Dark Days of Winter

I got nothing.

You can tell it’s January in the frozen tundra. People start to get tired of the snow, cold, and frigid temps. It’s amazing what a “nice day” can do to someone’s mood, and when you haven’t had a “nice day” in awhile….makes for long weeks.

Not much happening around these parts. Noah started a baseball camp, will start gun training, and is still playing basketball. Connor is in basketball. Mike is busy ice fishing with my dad, and I am battling vertigo. Gee, doesn’t quite sound fair when I type it out like that.

I finally got the nerve to call the clinic and see about going to Mayo to get this dizzy-spinning thing figured out. I had a bad episode a week ago tonight and that was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. I didn’t “catch” this one in time and ended up a puking mess. In the past two months I have probably had 8 attacks and so I decided it was just time to bite the bullet and go see someone.

I had doctored with this before in Owatonna with the ENT department. They wanted to send me to Rochester, and I was all for it. That was until I talked with the nurse and she told me what they would be doing to me, which included spinning me in some contraption so that the vertigo would be induced. I immediately told her this was not affecting my quality of life enough to go through that. That feeling is the most miserable feeling ever, and I could never imagine MAKING it come on. Plus, the only way I can get it to go away is to fall asleep. Many times I have brought my pillow onto the bathroom floor (so I can continue to puke at regular intervals) so that I can desperately try and fall asleep in between. I just could not imagine how I was going to be in a doctor’s office and handle something like that so I opted out.

When I called the same ENT’s office this past week to inquire about what I needed to do, I told her I had been in a couple of years ago and she said, “actually it’s been 4 years.” Later that night I talked with my mom about it and we basically figured out I have had issues with my right ear (loss of hearing, feeling of fullness, ringing) for at least 20 years. The vertigo started about 8 years ago when I was pregnant with Connor. Seems like long enough.

I have researched enough to know that there isn’t a big percentage of people that find any relief from vertigo. Meds, surgeries, exercises generally don’t work. I am hoping I am one of the small percentages of people something does work for. Living so close to Mayo, I just have to try and see.

Stress is considered one of the bigger culprits of bringing this on. I used to think that was what caused it for me (because I rarely have episodes in the summer months when I am not working), but I don’t believe it anymore.  I have been through many stressful times in my life and had no episodes, and have been casually walking through Target and been struck. So, who knows. So, we will wait and see. I am expecting a call this week from the clinic who is setting up appointments for me.

I decided I needed a weekend to do nothing. I really wanted to go to a movie with Mike and shop a little with my mom, but I forced myself to do nothing.

Friday night we ordered pizza and watched Pirates of the Caribbean part 1. Saturday we made bacon cheeseburgers and watched Pirates of the Caribbean part 2.  The kids love eating in front of the TV. I love eating in front of a fireplace while in a recliner. So, it’s a win-win for everyone!

Here’s the kids shoveling a path to the grill for cheeseburgers……

Sunday I did shower (you are welcome) and made it up to school to set up flowers and candy for student-led conferences that start tomorrow (try to make it a special time for parents and kids). If stress brings on my vertigo I guess this long week of conferences should be a great opportunity for it to rear its ugly head!

Big snow coming this week, a few long nights spent at school, and PARENTS……if I can survive that I am rewarding myself with a nice night out for my staff Christmas party on Friday night. I probably shouldn’t drink any alcohol, but if I make it to the end of the week I think I may have earned one anyway.

Here’s to a week that goes smoothly and quickly……

Love,

LB

 

50 Years

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday. 50 years….can you imagine? They got married when mom was 18 and dad was 17. Dad had three children by the time he was 21, Mom 22. Then they had one more (and some say the BEST one 7 years later). Ha!

We decided to throw them a surprise get together with the family at my house. It was very last minute and pretty stressful to pull off. I called/texted all my siblings and their kids. Luckily, everyone was able to come (except Michael who is in San Francisco). Even Devon was able to take off work early and drive from WI to be here. I love that no matter what, if it’s for my parents……everyone is always in.

I had asked my mom and dad to come over for dinner that night. This is not unusual as we often get together for dinners during the week. The previous weekend Dad had brought up the fact that their 50th wedding anniversary was that following Friday and I played dumb with the…. Really? My goodness! Cool! Wanna come over for dinner that night? And the plan was in motion. I asked them to come over around 6:30, reminding them Mike works until 5:30 on Fridays and doesn’t get home until 6:15 at the earliest.

 

Well, here is my mom walking in at 5:10.

 

I literally feel onto the kitchen floor! I couldn’t believe it. I tried so hard to pull this off and wanted so badly for it to be perfect. If anyone deserves a surprise party, it’s my parents….and I wanted this to work. My sister and nephew were the only ones there, so “Surprise” was yelled and then I picked myself up off the floor, poured myself a glass of wine, and  got over it.

 

 

I had set up the living room downstairs hoping to make it special and nice.

 

 

 

 

 

I texted everyone and told them they no longer had to drive around the block and park……that the lovebirds would GREET them as they arrived! After waiting a little longer than planned for my niece and brother to get there (due to some snowy weather) we finally sat down to eat and open presents. We got them a theatre gift certificate that they can use for any upcoming play or concert at three different theatres in Minneapolis and then I blew up the family picture of us from Devon’s wedding (which by the way, Owatonna people……it cost me $1.20 for an 12x18 at Tri M Graphics. It came out great too.)

 

 

 

 

 

The kids played video games in the MAN room after dinner……..

 

 

 

 

 

The adults sat around and visited after supper and had lots of laughs. Mike’s mom and Dave came. I love that our families are close. It meant a lot to have them there.

Poor Lisa and Rick. They had to pose about 5 times for this picture because the lighting in my living room was KILLING me and couldn’t get pictures to come out. I believe before this picture my brother said, “Oh come on!”

So, after running around every night after school to get tables, chairs, flowers, food, utensils. After numerous texts and phone calls to my sisters and sister-in-law to ask them to help me (which they all did. Thank you! This happened because we all worked to make it happen!) and neglecting my house and kids for a week…….I would totally do it all again. It was a great evening and made me happy to do something special for them. Granted, it wasn’t a huge party at a ballroom, but it was more our style.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! We all love you very much and appreciate the amazing grandparents you are to our kids. We hope you enjoyed your night….. and we forgive you for being early!

Love,

LB

Wonderful Weekend

I just had a weekend that could not have been more jam packed and fun!

Friday started with my BFF Tammy driving 12 hours to come stay with me! She arrived, despite white out conditions, on my door step around 7:30 that night. It was so nice to sit and enjoy our favorite martini together with her in my very living room!

Saturday my parents treated us and brought us to the play Billy Elliot. It was Mike’s first production of this size and my fifth (Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Mama Mia, and Jersey Boys preceded Elliot). It was such an amazing show. It was funny, it was sweet, and it had a great ending…what more could you want? Afterwards we met Tammy at Enjoy in Apple Valley. If you have never been there, you have to try it. They have amazing food and great atmosphere. In the summer, there is a great outside area with comfy seating and even a huge stone fireplace. We love this restaurant. Plus, we were able to treat mom and dad to a nice dinner to thank them for taking us to the play!

After dinner, I hopped into Tammy’s car and we headed to a high school friend’s 40th birthday party. She had an 80’s theme and we looked quite attractive walking into this public bar!

I stole this picture off Facebook. Some are looking at one camera and some are looking at another, but you get the idea…I went with the flash dance look. The birthday girl is the blonde in the upper left hand corner. She’s old……REALLY old. Poor thing. Poor old thing.

We danced all night to our 80’s tunes and had a great time! It’s pretty scary how many of those lyrics I remember and yet I can’t remember my 2nd grade teacher’s name or a single thing I wore back then. I had to go online and google “80’s outfits” to figure out what to wear.

Sunday we slept in and then decided to hit the movies. We saw Black Swan…..which I knew was a thriller but Tammy thought it was going to be a nice documentary about ballet dancers and how hard their life is. Um, I am not sure if she’s ever going to be the same. She watched most of the scenes through her fingers and had a hard time slowing down her heart rate after it was over! Cracks me up! I would not see this movie again, but I was glad I saw it. I know it’s been nominated for many awards and I understand why…….but it’s not a feel good movie. See at your own risk!

Unfortunately, Tammy left around 4 and I sat my butt in the recliner. I wanted to tackle a chapter in science and ramp it up because it is such a boring chapter for me AND the kids. I didn’t finish until 10:00 last night (even ate dinner in that chair) but it feels good to have fun, educational, and cool things planned for this final physics unit of the year.

Dinner is planned for Wednesday night with Tammy and another high school friend and then she will head back to Indiana (where it’s not THIS cold!). Thanks for a great weekend my friend! I love you!

Peace,

LB

Tundra Living at its Finest