I'm suffering from an icky cold and nasty poison ivy.
The poison ivy showed up about a week ago. At first I thought it was a mosquito bite and started scratching in my sleep. One day at my desk I noticed that the mosquito bite was bleeding and spreading and before I knew it the rash was all over my leg. Then it jumped to my other leg and now it's on my arms. This is misery.
I've been covering myself with Benedryl anti-itch gel, which does help with the itching but it's still gross. At night I've been taking Benedryl pills to both help with the itch and make me sleep. Sleeping isn't easy with the cold altho I did manage to sleep from 9 to 1 yesterday. Shocking.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thankful Thursday!
Woo Hoo! It's been a while but I've really got a lot to be thankful for.
1. Dr. Coonhead gave me a copy of The Year of Living Biblically for my birthday. I finished it last week and immediately wanted to start reading it again. It's a great resource and gave me so much to think about. I need to search other people who read it so we can discuss. Thank you Coonhead!
2. I'm thankful that Dr. S finally got his office set up so I can meet him for my follow up appt. I'm scheduled for the end of the month. I called his old office and requested my files which should be ready next week. When one of his other patients picked up her files all she got was a very thin surgical report. When I requested mine I asked for the whole kit and caboodle, including the pictures. I want to make sure he gets the pictures so there's a clear before and after shot.
3. I am incredibly thankful for the weather. The rain is finally gone and we've had clear skies and perfect temps. I worked at home yesterday and opened all the windows and doors. It felt wonderful.
4. I am thankful for Cousin Jessie who friended me on fb. He's in the WI National Guard and was recently deployed. I'm sure he'll be included in my regular thanks to God.
5. I am thankful for my girlfriends who will be joining me at zumba tonight. Misery loves company, and all. I'm pumping myself up for some fun excercise but those YouTube videos are scary. We'll see what tomorrow morning brings.
6. My vegetable garden hasn't died yet. I planted cukes, peppers, watermelon, and tomatoes about three weeks ago. They haven't produced anything yet but they're still growing which is a good sign. Matt is also working on the grass. Our backyard was a jungle when we moved in and it's great to see it looking so nice.
7. I am thankful that Matt and I are both employed. Several of my friends and/or their spouses were recently laid off and it's so scary to think about what could happen. The economy is in the pits! Knock wood if you've got a job people.
8. I'm thankful that my little girl is growing up to be such a funny kid. On the way to school this morning we were jamming to MJ's Thriller. She was in the back seat throwing her arms around and pretending to sing in the mirror. She said Michael Jackson is her favorite. I love our time together.
9. I am super thankful for the family in Schwenksville who made space for two awesome kitties. Cha has asked about them several times and says she misses them and wants them to come home from the 'dog store' but it really is for the best. : (
10. Thanks to all the other Cancer Sisters for sharing their stories and providing support to those who need it.
1. Dr. Coonhead gave me a copy of The Year of Living Biblically for my birthday. I finished it last week and immediately wanted to start reading it again. It's a great resource and gave me so much to think about. I need to search other people who read it so we can discuss. Thank you Coonhead!
2. I'm thankful that Dr. S finally got his office set up so I can meet him for my follow up appt. I'm scheduled for the end of the month. I called his old office and requested my files which should be ready next week. When one of his other patients picked up her files all she got was a very thin surgical report. When I requested mine I asked for the whole kit and caboodle, including the pictures. I want to make sure he gets the pictures so there's a clear before and after shot.
3. I am incredibly thankful for the weather. The rain is finally gone and we've had clear skies and perfect temps. I worked at home yesterday and opened all the windows and doors. It felt wonderful.
4. I am thankful for Cousin Jessie who friended me on fb. He's in the WI National Guard and was recently deployed. I'm sure he'll be included in my regular thanks to God.
5. I am thankful for my girlfriends who will be joining me at zumba tonight. Misery loves company, and all. I'm pumping myself up for some fun excercise but those YouTube videos are scary. We'll see what tomorrow morning brings.
6. My vegetable garden hasn't died yet. I planted cukes, peppers, watermelon, and tomatoes about three weeks ago. They haven't produced anything yet but they're still growing which is a good sign. Matt is also working on the grass. Our backyard was a jungle when we moved in and it's great to see it looking so nice.
7. I am thankful that Matt and I are both employed. Several of my friends and/or their spouses were recently laid off and it's so scary to think about what could happen. The economy is in the pits! Knock wood if you've got a job people.
8. I'm thankful that my little girl is growing up to be such a funny kid. On the way to school this morning we were jamming to MJ's Thriller. She was in the back seat throwing her arms around and pretending to sing in the mirror. She said Michael Jackson is her favorite. I love our time together.
9. I am super thankful for the family in Schwenksville who made space for two awesome kitties. Cha has asked about them several times and says she misses them and wants them to come home from the 'dog store' but it really is for the best. : (
10. Thanks to all the other Cancer Sisters for sharing their stories and providing support to those who need it.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Confession: Drugs, I get it
So Michael Jackson died last week, as the whole world knows. The rumor is that it was a drug overdose which is not shocking but still tragic. It sounds like his drug of choice, and the one that killed him, was Propofol which is puts you under as in anesthesia. Sources claim that MJ had severe insomnia and the only way he could get rest was by going under. Scary stuff.
While I'm sure most people think this is insane, I kinda get it. I've had nearly a dozen surgeries over the past five years and altho none of them were fun, there were some peaceful aspects to them. Going under is a trip. It's a magic carpet ride and except for my recent surgery, I woke up every time feeling mentally refreshed.
I am far from a drug addict. I've still got a few Vicodin from a year ago. The first time I was given Percocet when Cha was born I had a terrible reaction so I'm a bit hesitant about drugs. Add on to that the fact that Heath Ledger overdosed on the same drugs I was taking after my mastectomy while I was still in the hospital and you can see my fear.
But....I can see the appeal of being knocked out at night and waking up refreshed every morning. Thankfully I'm a smart cookie and don't have the foolish resources to buy crooked doctors who would put me in danger for a chunk of change.
I have fond memories of drifting off in a bright white room surrounded by people dressed in paper so I get it.
While I'm sure most people think this is insane, I kinda get it. I've had nearly a dozen surgeries over the past five years and altho none of them were fun, there were some peaceful aspects to them. Going under is a trip. It's a magic carpet ride and except for my recent surgery, I woke up every time feeling mentally refreshed.
I am far from a drug addict. I've still got a few Vicodin from a year ago. The first time I was given Percocet when Cha was born I had a terrible reaction so I'm a bit hesitant about drugs. Add on to that the fact that Heath Ledger overdosed on the same drugs I was taking after my mastectomy while I was still in the hospital and you can see my fear.
But....I can see the appeal of being knocked out at night and waking up refreshed every morning. Thankfully I'm a smart cookie and don't have the foolish resources to buy crooked doctors who would put me in danger for a chunk of change.
I have fond memories of drifting off in a bright white room surrounded by people dressed in paper so I get it.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Catchup and the 20 foot Christmas tree
Back when my family lived in Santa Barbara we were far from the wealthiest house on the block. SB was filled with the über-rich and famous and I was lucky enough to make friends with a handful of them.
One day I had an after school choir practice at a classmate's house. She lived up the hills in one of the better parts of town. I remember we were rehearsing for the Christmas concert (back when we could actually call it a Christmas concert as opposed to a 'holiday' concert) and she had the tallest Christmas tree I had ever seen. The house had a two story living room and the tree went well past the top of the stairs. It was awesome.
When I got home that night I told my dad about it and he just kinda laughed. There was no way a tree that size would ever fit in our house (or in any of our houses since). I just had to enjoy that luxury of others and believe me I did.
I thought about that Christmas tree yesterday when we were over at a friend's house for a BBQ. J has one of the 20 foot tree type houses and I'm always in awe of how beautiful it is. This weekend however we snuck over to her neighbor's yard for a quick swim. Her neighbors were out of town and did give her permission to use the pool, but I felt a bit like an escaped convict sneaking thru her back yard, which is a mini forest, and dipping into the water.
The neighbor's house is very nice (tho I prefer J's) but the pool and the view are to die for! It's got a gorgeous view of Chester County without all the shopping malls, business parks and traffic jams. And since we had perfect weather yesterday you could see for miles. It was breathtaking. The pool was equally as impressive. I paused several times to remind myself to savor the moment. Cha had a fabulous day but I'm certain she didn't realize what a treat it was.
Last night we went to the Limerick fireworks with friends. We were with four families and the kids did very well together. Cha was a bit afraid of the loud booms but she watched and didn't cry. Matt, Cha and I snuggled together and watched the beautiful colors. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.
Last weekend we went to Ocean City, Maryland with a couple of friends. It was two of my girlfriends and I with our three kids. With all the rain we've had recently I thought for sure the weekend would be a bust but we didn't see a single drop. Cha loved, loved, loved the ocean and insisted on jumping in all the waves. It scared me a bit thinking about how fearless she is. She kept asking to go deeper and deeper and I was afraid that she might feel comfortable running in there without me. I debated with myself whether it was better to keep her in the shallow water or allow her to experience the big waves. I am usually a cautious mom, especially when Matt's not around to lend a hand, but I decided that I wasn't doing her any favors by keeping her in a cage. The two of us had so much fun jumping the waves together and laughed as they knocked us to the ground. We sat on the sand and let the water splash onto our legs and up to our waists and enjoyed every minute. It was one of the year's highlights and totally worth all the time it took trying to get the sand out of our bottoms!
We are going back to Ocean City at the end of the month with another couple. They have a daughter Cha's age and they are very cute together. They were together at the fireworks last night and had fun pretend sleeping. I'm wondering if we can get away with putting the two of them in a room by themselves. That will give the adults some peace and quiet. I can't wait to get back to the beach and play with my little girl.
Three weeks ago we planted vegetables in the back yard. I thought they were doing great until I saw Andrea's garden this weekend. She started with seeds a month ago and her corn is already waist high. I've got garden-envy. I hope my little slice of dirt puts out.
: )
One day I had an after school choir practice at a classmate's house. She lived up the hills in one of the better parts of town. I remember we were rehearsing for the Christmas concert (back when we could actually call it a Christmas concert as opposed to a 'holiday' concert) and she had the tallest Christmas tree I had ever seen. The house had a two story living room and the tree went well past the top of the stairs. It was awesome.
When I got home that night I told my dad about it and he just kinda laughed. There was no way a tree that size would ever fit in our house (or in any of our houses since). I just had to enjoy that luxury of others and believe me I did.
I thought about that Christmas tree yesterday when we were over at a friend's house for a BBQ. J has one of the 20 foot tree type houses and I'm always in awe of how beautiful it is. This weekend however we snuck over to her neighbor's yard for a quick swim. Her neighbors were out of town and did give her permission to use the pool, but I felt a bit like an escaped convict sneaking thru her back yard, which is a mini forest, and dipping into the water.
The neighbor's house is very nice (tho I prefer J's) but the pool and the view are to die for! It's got a gorgeous view of Chester County without all the shopping malls, business parks and traffic jams. And since we had perfect weather yesterday you could see for miles. It was breathtaking. The pool was equally as impressive. I paused several times to remind myself to savor the moment. Cha had a fabulous day but I'm certain she didn't realize what a treat it was.
Last night we went to the Limerick fireworks with friends. We were with four families and the kids did very well together. Cha was a bit afraid of the loud booms but she watched and didn't cry. Matt, Cha and I snuggled together and watched the beautiful colors. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.
Last weekend we went to Ocean City, Maryland with a couple of friends. It was two of my girlfriends and I with our three kids. With all the rain we've had recently I thought for sure the weekend would be a bust but we didn't see a single drop. Cha loved, loved, loved the ocean and insisted on jumping in all the waves. It scared me a bit thinking about how fearless she is. She kept asking to go deeper and deeper and I was afraid that she might feel comfortable running in there without me. I debated with myself whether it was better to keep her in the shallow water or allow her to experience the big waves. I am usually a cautious mom, especially when Matt's not around to lend a hand, but I decided that I wasn't doing her any favors by keeping her in a cage. The two of us had so much fun jumping the waves together and laughed as they knocked us to the ground. We sat on the sand and let the water splash onto our legs and up to our waists and enjoyed every minute. It was one of the year's highlights and totally worth all the time it took trying to get the sand out of our bottoms!
We are going back to Ocean City at the end of the month with another couple. They have a daughter Cha's age and they are very cute together. They were together at the fireworks last night and had fun pretend sleeping. I'm wondering if we can get away with putting the two of them in a room by themselves. That will give the adults some peace and quiet. I can't wait to get back to the beach and play with my little girl.
Three weeks ago we planted vegetables in the back yard. I thought they were doing great until I saw Andrea's garden this weekend. She started with seeds a month ago and her corn is already waist high. I've got garden-envy. I hope my little slice of dirt puts out.
: )
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