crazy day

today is a fine example of what summer should NOT be - back to back scheduled events.
Matthew starts the day with a dental appt at 845a, then he has swim practice at 10a, then off to a birthday party at a water park, 45 mins away. Don't really know what is for dinner tonight, maybe playing all day at a water park will make the kids tired and NOT hungry. That could happen, right?

summertime realization

I have been fortunate this summer to spend some time with relatives from other states. One of them even told me he had read the blog. Honestly, that was probably one of the biggest shocks this summer. Anyhow, as I reflect on my extended family and how great they are, I realize they are really great! (I know, I just said that). But I was thinking about them, different cousins, aunts, uncles, and I woke up to the fact that even if they weren't my family, I'd still want to hang out with them. Play games with them. Watch tv late into the night with them. It's awesome that I can randomly text my cousin in Tennessee about something. And then again, it's awesome that I can watch tv at midnight with my Ohio cousin while waiting for the benadryl to kick in for Matthew. I really am fortunate. I never really grew up seeing my cousins often. yes, my cousin in Tennessee used to live nearby, but she was a whole lifetime ahead of me. Ok, not really, but when she got married, I was 10'ish. My other cousins lived in Ohio and we didn't see them that often, and they were older as well. Now that I am old like the rest of my family (ha ha, right??), I can appreciate hanging out, touring around, Facebooking with them all. Steve's cousins are in Germany. He doesn't email them. I don't even know if they facebook. Is there a german facebook version? I really want our boys to be aware of family ties and how important family is to us. Even close friends can be family. It's what you make important that becomes important.

tuesday nite

I am still awake. It's almost 11pm. This is like the time vampires wander aimlessly in the world. Or the gangsta's come out in the 'hood. It was national night out tonight, and Oakland is probably the only city who participates. I'd be interested in hearing if you have heard of it. It's supposed to be a 'safe" time to go out at night, meet with the neighbors, and enjoy your 'hood. Again, it's probably just a local thing but they call it 'national night out' to make us feel like it's not just us who lives in the ghetto.
I should really post some summertime photos. Maybe tomorrow, maybe never. We went mini golfing on Sunday - not that far from home. Was fun! Monday was a regular day. Yesterday took the kids to a water park. Fun too. Without having Selene here and the need for going to swim everyday, it has almost been relaxing. Almost. Matthew started swim today at 10am, and then we went to Concord to visit with some great friends who we never see anymore. Tomorrow is free day at a kid museum 45 mins from here. Not totally excited about doing it - only because I was dumb enough to schedule things before and after the outing. This means I need to carry some caffeine with me. But I really like the place AND I really like the people we are meeting up with there. If they weren't going, I would have blown it off long ago.
By the way, well, I'm not going to get into it now. it's too far down in the paragraph. I doubt my cousin Mike reads the whole post and the new post was going to be about him. So I will try to remember to do it tomorrow night. Or maybe not.

new home page

I have decided to make the blog my home page. This way, when I starts the ole internets, the computer will remind me to write here. I know my fans have been bored without me.
We have made lemonade this weekend. Not real lemonade, mind you. But when life gives you lemons sort of lemonade. I was supposed to be at a mom's retreat in Vegas this weekend. Things got to crazy and reservations were postponed until September. We had originally picked this weekend for Vegas because there was nothing shcheduled for it. Then when Vegas moved, I kept the weekend open. It's a little strange, I must say. We did Selene's swim meet yesterday, home by 1pm, then a bunch of nothing. I took a nap, kids watched too much tv, went for a walk, washed the car, mowed the lawn, that type of stuff. Today we might go mini-golfing then have a relaxing afternoon. I might apply for a part-time job at the Y. Oops, breakfast is ready, gotta go.

Friday update

I gave in and went to see my dr yesterday. Sick of feeling crummy. She listened to me complain and then basically wanted me to wait it out another week. That didn't fly well. She talked about the fact that normally they would give me an anti-inflammatory drug, but because of my blood thinner, I can't take it. So the next thought was Vicodin. Oh wait, except that I have two kids who don't really want to hang out with their drugged out mommy. I asked the dr what next... she said steroids, but they have bad side effects. Like what? Increased appetite. (so...?) Hyper activity, too energetic. Are you for real, lady? Sign me up! I convinced her to give me the shot yesterday and then give me the pill prescription for the next few days. Woke up this morning and was definitely less sore. Though I had a headache that was bad, but I think that was because of my over salty bbq dinner last night. Took some excedrin, had a banana, and am getting about my day. I am hopeful about my day once again. My headache is gone, and I'm starving, and watching bobby Flay do a blueberry pancake throwdown. Yum!

stitches out, still not better

It's Thursday. i'm going to see a dr at 1045 today. My legs and feet are still swollen, my hands go to sleep while I'm sleeping, which the tingling wakes me up. oh and the rash is back on my legs. Something is really not right. I'm supposed to be on summer vacation and haven't enjoyed it one bit yet. Today is Matthew's last day of school. Then tonight is the Cub Scout graduation. I'm living from two Tyelenol to the next. it's like chain smoking for pain killers. I tried to be happy and optimistic yesterday. Dressed up a bit to make myself feel better. I have stopped wearing the bandaid on my face, during the day, because it feels heavy and bulky - which doesn't make sense to anyone but me I am sure. Every day I wake up feeling hopeful that today will be the day the aches and pains are going away. Then in the shower I noticed the rash back. Not functioning well.

skin cancer free and loose pants

(That's me, trying to be optimistic. but that is where it ends) I had a skin cancer spot on my face removed last week. It has done nothing but stink for the entire past week. Oh, I'm going to complain and whine in this post, so you may want to skip it. I realized as I was hitting the highlights (lowlights?) for a friend of mine this morning, that I was on the verge of tears, so I decided I needed to get it all out. here goes...
Had a growth on the face that got biopsied and found out it was skin cancer and needed to be removed. Honestly, I grossly underestimated what that meant. I've had moles removed before, so figured no big deal. Well, the first 4 stitches start in my upper lip, then continue up to just below my nose. Still, I knew I would have stitches so I thought I was prepared. Stupidly, I said no thank you to the pain meds. Of course, I was still numb when I said that, but luckily found something they gave me after I birthed Brandon, so all was survivable. I couldn't eat. The stitches above my lip were heavily protected but I wasn't supposed to get them wet. Including my lip stitches. Obviously that was impossible, but didn't matter anyways, as even trying to use the right 1/2 of my face was awkward and painful. Had the surgery on Monday. Took off the 1/2" thick bandage on Weds and switched to a regular bandaid. I had bought clear bandaids because I decided that would be less obvious than an Iron Man bandaid in the middle of my face. Let me give you this advice - clear bandaids stick really, really well. Haven't used them since the first time. I found a stack of brown bandaids that I've been using since. Then by Thursday, both of my wrists hurt so bad, I was trying to figure out what i had done to them. The pain was shooting up to one elbow. I wrapped one with an ace bandage, and by the end of the day, my ankles were in pain also. As I limped to bed, I noticed a rash on my legs. Great. I'm having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. Call the dr Friday morning, as I can barely walk now. They take me off the antibiotic, figuring it's been enough days and the wound looks healthy, so all is good, right? Wrong. I take some benadryl Friday morning to try to get over this reaction, which does what - oh yes, makes me sleepy. Took an hour nap while B watched a movie. I'm figuring that after a day, this will all have passed. I wake up Saturday morning and hobble to the bathroom. I now realize I have lost my ankles and have sausages for toes. Take two benadryls and lay on the couch, feet elevated, all day. All day, for reals. Still can't really eat, now I can't walk either. Did I mention it was beautiful weather? Sunday I put the stop on the benadryl. Would rather be a cripple than a sleepy cripple. Hobble slowly to the baseball game. Realize my fingers are so puffy I can't get my ring off. Wake up today able to walk. Still feel really weak, not eating and living will do that to you. Have a call in to the dr's office now for something to make me feel better. Stitches come out tomorrow. This has really been a much bigger adventure than I anticipated. Darnit.