Before you even start scrolling it was just too much to try and post coordinating pictures, so pictures from February will have their own post. :) Enjoy the blog or enjoy the pictures, or enjoy both. Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes. I'm tired but I'm at least getting this up!
As of February 6, we haven’t had internet in our home. Why?
Multiple reasons come after the fact, but the main reason is that we
weren’t willing to pay $65 a month for dial up slow internet. We live on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Joel has always wanted to live outside of
town, but it comes at a price for some things.
Although at times it has been frustrating not to be able to quickly look
up a recipe or something, it has been nice being somewhat disconnected from
social media and unlimited interest wasted time.
I can access all those things before or after work or on my
lunch break. Joel would go to the
library and while there found story time and singing time for toddlers. Hailey has loved it when she is able to go.
So what has been happening in the lives of the Smith
family? Probably a lot and more than I
can remember now to write down. Some of
the fun and exciting things. We finally
got a Bob double stroller. Joel has been
hounding me for one of those since Hailey was born. He’s also wanted a Chariot Bike trailer. We just so happened to find an awesome deal
on both, so… Joel got his wish. The Bob
usually stays in the blazer and the bike trailer-which has front wheels so it
can be a regular stroller as well-usually sits in the living room until we use
it. Hailey loves to play in it just in
the house but gets super excited when she gets to go “vroom, vroom.” We attempted once to hitch up the trailer
and go for a ride, but I had a flat tire. When we got the bikes tuned, I got a cold.
I’m over my cold now, so hopefully we can get more action
out of the trailer part. The funny thing
about the trailer is that Hailey knows Emi sits right next to her. She has her spot and if we are going vroom
vroom, Emi better be sitting right there.
Or else Hailey will call out for her.
Hailey’s vocabulary is grown so we’ve had to learn to be
careful what we say. She won’t vocalize
the word she’s just learned right away.
It usually comes out 2-3 weeks later.
Hurry has been one of those words.
Joel would tell her to hurry along and then one morning as I was making
breakfast, Hailey told me to Hurry. She
has a hand motion for it and everything.
Joel and I had a discussion to nix that word from our vocabulary for a
while. There really is no reason for any
of us to be hurrying with most of our daily schedule.
Hailey has been procrastinating naps. That’s what she’s doing currently. We have decided though that she needs to
either nap or she can stay in her room for an hour. I get the quiet-ish time, and she either
falls asleep or not.
So what has kept us so busy?
I am still working as a dental assistant for my dad. Things have picked up patient volume and
fortunately I’ve caught on quickly to many of the proceedures that we do. Every once in a while I get thrown a curve
ball that seriously throws off my oodaloop.
Examples: I’m walking in to help assist with the delivery on a crown
that screws into an implant and Dr. B says, “Okay, you get to do it this time.” What?!
I wasn’t prepped for that. I told
the patient, “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but this will be my first
time screwing on the crown.” He was okay
with it. I attempted the task but only
ended up frustrated. My dad has big
fingers but he’s figured out how to do all this. Me, I have smaller fingers but I had no idea
what the heck I was doing. You might
think, how hard is it to put a crown on the right way and screw it into the
implant. You try and let me know how it
goes. The screw is maybe a few
millimeters wide and maybe half a centimeter long. Sure I have a driver/screwdriver type thing
to help but still, that’s tiny too! To
add to everything, it was a molar. That
means in the back of the mouth. I had to
do most of this by feel because I couldn’t see much of anything. I finally said, I’m not getting this, why
don’t you show me and then let me try again later. He said, “Okay. Our next patient is a crown delivery. You can try again on that one.” Great!
He seated the crown and everything went just fine with him doing
it. So on to the next patient. I go in and try the same thing. This time a little more mentally prepped for
what I’m about to do. I try and try and
get frustrated and more frustrated because I can’t get his little screw to sit
properly so I can screw it in! He takes
over and he fidgets with it, tries a few different hand positions then takes it
out and says, “Hmmm… we need to make a few adjustments so it’ll sit
right.” Great! Second time I try and the
tooth doesn’t fit properly so I still can’t get it in. At least this time I didn’t feel so stupid
because I couldn’t get the crown to seat and screw in.
Many of the things I’ve learned-not all of them, but many
have been I’ve shown you, now you do it.
Gulp. O…K… Taking impressions was
one of those things that I was nervous about.
I didn’t want to gag the patient!
So far, I’ve succeeded in not gagging anyone. Although I have had the material set on me
before I got it into their mouth. It was
a hot day outside and the water wasn’t cold enough. Explaination-the material sets slower with
cold water. Maybe two minutes after contact.
Warm water sets it within 30 seconds.
SO to combat the super setting material I put ice cold fountain water in
it. Well, the person that I did this one
with just happened to have super hot/cold sensitive teeth. They about jumped out of their skin, but they
had to sit there or else the material and mold wouldn’t work… When I finally
pulled it out I asked if I had hurt them with at tray that wasn’t quite the
right size. No. but that water was COLD! Oh…. I said with a chuckle, sorry.
Ok, last work story.
When we clean dentures we put them in a lime away solution and put them
in a machine that super vibrates most plaque, tartar and food off. Then I scrub them, rinse them, and give them
back. That is what I was told to
do. Well, one of the first people that I
do that to puts her dentures in and then say, “Ugh, yuck! That tastes awful!” I didn’t know any better. I’ve never tasted lime away. I told Dr. B this and he said, “Oh yeah,
you’re supposed to rinse them with mouthwash afterwards to get rid of the
taste.” Thanks for telling me that. No wonder there was mouthwash on the counter
near the sink in the sterilization room!
I’ve learned a lot while working. I enjoy working. Some moms have started out marriage by
working and then having kids and don’t miss the work. I started out married and pregnany and
haven’t worked an official job in almost 4 years due to mission and then
marriage. I enjoy working! I enjoy associating with people. We get some interesting characters in the
office. Some are well… I’ll leave that
up to your imagination so I don’t get in trouble if any of them read by blog,
and some of the others are absolutely wonderful people that when they leave you
feel like you have made a friend not just assisted a patient.
Tangent-Hailey is protesting a nap today- she’s finally
given up on crying and screaming… she’s now singing her ABC’s. On that note, Hailey loves singing. Some of her favorite songs are Ring Around
the Rosies. She loves to fall down. Some times she just sits down and sometimes
she sprawls out on the floor. She
learned Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam in nursery and loves to jump at certain
inflections. ABC’s are a given. Popcorn Popping on the Apricto tree has hand
guestures that go with it and she can do the hand guestures and is getting
better at the words. Same goes for Itsy
Bitsy Spider. It’s fun to listen. She’ll just be singing and then you recognize
a few of the actual words. K, hours
up. Time to go get Miss Cranky
Pants. Oh if I could record the tantrum…
lol
Hailey is growing quickly.
She loves to climb. She loves her
grapes and cherries. Especially when
they are frozen. She is getting a mouth
full of teeth. I guess I’d rather have
her asking for grapes and cherries than candy.
Oh yes, she’s figure out that
banks give lollipops but doesn’t understand why she can’t have the ones
at the check out in the grocery store. Lol.
She loves balloons. Especially
the mylar ones in the store. I haven’t
every purchased one for her. I figure
that would be a losing battle.
Emi is a chunk!
Hailey was always skinny because of her eating problems. Well the only problem Emi has with eating is
that there isn’t enough! I pump while
I’m at work and Joel feeds her at home.
Well, with me, there is a set amount that comes out. A bottle on the other hand is very
different. She has realized it can be
reloaded! Multiple times if she screams loud enough. Usually she takes about 6-8 ounces. Ok, I can keep up pumping that. It’s when she takes a 10, 12 or her personal
best of 18 ounces that I can’t keep up with that! Needless to say, she’s got a few rolls. We have to check to make sure that she
doesn’t grown mold or accumulate too much under her double chin. She’s only 6 months old and is about to grown
out of 9 month onsies and tops and fits in the 12 month stuff… bummer… I had so
much cute stuff that Hailey wore for a long time!
Joel: Joel has been
adjusting to being a stay at home dad.
Not just a baby tender. That means cleaning the house and recently
has also become, the grocery shopper.
Look at the ads, prepare what we’ll eat, then go shopping. Try not to break the bank. The first month that I left the shopping to
him without any instructions was a high food bill month. We ended up with lots of things that were
processed or microwavable because they are easy. This month we are doing better. We looked through the ads, planned meals and
so far are on track!
Joel has also been putting out job applications. He could apply for a bunch of random jobs but
has decided he wants to at least keep within a certain job field. He could be a security guard at a casino but
that won’t help him become a welder or builder.
He’s currently at an interview as I’m typing. It’s for an underground electrical
company. It would be building as well as
welding. He’s excited and hopeful. We’ll see how things go.
I have picked up a few hobby type things as well since we’ve
been here. I’ve had my sewing machine
out more since I have a room and table that I can basically designate as my
sewing area. It also doubles as a dining
room when we have company. :) I learned during Christmas break how to make
fancy hand towel dresses. I had a few
hiccups with my machine and wanted to throw it out the window but we’re back on
good terms now. Tangent-Hailey is
currently playing with the foot pedal of the machine. No worries.
It’s not on.
The towel dresses are getting prettier and more
decorative. I usually make them for
gifts. I have a few to do still. Thank goodness for 50% off coupons at Joann’s
and remnant sales.
For those of you that know us, we use cloth diapers. gDiapers.
The diaper system works really well.
The only thing I didn’t like was the insert. It didn’t hold enough and I had to change the
diapers all the time or they were soaked in just an hour. Well, when Emi was born my mom came up and we
made bamboo inserts. They’ve worked
wonderfully, but since Emi is growing, I know have two kids using all the same
inserts. Same size means I need to make
more inserts! More sewing. Luckily they are easy to make. I might even let Joel sew some of them. It’s super easy. It’s a square that you straight stitch and
then zig zag. That’s what I do since I
don’t have a serger… or know how to use one—since there is a serger in the
house we are staying at.
Hailey is playing in the Chariot Trailer. She has a Frozen Ana doll, aka Dollie, and
she straps her in where Emi goes. Well
currently she’s getting beating around the trailer. Then she is comforted by Hailey who imitates
us when we’re trying to put Emi to sleep.
Shhh shhh shhh and a few pats on the back and some bounces. It’s funny watching Hailey imitate us with
her doll. The things they learn from
watching.
Hailey also loves her cloth diapers. Once they’ve been washed, we fold and put
things away. Well, recently Hailey comes
and steals the diapers. They are
hers. “Mine!” Then she runs off with as much as she can
carry in an armful.
We have a few things coming that we hope to blog about. The clark county carnival and rodeo are
coming in a month. We also want to get out to Red Rock and hike some of the
trails on the weekend before it gets too hot.
Oh I almost forgot.
We have two community gardens that we are a part of. One we pay for the water and we can grow
whatever we want in our plots. The other
is where we lend a hand and put in service hours and gain produce in return. It’s nice being part of both. The San Miguel Garden has a lot of things
that we haven’t planted in our little 5x10 plot. The Providence garden gives Joel the ability
to plant what he wants and it’s on him to take care of everything. In our little garden we’ve planted: tomatoes,
bell peppers, onions, carrots, beets, spinach, lemon basic, cilantro, and a few
marigolds. I would like to plant
hollyhocks in there as well to encourage bees.
We’ll see how that goes. There
are chickens at both locations and Hailey as a love/scared relationship with
the chickens. She likes to look at them
and hear them but sometimes they scare her. Lol.
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