medical mumbo jumbo

Some of you may know that I have been seeing the doctor about some recurring UTI's and was sent for a test to determine if I may have diabetes.

Good news! My glucose levels were absolutely normal. Now that this scenario has been eliminated, we move on to more sophisticated tests (renal ultrasound and dye in my kidneys) to really figure this thing out. I am not concerned about what the root of the problem is. I'd like to think that I would know if there was something seriously wrong in my own body. But the tests have been scheduled for August 14th and I would rather not have people poking things hither and yon then. Being the realist that I am, however, I will not reschedule, since the chances of getting the tests on the same day or even in the same month are slim. Smile and wave, boys, just smile and wave.

Our old doctor moved away with his wife and new baby, so I have been rehashing my medical history with our new doctor. He is very nice and willing to give me explanations of things I don't quite grasp (frankly all medical jargon). Because of some palpitations I have been experiencing, I had to let him in on my previously diagnosed heart murmur (mitral valve prolapse) and spells of passing out (due to low blood pressure). He asked if the palpitations felt like my heart was racing. With my great and highly refined descriptive skills I explained that it feels more like a "blub" and then a little light headedness. For these symptoms, I have been scheduled to wear the ever glamorous and totally fashionable halter monitor. An echocardiogram will also give some insight to this cold heart of mine.

Looking at this post, I fear it narcissistic and I apologize. But it is my blog and I have nothing else to report :0).

I will keep you abreast of any new developments. You bunch of sillies.

Similarities

I received an email today listing the things would be memorable for me as a child of the '80's. It started wheels turning in my little mind.

I started to remember the fights between my brother and I over what to watch. Would it be Dukes of Hazzard or Buck Rogers? It often resulted in fisticuffs.

One of the things that just fell out of my train of thought was Ed Grimley. Does anyone else remember Ed? He was the very odd character that Martin Short portrayed on television for a while. There was even an animated version.

Now, while I was thinking about it, it started to dawn on me that he reminded me of someone. Several hours passed before I could nail down exactly who. I am here to report that it is Daniel. My own flesh and blood.

Anyone else? Maybe? Ok, I must say.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7345112586069731677&q=ed+grimley&total=26&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5

Super yum (except different)

This is being released as an item to recognize the 30 year anniversary of Elvis's demise.

Super yum---but not.

http://candyaddict.com/blog/2007/06/11/candy-review-reeses-elvis-cup-with-peanut-butter-and-banana-creme/

Party Aftermath

So while we know that birthdays are not all about the presents, these kids still hauled in the loot. We appreciate everyone coming out to celebrate with us and thank them for all of the wonderful gifts. We have tremendous amounts of sugary cake and cupcakes that we will be secretly giving your children in place of their vegetables and proteins! :0)

For those of you who know what a crazy priss pot my sweet potato girl is, the following picture will illustrate her need and appreciation for all that is pink and glam!

BEHOLD,

Why we have birthdays

On our way back from Walmart this evening, Daniel was asking me why we were having his party on his actual birthday instead of the weekend. I was explaining that since we live further from his grandparents and his friends are the ones coming to the party, it was ok to have it during the week. He interrupted me several times to find out if he was still going to get presents if the grandparents weren't there. I said "Yes, but....

the reason we have birthday parties isn't to get presents. We have a party every year to celebrate the day you became our son. We get to have a good time and be happy that you were born, into our family, and that we have been together for another year."

His eyes started to tear up and I thought "Good grief, here we go. Another tantrum."

Instead, he said, "That is so sweet. I always appreciate that they are (his guests) just there. I love you."

Hear that? It's my cold heart melting. Literally---total puddle.

As we rounded the corner, we passed the local ice cream parlor. There was a father outside with two girls (infant and a little younger than Daniel). He carried his beautiful baby in one arm and cradled the back of his older daughters head in his hand as he steered her gently to the car. GULP, SOB, HICCUP.

As caught up in the day to day grind and irritation of raising my kids as I can be, I am officially taking the next few minutes to remember how desperately each of them was wanted. How happily all of them were welcomed into the world and my heart. No video ever captured the secret moments alone with them, when they were fresh and new, that I smelled their baby breath, their sweet necks. But I don't need a visual reminder of how just their little sighs made my heart swell with more love than I ever thought I was capable of. And to think that this endless love could multiply three times over is remarkable.

Below is my birthday boy. Happy Birthday Daniel!

Daniel's first birthday card this year

Passage of Time

I had intended to do a blog that included pictures. But here I am, trapped in my room by a screaming three year old. So I will try to convey in words what I wanted to share with photos. Then I will add them later.

Over the course of this project I am working on for my grandmother there have been many surprises. I have been able to associate faces with names I have heard all of my life but never had any meaning to me. I have been able to peer into the past of my family and get a glimpse of what things were like.

The thing that has struck me the most though is the way time sneaks up on us. I was going through pictures and came upon one of my great grandfather Charlie Holliday. My memories of this man are sweet. He always smelled good and was loveable and proud. He was always old to me, but not in that frail sort of way some older people are. This was my memory. The picture was in his last years, when he was ill and barely able to move. He was in a hospital bed in the dining room of his home and his great grandson Jacob was looking over the railing at him. There was a physical sensation looking at this picture. Mere moments before, I had held a photo of him with his twin brothers as young men. They looked vibrant and full of life.

I think the family I was born into ages rather well. Maybe that is why it surprises me when they start to look their age or even old. My father's pictures were among those that I have been looking at. Seeing him as a little kids, a soldier, a new father, are all images I can deal with. Those even make me smile. Knowing that one day, if we are lucky enough to live long full lives, we will both be shadows of our younger days makes me sad. There is no avoiding it. Would we really want to?

I cannot even imagine what my children will be like at my age. Or my grandmothers age. Or what their children's children will think of our generation.


So as I ponder all this deep stuff I will try to savor my present, not dwell on my past or my future. I will do my best not to wish for those paths left untaken. I will do my best to pass on what I know and still be aware that a century from now it may be as though I never existed.

I hope this makes sense to someone besides myself.

Speaking with authority

This morning Ted slept in. It is the first day back to work and he was dreading it after a week's vacation. Around nine o'clock, Aurelia and I went upstairs to clean up and she climbed on the bed with Daddy.

She had a thin plastic stick (like a pick up stick) and was poking him as he slept. He started to get up. She held out her hand, pushed him back down, struck a pose and said, " It's ok. I am a doctor. You need to go hospital and get operations. We put stitches in your hand." Then she resumed poking him. He didn't seem to appreciate my contribution---that the surgery may just be lyposuction.


After he left for work I made dinner. We are trying to get back into our habit of eating at home. So after the kids and I ate, I packed up his dinner and we drove over to his office. Daniel insisted he be able to roll down the rear van window so he could talk to his Daddy. This consisted of some rather rude noises and nonsense. Finally, he reached out to hug Ted. I said, " Kiss him. Kiss him." Daniel gave me the stare and said quite bluntly, " That is SO unnecessary."

Ok then.

Kings Island

An additional comment about our trip.

We were in Coney Mall and I saw one of the barkers who will guess your age, weight, or birth month within two years, pounds, or months. I thought why not, the worst that could happen is my ego could be crushed.

I walked up and handed my $5 to the guy. He wrote his guess (my age) down and then asked for the correct answer. I told him 32-------------

HE GUESSED 17!!!!

Now realistically, I know he is probably around that age and inexperienced in the world of guesses. It probably helped my cause that I asked my own mother for the money right before his guess. But nevertheless, his guess was FIFTEEN years lower than my actual age!!!

That is a personal memory I will tuck right here and take out every so often and giggle about.

AND YOU CAN"T TAKE THAT AWAY, SO DON"T EVEN TRY!!

:0)

Trippy

This past weekend was a semi-vacation to King's Island in OH with my mother, cousin, myself, and my two older children. These are some of the pros and cons that came with the trip.

Pro....

Aurelia was left with her daddy.

Con...

Aurelia was left with her daddy.

Pro...

She advanced her potty training exponentially while we were gone. There were multiple incidents of self initiated trips to the potty!! Yippee.

Con...

Our oldest was a snot bucket. What do you have to do to get a thank you or a semi kind word from a teenager these days?

Pro...

My highly strung younger son was discovered to be a thrill seeker. He exclaimed how AWESOME many of the adult rides were and wasn't even a little scared.

Con..

He wanted me to ride them too. UGH

Pro..

Got to spend some time with my mom.

Con...

Mom hates parental/child conflict (and there was no shortage.)

Overall, decent trip. A repeat next year? Not so much.

Summer Photo Post

News on the homefront

I love having my plate piled high. One project simply isn't enough for this stellar underachiever.

In the midst of the BIG photo book project, I have taken on a video CD for my Dad of his most recent 517 photos of his cross country trip with my mom and his cousins. That is fast becoming the slowest project in history (due to the file size of the pics).

Since school starts soon, it is also necessary to get cracking on the potty training. The first diaper free day went well. NO ACCIDENTS!! Yesterday was a little less successful after the deposit of urine in a couple of corners. But we are staying positive and focused.... sort of.

As a reward/incentive (Mommy indulgence), we welcomed two beautiful kittens into our family this week. They are brother/sister buff colored sweeties. Much debate was had over their naming, but this morning it was made permanent. They are now Desmond and Molly Kitty. (Other names in the running were Sugar and Spice, Bread & Butter, Benny & Joon, and Cornbread & Tatertots.)

I will be wrapping up my first case with CASA soon. I must say it was challenging and rewarding. I was glad to have met all of the people involved. Now I must prepare myself to let these children out of my mind and focus on the next case. I believe that will be the hardest thing in the future. Transition.

In the meantime, I ask all who enter my home to alert me to any odors I may not be noticing. New kittens and a potty training 3 year old distract a person. Thanks in advance.

Have a great day and happy blogging!

things that make you go HMMM?!

The sorting done, I have delved into the task of scanning the photos into my computer. This job is tedious and better suited for a trained monkey. But two of the pictures have grabbed my attention and I would like to share them with you blog readers.

The first one is of a little boy. His expression is somewhat unhappy to say the least. When I first saw it, I thought to myself, he is having a bad day. But I am sorry to report that all of his pictures turn out that way. I am not revealing his name just in case.

He is one toddler SERIOUSLY in need of a cookie.

The second picture illustrates to me the sheer lunacy of mortality. Perhaps we are concerned with the legacy we leave behind. Maybe we care about enjoying our lives while they are here to enjoy. Whatever the case, this man, was once someone's son. I apologize in advance, but the distance of time and never having known this person lends a slight bit of humor to the off the wall tidbit on the back of his picture,

The caption simply states his name and "Died in a bread mixer."

Now, death is never funny. But surely there was some other life event that could have made it onto the back of a photograph as a descriptive marker for this suave gentleman.

I hear the scanner warming up. I guess I had better eat my banana and get back to work.