I was supposed to have a CT scan today to get a look at how deep the tumor is. I already have a date for the parotidectomy, but the surgeons need an image of the tumor. The worst case scenario is that the facial nerve runs through the tumor. Then they would have to trace out all the branches of my facial nerve before removing the tumor. That would be like a 14 hour surgery! The best case scenario is that the tumor just sits on the mastoid process, and they can just remove it, an 8 hour surgery....

paloma

I had been complaining of being sick of rereading old books over winter break, so Jason gave us some of our gifts early. The baby got soft fleece overalls, powder blue with little penguins embroidered on the bib. A silver cuff bracelet for the baby was in the bib of the overalls, and it was engraved with his birthdate and the word ANGEL.
For me, Jason got a somewhat hard to find book. I guess I'm just laughing at the contrast between the sweetness of the baby's gifts and the title of...

paloma

Complicated delivery. I'll just post what I posted in Oldies forum.

He made it to the world safe and sound. Last Thursday I had a run of the mill prenatal appointment and the midwife caught that his heartrate was very low. She sent me up to L&D (Labor & Delivery) for closer fetal heartrate monitoring and suggested I call my husband in case we had to induce that day. After talking with Jason, I decide I'm bored. His heartrate was back up to healthy/about 140 bpm, and had...

paloma

I am putting out the Christmas decorations right now and I just had two awwwwww moments. The first was when I was hanging up our stockings and I put up mine, Jason's and our cat Jackson's. Then I realized I had to hammer another nail for the baby's stocking. Awwwww. For the baby shower, I bought a "Baby's First Christmas" stocking and we asked our friends and family to write little notes of advice to us, and we put the notes in the baby's stocking. On Christmas Eve, we will open and...

paloma

So I'm sleeping peacefully at around 3 am when Jason startles me awake and he's saying "Hurry hurry get ready" and he's pushing me out of bed. He would not let me back in bed at all. He was lobbing pillows at me when I tried to stay in bed. I just remember being mad that he disturbed my sleep, but then I decided I had to get up and pee anyway. So a bit later I get back to sleep and then he wakes me up again around 6, saying "We're going now" and he even said "I love...

paloma

Jason is thinking about quitting his job and being a stay-at-home dad, or SAHD, after the baby comes. I am extremely excited about this possibility and I hope so much that we can make it work. He works too damn much in a field that doesn't give two shits about employees' family lives. Hotel management. For example, right now he's working 3 am to late evening for a high-maintenance group of his. I stay with him at the resort when that happens, which used to be fun for us, but it's getting old....

paloma

I don't mean to brag but I am amazing. And it comes so naturally. For extra credit in a class, I built a model larynx. I decided to do it Saturday afternoon, and it was done Sunday evening. Mine looks so much better than what the others turned in, and they were all bitching about how it took them weeks.
Ok so my tracheal rings, the white rings at the bottom, they aren't supposed to slope down like that. My dad pointed out that was very Native of me, to include a little imperfection....

paloma

I am not a hypochondriac. It is rare for me to get sick. However, it is 3 am and I have just diagnosed myelf with pinkeye in both eyes. Everything on WeMD sounds like me right now, and I have been sick for about a week. Says that a compromised respiratory system is associated with viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. Damn it.

paloma

I felt like such an idiot today. I was in the AISSS which is an acronym for I really don't know what but it's the student center for Native people. We have computers, student advisors, tutors, a limited amount of free printing, access to a kitchen and fridge, stuff like that. I spend a lot of time there. I am always self-conscious (and probably always will be) when I am around other Native people because I know I don't really look Native and I think they must wonder what I'm doing there. ...

paloma

Saturday we are having a little party for our family and friends. We're not married yet, because it has not been easy coordinating our parents' schedules. My parents are teachers, and my mom's school is year-round so she is already back to work. Jason's parents both travel for their work, so getting all of us together isn't easy. We got our marriage license a few weeks ago, and now we just need to find a date for a courthouse ceremony with our parents. So Saturday's party is just to celebrate...

paloma