Note to self: Never turn your back....Not even for a minute.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Alright, people, listen to this: I saw this quiz on Sharon's and Crystal's blogs and I made Andy take it. Look what he scored!!! (And no I probably shouldn't be bragging about this!!) :o)
Now go make your husbands take the quiz and report back to headquarters so I can make fun of Andy.
 | -13 As a 1930s husband, I am |
Now go make your husbands take the quiz and report back to headquarters so I can make fun of Andy.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Who Am I Anyway???
Something has been bugging me lately....I don't know how in the world to introduce myself anymore!! Anyone who grew up with me probably calls me "Jenny"....(except my little brother who calls me "Jennifer" and my little sister who calls me "Jen"). When I switched from a little private middle school to a big public high school, I got sick of telling everyone to call me "Jenny" so people who met me during high school or college know me as "Jennifer" (except those who became close to my family or old friends from childhood over the years...they call me Jenny"...see the confusion?). When I meet someone new, I have to rack my brain for the people who connect us and then decide in half a second what to call myself. Its been bad enough taking on a whole new last name...can't I at least get a break with my first name? Maybe I should revert back to being strictly "Jenny" and throw everyone (including my husband who has never once called me that) a big curve ball? Or I could go with the infamous Forrest Gump nickname of "Jen-nay" ("You can sit hee-uh if you want to, Jen-nay") that has never quite gone away since the movie came out FOURTEEN YEARS AGO (I mean COME ON people!). Or I could use this opportunity to completely change things up and go with something that would really get some tongues flapping like "Busty Hart" from Stacey's blog (or "Misty Mounds...hee hee hee--either way, I soooo miss the mark with that one!)....Hmm...its food for thought!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Update
I didn't want to leave you all hanging after I announced I had gone to the emergency room fearing a blood clot...especially those of you who have been praying for me. (Thank you again for that!) The day after I went to the emergency room, I tried to use my little magic white paper to get in for an ultrasound as promised, but they couldn't get me in for two days. I was back where I started. So, I called my family doctor and asked them if they'd received my blood work from the hospital (which alone could have ruled out a blood clot). They told me they wouldn't have the results for 3-4 days (and yet, the nurse had wanted me to wait at the hospital for the results in the beginning...Right). I asked if they had called the radiologist yet to schedule an appointment for an ultrasound and they hadn't (as expected) so I asked if they could.....and--long story short(er)--I was at the vein specialist within forty-five minutes. Just before the ultrasound, I was really stressed out--partly due to the disasters I'd been watching on the weather channel while waiting for them to call my name, partly because of the sick people in wheelchairs around me (I was picturing being one of them), but mostly because I knew I couldn't possibly be imagining the pain that was going on in my leg and I so badly wanted that to be the case. The woman doing my scan (a doctor from Russia) was great, though. Most of the things she did to my leg hurt like the dickens, but she gave me better information and better explanations than anyone else who I'd seen about this problem. She did a very thorough exam--more detailed than the situation called for--and didn't see any signs of a DVT---HOORAY!!! She didn't even make me wait to hear that--She told me before she even forwarded the report on to my doctor! I was so relieved to find this out that I could have floated off of the floor. What a huge relief!!!
I wish this crappy pain would have disappeared with that DVT anxiety, but unfortunately, it's still here. I hope I can figure out what's going on...and that its not too serious (in the words of the lovely nurse practitioner!) The Russian lady recommended me to find a new doctor (she told me everything I had been through was badly managed an that some information I had been given was total crap), so maybe I'll start there. This is so exhausting, but the thing I feared the most has been ruled out--Praise the Lord for that! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I'll let you know how everything goes from here. I'm not even going to attempt to speculate at this point--LOL!
I wish this crappy pain would have disappeared with that DVT anxiety, but unfortunately, it's still here. I hope I can figure out what's going on...and that its not too serious (in the words of the lovely nurse practitioner!) The Russian lady recommended me to find a new doctor (she told me everything I had been through was badly managed an that some information I had been given was total crap), so maybe I'll start there. This is so exhausting, but the thing I feared the most has been ruled out--Praise the Lord for that! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I'll let you know how everything goes from here. I'm not even going to attempt to speculate at this point--LOL!
DEFINITELY Andy's Son
Landon: "Mom, let's play Orange Seller." (I was eating an orange--He wanted it.)
Me: "How do you play Orange Seller?"
Landon: "You sell my Pterodactyl your orange."
Me: "Okay, Mr. Pterodactyl, this orange costs $3.56 per slice"
Landon: (Waving his Pterodactyl in front of the fruit) "Hmmm...Ummmmmm, no I don't think I'm going to buy that orange. That's too 'spensive." (very matter-of-fact)
Then he just walked away.
Me: "How do you play Orange Seller?"
Landon: "You sell my Pterodactyl your orange."
Me: "Okay, Mr. Pterodactyl, this orange costs $3.56 per slice"
Landon: (Waving his Pterodactyl in front of the fruit) "Hmmm...Ummmmmm, no I don't think I'm going to buy that orange. That's too 'spensive." (very matter-of-fact)
Then he just walked away.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Pinky
If this doesn't make you laugh, you can't be my friend. (PS: There's a bit o' profanity at the end for those of you who are sensitive about that...but he apologizes :o)
"He's a very loving cat."
"He's a very loving cat."
Give Me a Break
So, guess where I spent most of the night last night? The emergency room--Yaaay! It was super fun and suuuuper helpful!!! :o(
My leg pain got progressively worse over the weekend and I really started thinking it could be stupid to "wait it out" as per doctor's orders in the case that there might be a clot (and I'd already been told three times it might be a clot). I was tired of the quacky advice I'd been getting. I was tired of doctors telling me they were scheduling tests for me and never hearing from them again....Sitting disgruntled on my couch with my leg propped up, I finally decided that having a pulmonary embolism while home alone with a three year old was not something I wanted on my agenda for the day and took matters into my own hands. Sure I felt dumb sitting in the emergency room until the middle of the night for mere leg pain when everyone else was bleeding or looking miserably ill, but I was finally going to have some answers and some peace of mind (I mean, where better to go to get answers than the hospital?), so it was worth it, right?....WRONG! It was a total and complete waste of time and money (even if it turns out I have the biggest DVT in world history). Here's what happened:
I got into the room, put on the little gown and sat talking to my mom until the nurse came in (yes, I said nurse--there was no doctor there, just a nurse)--She glanced at my leg for about two seconds and said it didn't look like a textbook DVT (swelling, bright redness, etc.), but that it didn't mean I didn't have one and that I definitely should have a scan done because of the red vein and pain. She then proceeded to tell me that they didn't do ultrasounds after hours or on weekends in the ER....SERIOUSLY??!! What was I there for then? And what happens to people who really do have DVTs? I just want to rule this problem out--why is that so difficult? ANYway, they ordered a blood test called a D-Dimer to check my blood for the existence of a clot, talked to me about Coumadin and Prednisone shots and then told me they were going to give me a slip of paper that would get me in for an ultrasound the next day. This was faster than how my family doctor was moving so I said okay and took the slip....On my way out, they said, "Well, if you're having an ultrasound tomorrow, then the bloodwork we just did was totally pointless!" So was my trip to the ER.
My leg pain got progressively worse over the weekend and I really started thinking it could be stupid to "wait it out" as per doctor's orders in the case that there might be a clot (and I'd already been told three times it might be a clot). I was tired of the quacky advice I'd been getting. I was tired of doctors telling me they were scheduling tests for me and never hearing from them again....Sitting disgruntled on my couch with my leg propped up, I finally decided that having a pulmonary embolism while home alone with a three year old was not something I wanted on my agenda for the day and took matters into my own hands. Sure I felt dumb sitting in the emergency room until the middle of the night for mere leg pain when everyone else was bleeding or looking miserably ill, but I was finally going to have some answers and some peace of mind (I mean, where better to go to get answers than the hospital?), so it was worth it, right?....WRONG! It was a total and complete waste of time and money (even if it turns out I have the biggest DVT in world history). Here's what happened:
I got into the room, put on the little gown and sat talking to my mom until the nurse came in (yes, I said nurse--there was no doctor there, just a nurse)--She glanced at my leg for about two seconds and said it didn't look like a textbook DVT (swelling, bright redness, etc.), but that it didn't mean I didn't have one and that I definitely should have a scan done because of the red vein and pain. She then proceeded to tell me that they didn't do ultrasounds after hours or on weekends in the ER....SERIOUSLY??!! What was I there for then? And what happens to people who really do have DVTs? I just want to rule this problem out--why is that so difficult? ANYway, they ordered a blood test called a D-Dimer to check my blood for the existence of a clot, talked to me about Coumadin and Prednisone shots and then told me they were going to give me a slip of paper that would get me in for an ultrasound the next day. This was faster than how my family doctor was moving so I said okay and took the slip....On my way out, they said, "Well, if you're having an ultrasound tomorrow, then the bloodwork we just did was totally pointless!" So was my trip to the ER.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Ohhhhh LAWD!
As if I didn't have enough to worry about right now......Tonight Andy and I took Landon with us to have dinner with three other (childless) couples at my friend's house (nice house with nice things, a-hem!) I left Landon alone at one point so that I could run to the bathroom (bad move, I know...Where were you when I needed you? C'mon, people!) and when I got back to the room less than a minute later, I was horrified to see that he had colored all over one of their light colored sofa cushions with a bright pink highlighter pen. Oh yes he did! And all of this right after I got him in trouble for sneaking away with a black marker (still not sure where he found that little sucker!) and coloring all over his whole body (and Cars Band-Aid) while I was talking on the phone (to the couch owner friend, actually--Great.) Landon. Give me a break, man. As for Shannon....woman, please have kids soon. PLEASE!
A Little Clarity in the Confusion
As many of you know, I have been in big time planning mode for baby #2 for the last few months. Our whole house has been. Even Landon asks Andy and me when we are going to have a baby at our house. He talks about holding his baby and feeding it and taking care of it in the most loving, big-brother-ly way....It breaks my heart! Anyways, it's been a long road and we haven't reached our destination yet. Here's the basic recap and update:
After a terrible pregnancy and recovery and YEARS of visits to every kind of specialist known to man (cardiologists, neurologists, etc.) I found my way to the Creighton Model method of NFP (which I thought would NEVER happen in a million years!!!). My instructor quickly became my spiritual guide, confidante, and the answer to many prayers. She referred me to a wonderful doctor an hour away from here (an NFP practitioner OB/GYN--Yay!) who made sense of eight months (at the time) of cycle charts, diagnosed me with hypothyroidism (6.75 TSH for those of you who know what I'm talking about), an ectropion cervix (not as bad as it sounds) and a luteal phase defect (not enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy) and prescribed me Synthroid and bioidentical progesterone to put me back to normal. At the time of diagnosis, so many things seemed clear. I was on cloud nine for about two days. After all, I had probably found the reason my pregnancy with Landon was such a nightmare...why miscarriage has been a problem...why I feel like crap all the time...All I had to do was take these two little prescriptions and all would be well....WELLLLLL, I read some pamphlets and chickened out of taking the meds for the first cycle and by the time I finally talked myself into going ahead with treatment, I had a bigger problem on my hands. A big, red vein-like line started to appear on my inner thigh (along with some scary pain) and three doctors (and three weeks) later talks of my having either a DVT or some kind of deep vein varicosities are floating around me. I am going to have a Doppler scan done soon (but not soon enough!) so they can find the specific problem. Meanwhile, I "have" to sit here, imagining all of the bad things that could happen to me, trying to pray, but feeling nothing. I have made myself absolutely miserable. My doctor has told me that if this is a DVT, I will not be allowed to take the progesterone that would enable me to carry a baby. Great. Of COURSE! On top of that, if it's a varicosity, being pregnant certainly wouldn't be a picnic (not that it ever is). The doctor I saw today told me , "Weeellllllll, this is what happens when you have babies!" (all sing-songy) Nice. Thanks. I told her I was thinking about having a second baby and she gave me a disapproving "you're a moron" kind of look. Just what I needed at that point. My mind is whirling with questions like, "Is this God trying to tell me to adopt?" (Just in case, I signed up for an adoption workshop that starts July 1st) "To give up once and for all and be happy with one child?" "If God does want me to have another child, why doesn't he make it a little easier for me?" "Why now?" "Why this?" (Yeah, I know, it sounds dumb)....And all of this just happens to be happening when I am smack in the middle of a miserable, months-long spiritual crisis...My own crappy Dark Night of the Soul. *big self-pitying sigh*
**I have been feeling soooo sorry for myself today--I am getting sick of hearing myself whining and worrying out loud to anyone within hearing range. UGH!**
BUT, tonight, I was browsing the internet for information on deep varicose veins and DVTs and I accidentally bumped into yet ANOTHER Jennifer's blog (We Jennifer's are taking over--muhahaha!). Somehow, I found this person, this STRANGER who had answers for me on just about everything. I poured through her blog posts like a madwoman, soaking it all up and eventually crying that "This-is-just-what-I-needed-cry" (you know the one). Not only is this girl's name Jennifer, she even had a DVT herself! She's also a Catholic convert, a mom, a questioner and ponderer, and an (ex)worrywart. My long lost twin?? ;o) Her blog covered anything and everything I have been tossing around in my mind for the last few months and, after reading some of it, I feel like I can breathe again. Her blog seemed like my own voice from the past, reasoning with me...She said all of the things I would have said when I could still think and trust and relax.
Are there really any such things as accidents?...
I'll leave you all with this quote I borrowed from one of Jennifer F's blog posts:
"It is a blessed secret this, of living by the day. Any one can carry his burden, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, until the sun goes down. And this is all life ever means to us - just one little day. "Do today's duty; fight today's temptations, and do not weaken or distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see and could not understand if you saw them." God gives us nights to shut down upon our little days. We cannot see beyond. Short horizons make life easier and give us one of the blessed secrets of brave, true, holy living."
Oh, and PS) Pray, please...I think I could use some right about now. Merci Beaucoup!
After a terrible pregnancy and recovery and YEARS of visits to every kind of specialist known to man (cardiologists, neurologists, etc.) I found my way to the Creighton Model method of NFP (which I thought would NEVER happen in a million years!!!). My instructor quickly became my spiritual guide, confidante, and the answer to many prayers. She referred me to a wonderful doctor an hour away from here (an NFP practitioner OB/GYN--Yay!) who made sense of eight months (at the time) of cycle charts, diagnosed me with hypothyroidism (6.75 TSH for those of you who know what I'm talking about), an ectropion cervix (not as bad as it sounds) and a luteal phase defect (not enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy) and prescribed me Synthroid and bioidentical progesterone to put me back to normal. At the time of diagnosis, so many things seemed clear. I was on cloud nine for about two days. After all, I had probably found the reason my pregnancy with Landon was such a nightmare...why miscarriage has been a problem...why I feel like crap all the time...All I had to do was take these two little prescriptions and all would be well....WELLLLLL, I read some pamphlets and chickened out of taking the meds for the first cycle and by the time I finally talked myself into going ahead with treatment, I had a bigger problem on my hands. A big, red vein-like line started to appear on my inner thigh (along with some scary pain) and three doctors (and three weeks) later talks of my having either a DVT or some kind of deep vein varicosities are floating around me. I am going to have a Doppler scan done soon (but not soon enough!) so they can find the specific problem. Meanwhile, I "have" to sit here, imagining all of the bad things that could happen to me, trying to pray, but feeling nothing. I have made myself absolutely miserable. My doctor has told me that if this is a DVT, I will not be allowed to take the progesterone that would enable me to carry a baby. Great. Of COURSE! On top of that, if it's a varicosity, being pregnant certainly wouldn't be a picnic (not that it ever is). The doctor I saw today told me , "Weeellllllll, this is what happens when you have babies!" (all sing-songy) Nice. Thanks. I told her I was thinking about having a second baby and she gave me a disapproving "you're a moron" kind of look. Just what I needed at that point. My mind is whirling with questions like, "Is this God trying to tell me to adopt?" (Just in case, I signed up for an adoption workshop that starts July 1st) "To give up once and for all and be happy with one child?" "If God does want me to have another child, why doesn't he make it a little easier for me?" "Why now?" "Why this?" (Yeah, I know, it sounds dumb)....And all of this just happens to be happening when I am smack in the middle of a miserable, months-long spiritual crisis...My own crappy Dark Night of the Soul. *big self-pitying sigh*
**I have been feeling soooo sorry for myself today--I am getting sick of hearing myself whining and worrying out loud to anyone within hearing range. UGH!**
BUT, tonight, I was browsing the internet for information on deep varicose veins and DVTs and I accidentally bumped into yet ANOTHER Jennifer's blog (We Jennifer's are taking over--muhahaha!). Somehow, I found this person, this STRANGER who had answers for me on just about everything. I poured through her blog posts like a madwoman, soaking it all up and eventually crying that "This-is-just-what-I-needed-cry" (you know the one). Not only is this girl's name Jennifer, she even had a DVT herself! She's also a Catholic convert, a mom, a questioner and ponderer, and an (ex)worrywart. My long lost twin?? ;o) Her blog covered anything and everything I have been tossing around in my mind for the last few months and, after reading some of it, I feel like I can breathe again. Her blog seemed like my own voice from the past, reasoning with me...She said all of the things I would have said when I could still think and trust and relax.
Are there really any such things as accidents?...
I'll leave you all with this quote I borrowed from one of Jennifer F's blog posts:
"It is a blessed secret this, of living by the day. Any one can carry his burden, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, until the sun goes down. And this is all life ever means to us - just one little day. "Do today's duty; fight today's temptations, and do not weaken or distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see and could not understand if you saw them." God gives us nights to shut down upon our little days. We cannot see beyond. Short horizons make life easier and give us one of the blessed secrets of brave, true, holy living."
Oh, and PS) Pray, please...I think I could use some right about now. Merci Beaucoup!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Jess:
Did you see Juan in a poncho, you ask?....Why yes you did! And guess who made him do it? My siblings must love me! (...And the fact that I ALWAYS have a camera nearby!) ;o)
PS) You should have seen him when I made him put on a little black moustache!!! Ha ha ha ha!)
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Danger of Phthalates and PVC
This blog is packed with amazing information...Go check it out when you have a chance!
The Danger of Phthalates and PVC
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The Danger of Phthalates and PVC
Posted using ShareThis
Hello Exhaustion! Nice To See You Again!
We had Landon's birthday party yesterday...Here are some pictures from the day:
The kids make "dragon tails" and decorate "suitcases" for the trip around the world
Nancy helps Landon get ready
Julia heads to "Pin the Tail on the Dragon" in China
Now it's Cole's turn!
All the kids hop back on the airplane...
And fly to Egypt to turn each other into mummies! Here's Lawrence getting mummified.
...And Davis
Landon checks out his masterpiece
Then the airplane takes everyone past Hawaii and Canada to go to....Mexico!
Then it's time for our Little Einsteins to play a game of musical chairs in Italy with music by Vivaldi
Time for Cake!
Poor, tired, sweaty birthday boy!
Still enough energy to open a giant pile of wonderful presents
And then it's time for a big dinner of falafel, pita bread, tabouleh, hummos, shish kebabs, fried rice, chips, salsa and guacamole! Yum!
All of the kids finish the day playing with each other and checking out all of the new (and old!) toys!
The kids make "dragon tails" and decorate "suitcases" for the trip around the world
Nancy helps Landon get ready
Julia heads to "Pin the Tail on the Dragon" in China
Now it's Cole's turn!
All the kids hop back on the airplane...
And fly to Egypt to turn each other into mummies! Here's Lawrence getting mummified.
...And Davis
Landon checks out his masterpiece
Then the airplane takes everyone past Hawaii and Canada to go to....Mexico!
Then it's time for our Little Einsteins to play a game of musical chairs in Italy with music by Vivaldi
Time for Cake!
Poor, tired, sweaty birthday boy!
Still enough energy to open a giant pile of wonderful presents
And then it's time for a big dinner of falafel, pita bread, tabouleh, hummos, shish kebabs, fried rice, chips, salsa and guacamole! Yum!
All of the kids finish the day playing with each other and checking out all of the new (and old!) toys!
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