listens to the recording will also be treated to four loud Baby farts.

I will try to update her website soon, but probably not until she's all better.

With love from Rachel, Matthew & Baby...

smile

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Thursday
23 February 2006

Life Update

10 41 am
Last night I went out. My baby turned three months old this past weekend. We've been to tons of restaurants with her, but this felt like my first real night out. I left her home with her daddy and headed to the city for an "elite" event through Yelp. There are so many friends I need to catch up with in the city, but I decided to go alone, because if I'd brought someone I would have spent the whole time talking to them. It was an interesting experience. (continued...)

9 12 pm
Matthew still isn't home from work. The bean has had a rough day, but thankfully is asleep now. I am currently finishing up a website I was hired to construct. In addition, I am looking for a more permanent tech-related job that I can either do at home or bring the bean with. She's normally so mellow...

I started my "selling everything I own" website, but I'm not happy with the scripts I'm using to run it, so I may scrap it and start over.

My main focuses in life right now are:

  • making sure my baby is happy, healthy, and well taken care of
  • making enough money in 2006 to pay property taxes, utility bills, etc.
  • cleaning up the house and yard (mostly for Matthew), because I didn't do anything but work when I was pregnant
  • eventually trying to regain my figure (mostly for Matthew)

    I end up spending a lot of time fooling around on the internet, because it is something I can easily do while holding the bean. I continue to love spending hours on copyediting and mainenance of the Wikipedia. Lately Yelp has also been stealing some of that time.

    I applied for a job and the response was a nice "position is already filled" instead of a stinky "we don't want you." Now I am persuing contract work in tech writing. I also have another postential client for website design. I'm doing little things here and there, as well as working part time as a nanny (Monday - Thursday). The usability study I mentioned above paid $100. I am also participating in a year-long study of feeding babies for the FDA. That doesn't pay, but I am happy to be helping out.

    There's more to write, lots more, but I'm still not getting much sleep and there's so much to do. Staying on top of the medical bills is a job unto itself. Thus far I have:

    Medical Costs -- Pregnancy & Birth: $2,395.14

      Deductible (mom): $250
      Deductible (baby): $250
      Doctor visits ($15 copay): $90
      Lab tests: $267.87
            blood & urine: $240.45
            AFP: $22.67
            glucose: $1.51
            Strep B: $3.24
            mastitis: ?
      Nutritionist: $35.20
      Ultrasound: $34.07
            July: 10.59
            July: 11.74
            November: 11.74
      Late night care: $50.37
      Hospital stay: $698.10
      Delivery: $370
      Cord blood collection: $250
      Pediatrician's fees: $39.82
      Lactation consultant: $175
      Post-partum check: $21.42

    In closing, this color and style is an homage to my original diary. This is the 101st month of my diary, though it has been spotty for the past few years. As time permits, I am looking forward to rekindling my love affair with writing online...

     

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