Round 2

If only poolside posing was the gateway to actually learning how to swim.....

The Hair Battle

In the words of Charlie Daniels,

"Just leave this long-haired country boy alone."

(even though it pains me greatly)

Mother Daughter Banquet

Every year Holland's dance studio holds a Mother Daughter Banquet where the girls receive their awards and recognition for another year of dance. Personally, I thought I deserved my own medal because of all the effort I had to put in to get her to dance each week. The last thing she wanted to do when she got home from school was change clothes and go to dance. It became a weekly battle. She said, "I just want to do the competitions and recitals, not practice." Yeah, if you can find a parallel universe where that happens, I'll drive you.

Holland and Ms. Becca, her dance instructor. There's no way they pay this woman enough.

Holland loves trophies......

and lemons. The girl loves lemons.

Yep, It's 85 degrees, today.

The New Office

We said goodbye to the Infiniti, recently. With the economy as it is, we had decided to keep her going as long as we could or until she became the money pit. In fact, we had just put in a catalytic converter, and it was as expensive as it sounds. But apparently it was not enough. She, like 3 out of the last 4 cars of Mac's, got within sneezing distance of 180,000 miles and started to have some "issues". This last diagnosis was for a couple of things, most pressing the tire rod. If you don't fix it, the wheels could come off while driving it. So, I like to say Mac drove her until the wheels almost came off. You really can't ask for more than that.

The upside of a downturn economy is that dealerships want to sell cars. So we got a nice deal on this '08 Honda Accord. It's very nice, and Mac enjoys his "new to him" office. Now if only I could get him to quit turning on my heated seat when it's 85 degrees outside.

Let the Swimming Commence

Today, I started the swimming portion of my recovery. So, if you happen to be at my gym and looked in at the pool and saw a woman in a hot pink swimmer's cap with professional goggles that swam with the most beautiful of swim strokes, you might have seen me. I was 2 lanes over with a wild mane of hair held back by my goggles from Walgreen's and swimming with the most unimpressive flailing of arms and legs, But you know what, I got a workout, because I felt it about 10 minutes after I got out of the pool.
Then, as I was wading out, I passed one of Holland's ghosts of swim instructor's past.(They ALWAYS remember Holland. I think their ears still ring with her cries for help.) She said that all wet, Holland, looked like me. And then later, I thought, was she talking about our physical features or our swimming prowess? I don't think I want to know.......

Happy Birthday, Mac!

I'm always glad when he has caught up to my age.

A Microdiscectomy Rocks

So, I'm finally catching up on my blogging. Hey, I have had back surgery, cut me some slack.

(I wonder how much longer I can use the "back surgery" card.)

I tell you I could really feel the prayers, because I had such a peace the whole time, even when the nurse who came in to set up my IV asked me how my neck was feeling. I simply replied, "my neck is feeling fine, my back and leg, however, hurt." She ran over to check my chart. No panic for me. Now had the surgeon said that, I might have expressed some alarm. I was actually more worried about my hospital gown that had this pocket with a hole for some sort of medical purpose that fell over a strategic part of my body. I kept trying to move it to where I was less likely to have a wardrobe malfunction. I told Mac if he was around when I passed out to please make sure I wasn't popping out on my way to the OR.

Though I was scheduled for 7:30, I didn't go in until 10:30. Apparently, it doesn't matter what time you are scheduled, it's all about where you are in the lineup. So, I patiently (no pun intended) waited and watched as other similarly clad operees headed off to the OR. Finally, I got my turn. They gave me my margarita (that's what they call the anesthesia. It's south Texas, people.) I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the OR, because I was curious to see if it was anything like what the TV portrays it as. Alas, I passed out in the hall, and woke up in recovery 45 minutes later to a spoonful of ice chips. I remember nothing about Margaritaville. Probably for the best since there was some nudity involved.

The surgery was a success. I had immediate relief. Of course, I had the incision pain, but the herniated disc pain...GONE! Mac got to see the part of the disc Dr. W. cut out. He said it looked like a little pink shrimp. (I'm disappointed I don't have a comment for that.) I got to go home around 3:30. I was still coming off anesthesia and hopped up on pain and anti-nausea meds so every time my head touched something, I dozed off. Not much for conversation or complete sentences. I need to apologize to one person who called and I actually picked up the phone and tried to hold a conversation. First of all, I must have been on drugs to even answer the phone. I hardly do that on a normal day. So, I'll say thanks for the call, sorry for the conversation. You know who you are.

So here I am 2 weeks later, had my checkup and everything looks great. The scar is minimal. (Just glad I never got that tattoo on my lower back in college.) In fact, one of my friends said it just looked like a scratch. I call it the $23,000 scratch. There's still a good size knot/lump at the incision, but that will go away in time. I am not destined to live life as a camel or the Hunchback of Kingwood. I was slightly concerned about that. Anyway, I've got 2 more weeks of no bending or twisting, and then I can slowly resume my limbo and hula hoop career. I've missed it so.

So, let me wrap this up by first of all saying thanks for the prayers, cards, and even phone calls before, during, and after surgery. You rock! Thanks for the meals. I'm afraid Mac may sign me up for more surgery for some more of those chicken enchiladas alone. Thanks to David for enduring the 3 hour tour of waiting and keeping Mac company during the surgery and for not telling the Lifegroup that my first name is Margaret. You rock! Thanks so much! I am blessed to have so many great friends and family!

The Rest Of The Story

So, I think I left off with me scheduled for a MRI. Let me go ahead and lay this out there for those of you (the 2 of you) who thought I was a strong and fearless sort of gal; I have many fears/phobias and do not respond well when confronted with any of them. Along with heights, total darkness, spiders, and making phone calls, is small confined spaces. The only thing more confined than a MRI machine is a casket. (Of course, if you are lying in a casket, claustrophobia is the least of your worries.)

My MRI was during spring break and since neither of the kids wanted to sit in a waiting room for an hour, Mac stayed home with them, and I had to go by myself. (Another fear is facing my fears alone. I have a lot of layers, people.)

So as I lay on the conveyer belt to head in the MRI machine, I am having an internal panic attack that is just about to go external. I got my head and shoulders in, before I said, "bring me out, bring me out, bring me out." So, the tech brought me out and was very nice and we had a Q & A session. I discovered that the other end of the MRI beast was open. Granted my head would still be completely in the machine, but something about being able to glance up and see daylight was reassuring. I felt like I had an escape route. Of course, I was strapped down from my pelvis to my knees, but I chose not to dwell on that detail. To pass the time, I closed my eyes, and in my head prayed, sang songs, and played "Name that Noise." I would try to identify each sound. I came up with:

1. the jackhammer

2. a scene from the Wii Star Wars Lego game (STILL a big hit, Jenn)

3. the juiceharp

4. the neighbor kid repeatedly knocking on our door

5. a machine gun

6. the duet of #1 and #3



And so it went for 25 minutes and then I got to get out for a couple of minutes and then went back in for the 2nd MRI, yet another 25 minutes. I was so glad when it was over. Question #14 on the forms I filled out in the waiting room now made perfect sense. It was," Have you taken any sedatives or alcohol to help relax you for this test?" I sure wish I had known about those options earlier.



WHAT ABOUT THE RESULTS?

Normally, I would try to stretch this into 2 posts, but since I don't have any pics (Due to the economic times, corporate had to lay off the staff photographer.) you get more words. Stay with me.



So, Dr #3, who ordered the MRI calls me personally to tell me that I have a disc in my back that has ripped through the soft tissue and is sitting on a nerve, hence the leg pain. He said it is one of the worst 3 he has ever seen. Why I can't I be in the top 3 of something good? Anyway, he may have to send me to a orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, but that he could try some cortisone shots and physical therapy. I opted for the surgeon. It looked like I was going to end up there anyway.

So, I got a really good surgeon, recommended by several friends. He explained the situation a little better. (I love when they draw a simplified picture on paper. It makes the concept so much easier to grasp.) We could do the cortisone shots, etc, but basically, I am going to end up needing the surgery cause that disc is 1.7 cm out. The procedure is called a Microdisectomy. It takes about 15 minutes, and I get to go home the same day. Plus, the surgeon said it's one surgery where you wake up feeling better right away because the disc is no longer on a nerve. Yay for me!

So here's where we currently stand: Surgery is scheduled for Friday, April 3rd at 7:30am, but they'll let me know if it is set in stone on Thursday. Then I have about a 4 week recovery which includes walking, stationary biking, and swimming. Then I can slowly return to my workouts. I have myself a goal date to return to Body Combat. Hopefully, I'll be back to kicking my own butt in no time.



So keep me in your prayers, I really do appreciate it!!

"...Sitting In A Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G"

Holland came home with this love note from Luke, a boy in her class.
We'll be cutting down every tree in Kingwood this weekend.

I Feel The Need To Put Myself Through This Every Year

The excitement over the idea of swim lessons never seems to translate to the actual lessons...

Grey

So, today Grey shared with me the top 3 things he would like to be when he grows up.

1. Professional Basketball Player

2. President of the United States (although he has some concerns about getting shot)

3. Game Stop Employee

Quite the range there, son.

Back By Popular Demand

I do love a good post title that has "pun' written all over it. Bear with me, I haven't been here in a while. Let's talk about the most pressing issue at the moment. My back. It's an old song, but this time we have a new verse.

For the past 4 weeks or so my back has been given me some problems. Pain, lower right corner. I pretty much ignored it or threw some ibuprofen at it and continued to work out...a lot. I admit it, I'm addicted to Body Combat. It is my favorite workout, hands down, well, actually the hands are up in the air punching, throwing uppercuts, etc..... Anyway, I woke up about 5:00 am, 11 days ago on a Saturday in a world of hurt. It was not pretty. So, Mac took my Leaning Tower of Pisa body to the Urgent Care, dropped me off and took the kids to get donuts. (My suggestion because Hungry Kids + Waiting Room = Misery)
I knew it was bad when they asked me to stand on the scale and I was seriously considering hanging onto my purse no matter how much extra weight that would add to the total because the thought of putting it down and then having to bend down and pick it back up seemed impossible. Fortunately, the nurse agreed to pick it up after I got off the scale. He's on the Christmas card list. So, I left that doctor with an Rx for a steroid pack, muscle relaxers, and instructions to rest on a heating pad. And so I did.

Monday I woke up and the overall back pain was better. However, I had a new problem. Now the pain still working from it's lower right corner of my back, headquarters was causing pain down my right leg. I had never had that before. And I do mean painful. I put up with that until Tuesday when I went to Doctor #2 which is the original one I wanted to see, but she doesn't do Saturdays. So, she did x-rays, 5 views of my back, but the x-rays weren't too helpful. I left there with Rx's for an anti-inflammatory, pain med, and instructions to finish the steroid pack and call her in a couple of days if the back and leg weren't better. Then she would want to do an MRI and/or physical therapy.

Seriously? An MRI?

Okay, let's speed this up.

Not better in couple of days. Called back. Get Referral for new doctor (sports therapy). I am making friends all over Kingwood. Dr. #3 exams and calls for the MRI. He gives me a different pain medicine. And since I'm loopy naturally, I only take those at night. So, now you are either fast asleep or caught up. Tomorrow, Thursday, I have my MRI. I have some concerns especially when the nurse asked me on the phone, "on a scale of 1-10, how claustrophobic are you?" So I am going to reach way back to my tanning bed days and try to relax and enjoy 45 min to an hour of peace and loud machine noises. Should be a blast.


I'll get "back" to you with the results. (The pun never ends.)

The Windshield Cowboy

The streets of Southwest Texas, particularly Houston's 610, have not been kind to Mac's windshields. This is #4 in just 2.5 years. I wish there was like a windshield punch card, you know, buy 4 windshields, get the 5th free.

That might be real handy to have.

See, Furniture Stores Do Have A Sense of Humor

Pink Eye Blues

Pink eye, the gift that keeps on giving. I guess it was my turn. I woke up Friday with a nasty case of Pink Eye, and I do mean nasty. I could spare you the details, but for entertainment value, I won't. I awoke unable to open my eye and when I got to the mirror, I got to see why.

My upper eyelashes were glued to my lower lashes with a green gooey mucous. I was going to call Grey in to see it, because, well, 9 year old boys love that stuff. It makes for great lunch time stories, and I am all about supporting his social career. It was too early, so he had to settle for my description and create his own visual. It didn't improve much during the day, and when I awoke Saturday, it was the same green gooey mess again, this time with mucous oozing from both sides of the eye. Still with me?

However, since this was the first Saturday in a long time that Mac wasn't giving a sales meeting or working at one of his accounts (or both), and there were no basketball games for Grey or dance competitions for Holland, I was determined we were going to spend the day together, no matter how much I wanted to plant myself on the sofa and rest my aching head. So, while they went to enjoy donuts, I headed over to the urgent care clinic for some eye drops and sinus medicine. Then we met up and went to see a movie. I held off on the sinus meds because the side effects included drowsiness and dizziness. So, we watched "Hotel For Dogs", which, by the way, we really liked, while my head pulsed and my eyeball bulged and glowed red. Then we ate some lunch in which I gave in to the sinus pain and took the meds and I was fine.....for about 20 minutes. We stopped by the library (we do love free books and movies) and I could feel the dizziness, slightly, as we walked in. My real problem came when I was kneeling down to help Holland pick out books. As I stood up, I reached out for a bookshelf to steady myself. Unfortunately, it was a freestanding mini bookshelf, and I was pushing it to its death. I was able to catch it before it hit the floor, but not before about 20 paperbacks and a stack of fliers flew out. And of course, in the library, every sound is like a gunshot going off. I know what people were thinking seeing an unsteady, red-eyed woman, knocking over bookshelfs....hello...drunk.

Thankfully, Mac helped me clean up my mess, after he quit chuckling, that is. That was when I decided I better give it up and head home where I finally planted my aching head and bulging red eyeball into the sofa, which is probably where I should have been the whole day.

But where's the family fun in that?

I spared you the gooey, oozing version. I just wish I could have gotten a picture of my sinus cavity. Wouldn't that have been a treat.

Kindergarten Nomads

Last weekend, some "bad guys", as the kindergarten refers to these people, (I have a few other names.) broke into the kids' school. As a part of their vandalization, they set a fire in the kindergarten area. The school was able to get in a restoration team as early as Sunday, but the kindergarteners were displaced all week. Holland has wandered from art room to library to cafeteria to the "toy room" (none of us knows exactly what room that is.)

We thought things might go back to normal next week, but no such luck. With the fumes, partially from a plastic table the vandals tried to burn, it looks like they are going to remain nomads 2-3 more weeks. I went up to the school today to pick up some of the stuff they were able to salvage, so I could clean it and then return it. They have the kindergarten area pretty much sealed off. It reminded me of that scene in ET where everything is covered in plastic and sealed off. Boy, that Drew Barrymore could scream...oh wait, where was I?...

Also, the rest of that side of the school is hot, uncomfortably so. I talked with Holland's teacher, Mrs S. and she looked a bit frazzled. She said the teachers felt like bag ladies as they rotate from room to room. She said they have had to throw away a lot of stuff. She had just given them all new markers right after Christmas. The way she said it made me want to cry....over markers, new ones, that still have the sharp point you know, before the kid smushes it to a pulp trying to color something with all their might until the paper just gives way under the ink. Yeah, markers.

(sniff, sniff, wipe a tear)

My hopes at this point are: the kids and teachers will get in a more comfortable routine, the restoration won't take as long as they think it will, and the United States will incorporate caning as appropriate punishment for vandals/arsonists. Singapore style.

You Know You Are From Mississippi When......

1.You can properly pronounce Kosciusko, Ackerman, and Shuqualak.

2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.

3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.

4. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade.

5. Stores don't have bags or shopping carts, they have sacks and buggies.

6. You've seen people wear overalls at funerals.

7. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.

8. You measure distance in minutes. (It's about 5 minutes down the road)

9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.

10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.

11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.

12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.

13. You have known someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist.

14. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the same store.

15. A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew Cab is.

16. You know everything goes better with Ranch Dressing.

17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.

18. You actually get these jokes and are 'fixin' ' to send them to your friends.

19. You have used your heater and air-conditioner in the same day!

Finally: You are 100% Mississippian if you have ever had this conversation:

20. 'You wanna coke?' 'Yeah.' 'What kind? 'Dr. Pepper'

Jamestown 1608: A 3rd Grade Boy's Perspective

Bridgefest 2009

Grey took part in the annual Bridgefest Run at our local YMCA. It's a big fundraiser for the Y, and the schools really support it and encourage each kid to participate. Grey ran the 1 mile with all the kids in his age group. Holland opted to stay home and relax.

Before the race, I told Grey that he really ought to wear his Nike running shoes, you know, shoes made for running. But he chose to wear his gangsta/skater shoes that he loves.

Here is Grey finishing the race holding one of his favorite shoes which came right off mid race.

Being right can be such a burden sometimes.

Par-Tay Part 1

Well, we finally had Holland's birthday party, and yes, I'm aware it's been over 5 weeks since her actual birthday. I had hoped she would forget about having it, but that didn't happen. So this year we had her party at Chefs 2 B. Can you smell the irony cooking?

It was a 10 person party, anything over was $ per person which is why you'll notice that Grey is noticably absent. So, she had to choose between the 10 girls in her class at school OR her church friends/playgroup posse 2004-2008. She opted for the posse and 1 neighbor.

The girls decorated aprons and chef hats and made pizza and cupcakes. We had the whole place to ourselves. It really was a lot of fun, and Holland is still talking about it.

In order to make it all happen, the girls were divided into 2 teams and each team had their own chef. It was a

TEAM CUPCAKE vs TEAM ICING SMACKDOWN.

In one corner TEAM CUPCAKE:

featuring

Holland "you looking at me?" Davis

Deanna "give 'em the cold shoulder" Harvey

Adisyn "flatten them with a smile" Bellaire

Avery "the Pope" Pool

Terry "roll 'em into oblivion" Lyles

In the other corner TEAM ICING:

Mia " do you feel lucky?...well do you?.. punk" Walling

Kendall "pound 'em into a pulp" Streater

Faith " I ain't skeered" Tabur

Amy " you want a piece of me?" Pearson

Caroline "you won't like me when I'm angry" Doiron

It was a classic showdown that ended in hot, delicious pizza and homemade scrumptious cupcakes. Yummm!

Par-Tay Part 2

Holland decorating her apron and a way to channel all that excitement, instead of asking me," is it time, yet" 4,368 times.

The rest of the gang getting in on the action.

A chef of many moods.

Kendall and Faith using that strange red creature.

Oh, I recognize this.

Holland, Deanna, and Adisyn.

Holland and Deanna

Team Icing ready to work some pizza magic.

Team Cupcake rolling out the dough for their pizza.

I only sneezed on the cupcake batter once...maybe twice.

Avery being slowly devoured by her chef hat.

Time filler while the masterpieces cooked: pin the topping on the pizza.

Cheese pizza perfection.

Hey, who invited this guy?

Amy

Oh yes, sweet icing....takes me back to 'pregnant with Grey' days.

Terry takes a 'hand-off" approach meaning "I DON'T WANT ANY HELP."

Singing Happy Birthday

Kendall, the Monet of cupcake icing design

Loot time


Thanks to "the girls" for coming to the party. It was so much fun because you were there and .....well, because you brought gifts.

Love ya' and remember it's not wrong to eat the icing straight from the icing gun.