Tales...

Well, I had to recert for CPR this morning and do my ACLS in May. I hate having to do this every 2 years. However, the instructor today made it rather painless. I am glad he is doing ACLS also. I love working in the health field, but sometimes I am counting the days until I am out. I was trying to count how many lives I have saved and found that I couldn't. Years ago when I was in clinicals before finishing my degree, I could tell you all their names. Now, I just don't know. I tend to remember the ones I can't save and that bothers me. I think I am on massive burn out. This is NOT what I was meant to do for life, even though other's praise me on how good I am at it. So, I'm thinking, when saving lives for a living gets boring...what then? Okay, so I am glad I can do it. I truly love my patients. I would help anyone if they needed it and I was there. So, why do I want to nix this and go into the entertainment industry? My guess is I am certifiable. :D

Good morning to you too

So, we woke up this morning to Troy saying "Daddy, I did NOT wet the bed". Well, Troy is in a stage where if he DID something, he comes and denies it immediately. So, you know if he says "I did not...", he really did. Needless to say we got out of bed quickly. Sure enough, he did. So, now I am washing sheets. Only his second accident since potty training, so it's not too bad. 

I made this choco-monkey oatmeal recipe yesterday, and let me tell you it was delicious! You take a microwave safe bowl and  put in it diet hot cocoa mix (25 calories), cinnamon, and artificial sweetener (I used Truvia...not artificial) and mix it with 1/4 cup hot water. Then you add another 1/4 cup of water after everything is mixed well. To that, you add 3/4 cup of oatmeal (regular, not instant) and 1/2 of a banana smashed up. Mix well. Cook in microwave for 2 minutes. Serve. I also made this for the kids using full calorie hot cocoa, and they loved it.

Here's to old friends

You know, sometimes someone will call you at *just* the right time and make your day so much better? I am so thankful to have friends with this power. They listen to God's voice so intently that they just "know" when to call. Thank you Steph!

Anyhow...today was a day to take Michaela to the dentist. Took a really good pic of Troy there, it is the one you see in this post. I am anxiously awaiting the results of my lumbar puncture, so let's keep praying about that. I still feel off kilter to an extent and I wonder how long it will take me to feel normal again?

I fell so much better!

Like a new woman today! YAY! I have so much to do today. Homework I fell way behind on, housework, laundry, and much more. I have to make a menu up and get to the grocery store. I have vowed to start eating better and get my family used to healthier foods. However, I have to get to the store first!

Megan's wedding rehearsal is tonight, and Troy has to be there to learn his job as the ring bearer. I also have to get his hair cut today. That should be a rodeo. He HATES getting his hair cut. Must be done though. He'll look silly in his tux with grungy hair. 

My husband left a tin can of "SNUS" on the dresser this morning. I wondered what was in his pocket yesterday. SNUS is Camel's version of snuff. Now, Chris quit dipping 7 years ago. But, when he gets stressed I noticed he'll buy some. So, this tells me he is stressed. I know he wants another job so badly. I just pray it comes his way soon.

Well, that's about it today. Take care everyone.

Got the yucks

So, I had my lumbar puncture Monday  to evaluate my MS. That HURT. When I say hurt, I mean it really did hurt. Then, it threw my body off and I vomited for 10 hours straight and I am STILL nauseated two days later. On top of that, I just feel bad. Drained. Like I have been hit by a truck. Is this my body trying to re-produce the cerebral-spinal fluid they took from me?

Enough of that...Ms. Spot Kitty had her kittens yesterday. Five total. They are so cute and sweet (of course, aren't they all?). I'll post a pic for your viewing pleasure.

Running...

Today is gonna be a busy one. Have to go get Troy's tux picked up for his part in Megan's wedding next week, gotta get Michaela some spring/summer clothes as she has outgrown her's from last year. Also, I have some other things I need to do on top of that list is having my wedding  ring sized so I am able to wear it like I should.

I am not looking forward to the crowds that are sure to be out in Ft. Worth today because of it being a holiday, but I must do what I must do.

maybe I'll survive it...I hope.

Howdy howdy

My goodness it is BEAUTIFUL outside. Things are going really great here in my camp. Singing "Life is Good" all the way to the bank. ;)

I just hadn't updated since Monday, so I figured it was about time to do that. 

I am so glad Chris and I worked things out back in October. Our separation and reconciliation was the best thing to happen to our marriage. Chris is now an amazing attentive hubby and I have grown and bettered myself as a wife. I hate that it took a separation to get us back on track, but I'm glad all was not lost. I take vows very seriously. Thank goodness I didn't let societies standards and prejudices guide me. We truly have our "Fireproof" marriage now.

Love ya Amy...thank you!

Just Blah

I love my children so very much, I really do. Michaela is home from school because she had some "stomach issues" yesterday afternoon/last night and I didn't want to risk her having them at school. Troy is home, of course. I don;t feel so hot either. So, we are all in fowl moods, and I just really don't feel like being Momma today. I just wanna be me to myself. I think as mothers we all have these days. I don't have them often, as my kids are my world, but today I just want to curl up with my school work and maybe a magazine or two, and let the world go away.

Back to reality, already today I have had to break up more spats between Michaela and Troy than I care to admit. What do a 3 year old and 11 year old have to argue about? A lot apparently. Add to this the fact that Troy thinks he is the ruler of all living things, and there is where the complications begin. We KNOW we spoiled him. We know this behavior is a direct result of that. So, now, I must live through it while we bring him back down to earth. Just in the last week he has become so bossy that no one can stand him. Actually, not that bad as others have noticed it but thought it was "funny" or a "stage". You bet it's a stage because I will not stand for it.

On the homefront, still no kittens. Both cats are getting fatter and fatter, but Spot...she appears to be stretched to her limit. I was guessing 5 or 6 kittens, but now I am up to 226-228. ;) I feel so bad for her. Her bags are dropping so I know it's soon. I take her temp daily  as it is said her temp will drop to 99 within 24 hours of delivery. We're still at 100.3 now...Down from 101.5. (Cats run that high body temp normally.) I have not tested Ginger for her temp, as she doesn't look as miserable, but my bet is since they are litter-mates they went into heat at the same time and should deliver close.

I guess if you don't know the story about how we came about two female cats, I'll share. When we moved here my old neighbors has DOZENS of cats. Well, we brought one load and while onloading out pops cat # 1 (Now known as Ginger) from a box of stuffed animals. She had loaded herself in the truck during the night. Then, the next day we brought another load and when getting the cat food (for our NEUTERED male cat Mooster), another cat popped out of the bag (now called Spot). They were just little kittens then, so we decided we'd let them be barn cats and get them spayed when they were old enough. Well, the week before I had planned to have them fixed, I realized Spot was expecting. I thought she was too young, apparently not. Also, we live on 850 acres with no other cats except our neutered male and bob cats. So, this had to be a traveling salesman or a bob cat. Anyhow, I thought she would deliver a MONTH ago. Still waiting. After discovering her pregnancy, I checked Ginger and sure enough, she is caught too. So, after they deliver, they will be fixed. Not irresponsible pet owners, just off on judgement. We didn't choose these cats and didn't know how old they were. The vet agreed with us, so we're covered. 

3 kittens already have homes. I pray the others get homes just as easily.

Little better

I am feeling a little bit better tonight. I am praying that it lightens up and it was just a mild flare. We shall see. The doc's office never got back with me. I will be on their tail's again in the morning.

So, I guess it is a flare up

I started having the "band pain" along with the fatigue today. They call it the "MS Hug".  It feels nothing like a hug. It is painful, like having child-birthing contractions in your ribs. Here is something a got to explain it:

What Causes the "MS Hug?"

It is caused by a lesion on the spinal cord and is technically classified as a neuropathic pain called a “paresthesia,” which refers to any abormal sensation. The sensation itself is the result of tiny muscles between each rib (intercostal muscles) going into spasm. These muscles have the job of holding our ribs together, as well as keeping them flexible and aiding in movement, like forced expiration.

What Does It Feel Like?

Like many MS symptoms, the “MS hug” feels different for different people – it also feels different in the same people on different days or at different times of day. It can be:

• As low as the waist or as high as the chest; rarely it can be felt as high as the shoulders and neck
• Focused in one small area (usually on one side or in the back) or go all the way around the torso
• Worse when fatigued or stressed
• Present in “waves” lasting seconds, minutes or hours or can be steady for longer periods of time
• Described as sharp pain, dull pain, burning pain, tickling, tingling, a crushing or constricting sensation or intense pressure

So, anyhow, that is what is going on with me. :(

Just tired and miss Chris

Chris is working 18 hour+ days again, 7 days a week. Now, this is saving us financially but killing Chris and we all miss him. Tonight I sat and held Troy for aprox 30 minutes while he cried for Daddy. Chris just needs a day or two off. I have to work this weekend, so he has to keep the kids. I know for a fact that keeping the kids is NOT time off.

That brings us to why I am so tired. I worked on the living room all day, did homework, cooked, played with Troy, laundry, etc. and I am just worn smooth out. No excuse, maybe it is my MS trying to flare up? I know it makes me extra tired sometimes, and stress makes it worse. I have been trying not to stress, but I worry so for Chris. 

Anyhow, I guess I'll go soak in the tub and read some more of my text books. 

So, I moved the pool table

It's for sale anyway, right? I was so sick of it taking up my living room floor! I hate the thing being in here. I understand Chris' need to have it, but I also understand we have no room for it. So, I pushed it sideways and scooted it to the back wall. Now I am shining the floors and bringing my area rug down to put in the middle of the living room. I love the look of the room so much better already. Now, when it sells I'm bringing the other couch down and possibly the table! 

Wooo-hooo!

(Chris is not going to be a happy camper, but he'll get over it...it get's used maybe once every two weeks by him.)