Allen update

He's on Bactrim DS twice a day. Cullen's office told him he had to be on the antibiotic for a week before anything could be done so he has an appointment next Thursday morning.

He needs to get his Phoebe Care card so that at least the hospital will be covered, just in case Cullen can't do it in the office, which I don't think he will be able to. I haven't told Allen and Michelle that. Allen is scared enough as it is.

I've been busy

Labor Day has come and gone. Had Lisa DeMott a baby shower on the 30th. She had the baby (Milo Alexander) the morning of the 29th. Left the hospital and came to the shower. What a woman!

I hosted Marti and James' 44th birthday party on Sunday the 7th. I was going to 5:30 mass on Saturday so I would have all morning Sunday to finish preparing for the birthday party. At choir practice Laura, Ken Mohl, Mike Wise, David and I just on a lark, sang Come Worship the Lord by Talbot. David decided we needed to do it as a prelude for the 5:30 AND the 11:00 Sunday masses so I ended up not only going to mass Saturday evening but Sunday morning, and then Laura and I cantored at 11 as well.

Then I was behind the rest of the day! Anne and Rick showed up right after 12 with Rick's gas grill and set it up in the backyard. Marti and Bubba were next. They were there before I got home.

We grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs and chicken breasts. We made macaroni salad, cole slaw, baked beans. Celie brought chips. Laura brought ice and drinks. John came down from Atlanta and got more ice. Ice cream and cake and I had made a huge banana pudding for Bubba. Wasn't much left of that!

On a more serious note, Allen got sick a couple of days ago. I thought he might have a yeast infection in the gluteal crease, but it kept getting worse so he went to Convenient Care today. He has a pilonidal abscess and will have to have surgery. BUMMER! We told them not to worry about the expense (they don't have any health care at all), that we would help them. What else can you do? Michelle is calling Cullen Richardson's office tomorrow to make an appointment.

NEWS!!

Chris got his orders for his next duty station which will be a reserve unit in Marietta, Georgia, 3 hours away. They have always wanted to live in the Atlanta area and hope to be near there when Chris retires from the Corps. They are so excited! I won't even bother to expound on how the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters feel about it.

Kelly Easterlin Williams lives there (grew up one house down from us). Also Alayna Wu. Jane and Mike (Hugh's cousin and her husband) live there. Of course, John and Greg live in the area. John lives in Hiram about 20 minutes southwest of Marietta. Greg lives "in the area" if you can define 2 hours away in Sugar Hill, the other side of Atlanta, that way. Hugh's cousin Howard and his wife Jean live in Lawrenceville, near Greg.

Suzanne said they would be house hunting in Dec and Jan, looking for a place to live. She's calling Jane and Kelly today to find out about where she should be looking.

Laura and I are hosting a baby shower for Lisa DeMott tomorrow. Milo Alexander arrived this morning at 9:17 EDT. Lisa said she will NOT be missing chocolate cake. She and Milo will come straight from the hospital if they have to!

Welcome to Our World, Landis Dean Price

6 pounds 10 ounces
18-1/2 inches long
Born about 10:15 a.m. Tucson time

Congratuations, Bonnie and Brandon. YOU GO GIRL! We love you!

Today is Hugh's Birthday

With TS Fay still raining on my parade, I am having trouble getting out to get any shopping done. Promised home made chicken and dumplings for dinner with home-creamed corn.

Rick and I took Nora to her oncology appt yesterday. Dr. Duelge said he was running a flow cytometry to make sure her diagnosis of CLL was correct. That is the definitive test. He is also sending her for a CT scan and mammogram. She has a mass in one breast and hasn't had a mammogram since they moved down here. Dr. D. also said that they probably would not treat the CLL for years, just follow.

My Doodle is doing well in school. First grade is LOTS harder, he says, but "I'm really great at Math!" They have about an hour of homework every evening. That's a lot for a first grader IMO!

Laura, Mike and Johnathan are in Orlando getting John settled in. They took a tour of the DAVE (Digital Animation and Visual Effects) school at Universal Studios. Laura said she was not just astounded, she was stunned by the work they are doing there. If John is one of the class "stars" he will be able to write his ticket. I think he wants to go to ILM in London.

We're having a baby!

Celie called me this morning at 8. Bon's water broke around 3 their time (Tucson) and she is at the hospital. Cool BEANS!!! Update when I get more info. Born on Hugh's Birthday, too!

Tax Free Weekend

Shopped for D's school uniforms and supplies yesterday. Have to get some more supplies and won't get his long pants for a couple of months in case he grows. Geraldine said that I should go ahead and buy them and just get a size larger. But what if he doesn't grow that much?

He's going to Mommy and Daddy's tonite. Laura and I are the cantors tomorrow at 11:00 mass and I have found that I can't manage him and cant at the same time. Too much distraction. He insists on standing with me at the microphone. And when he's "at his seat" behind me, he's mugging it up.
I am so far behind on my laundry, I don't think I will ever catch up. It hurts my arms, shoulders, neck and upper chest to hang stuff up and I get so tired just sitting and folding clothes. What was once a Saturday morning chore has become a nightmare of discomfort and sometimes pain.

Temper, Temper

I got D one of those floor rugs that you play checkers and tic-tac-toe on from Cracker Barrel. He was playing checkers with Hugh tonite but kept cheating. Then he pitched a fit when Hugh wouldn't play with him anymore. I'm going to have to talk to his therapist about this little episode. He thinks he ought to win all the time, even be allowed to cheat to do it.

I put him to bed and we said prayers. After we finished, he said they didn't count because he didn't want to do prayers tonite. I told him that it was okay to feel that way. God could see into his heart and knew that he was upset and that had he said his prayers anyway, even when he didn't want to.

Back up

We're back up and running. I have almost completed my IPEs for the day but still have to get my OT production in. Also have to take Damien shopping for school uniforms and supplies. We're just going to try things on. This weekend is tax free for school stuff so I'll just have my sizes and go in the middle of the nite.

Hugh came home for lunch and played the Wii with D for a while after he ate.

Now our major chart access system is down

IS does not know why. They are working with MedPlus trying to get it pinpointed. Still on mandatory OT. No way to work.

Suz, Jessica and kids left today. They are going to Valdosta to see Carl and Christie and spend the day at Wild Adventures. Annette and kids will be there, too. They will spend the night with C&C and leave for NC Thursday morning from Valdosta.

We had a pizza party last night so that anyone who could get here could visit a bit before they left.

I have my house back. It's quiet, even with Damien watching TV. Gotta love that Katherine. She painted her toes, feet, legs and the bedroom carpet with deep, bright red fingernail polish last night. Poor Suz. She scrubbed and scrubbed to get it out. This is the SECOND time it has happened since they came.

I have laundry piled up my bedroom wall! Have to get it caught up.

As for the rheumatoid arthritis, I can't say I'm in PAIN just pretty much ache all the time. And stiff, stiff, stiff. But the pain comes when I move wrong, especially in my rib cage. Leaning forward to get out of a chair, or just sitting down and my back settling on the chair will set me off.

There are so many people who live with so much worse pain and discomfort than this. I have to keep reminding myself.

Blogging

I don't have time to blog right now. Mandatory OT, deficient iron stores from donating blood frequently and now rheumatoid arthritis. Film at 11.

3M Update

We had a 3M update scheduled for today. 11:00 to 1:00. So I came home. Last time it took until right at 2:00 to complete the update. There is no way I was going to sit around for 2 hours waiting for the system to come back up. Right now it is 3:09 and we're still waiting. AND we're on mandatory overtime. Which means we have lost at least 4 hours of prime worktime.

Does anyone see the irony here? At least I've done a couple of loads of laundry.

The Hughes Reunion

This weekend is the Hughes family reunion. Ellen Hughes was Hugh's paternal grandmother. The Waters and Hughes families are intermarried quite a bit. (See post 4/16/08 RE: John Edward Hughes)

Anyway we go Saturday morning (can't get him to go Friday night . . .), stay in the only hotel in Sylvania. Will get there right about lunch depending on when we get out of here. Suzanne and the babies will be there from Friday night.

There will be a low country boil at Johnny Hughes' property in Hiltonia on Saturday night. The main reunion will be Sunday at lunch at the Community Center out near the Brinson farm. Howard and Jean will be there this year, but not Jane and Mike. We'll get to see everyone we just saw at Johnny's funeral a couple of months ago.

Suzanne and the kids will be coming back to Albany for a month following the reunion. Damien is really excited about seeing his cousins and having them come and stay,

Diet Disaster

OK. I did so well the first 10-12 weeks. I have not lost ONE POUND since then. I have a Nordic Track exercise bike in the living room. I am writing down EVERYTHING I eat. My nutritionist says I am doing everything right. This happens to me EVERY TIME! I get to a point where it does not seem to matter what I do, I just quit losing. It's like my body just says "Hey, I want to keep all this fat and you're so not getting rid of it!"

**sigh** I'm giving some serious consideration to catching Joe after church tomorrow and talking to him about Lap banding.

BONNIE Sweetie~~ I replied to your email.

Poor Ethan

Ethan is sick. He's in the EC at Lejeune Naval Hospital with a severe case of tonsillitis and dehydration. Suzanne took him in this morning to see the doc and got an antibiotic, but he got worse this afternoon so she took him back to the EC. He's getting IV fluids with an antibiotic and steroid infusion. Hopefully he'll be able to go home after he gets all that stuff.

Jessica came over to stay with Katherine while S&E were at the hospital. Bless her. She's been a good friend.

Happenings

I'm working so much better inhouse, getting so much more done! But DARN, I'm snacking all the freakin' time! Gotta get a handle on that. We're supposed to produce an extra 30 charts minimum this week. The system was down for 5 hours on Monday during work hours so BAM! there goes production.

Damien is going to VBS with Em every evening. Well, almost every. He had just waked up from a nap yesterday and was cranky as a bear coming out of hibernation. I got a kit for rock painting at the book sale at work today. Em is going to take it home over the weekend and look it over. Then next week maybe she and D can do some.

End of next week is the family reunion. Suz and the kids are going to Sylvania Friday afternoon. It's a 6 hour drive for her from J'ville. We'll be going up on Saturday. Then they will be coming to stay for the month of July.

D LOVES the new big screen TV. He fights going outside to play now. Just wants to sit in front of the tube and watch movies and stuff. But Em and I had a talk and she shuts the TV down after about 2 hours. I prefer that he watch in the middle of the day when it is hottest.

The sisters have a beach weekend at San Destin scheduled in July. Just the sisters. We have invited the SILs but so far no one is coming but us. I hope (hope hope hope) that Celie can go. Gretchen is having problems with her Kuvan dosage and it takes both Celie and David to manage her when she is acting up. She DEFINITELY needs the break.

For my Bonnabee!

Like I said. Apathy has set in. I am working OT and still can't seem to get ahead. I am back in the office now working inhouse. If my Citrix is working, the VPN is freaking out. If they are both working at the same time the system is sooooooooooooo sloooooooooooow. Or Mediacom internet is down. Whatever! Getting more done now, but have no time for anything else. I got so far behind in March and April, it looks almost impossible to dig myself out alone.

Em is babysitting Day while he is not at his mommy and daddy's house this summer. They get along so well.

Uncle Hugh finally got his 52" big screen with BluRay after we sold the old house. He's as happy as a pig in slop!

Keeping up with you thru your mom and Suzanne. Love ya girl. I'll try to keep this up better.

Mother's Day and various comments

I guess Mother's Day was all right. Hugh didn't feel well, but insisted on going out to eat. We rushed thru the meal, took half of it home. I went to bed and took a nap while he went to the office.

I have been hungry, depressed, irritable, frustrated, downright bitchy for about a week. Apathy has set in.

Work is awful. Can't stay signed into the system. I get kicked out. When I can stay signed in, I cannot get into the coding module. Right now I've been trying to work for well over an hour and haven't been able to do anything at all. And I don't get paid if I don't work. I am so tired of having to use vacation time to make up 40 hours because my programming doesn't work. I can't leave and do anything else because I have to be here to talk to the IS people when they need me, and then I have to work long hours at night just to try to catch up. Something here does not seem right. I can't even to into the office and work because I have to be here for IS. I am working 10 hours or more to get paid for 8.

Cinco de Mayo

Picked D up from school this afternoon and he was singing about Cinco de Mayo. They saw a film about the holiday in school and he had to tell me all about it. Most of what he remembered was that Cinco was Spanish for five, de means of and Mayo stands for May. "Cinco. De. Mayo. Cinco de Mayo, Gigi! It means the 5th of May, get it?? I'm cinco. I'm FIVE."

His attitude is much, much better than it has been. He's not throwing as many tantrums or having as many emotional outbursts. He seems to be much calmer. He stayed with his parents Friday afternoon until 7:45, then didn't go back until Sunday afternoon.

We finally got a contract on the old house. It's been 8 months but I understand that is average. Can't wait to be out from under two mortgages!

Damien is being a pill

I don't know what his problem is today but he is being openly defiant, disobedient and disrespectful. When I got him out of ChildWatch at the gym, he would not mind anything I said. If I said "Come here!" he would run in the opposite direction. "Stop playing with that", he ignored me and went on with what he was doing. "We need to go out this door", he turned around and went out a door on the other side of the building.

He refused to do his homework, refused to take a bath, was tearing up a sheet of paper and when told to stop, he just stared at Hugh and continued to tear it up. AND he refused to apologize.

Not much goin' on

I've been working back in the office for over a week now. I am going to try to work at home again next week, but I anticipate just returning to the hospital to work in-house. I get so much more done. I despise wearing the uniform. I hate getting up early, getting ready and having to drive in. But my main problem is going to be day care for Damien. Michelle said she would keep him for the month of June. We'll see how that works out. I'll still be calling around for daycare rates just in case.

First Holy Communion is the first Saturday in May. The kids are so cute! and the following Monday, Bishop Bolin comes for Confirmation.

Field day is Tuesday May 6th. Kindergarten graduation and honors ceremonies are Wednesday the 20th. Damien is supposed to wear a suit, tie and dress shoes. The school and I are going to have to have a talk about that!

I also have Day an appointment with a child psychologist. The psychologist I spoke with today about his behavior has concerns about some type of borderline autism being present (even tho the school says no) and wants him to see a specialist just to make sure he's getting all the intervention he needs. He has no problems learning, or making friends but some of his behavior is so classically autistic.

John Edward Hughes

Johnny died this morning with his family at his side. He was 90. Johnny was Wallace's (Hugh's daddy for those of you who don't know and are interested ~~ Wallace's mama was Ellen Hughes) first cousin, fought in WWII in Europe and was the Hughes family patriach. He organized the Hughes family reunion (decendants of John and Clara Hughes) from the beginning since before Suzanne was born. His daughter, Mary Helen, and son, Eddie are continuing the tradition.

He was always ready with a smile and a warm embrace. He was a wonderful , vibrant man, full of life, love and laughter. He was an important person in our lives. He was one of those people who made a difference.

I will miss him. We all will.

Benedict XVI

I wanted to say something really astute about Benedict and his visit to the US but I really don't know enough about him to "pontificate". **snicker snicker**

However, I was impressed with his teaching to children about frequency of confession. To quote (and here's hoping I get it right . . .) he said "It's very helpful to confess with a certain regularity. It is true: our sins are always the same, but we clean our homes, our rooms, at least once a week, even if the dirt is always the same … Otherwise the dirt might not be seen, but it builds up. Something similar can be said about the soul, about me: if I never go to confession, my soul is neglected and in the end I'm always pleased with myself and no longer understand that I must work hard to improve …"

I have a problem with confession myself. I make no apologies for it. I just do. I am trying to do better and this teaching is really comforting to me. The explanation is really simplistic (he said this to some children) but very clear.

I have not read his encyclicals on love and hope, but I will soon. I am beginning to feel a connection to this Pope. Maybe I'm just starting to mature a little in my faith.

Simon came home!

He ate and ate and ate. I can still feel his backbone. He ate all the dry food I had and a whole can of food all by himself. Then he sprawled out in the garage and slept. And then ate some more when I got more dry food. He's a little skiddish but that's okay. I don't know what he's been up to.

He is one happy boy for the time being.

My kitties are disappearing

I inherited 3 feral cats with my new house. They were a gray female named Sassy, a brown tabby, Mamma Cat and her little tom, Jazz. Then Sassy brought up her babies about a month after we moved in, two kittens I named Bella Sera (a gray tipped showshoe siamese girl) and a brown tabby boy called Simon. Then Mamma Cat had babies again on August 23rd, four of them, Bootiful (female solid black long hair), Tahlly (female long haired tabby), Walker (steel gray male) and LiLi (long haired gray female). Tahlly and Walker disappeared when they were about 12 weeks old. I gave away Boo and LiLi.

Then in January Sassy just quit showing up to eat. A couple of weeks after that Mamma Kitty disappeared. 10 days ago Jazz quit showing up to eat (and he was actually coming into the house on occasion and would let me pick him up.) I haven't seen Simon since yesterday afternoon and Sera is calling and calling, so I think he's gone, too. They were littermates and practically inseparable.

I spent a lot of money on Sera getting her fixed, shots, fleaed, etc. She's the only one outside how and I hope she is safe. Even though she lets me pet her and pick her up, she is still too feral to come in. I'm worried.

OK So it quit raining

and we did go out. But to Longhorn's. I decided I wanted a good steak. Hugh ordered the grilled salmon which wasn't EVEN done. He sent it back. When they brought it back to the table it STILL wasn't done. My steak was fabulous!

It's STILL raining, it's STILL pouring

I may not go out tonight after all. If this rain keeps up, I may as well forget it. There is no way I am going to dress up and go out to a nice restaurant, get wet going in ~~ I don't care how big your umbrella is, the feet still get wet! ~~ and be miserable all evening. I'm just not into misery.

It's raining, it's pouring

We need it! It's supposed to rain all day long. Hope it slacks off by tonight. Hugh and I are going to Plantation Grill for dinner. Quail in raspberry sauce ~~ Yum Yum! They change their menu about twice a year so the quail may not still be available, but they have such good food, it won't matter. I'll find something!

The Bradford pears have greened out and have no more blooms, but the dogwoods are in full swing along with the Japanese Cherries. Azaleas are running riot all over the place. I have to get my tomatos set out and some cukes planted.

I tried working this morning but the various programs in the system kept kicking me out. I also had to send query after query to doctors who provided NO diagnoses with their account orders which is an absolute no-no. Can't code and drop to billing without a diagnosis. Registration is not supposed to take orders without diagnoses, but apparently no one monitors that because we still get TONS of them without any clue as to why this particular patient was getting lab work drawn, or a blood transfusion administered or medications by IV.

Went to dinner with a group of the ladies from the office last night. We had a blast. Got home about 8:45.

I need to go to the bookstore today. Elizabeth Vaughn's latest book was released this past Tuesday. The girls on the LHBB who have read it say it is pretty good so I'm going to try it. Right now I'm wading through the In Death series by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts) again. If something new doesn't come out soon, I'm going to go nuts!

Waiting for the newest Anita Blake book (just did a re-read of The Harlequin) and Black Dagger Brotherhood book. Tho I'm not that interested in Phury's story, Tohrment re-enters the picture after a long absence.

It's my Birthday

I picked Damien up from school yesterday. The first thing he said as he got into the car was "Gigi, tomorrow is your birthday and then you'll be 27!"

"No, baby, I won't be 27. I wish I was!"

"When it's your birthday you will still be 26?"

"No, baby, today I'm still 56. I'll be 57 tomorrow on my birthday. "

"57! Is that OLD??"

I just love him so much. He can always make me laugh!

So when he got up this morning he asked if it was still my birthday and gave me a hug. Then he asked when my party was. And did he get cake? I had to tell him there would not be a party because most times grownups didn't have birthday parties and that Dad was taking me out to dinner on Saturday for my birthday. He decided he just might have to come home for the evening so he could go out with us. As long as he could have dessert.

12 week have passed

since I started on this new diet regimen. I have lost 16 lbs and 5 inches. Not as much as I had hoped, but at my age and with the medications that I am on which actually BLOCK weight loss, I guess I'm doing okay.

I asked for a bicycle for my birthday (TOMORROW, PEOPLE!) . Hugh asked if I wanted a bicycle or a stationary bike. That gave me pause. I hadn't thought about a stationary bike. I'll have to ponder on that a bit. I think a stationary bike will be useful. I can use it when it's raining. But a regular bike will get me outside, in the sunshine and (somewhat) fresh air. I think the stationary will be more expensive, too. I was just going to Toys R Us to get a basic 3 speed or something, less than $100. Decisions, decisions.

Spring Break Revisited

On Wednesday afternoon we went into Wilmington to the Children's Museum. The kids had a blast! Damien spent most of his time in the art room, tho he liked the grocery store, too. We then walked a bit along the RiverWalk. Ate at On the Border for supper.

Thursday, we took the kids to a play park for part of the afternoon, then on to Mike's Farm for supper. The kids got a kick out of the farm animals. Damien did a good job on his supper which was a farmhouse feast of fried chicken, roasted pork loin in gravy, mashed potatoes, gravy, mac and cheese, sweet white corn and green beans.

Friday we went to Onslow Beach which is actually on Camp Lejeune. Damien and Kayla played in the surf and we hunted for shark teeth, found lots. It was very, very windy and we had to cut our afternoon short because Ethan just could not take the sand and wind. But we had fun. Glad we didn't try to picnic. Waaaaay too windy!

For pics of our adventures, go to the link for Suzanne's blog.

Saturday was the long drive back. Took 11-1/2 hours. Kids did great but I felt like I had been beat with a stick when we got back. Just vegged all day Sunday because I was TIRED by God!

Not much happening in my world right now. Lots of laundry to do. I have finished work for the day. May have to go to Dad and Nora's tonight to cook dinner as Dad was just dismissed from the hospital this afternoon.

OBTW

I think the stress test was just fine. Average workload with no chest, jaw or neck pain.

Spring Break in North Carolina - The Trip

Our trip went well, at least I think so. 11 hours, WHEW!! Nonie (Chris's mom) and her granddaughter, Kayla age 9, were with me and Damien. To have a 9 year old and a 5 year old in a car for an 11 hour trip is quite an experience.

But we had the dual DVD player for the kids and Doodle brought his Leapster to play. They watched movies, played CDs, napped and played games on the Leapster. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel near Savannah for lunch and stayed there a bit so they could run around some. Day lasted until 5 MINUTES before we got to Suzanne and Chris's house before he asked the ubiquitous question: "Are we there yet?" I was so impressed!

Suzanne decided, since they had been cooped up in the car all day, that the best plan for supper was CHUCK E. CHEESE so they could blow off some steam. Worked Great!

Today we are going to LapTime at the Library and this afternoon to the Children's Interactive Science Museum in Wilmington.

Easter is upon us

Good Friday has passed. We did the Passion Play with Veneration of the Cross. Did lots of music, Behold the Wood, Were You There?, Jesus Remember Me, and several more, during the Veneration. Easter is almost here!

I did sing the Psalm. Our choir director said I did a really good job with it. If it was American Idol I think the comments would have been:

Randy Jackson: "Hey man, it was a little pitchy in places. Overall it was just okay for me."

Paula Abdul: "That is such a beautiful song and you truly did it from your heart."

Simon Cowell: "I thought it was a complete and utter mess!"

Good thing I'm not on Idol. I would have been voted off!!! LOL

The Stress Test Cometh

My stress test is scheduled for Monday morning March 24th, the day after Easter. At least I will be blessed with having been to all the Holy Week services and receiving the eucharist every day for 4 days. Pray for me, all ye lands! I AM leaving Tuesday morning for North Carolina! I have faith.

Damien ~~ Hugs and Kisses

Damien, my Doodle-Bug, just left for school. Big, warm hugs. Lots of kisses. He sure was snuggly this morning. All that warm, pure baby-love. I know he's not a baby anymore, but that 5 year old innocence is so wonderful. He assured me that he would hug and kiss me tonight when he went to bed.

He is torn about going to see his cousin Katherine during spring break. He wants to stay with his mommy and daddy, but is so excited about going to see Katherine and Ethan and his Uncle Chris (the SOLDIER!!!) . . . (who has a real GUN!!!) . . . (and wears a UNIFORM!!!) and Aunt Suzanne (yes, Suz, you are an after thought). He has never been to visit them before and really wants to see where his cousins live.

When Chris and Suzanne still lived here, one year when they went to the Marine Corps Ball, they came by to show off their regalia. Suzanne was trying to get Damien to kiss her, but he kept stepping around her and gazing up at Chris with these huge, round eyes. There is nothing like a Marine in his dress blues!

My Life on a Diet

This is week 10 of my one year committment. As of yesterday afternoon, I had lost 16.5 lbs, which is (obviously) 1.6 lbs a week, practically perfect. Some weeks were more, some less, but the average is good. We start pole walking (that's pole-WALKING as opposed to pole dancing) the week of April 1st.

I think this diet is spot on. My new favorite snack food is 2 Tbs of hummis mixed with a half-cup of salsa and pretzel chips to dip. Hummis is pureed chick peas and olive oil with various herbs and spices mixed in for variety. My favorite is Sabra's Hummis with Green and Black Olives. I can absolutely do without any chips and dips when I have this. I also LOVE the 100 calorie packs of Oreo Candy Bites. They are so good!

I think my failure is going to be cake. It's an oral/texture type thing. I haven't given in yet but I feel that it is just a matter of time. I don't want just candy, ice cream, chocolate or just anything sweet. I crave POUND cake, chocolate layer cake with fudge frosting, chocolate ganache cake, pineapple upside down cake, cupcakes; and I want APPLE PIE! I have a recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks (see blog link below) for apple dumplings that look like they are fabbo (or maybe flab-o??). She said she had to throw hers away after eating several because "they are evil and must be destroyed." I can't wait to make them. But I'll do it with Splenda Baking Mix and diet Mountain Dew. See? I'm trying to be good!

And then there's Easter and I'm doing a basket for Doodle. Already have individual candies (no bags of stuff) and toys, so I won't be too tempted, except maybe by the jelly beans. Gotta have some Peeps, too!

Gigi's un-Excellent Adventure

Saturday I felt bad pretty much all day. It got progressively worse until I finally lay down and took a short nap before I started cooking dinner. When I got up from the nap, I felt like someone was sitting on my chest. By the time we finished supper, I really felt like crap, was short of breath and the sensation of something sitting on my chest was worse. Get where I'm going with this?

Anyway, Hugh decided that we needed to err on the side of caution, so I ended up in the Chest Pain Center in the Emergency Room overnight having serial EKGs, tronopins (cardiac enzymes), etc. to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack. Which I wasn't.

However, by the time I got to the ER, I was having true left-sided chest pain which was radiating up into my neck and jaw. The pain level was pretty low, maybe a 3 out of 10 at its worst, but was persistent, which was scarier than anything else. Three nitroglycerine tablets later, it was totally gone, even the sensation that something was sitting on my chest.

I got chided gently by the ER doc (Dr. Black is a gem!) for waiting for over 4 hours to come in when I started feeling weird. He said he would rather that I come in dozens of times (HEY! Who has to pay the bills here!?!) for a false alarm than not come in the one time I needed to and that I should let them determine if I should to be there. How many times have I preached this same matra? But I must say, if I went to the ER every time I got short of breath (did I ever mention I'm fat??) or started feeling weird, I'd be there several times a week.

Right now I'm waiting for 9:00 to roll around so I can schedule a cardiac stress test, my third in 10 years. The last one showed above average exercise tolerance for my age and "body habitus" (I have mentioned I'm FAT??). Mayhap I will pass this one with flying colors, too. We can always hope.

My Doodle

I had to go and get my Doodle from Mommy and Daddy's last night. He just would not mind and had a major melt down. He didn't want to leave (he stays with them every weekend) but just would not listen to anything anyone said.

So. Hugh and I went and got him about 10:00. He cried and fought, but his mommy carried him to the car and put him in his booster seat. We told him if he could calm down that he could come back on Saturday afternoon.

We got two blocks from their apartment and he had quit crying, was talking coherently and by the time we got home, he was laughing, telling us stories and enjoying himself. I don't know what his problem was. He treasures his time with his parents. He really didn't want to come back home but just could not seem to get himself together enough to do what he had to do to stay there.

He didn't get to bed until about 10:30 which is waaaaaaay past his bedtime. But he did get up at 8 and came and climbed in bed with us to snuggle for a while. Then he had to have "real" pancakes (homemade) for breakfast. He was a delight all morning, running and playing, coloring, laughing. He dressed himself and was ready to go back to Mommy and Daddy's. We had a talk on the way back over there and he seemed to understand that respecting his parents is very important that being disobedient would get him sent back to Gigi's.

I don't like being used as a punishment, but somehow I don't think he sees it that way. He was too happy and content to be back home. My beautiful baby, the light of my life.

Holy Week

Holy Week is approaching with all it's sadness, tears, and finally joy and hope. It is my favorite time of the year. Some time during the week I will take some time and watch "The Passion of the Christ". I have to do it alone. I can't have anyone around. I cry every time I see it. I'm not talking a few dainty tears that require a tissue or two. I'm talking gut-wretching sobs so bad sometimes I can't catch my breath. It is a fearsome reminder of the suffering and sacrifice Jesus made for us.

I have been practicing the Responsorial Psalm for Good Friday which I may sing for Good Friday services. I usually cant the Stations service at 3:00 and unless someone else volunteers, I will do this also. What a beautiful, somber, contemplative piece of music.

Ps 31: Father, I Put My Life In Your Hands

arranged by John Michael Talbot.

copyright 1985 Birdwing Music

In You, O Lord, I take refuge
Let me never be put to shame
Into Your hands I commend my spirit
You will redeem me faithful God

For all my foes reproach me
Neighbors laugh and friends stand off
I am forgotten like dead unremembered
I am like a dish cast down

But my trust is in You, O Lord
I say You are my God
Into Your hands I place my future
From the clutch of foes You rescue me

Let Your face shine on your servant
O save me in Your love
Be stout-hearted and, come, take courage
All you who now hope in the Lord

Father I put my live in Your hands

SPRING FORWARD

Does the time change bother you as much as it does me? I have such a difficult time adjusting to the "spring forward". Sometimes I don't really get used to it until the "fall back" is due.

Has any governmental agency ever done a study on how much work efficiency is lost because of the time change? They probably don't want anything to prove that it's a pretty stupid thing to do. I know I am not the only one it bothers. And I know it affects my work. I am so tired, I just don't get as much done and I certainly don't concentrate well.

I talked to the director the our sleep lab about it once and he said that he sees people every week who are suffering from lack of sleep because of the time change. He says they are usually people (like me) who have very strong circadian rhythms.

**sigh**

So I'm taking an herbal supplement called Mid Nite, which is basically melatonin and some lemon grass and stuff, to help me get to sleep. I hope it works tonight. I didn't get to sleep until after 12:20 (oops! that was 1:20) this morning and I have to go into work tomorrow at 8:30 for a meeting. Sleep is becoming a priority. Haven't had 8 straight hours since Friday night.

'Night, y'all.

Why does rejection hurt us so much?

An acquaintance of mine basically told me that she didn't want to talk to me anymore. No explanation. Just "please remove me from your lists." We had never been really friends, I guess, but we had talked and corresponded a bit, shared moves, family deaths, personal problems over a period of about 6 or 7 years. She had pointed me in some interesting directions and had given me some really good advice.

Truthfully, it has been a year since we corresponded and I guess I should not really be surprised but I did feel embarrassed. It has weighed on my mind. And, no, I didn't write her back and ask why. I will just let it go.

I can't say why this bothers me so much. I guess I valued what I received from her and obviously I wasn't "good enough" (and I know I am not expressing myself well here) for her to "keep". Does that make sense?

Doodle and Mommy

This is Doodle and his mommy wrestling on the couch in the den. He is such a joyful child.

Weighty issues

As evidenced by my picture on this blog, I am just a little bit overweight. Just a tad.

Weight has been an issue for me since I was in my 20's. Pregnancy did NOT play a part in it. I was the same weight with my second pregnancy as my first and had lost to below my pre-pregnancy weight within 6 weeks with both babies, so I can't blame it on that. I would blame it on my thyroid, but that so ain't true! That didn't go bust until about 3 years ago. I do have maltracking syndrome in my kneecap (patella) so quite often my knee catches and hurts. That hasn't helped. It has gotten better and hopefully will continue do to so. I sure don't want to have surgery!

I have, as have most professional dieters, tried every diet I could find from low carb to green tea. The only thing that has EVER worked for me has been calorie restriction and exercise.

Now the hospital I work for has these great programs at their employee gym. The first program is the ALED, Active Living Every Day, which helps busy people find the time and motivation to fit exercise into their schedules.

The second program is a year long course in weight loss, nutrition and exercise. I have completed the ALED and am in the second. The first 12 weeks of this program are pretty intense. My "personal trainer" said I am going to think I'm in boot camp before this is over. She is going to teach us "pole walking" which is using ski poles like you are going cross-country skiing, but there sure isn't any snow down here!! Anyway it is supposed to not only work the legs and arms but also the core. I'm actually looking forward to something new.

So far in 9 weeks I have lost 13 lbs with a really loooooooooooooooong way to go. I am glad this program takes a year. I always felt that I got "lost to followup".

Hi Y'all

Greetings from the South.

Don't know why I want to do this. It's not like I am just overwhelmed with spare time.

I do remote coding for a local hospital which just means I get to work at home. I pretty much can set my own hours as long as I am on during my "core" hours for coverage. I am fortunate in that my direct supervisor is pretty lenient as long as you don't abuse the system.

My husband and I have custody of our 5 year old grandson, my Dew, Doo, Doodle, Doodle-Bug, Bug-Face, Bugs, Bugs Bunny. The absolute light of my life. However. There is a reason God gave children to young people! I am EXHAUSTED!!! Doodle is home from school today with a stomach bug and is finally keeping gingerale down. I know ~~ he's supposed to have Pedialyte but I don't have any! You can imagine how much work I've gotten done.

I come from a rather large family, 3 brothers and 4 sisters. All 5 girls live within 15 miles of each other. My dad and step mom also live here. My mother died of cancer several years ago.

I have two children, a daughter who is married to our favorite Marine. They have two beautiful (I'm such a grandma!!) children, a 2 year old girl and a 6 month old boy. My son, the metal freak, is married to a like-soul. Their main occupations are tattoos and body piercings. They are the parents of my Doodle. They love him fiercely but just can't take care of him right now.

My dad has appointed me the "Family Matriarch" even tho I'm not the oldest. It just seems that a lot of family information is funneled thru me. I am the one called to relay information and arrange family gatherings for whatever reason.

The most recent will be for my niece and nephew-in-law. Brandon is in the USAF stationed in AZ. Bonnie and Brandon are expecting their first and will be coming home on leave over Easter. So, of course, Bon wants to get as much of the family together as possible. I'm arranging an Easter night supper for the family with BBQ, ham, salads, and desserts. Fortunately, with 4 sisters and several nieces here in town, the work gets spread around.

This will probably not be the most interesting blog you will ever read, but it will chronicle (I hope) my family life and happenings.