Update

I have been taking no pictures! Then I feel like I shouldn’t blog. But, there are some things I want to keep track of.

Connor finally lost one of his eye teeth. He needs to lose the other one so that we can see if his front teeth will go together. If not, braces ASAP. For now he gets to stop wearing his bottom retainer, which rid him of his under bite. On a side note, he told us his tooth was lose and pulled it out all in a matter of 10 minutes. Consequently, the tooth was a bloody mess so I asked him to rinse it off before putting it under his pillow for the tooth fairy. Naturally those buggars become slippery when wet and he lost it down the drain. SOOO….we wrote a note (and can I just say I haven’t laughed so hard as I did composing that with Mike and Connor. It wouldn’t translate well into writing, but trust me….there were tears it was so funny) explaining to the fairy the situation. The next morning I hear Connor say, “Well, that note was for nothing!” and he informs me that she took the note and left no money! WHAT?! I said that just couldn’t be and helped him search. We found it on the floor.

My parents come home from Florida today. I missed them. Especially when I am sick. A girl just needs her mama. I seriously could never live away from them. They had gorgeous weather while in Florida. Let’s hope it stays until we can get there in March.

I have made appointments to try and get my vertigo figured out. First, due to the last two episodes coming on while correcting papers……I decided it was time to get my eyes checked. I have never had an eye exam. Do I think there is a relationship? Not really. I have had ear “issues” for 20-some years. I know the vertigo is related to it. BUT, it’s worth a try. I go tomorrow.

I also have an appointment to see a doctor that specializes in Meneiers Disease. They got me in on March 1st. That is a heck of a lot better than 6-12 months like Mayo offered. Plus, I don’t NEED to go to Mayo. I don’t know why I never considered going somewhere else. Good thing my husband has brain cells. He called, he set it all up, he took care of me. I also had an appointment with a chiropractor. I ended up cancelling it because I found out she didn’t take insurance. Next week I hope to make an appointment with another one. In my research I have read some people have some luck with vertigo and chiropractic care. I have never been, so again, it’s worth a try. This week has been okay. No BIG spells, but I still struggle correcting papers. I have to watch when I look up too quickly. I have to watch when I bend over. Basically I just try to move slower with everything I do.

This weekend we hope to get to a mall to get some valentine presents (we will all get Twins gear for our trip) and to get a cover for my Nook. A nice dinner out also is on the top of my list! I am tired of being cooped up in the house and missing out on all the fun stuff that we normally do on the weekends. Hoping to stay well so I can get out and enjoy some normalcy.

Supposed to get some warm weather for the next few days. I think it’s just what the doctor ordered to improve my attitude and mood!

Happy weekend!

LB

Mayo Conversation

ENT nurse-type-person: “We will be sending you extensive paperwork in the mail we would like you to fill out.”

Me: “Okay.”

ENT dude: “After filling out the documents, please mail them back with the provided envelope.”

Me: “Okay.”

ENT dude: “ Once we receive your paperwork they will be reviewed by our motion analysis department and someone will call you to set up appointments.”

Me: “Got it.”

ENT dude: “And just so you know, this department is very busy. These appointments are out 6 to 12 months.”

*&*^%$$%%$##$$%^^&***^^**^&* (sound of me dropping the phone).

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