ARGHHH!

I've got tons to be thankful for right now, like a comfortable home, supportive family and fairly well mannered children. They really do their best but it's hard not going crazy when you're cooped up inside with an ungodly amount of snow outside the door.

My skin no longer cracks and bleeds, it's much warmer these last couple of weeks. (It's still below freezing but at least it's not below that goose egg nothing we're used to.) Most of my fingernails have begun to grow back, I haven't broken any recently.

My frustration stems from this pain. I don't want to keep whining about it, I'm not looking for sympathy, just some way to relieve it. I called my OB/GYN this afternoon to see if they could recommend anything. The response I got angers me more than anything. Here's the list of things I can try:
Take 1,000 mg of Tylenol 4 times a day
Use a heat pad on the sore areas
Buy a "prenatal cradle" (a maternity support belt)
Sorry we can't recommend more, this is all normal.

First off, I've been on the Tylenol and heat pad regime since the last appointment. The "prenatal cradle" is a specialty product only sold in 2 stores near me and they are both about 45 minutes away from our house. I doubt we are making a trip that far away for something that has not been tested or shown to be effective in ANY research. I'm about ready to find a new doctor. One that is willing to look at my symptoms and actually do something to relieve them.

I'm not going to say that I'm more knowledgeable than my current doctor, he's got the degree not me. I do know how I feel and his response has been "ignore it, it'll go away." We've tried that, it hasn't worked, let's try something new now.

Miah went to work sick today. He went to his first Aikido lesson yesterday. Although he enjoyed it, he came home with a sore back and neck and a headache so bad he became nauseous. He slept like a baby and had a great morning but by the time Matty was going down for his nap Miah started to feel I'll again. He took a brief rest but still woke up nauseous. He's at work now and although I hope he will start to feel better soon, I expect he will return home well before his night there is over.

Amie's sucked into Diego again, she really loves the animals! We are trying to convince her to stay dressed all day, just like she will have to at preschool. She's wearing clothes but it's not the outfit I put her in this morning. Matty has been carrying around the play food and cups trying to feed me. He makes a pretty convincing slurp sound anytime he sticks the cup in your face.

XOXO, A. Scott