Sparks and Butterflies

So.  As always from a longer absence I need to post an update.

Nothing much to report on the kids…  They’re in school, we’re keeping an eye on them and all their issues.  And they are so very much boys.

My parents are still the same.  Mom’s not going to get much better than she is, but I think everyone knows that.  I did speak with them and “forced” them to give me an answer on some things I think are important.  Things like – are you amenable to a nursing home (no,) burial or cremation (not sure – probably cremate,) and life saving measures (use your best judgment.)  I already know about their monetary arrangements for after death.  If they BOTH become really ill, or one of them passes on, I’ll talk to them about putting me on their accounts to make taking care of them easier.  Certainly a morbid conversation, but one that needs to happen when you’re in the sandwich generation.  I’m a planner and a worrier, so this actually put me at ease.  Even though they want me to be the one to make some calls – I’m ok with that, because I know that THEY’RE okay with that.  But in general they’re doing ok.  They have another cruise in April – Lord help me.

Poe’s doing great…  Still working etc.  Nothing of particular note – although he did win some money in a football pool – which he is incredibly excited about.

And me.  hmmm.

Work is going ok.  Had a bit of bad disconcerting news.  I was lined up to take over for my boss when she moves back across the country.  Well, that’s not going to happen now. My boss is staying.  Which is actually good for her, because of some valid things going on in her personal life, but which kind of put the kabash on some of my monetary plans to get me home sooner.  I’m still kind of getting over that.  Plans change.  It was never a concrete deal, but now I have to figure out a different plan of attack.

I now author two other blogs.  One, which you already knew about, Special Needs Kids.  The other one happened during my technical hiatus, Stars Behind Bars.  So, one has social worthiness and the other so does not.  I’m also working on a review blog, which isn’t ready yet, but I’ll let you know when it is, as I plan on doing giveaways and such.

The last bit of news…  Some back story…  over a year ago, I went to the doctor, because my stomach was acting up on a regular basis, which also morphed into chest and arm pain.  I had an abnormal EKG, so I did a stress echo.  My heart was apparently fine.  So, I was diagnosed with acid reflux disease.  I was put on a drug – basically a double dose of prevacid.  Fast forward to about a week ago…  I decided to move to my prescription plan’s mail order plan for those drugs, but needed a new paper prescription in order to get that started.  I called the doctor’s office and he basically said – no.  I mean, yes, he would give me to prescription, but the bottom line is, that should have 1) healed me up, and 2) I shouldn’t have breakthrough pain on it.  So, he sent me to a gastroenterologist.  I have no idea if that’s spelled correctly.  I went.

Let me just put in a little bit of a bitchfest…  I haven’t been able to lose weight.  Eat normal, diet, doesn’t matter, I haven’t lost anything.  When dieting, I’m not cheating.  When not dieting, I’m not overeating, ’cause my stomach simply can’t handle it.  Doesn’t matter.  I tell this to the doctor.  “Losing weight is simply a matter of making a decision.  When a patient say they ‘can’t’ I don’t believe them.  They just haven’t made a decision.”  I wished to smack him.

Anyway…  There’s some pressure on palpation and I shouldn’t have pain on the meds I’m on.  So, on Monday, I will be getting an endoscopy.  Basically, I’ll be asleep, and they’ll pump my stomach full of air, and take a camera down there.  They’re going to look around and see if they see ulcers, lesions, tumors, or bacteria, and they’ll also take a biopsy.  So.  We’ll see how that goes.

That’s the grand update.

So. The real reason I sort of missed a couple days? I’ve been on a haze of benedryl. I am the lucky recipient of a viral infection that has presented itself in an all over body rash – and I do mean ALL over, head to toe – and enlarged lymph nodes. And then, my monthly two weeks early or so landed yesterday. Which means further manipulations of the all over rash. And then my doctor, who I saw today, let me know that I can look forward to this for the next two weeks or so.

Joy.

So. I’ve been really struggling with my weight. And I’ve decided to really focus on it and try and make my life healthier. And what does a blogger do when that happens? That’s right! Create another blog! Nothing’s changed here – I just won’t bore you here with what I ate today. Go visit if you’re interested in that sort of thing

Sorry, but I feel like crap. I don’t know if I have a sinus infection and/or ear infection and/or cold. So, it might be scarce around these parts for a couple days.

Ok. Without going into specifics I need to give a shout out to the moms out there with this question.

Have any of your kids played with fire? If so, what was the situation, how did you handle it, and what was the long term outcome?

So, no weight change. Which is good. But now that I’m over the flu I can try to get into this more.

I’m just not sure what to do. Right now I’m concentrating on looking at my food – portion control. But I definitely need some more structure. Back to WW? I just don’t know. But I want to be at goal weight by 4/18/08 – my 10th anniversary, we’re going to Hawaii, and I have a little over a year to do it.

So – technically I’m still alive. Taking care of Joseph led to the household coming down with a wicked strain of good old influenza.

It’s been awful and terrible and at one point I thought I might die. Probably not, but you couldn’t tell me that while I was hallucinating with an incredibly high fever.

I’m at work today – first day since last Thursday, and I’m not completely well at all, but I don’t have a fever.

So – it might be a few before I’m updating again regularly.

+1

I really need to get on an actual program. Really. This is getting ridiculous, and it’s very obvious that my “hey that looks healthy!” plan isn’t working.

Cost is the main issue, but I apparently need the handholding.

This isn’t helping my overall outlook on life. I need to do something about it.

As I mentioned before… One of my good friends has been diagnosed with MS. She, Shannon (my friend who has been diagnosed), has developed a Team – Team Queen Bee – for the upcoming Greater Los Angeles walk. I’ve copied her message below with links. If you live in the area, please consider joining. If you do not live in the area, please consider pledging.

I know there are a lot of causes out there. It is hard to pick where to send your contributions because so many are in need. But, this is the one in my life right now – and if you’re reading this, by extension it’s in yours. Please consider giving.

A message from Shannon Grushkin.

Every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with MS. That’s why I registered for the MS Walk and that’s why I’m asking you to support my fund raising efforts with a tax-deductible donation.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS but they can’t do it without our help. It’s faster and easier than ever to support this cause that’s so important to me. Simply click on the link at the bottom of this message. If you prefer, you can send your contribution to the address listed below.

National MS Society
MS Walk
2440 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 115
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Any amount, great or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of people with MS. I appreciate your support and look forward to letting you know how I do.

P.S. If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from the MS Walk are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against MS, please visit nationalmssociety.org.

My Future Milf weighin… Done on Monday, because I, of course, forgot to post it for three days.

-3 lbs. This is a good thing. Of course it’s over 2 weeks ’cause I completely forgot to do it the week before. I plan on doing a page for weight loss. I used to have one, before I ballooned up to this weight. But I want to do a table and all of that. Anyway – what I really need to do is figure out some kind of plan to go with, ’cause I don’t think the winging it thing I’m doing is going to work.

I’m floundering, and I’m fat. Of course, they say the first step is admitting your problem, right?

I feel sorry for you because some health entries are probably going to be rearing their heads.