Thoughts of the Night.....

I'm sitting here in bed, wanting to sleep, with a million thoughts running through my mind and knowing full well, that sleep is a little ways away.  arrgh!!  But what better way to release the pent up energy than writing?!?

My first thoughts fall to my beautiful angel, soundly sleeping six feet away from me.   Yep, my baby is home tonight!!!  It has been a rough night, but I am grateful to have her home.  After yesterday, I didn't think that 5:30 pm could come soon enough.  Luckily, I worked today (and didn't get low censused! or sent home early for those who don't know that term).  We had enough to do today to keep management from sending any of us home, so the company and the distractions they provide was a great blessing!  At 5:15 I arrived at my sister's home, the designated exchange point, and waited eagerly for my baby to arrive.  5:24 came and Ralph (the ex.  I've decided this is what he is going to be called from here on out) and Abbie came up the walk.  My sister and I were both quite surprised as he did not park out front like any normal person would.  We laughed a little, this isn't the first time he has parked in front of the neighbor's home so he "couldn't be seen," composed ourselves, and the exchange took place.  Once again, Ralph was extremely vague with any details concerning the last 30-some hours Abbie was "in his care."  We watched from the window to see if he would drive past, but he did not.  No surprise there.  Last time he parked at the neighbors, apparently he backed down the street so he could turn around and wouldn't have to drive by so the cousins could wave goodbye to Abbie.  Oh, the games!  I love dealing with "adults!"

Regardless of the new found game Ralph is playing, Abbie was home and that is all that mattered.  Unfortunately though, when Abbie spends too much time with Daddy (i.e. Ralph) and doesn't get any sleep, she becomes aggressive and I hate to say it but she's a little violent.  After pulling a massive handful of hair out of her cousin's head and hitting another cousin, we decided it was time to go home home.  At home, she got dinner (which she acted like she hadn't eaten all day) and a bath.  After a bath, I always lotion her up.  Tonight she decided to stand up and give me a hug while I was putting lotion on her back, or that's what I thought she was doing.  Well, one big hug, a nibble, and a painful pinch left me with definite teeth marks, the loss of some skin on my shoulder, and a swat on Abbie's rear end.  Okay, okay, I know.  I feel absolutely horrible, I didn't even leave a slight red mark on her, but after telling her "NO" the first time she bit me and telling her that it was naughty behavior to bite people, I didn't know what else to do.  *sigh*   I have some definite parenting skills to learn.  Any suggestions out there on how to discipline a biting 1 year old when "no" doesn't work???  I hate using "no" anyway!

As I said, she is asleep now.  It only took about an hour of tears for her to settle down and fall asleep.  She is out now and I pray she sleeps peacefully through the rest of the night.  She'll need it.  History tells me she will be very clingy tomorrow when she's not trying to catch up on sleep, so we have a long day a head of us and a schedule to get back on!  Maybe I should be going to sleep!!!  I love you though, Abbie!  Sweet dreams Princess!!

Thought number two goes out to my foot.  I had a MRI yesterday to determine if there really is something to the pain in my foot that they couldn't find on the x-rays.  I don't know the results yet and probably won't until next week.  However they pinned my foot down for the exam and really made it hurt.  They taped a protein tablet (looks like a vitamin) to my foot where the pain is, then I had to lay on my stomach for a half hour with what felt like 20 lbs over my foot to hold it in place.  I didn't limp into the scanner but I certainly did out!  Having the pressure on my foot to make sure it didn't move and having to sit on that tablet for a half hour really did a number that I didn't expect!  Sheesh, the pain is irritating!  Not only did it make the pain come back but I now have a deep burning sensation on the bottom of my foot.  I sure hope they find the cause of this pain because seven weeks is more than enough now and I have a pretty high tolerance to pain!  Besides that, I have a new jogging stroller that needs to be used and a strong desire to use it regardless of the consequences!  If only I had magic fairy dust......!

I have so many other things going through my mind, but the last one I'm going to share is about conference this weekend.  I am so excited that it is time for General Conference again!  I seriously haven't felt this way since October 2007 when I was pregnant, struggling to find myself again and my bishop felt inspired to give my family the small handful of tickets to attend one of the sessions in the Conference Center.  I went that time with my mom and younger sister and the strong desire to get something out of it.  I knew the Lord had me specifically in mind for those speakers because they were talking directly to me!  I feel the same way this week as I am trying to mentally and spiritually prepare myself to listen to my Heavenly Father through his called instruments.  There is something out there this April conference that I need and I am eager to find out what it is!!!!  

Well friends, I am out of here for the night!  The sandman is starting to gain control!!!  Thanks for putting up with the random thoughts of Kristi for one night!