Failed Miserably!!!

Ok, so I failed on a few goals..

1st.... blog every day for 30 days.. I think I made it 1/2 way??  If I had a laptop I'm sure I could have held up to that goal a lot easier.. After coming home from a long fun day at the office, the couch just looks so inviting!  I thought for awhile I was coming down with yet another sinus infection, but turned out not to be.. just sinus junk I'll likely have to deal with until I decide to have my surgery! 

2nd... working out everyday...  After 3 days of doing the 30day shred, I was miserable!  My Arms hurt SOOOO bad to move.  I'm certain I did some damage to one of my muscles, or just overworked it to much.  And from what I can gather, its not a great idea to work the same muscle group day in and day out! That you really should allow them time to rest and focus on other muscles.  But I can tell you, that video made me sweat, and I was feeling the burn in my legs, butt etc.  I think I'll get back into doing it again soon, just maybe without the hand weights so much??  I'm scared to look, but I think I might have actually gained a few pounds since my last post.  :-( Free Dr Peppers at work.. Girl Scout Cookies.. I just can't resist them!!

Ok.. an update on Aleena now.. I think most of you that read my blog are friends on Facebook, so you already know the outcome.. But I'll humor myself into thinking I might actually have some sort of blog following.. people that come in to check on us, and see how things are going!  Ok. now that I'm done laughing... She went to the oncologist, and thankfully he ruled out Lymphoma!!  But we did find out she has Mono!!  That is completely unrelated to the lump in her armpit, so were still working with our family DR on that!  She is out of school for the week, and can't play sports for at least 2 wks!

I think that might be it for updates!? 


Be sure to check out my Business Blog
http://www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com/
Free personalization for the month of March!

Day 17? 18?

I forget.. but so far I'm doing great on my 30 days of blogging.. except.. today I have..

I'm tired.. and mentally spent tonight.. and going to relax on the couch with my husband and son.. and watch..

Thank you so much for all of the prayers on Aleena.. I really appreciate it.. I will keep you guys all updated, I promise.  Again, I feel confident it's nothing, but as a mother, I can't help but worry at the same time!! 

Be sure to check out my Business Blog
http://www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com/

Oncology Referral?? One of the hardest calls I've had to make..

A few weeks ago I shared with you about some testing that my daughter Aleena was going through.  She had her blood work done a few weeks ago, and the results from that were normal.  Last week she went in for an Ultrasound on her Armpit and breast area.  The Radiologist told Jeff that day that he didn't see anything alarming, but to wait until we heard from the DR.  Today the DR told Jeff that we needed to take her to see an Oncologist.  My heart dropped when I got this message from Jeff this morning.  She does have an enlarged lymph node.. now to just find out why.

I'm sure that everything is fine, but I'm still scared and worried about the what if's, and will be until I get a clear diagnosis.  Unfortunately the soonest we could get in to the pediatric oncologist is next Friday, the 26th.  This will be an agonizing 10 days for me.  Over the past 5-6 yrs I've done a lot of volunteer work, on various levels, all dealing with pediatric cancer patients in one way or another.  I've taken meals, done balloon releases, attended prayer vigils, funerals, visited in the hospital, given care packages etc.. The past few years I've stopped doing it, not because I didn't enjoy it, life just got really really busy for me, with the kids in school full time, all playing sports, sometimes multiple sports.  I still think about all of the families I've helped, and met along the way.  And to think, I've gotten so settled in my ways, and something like this could happen to me. 

Again, I know it's likely not lymphoma.  But... to have to go see an oncologist, scares me..  a lot.  I broke down at work today, thinking of the possibilities.  The what ifs.. And thinking of my Grandpa.  He lost his battle with Lymphoma a little over 2 yrs ago.  I'll admit it.. I'm scared, and worried..  But I won't let it consume me.  I just pray that in time we'll learn it's nothing! 

I'm one that believes in prayer, I believe in putting good thoughts in the universe, and good things will happen.  I used to be one that when something happened to one of my kids, I'd send a quick text out to family, asking for prayers.. you know, Aleena going to the ER with an injured wrist, ankle etc., Jeff's daddy in the hospital, not doing good etc.  Well behind my back I was getting flamed by family.. for asking for prayers too much and making a big deal of nothing.  Its not like I was sending these requests out every week.. Aleena's been to the ER 3 times in her life, and daddy 1-2 times a year with strokes, and other issues.  But to me they weren't nothings... To me it was something important.  I don't want to see my daughter with a broken bone, in a cast, Daddy going through even more tests to find out whats wrong with him etc.  When I found out my family was talking about me like that, I cut them off, I don't email them updates anymore, or send them texts, and they aren't on my Facebook..  My new saying about life is.. don't make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.. I was wrong in thinking that I could count on my family to be my biggest supporters. I've learned though that it mainly comes from friends.. Don't get me wrong.. I have a few family members I know really have a vested interest in me, and my kids..

I'm one that keeps my family, those here at home and extended in my prayers, but I realize not everyone does that..  SO I ask if you pray, and believe in prayers.. then please keep my family in your prayers!  I'll keep you guys updated here..

Thank you,

Be sure to check out my Business Blog
http://www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com/

boycotting steroids

Last week I was placed on a steroid pack for some issues I had going on.  I started taking them on Friday and felt pretty good all weekend.  I had a lot of energy this weekend, staying up late at night doing some housework, and waking up early.  Usually I spend my weekends with 0 energy, and tired.  I am not sure if it had to do with the steroids, or with the fact I started on Vitamins on Friday as well.  Last night I went to bed at 10:30, and woke up at 1:30AM. stared at my clock for a bit, dozed back off, and was back up at 2:30 this AM. I laid in bed, a million things running through my head, before finally getting out of bed at 4!!  I felt sick to my stomach, was really shakey etc.  I did some more housework, laundry, worked on a puzzle, browsed the web etc, trying to do things to relax, and nothing.  I ended up calling into work because I knew I wouldn't be able to stand on my feet, and remain alert, for 8+ hrs, let alone the 40 min drive ea way.  Around 11 I started to really crash, finally taking a 4 hr nap!!  I've decided I'm going to quit my steroid pack, starting today, and hope I get a good nights rest tonight!

Today we found out that Aleena's blood work came back normal!  She goes on Wednesday for an Ultrasound on the knot, and I go in Wednesday for an UltraSound as well...

I've added a few pictures of items I ordered on my business blog.. be sure to check it out!  And pass it on!

Be sure to check out my Business Blog
http://www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com/

Dr Louie vs.. Dr Google...

Anytime I have something that comes up and I want to do research on it, I immediately go to Google (Dr Google) and type in whats going on and try and do research on it.  I've had DR's tell me that I should go into the nursing field because I try and absorb as much as I can about certain things..  So yesterday was no different.  Tuesday night I started to have a horrible earache, and took some tylenol and went to bed.  In the middle of the night I kept waking up with sharp shooting pain on this one certain spot on my head.  A pulsating pain that would come with no warning, go away, and everything would be fine.  But through the day yesterday, they became more severe, causing me to clinch my fist, grit my teeth and brought tears to my eyes each time.   By the end of the day my scalp was very tender to the touch, and burning, and almost numb.. wasn't a headache.. just pain!!  So, what did I do.?  asked "Dr. Google"... and first thing that pops up is blood clot!!  *sigh*  Couldn't be the case.. I came home yesterday and took 3 advil and slept just fine last night, but this AM, it started again. Not nearly as severe as yesterday, but still there.  And my eye was drooping, again. My right eye likes to do that from time to time.  Well today I had to go to my OBGYN for other issues, and went ahead and made an appt with my family DR (Dr Louie as we call him) to see what he has to say.. In a nutshell.. I had rhinoplasty done about 5 yrs ago.  I unfortunately was born with my grandfathers nose, and it was rather large to say the least, polish nose.  I've ALWAYS wanted to have surgery to have it reduced but was to scared to have it broken.  Well I have a condition called Vaso Vagal Syncope, where I pass out unexpectedly, and passed out at the hospital, falling face first and breaking my nose in 4 spots.  So, since it was already broken, and I had to go through rhinoplasty, I decided to have a nose reduction at the same time.  A week into my recovery I fell asleep with my arm draped over my nose, my still healing very pliable nose, and pushed my nose over to the left.  So Essentially I have NO sinus passage on my right side, and have issues because of it.  Well apparently my sinus cavities on my entire right side are so backed up right now due to this.  So that, on top of the tension knots he says I have in my neck muscles that lead up the side of my head, it's putting too much pressure on my nerves on that side of my head, hence the pain.  So he's got me on a muscle relaxer to help ease the tension in my neck and shoulders, Mucinex D to try and flush out my sinuses, and steroids for inflammation.  He told me that I have so much fluid build up in my forehead and sinus passages above my eyebrows, and that's why my eye is drooping.  If I'm not feeling better by tomorrow I'm to call him... Here are a few pictures of me from my surgery 5 yrs ago..

These are the pictures that the DR took prior to surgery.  the one on the left is my before picture

and the one on the right is what he projected me to look like after surgery.

This was me the day I came home from surgery.  Because of the size of my nose, they had to break my cheek bones to bring my nose down some.  This is actually a good picture compared to what I looked like the next day.  My eyes swelled shut and I couldn't see anything.  Jeff had to put a salve in my eyes every few hours because I could no longer produce tears.  I couldn't breathe through my nose so my mouth got extremely dry, sores all over the inside, and very painful.

This was about 1-2 wks later.. me and my cutie pie Peyton..

This is a collage I put together years ago.

The left is before surgery, next is my projected, then 2 wks after surgery, then 3 wks after surgery..

Well, it looks like it will be in my best interest to have rhinoplasty done again, to try and get my nose straightened out, and breathing through my right side again..

AND.. I went to an OB/GYN for a 2nd opinion.. without going into great detail here, I have horrible times with my "female issues".. and my OB/GYN didn't want to do surgery of any kind, thought i was too young, and tried to take care of it with hormone treatment.  Tired of dealing with it, I decided to seek out a 2nd opinion.  and this DR thought it was nuts that surgery wasn't tried earlier.. So, I go in next Wednesday for an Ultrasound, to be sure everything looks OK, then I'll be scheduling an appointment to have Novasure done.  I'm so excited and hope it works.. and it looks like in the next few months I'll be doing nose surgery again.

I think my muscle relaxer is kicking in now.. :-) time to go relax for a bit before going to bed!!

PS.. YAY me.. 3 days of blogging in a row!!

My baby girl...

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. ~Author Unknown

Ok.. Here goes day 1 of blogging!! :-)

Aleena received a camera for Christmas this year and I've enjoyed looking at the pictures she takes on it.

Recently she took it to my moms house with her, and as a typical teenager,

she photographed herself! 

Here are a few pictures she took..

Obviously I'm a little biased..

but I think she's turning into a gorgeous

young lady! 

So hard to believe that she'll be 12 in July..

Time sure does fly by! 

Today she had to go to the DR and get blood work done for the first time and seemed to do really well with it.  She has what appears to be an enlarged lymph node in her armpit, she's had a lump there for a few weeks, but it appears to be getting bigger and causing some discomfort.  It's still nothing you can see, you only know its there when you touch it.  She goes in on Feb 10th for an Ultrasound on it as well!

ps... don't forget to check out my business blog..
http://www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com/

All better.. and off to school/work tomorrow

The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.

-- O. A. Battista

 

As much as I hate to see my kids sick... I really enjoy the time to cuddle with them, spend some time at home with them, without all of the demands life has on us as parents.

To sit back and really enjoy them.
 

Peyton and I did just that the past 2 days. It was nice not to go to work.

To stay home and do some housework, and still have some time with him.

To not have to rush off to someones practice, or a game.

 

Peyton doing a breathing treatment...

He wanted to do something fun..

and whats more fun then making a cake??

Oh yeah.. that would be licking the batter from the beaters...

And we also fit in some time for

Video Games..

and Battleship..

He beat me 2 out of 3 times :-(

And me and Aleena made this to hang on our Mantle...

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.

-- C. Everet Koop, M.D.

Flu bug.. again..

Earlier this month I made this post about Joey getting the flu.. Unfortunately, it hit our house again this weekend.

Friday Night Peyton had a baseball game, and seemed to be fine throughout the entire game.

On the way home he started coughing, and said his throat was hurting "really bad".

We got home and took his temperature, and sure enough, he was running a low grade temp.

When he woke up on Saturday it was still low grade, and we went ahead and cancelled him playing in his soccer game that day.

I came home from Aleena's soccer game, and we took a nap together. By then his temp had gotten up over 101, and he was still complaining of a sore throat. I took this picture

of him after he had fallen asleep in my bed..

I could stare at this sweet little face for hours..

Look at the fuzz on his cheeks.. and those long eye lashes!!

and I love the pouty little lips.. and that little puddle of drool

under his head! LOL.. I don't really love that.. the sheets were thrown in the washer

as soon as he got up... ;-)

He woke up in the middle of the night last night with a temp of 103, and a horrible nasty cough.

I swore he had croup, he sounded like a seal barking. he couldn't even talk, was crying and trying to say something, but nothing would come out!! :-(

So I registered him for Care now at 3:30 this AM, and had him there when they opened by 9.

I LOVE there web check in, no need to wait in the lobby!

They call you when a room is ready for you.. that's the best thing when you don't feel good.

This picture was taken with my cell phone, he was trying to sleep on the bed in the room while waiting for the DR.

While we were gone though, Jeff was doing this for us... :-)

How he's been spending most of his free time...

And doing some breathing treatments...

He's got a really bad sore throat, the DR was surprised he didn't have strep.. and his lungs are full of junk.. she said he was borderline with pneumonia... but that he was getting decent airflow..

so were doing treatments every 4-6 hrs...

I'll be home with him for the next few days.. hoping to get caught up on some housework..

do some cuddling with a sick little guy..

and work on my business some..

Speaking off.. please visit my other site.. www.southerngalsboutique.blogspot.com

I've added a "widget" to the left that shows some things in my Etsy Shop.

Any order placed before December 1st will save 10% off of there order (any total BEFORE shipping/handling) when you mention seeing it here! :-)

Fun in the rain.... And still a giveaway??

This was an extremely long and tough week for me! I worked nearly 55 hrs this week, all standing on my feet.. coming home everyday this week to rush off to someones practice, or game, barely getting out of my work clothes by 8pm, just to be up again at 4:30. After our 2 soccer games and baseball practice yesterday we decided to take my cousin Regina up on her offer to meet up at the park. We grilled some hotdogs, bratwurst, had chips, etc... Everything was looking great until the rain started!! :-) But that still didn't stop us.. we enjoyed it for another hour or so, in the rain...

Thalia with her "Minnie Mouse" ears....

Peyton enjoying the sand....

Then it was time for some Volleyball.... Leonel and Peyton playing..

Marissah falling... :-)

Gavino Jumping.....

Me and Thalia Posing.. and staying dry..trying.

Regina and Jeff having fun....

And Jeff mooning.. well.. not really, just pretending...

The only bad thing that came out of this is that Jeff's "crackberry" got ruined in the rain... and I can bet he doesn't have insurance on it.. *sigh*... Oh and you'll notice Joey and Aleena aren't in the pictures.. Aleena was with a friend for the night.. And Joey is on my couch sick right now. :-(

If you scroll down through my posts (just 2 or 3 down) you'll see that I was trying to hold a giveaway for my business blog... I say trying, because it was a flop.. sadly not one single person has signed up for it.. I tried.. and it failed.. :-( which is kind of heart breaking considering I've had so many visitors over the past 2 wks since putting it up. So I guess I'll have to come up with another idea.

Boy oh Boy...

When you send your loved ones to a place to be taken care of, you are entrusting them with everything, and hopeful they will do so to the best of their ability. Yesterday was a very frustrating day for me when visiting Daddy.

After going to Daddy’s room and realizing he wasn’t there, the CNA walking down the hall informed me he was in the ice cream social… I said “What, he’s not supposed to be having ice cream! He’s on a Nectar Thick Diet”.. She looked at me dumbfounded to which I explained to her that ice cream melts, turns to pure liquid when running down his throat… so she led me to him and she took the ice cream away.

Daddy told her he was having some chest pains, she said she’d get the nurse to wait there. After approx. 5 minutes I wheeled him to the nurses’ station where I waited for a few minutes before I believe it was the Liaison standing there that asked me how she could help me. I told her that Daddy was having chest pains and I needed him checked out, she went to his nurse, who was on the phone and said as soon as you get off of the phone and get that fax taken care of, will you check on Mr. Rogers, he’s having chest pains. I waited another 5 minutes, with Daddy doubled over in pain, short of breath, and telling me that it felt like his heart was pumping it’s last amount of blood, I asked the nurse how much longer she’d be, and she said she was checking over his medicine list. I said I didn’t care about a medicine list, he doesn’t have nitro, to come over and check his BP, listen to him something! After another minute of watching him in pain I went to an office just on the other side of the nurses’ station and found the head nurse and the Liaison talking. I said I needed someone to check him out ASAP, at this point it had been almost 15 minutes since our first complaint of chest pains.. finally someone came to check his vitals, they got him a BP med, pain pill for chest pain, and some Mylanta… I went to the Therapy Room and found the Rehab MGR and explained my issues to her, and she walked me back to the nurses’ station and communicated with the head nurse the things that have just taken place.

Which brings me to my next issue. He’s on a Nectar Thick Diet, he aspirates thin liquids, he’s already got pneumonia likely due to aspirating liquids. He was given water thin Mylanta. After he started feeling better, it was dinner time. Upon his arrival to the dining table they brought daddy a bowl of soup, with water then broth in it, and crackers ( he can’t have crunchy items, on a manual soft diet)! I brought it to the soup station and showed him his ticket where there is a big NT, for Nectar Thick.. to show them he was not supposed to have thin liquids. After waiting 10 minutes and still no new soup I approached the same gentlemen and asked him if they had thickener there to thicken the broth, so he could have some soup, and after he discussed it with some other guy they went to the kitchen and returned with a pureed bowl of soup for him to eat. According to Daddy he’s even had Salads with dressings? And according to the list we received from the last location, salads were not allowed? No raw vegetables, dressings (too thin) etc??

His BP was a little high yesterday during all of this, so I pray that he was just having horrible indigestion and that was causing the discomfort, and pain can make your BP rise. Jeff is going up there soon to visit with him. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

How much more can he handle??

We've always known that my Father In Law AKA Daddy was an insomniac. Daddy will go to bed at 10 and wake up at 1 in the AM. We've tried sleeping pills, but either they only work for a short time or they put him in a dangerous coma like state. Well, Daddy has gone above and beyond that. Daddy has literally been awake since sometime on Saturday. Yeah, today is MONDAY!!! I spent the night with him last night not sure what I was in for. I found out in the middle of the night last night that he was up all night the night before as well!! We weren't aware of that yesterday, we just knew that we were having our hands full with his disorientation. You guys, its not pretty. Its so tough watching this big teddy bear of a man that is so full of jokes and funny, in a different state of mind right now.

They are really certain that it's the medicines that are still in his system making him like this. Like I said, I spent the night with him last night.. And we had a party all night! I got ZERO amount of sleep, this man had me on my feet all night long. He's going through so many hallucinations. Here are some examples of his wild imagination... There was a showroom pig walking on his wall, there were pancakes all over his room and he was mad I wouldn't give them to him, his ceiling is covered in ants, he was in his wheelchair sitting in the bank drive thru line mad that they wouldn't give him $100 calling the teller an idiot, he was asking for cigarettes then had a conversation about how they weren't good for him so never mind he didn't want them.. He even went so far as to try to coerce the newscaster on the early morning show to grab ahold of his hand and help him up out of bed. He said "Young man, please just help me up, they are treating me like a prisoner and you need to help me up so I can go home, Don't worry about her sitting over there she won't hurt you I promise, just help me up..".. Then turned to me and said "There are you happy, you done went and scared him off!!"... *sigh*.. These are just the beginning of what its been like. There are dozens of other stories.

I know that it's harder for older people to come off of anesthesia, and deal with pain meds.. He's 80, I get that.. But really?? Surgery was Thursday, he hasn't had any narcotics since yesterday AM. Can he really continue with no sleep? I ended up having to have the hospital send a "sitter" in with him so I could come home this afternoon and sleep! Bridget is up there right now and he just came out of an angry phase, which I seen several times last night. He was cussing, he doesn't do that!!! He was throwing all of his pillows and blankets on the floor and yelling because no one would help him.. The DR had just walked in the room a few minutes ago when I was talking to mom, so it'll be interesting to see what he has to say...

Thank you for all of your prayers, I really appreciate them. Claudia, thank you for actually picking up the phone and calling me, your voice mail was so very sweet.. I appreciate it.. When you called we were in the middle of a "crisis" so I couldn't answer my phone.. Daddy had just finished going through an episode.. He thought he was eating candy, and after a few minutes of pretending he started to choke, and it was scary. He couldn't get air, and all of the nurses rushed in and we rushed out crying. After contemplating ICU they decided he was likely OK, but is on a liquid diet again. So your sweet voicemail was heard at the right time..

Stressed out Day..

I had to deal with so many phone calls today...

1st Joey.. On Thursday I got a phone call from the school to come pick him up; that he needed to be seen ASAP due to an asthma attack. Took him in, got put on antiobiotics, steroids etc.. Also found out from the CT Scan that he's only got one sinus passage?? Maybe that explains his chronic sinusitis? He's got to see an ENT in a few weeks to find out what we can do.. he's still not doing great, but has exams this week, so we can't afford for him not to be there.. He's better then last week, just not good... So I had to talk to his nurse a few times...

Then.. we noticed that Peyton's eyes now cross with his glasses on.. He curled up into a ball last night so upset about it... I had to schedule him an appt with his eye DR..

Then daddy.. I had to take him to the DR on Friday, we found out that he's got a hernia in his groin.. Well today, my sister Johann (THANK YOU JOHANN), took him to the general surgeon..WE found out that he not only has ONE hernia.. but 2.. One on each side of his groin.. AND his bowels are going down in his hernia.. He's at risk of having blood flow completely cut off to his bowels, so has to have surgery asap to fix it.. SO Jeff is taking him to his cardiologist Wed afternoon to get clearance from him.. He has to have 2 seperate surgeries due to where they are at. the DR said if they did them both at once, he'd not be able to walk for a few months. So he'll get one repaired now, and the other 4-6 wks out. My concern is that he has a hard time getting out of the chairs now... how is he going to do it after they rebuild his muscle walls in his groin and has stitches?? SO off I am to research some used power chairs.. He doesn't qualify through medicare because they've already gotten him a wheelchair! *sigh*...

My head hurts.. I feel like I'm going to explode.. really...

Prayers for a special little guy...

I'm a blog troll; I admit it.. I link to one blog, that links me to another and so on, I get so far into it that I don't know how I got from one to another. But I got hooked on one ladies blog where she was chronicling her Love Story; about how she met her husband... Her nephew was born last week and is fighting for his life right now. You can view his blog here http://wittharrislupher.blogspot.com/2008/10/sun-bathing-our-son.html You can click on the banner on the top of that link to go back to the main blog. But I link you to that page because it reminds me of Peyton's days in NICU. The heartache we felt not knowing what was going on with our son. He spent days like that in his little bed; with leads all over his head monitoring brain activity, feeding tube in his nose, leads on his chest, and oxygen monitor wrapped around his foot. And endured many tests trying to explain to us why my son would stop breathing, why my son didn't cry, but instead laid there motionless etc.. Thankfully he came home with us, and today is an extremely active fun loving 7 yr old son. Please keep Witt in your prayers; those with his condition usually don't go home to there family.

Date to avoid....

Yesterday I received an email to look at my latest EOB from Aleena's trip to the ER. I noticed on there that they were making me pay a higher deductible because of me choosing an out of network provider. I went to log into my insurance website to investigate it some, as I've taken the kids to that ER in the past. When I narrowed down my search to Aleena, to see what they charged me for on her last visit to that ER, I noticed a coincidence. We took Aleena in on Sept. 30, 2008 for her sprained wrist. And on Sept 30, 2007 we took her in when she got bucked off of a horse http://mommyrogers.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html ! So that day in 2009 will need to be spent locked in the house, away from sharp objects, stairs, bikes, rollerblades, etc.

Its always a little bittersweet reading through my blog entries. I have the link for Sept 2007 above; that month was full of some great memories, and sad times. My Grandfather passed away, my grandmother was going through some really difficult times that left us unsure of what the future held. and some great memories with family that came to town, lots of pictures, tears, and happy moments.

Adding it all up.. and feeling Blah!

Yesterday was a rough day. I was utterly exhausted; and working in my department alone. Looking back on yesterday I ate way more junk then I needed/should have... And won’t step on the scale for a week…

I drank 2 cans of DR Pepper at work 150 calories each = 300
Cup of oatmeal, I’m not sure on the calorie count... But I’ll take a guess at 150
Tuna and crackers = 225
Bag of sunchips while waiting for the car to get washed = 350
Then heading to the concert we stopped off at Whataburger; and I just about had a heart attack just now while adding up the calories on there site!!! I got a Chicken sandwich meal for a whopping grand total of 1230 Calories
I had water at the concert….
Then on the way home everyone was hungry so we went through Burger King and I got a JR Whopper with Cheese no onion = 420 calories *sigh*

For a grand total of 2,675 calories!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!! I’m sick; I can’t believe I did that… I was so excited yesterday because I had to use a new whole on my belt last night. That’s OK… After I guzzle down this DR Pepper this AM (shh... I need a little wake me up this AM!), I’m sticking to just water and lettuce! J I’m hoping to be able to walk and get the kids again today. If not; I’ll be on the treadmill tonight or something. I’m going to have to work hard to get rid of the damage from yesterday. I’m going to justify it and say that I’ve been doing so good for awhile; that it’s NOT quite the end of the world that I did some major gorging yesterday?? Right??

Ok; On to the concert... We had a GREAT time!!! There were 2 opening acts that were OK... And the Cheetah girls were good. We had floor seats and just imagine the sheer joy in my baby girl’s eyes when the cheetah girls got on a stage less then 5 ft from us!! She really had a great time. As always; I have pictures... I’ll try and upload some in the next day or two and talk more about the concert and our time there.

Joey's Xray Results

Joey is Abnormally Normal. ;-)

So we hope. They said that they don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about right now, but something to keep an eye on. They said that each year when he has his physical they will recheck it. They don’t think its scoliosis. We’re hoping it will eventually all just straighten itself up. If it continues to look worse before his next physical we’ll be bringing him in to have it rechecked sooner.

With cooler weather comes....

Sickness......

I hate being sick...

I was home on Friday with Peyton who was not feeling well. His temp got up to over 104 Friday night. He was really upset that he couldn't attend the local HS Football game, we had to send Dad with Aleena and her friend, and I stayed home with him. Saturday night we went to the balloon festival, he still wasn't feeling great, but didn't want him to miss out on the full weekend of fun.

Well today, mom's not feeling so hot! I woke up around midnight with a really scratchy throat and a throbbing head! So I loaded up on my Vitamin C; and am hoping it won't stay long.

I'll try and post pictures later from the balloon festival.

Back at work today!

Barely might I add! I started my steroid pack on Saturday morning. I was able to go out Saturday for both of Aleena’s parties, while wearing a socks I might add! We had a great time at both parties. Her friends party was at a Pottery Place where all of the kids painted ceramic pieces. Then we went to my moms subdivision for a cookout and to do some swimming at her pool there. We had a great time. I was/am a little dissapointed that noone from Jeff’s family showed to the party (or called to wish her a happy birthday on Thursday, with the exception of her grandma and grandpa, an email from her cousin Adeana) but we still had a great time. After my day of partying I ended up taking 2 vicodin to help get me through the night, my foot was KILLING me…

I woke up yesterday excited that a lot of the swelling had gone down, I even had “wrinkles” on my big toe from the loss of fluid build up. It looked like it had been soaking in water all night! LOL. And of course I took that as a sign to get up and get busy! I scrubbed down my kitchen, mopped etc.. Did some laundry then went to mom and dads and sorted there meds. By the time I got home I was exhausted and sore again. I spent the rest of the evening with my foot propped up and Jeff cooked dinner. I decided to try and sleep without any pain medicine as I felt pretty good. Well I was up at 2:30AM unable to go back to sleep!!! I guess the steroids have made me an insomniac?? Lol. So, I got to work around 5:30 this AM; I think I’ll be leaving here around noon and heading home for the day. My foot looks a lot better, pretty much back to normal, but it’s still a little uncomfortable to walk on. Tonight I’ll be taking a benadryl or something to help me sleep all night!!!

Happy Monday! PS; Aleena gets her first cavity filled this afternoon! I hope she does well.

DR Update

I just went to the DR for a follow up on the Gout. She did some blood work to test my Uric Acid Levels. And she told me to stop taking my bactrim and is placing me on a pack of steroids. She said that typically works faster then the anti-inflammatory on the swelling. And then the vicodin as needed for the pain. She also gave me the diet plan that I should be on http://www.joint-pain.com/low-purine-diet.html ... She said again that I'm the least likely candidate to get this. That typically its an overweight man who consumes a lot of meat and/or alcohol. So she's not sure if it just has to do with my trip to MI, or if it's something I'll deal with forever. The test results will be back in on Mon or Tuesday. So we'll see!!

Sick now.. :-(

My medicines are making me very sick.. I'm getting up every hour right now getting sick even though I have nothing left to get sick on. :-( I don't go to the DR until tomorrow afternoon for a followup; so I'm going to try and stop some of my meds until I can be seen. Today is my baby girls birthday and Jeff and the kids are out to eat to celebrate it. I'm so bummed about it. She was crying when they left because I can't go with them.