Friday, March 30, 2007

Yummy AND good for me!

Ok, I couldn't find a picture of it anywhere online but you have to run to the grocery store and get this. Cookies made by Kashi. Not the crackers, not even the soft chewy crackers they have. It was their snack brand TLC and it was a fabulous Kashi oatmeal type cookie. It was excellent! It was chewy, fresh, had cranberries and was soooo good. Everyone here at the office loved it. One cookie is 130 calories and was low in sodium and 0 trans fat and I don't remember what all but it's really a healthy good snack. I'm really upset that I didn't even find a picture on the Kashi website. This is so new they haven't even updated their site. Shame on them. But it was ooooo sooooo good. Go try it!

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Less than a week

It feels like I haven't blogged in forever but it was only last Friday. So, what been going on? This...

17 is all full of himself because he came in first place in the open 400 at his track meet last Saturday and his name was in the paper. Naturally, we now have 4 copies to keep for posterity. Hubby and 14 followed Tiger Woods for 2 days at a Golf Tournament. That was hubby's bday present (the tickets). His birthday was Monday. We did not celebrate in any traditional way. He doesn't like celebrating birthdays. He's got a big hang up about getting old. I really don't like the care that GM is getting at the nursing center she's at but hopefully it won't be for long. Apparently, she can already stand up with the walker under her own power. WOOHOO! MIL had her biopsy yesterday. We hope to have the results by tomorrow. She felt pretty beat up yesterday. There were some minor complications but it was all controlled and seems to have gone well. She's home with her hubby taking care of her for a couple of days.

Tomorrow we take off for Winter Park. No it's not a vacation. It's a trek after your kids because the track meet is there and well that's what you do. Drive 3 hours, to stay in a motel with too many teens, to sit all day in the heat and sun of Florida to watch your son run the last event of the meet and drive back 3 hours. I hope he does well and I hope the school wins the meet. Originally, 14 wanted to go because he's just a sports fan of every type but now he found out that the party of the year is on Friday and you know how it is at that age. If you miss THE party then you will have no hope of living a fruitful life. So, I'm making arrangements and coordinating for him to stay with friends who also have a son who will most likely be going to this must attend party.

I'm in a cooking rut. I'm so tired of making the same thing all the time. The people I feed are very picky! I'm getting to the point where I want to just throw them a bag of chips and make whatever I want for me! I will probably take a cookbook(s) with me to read over on the drive and come up with a few new menus. I did buy zucchini this week with the intention of making zucchini muffins.

Friday, March 23, 2007

I'm Back, and not much has changed

Granted I wasn't gone long but...

You're dying to hear about Houston but I didn't see much. The beep beep Intercontinental Airport is very nice. The client's office that we went to was very nice too. The presentation went well enough I think. Those who weren't falling asleep I think understood what I said. I have spoken to GM everyday and this morning she's all WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I told you I went to Houston, I spoke to you yesterday from there. WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS TRAVELLING! THE FOOD HERE IS HORRIBLE AND THE THERAPY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. So, I now that she's feeling much better because she's yelling at me. The kids are counting down the days to Spring Break. They are planning to go to the beach as much as they can. How nice to be young! SIL and BIL are leaving for the Smokies in her RV Saturday for a week. I have to remember to call her before she leaves. I hope they have a great time. Of course, that reminds me that I haven't spoken to my brother in a while, I need to call him too.

My face is a mess, it's all red and swollen and looks like I'm having a allergic reaction to something. 'Cept I haven't used anything new or different other than Houston water. Someone told me that this could be hormonal and be related to peri-menopause. GREAT! It's itchy, I've been like this all day and now my neck it starting to itch too! Can't wait to get home and take a Benadryl. Maybe I should see a dermatologist.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Maybe something exciting will happen to blog about for Monday... :)

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Leaving on a jet plane

I am taking off today for Houston on business. I have to make a presentation for a client and I'm only gone over night but I LOVE going away to anywhere.

Granted there's lots of stuff happening now but when the plane is taking off I feel exhilarated, full of possibility. It takes the mundane out of life.

My co-worker is teasing me about my luggage. I packed the smallest suitcase I have on wheels (cuz I don't want to carry anything more than my purse) and it's more than half empty, like I said it's overnight. Plus having the small carry-on suitcase makes me feel more like I'm really going away not just spending the night at some one's place. I don't care how much he teases, I'm going away.

Tonight I will watch what I want on TV. I will have sole use and possession of the remote control. I will do this in a king size bed in a room with the temperature set (and adjusted upon my whim to accommodate my peri-menopausal states) while I read my book. DIVINE! I can't wait!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Odds n' ends

GM refused to be transferred to a rehab center that would allow her to remain on cardiac monitors but consented to surgery for a pacemaker which the Drs. deem necessary if she won't be monitored. They evaluated her as competent and coherent to make her own informed health decisions, so, she was operated on Friday. She came through it with flying colors and was hitting on the surgeon in recovery. Today she asked me when they were taking this pace thing off of her. Yeah, sure docs, she understands what's going on...

March Madness. I was off to a phenomenal start as far as I was concerned and was beating both hubby and 14 much to their chagrin. Two rounds later I am loosing, shocker I know. But I'm not out of it yet! Georgetown is still in it and I have them winning it all. Hubby and I bet that the winner doesn't do dishes for a week. Go Hoyas! :)

We did our taxes over the weekend..no comment other than we lost a child deduction because 17 is well, 17. This country is so confused as to when a child becomes an adult! Really, they should coordinate their collective thoughts and let you keep deducting for the child until the child is considered an adult on all fronts!

I haven't seen my extended family for months! Heck I haven't seen my dad since last year! And my friends, if I have bumped into them at random events or seen them as they pick up 14 to get him to something because I can't . This has to stop but right now I can't see the forest between the trees or is that the trees in the forest, not that doesn't make sense...oh, you know what I mean!

My house looks like let's just say it looks like a place you don't want to visit much less live in. If you need clean clothes please get it from a pile on the coffee table. If you need anything else, keep looking.

Hubby and I are still pretending that we are not sick. We are popping cough drops like candy and over the counter cold meds religiously every 4-6 hours. The boys are fine but if 17 sprays me again with the Lysol, I'm gonna smack him! I realize that it was an accident, he didn't know I was coming down the hallway because he couldn't hear my hacking cough over all his spraying but for Pete's sake gimme a break!

That's all for now, more fascinating happenings later....

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

March Madness & Laughter

I really don't do sports on my blog and normally I would label myself as a Football Widow BUT this is just too BIG to ignore. In my house ther are currently only two topics of conversation: March Madness and NFL Free Agency. I have begged for even one day (read: night) without sports discussed in the house but alas I think I should just give up March altogether. With that being said...I have jumped on the band wagon! I'm sitting in the middle of the wagon pickin' on my fiddle!

14 has entered hubby's office pool and is completing NCAA brackets (yes, I realize its gambling; I'm ignoring that, please play along) and I am completing brackets too! What!? you say, has she finally gone mad? My answer to you is, probably. But in an effort to bond with my children and hubby and have something to be interested in with them for the next few weeks, I have completed my selections for who is going to advance in each round of the tournament and eventually win. I did not enter the office pool, I'm just doing it for fun - against the boys at home.

The first laughs came when I asked them to tell me where some of the coaches that I had heard of were coaching now, like Bobby Knight and Paterno. 14 almost choked on his dinner because Paterno is a football coach not a basketball coach; he suggested that I just ask what colors the uniforms were and pick my favorites. Smarta$$! After much prodding I find out the coach's name if Patino, tomayto tomato...I was close. Gimme a break!
So, can you imagine the look on 14s face if I pick more winners than he does?! LOL :) I'll let you know how I do.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Meme about books!

I stole this from a friend who stole it from .... you know how that works....

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback? Paperback
Bookstores: Online or brick and mortar? Brick and mortar
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Barnes and Noble
Bookmark or dog-ear? Either. If I have a bookmark I'll use it.
Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random? Random
Keep, throw away, or sell? pass it on and tell them to keep passing it on
Keep dust jacket or toss it? Keep it
Read with dust jacket or remove it? Remove it
Short story or novel? I like both but I read more novels
Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)? Both Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? Harry Potter
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? When tired or lunch hour is over, over Dr. calls me in, or get to the front of the line....
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? Once upon a time
Buy or Borrow? I am borrowing more and buying less.
New or used? Used, although I love the creaks, feel and smell of opening a new book.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse? Mostly browse, then recommendations from friends, then reviews
Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Tidy ending
Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading? Anytime, I love curling up with a book and a cup of coffee anytime!
Stand-alone or series? Both
Favorite series? The Ya-Ya's were really good, love the Harry Potters that I've read, and as a kid I read the Little House series and loved having the same characters for so long. I tend to miss characters when I finish a good book and continue thinking and wondering about them and how they are doing.
Favorite children's book? "Are you there God, It's me Margaret" by Judy Blume
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? "Mrs. Mike" by I don't remember, it a husband and wife team...starts with B...maybe
Favorite books read last year? "The Year of Pleasures" by Elizabeth Berg
Favorite books of all time?
Too many to list. Off the top of my head "The Shadow of the Wind", "Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood", "Pride and Prejudice", "Rebecca", " The Poisonwood Bible"
Least favorite book you finished last year? I don't remember. But ever..."The Chamber" by John Grisham...It was interminable!!!!
What are you reading right now? "My Sister's Keeper" by Picoult (maybe?)
What are you reading next? I don't know the stacks are pretty tall but I'm thinking maybe Shakespeare...I never read "Romeo and Juliet"

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Sick update

GM may be moving out of ICU today. She is schedule to go to the Telemetry (sp?) ward. She's off antibiotics, she's still having heart issues, thus telemetry but mostly she's being nice! Now, for most people that's not newsworthy but for MY GM that's the stuff history is made of. She is actually being a good patient, taking her meds orally, willing to do the respiratory therapy - you know the breathe into the tube thingy a bunch of times. She's being nice! I think they must have done a transplant or major transfusion without my permission. It's not just me... B, the lady who manages the ALF where she lives went to see her yesterday and left me this voice mail "..they transformed your GM, I hope it's long term..."

MIL. Her surgery was cancelled! This poor woman has been fretting about this surgery for over 6 months and they cancelled it again. She is FREaking out. They found a spot on her chest xray that warranted further testing, so she had more tests that lead to a PET scan. They have decided to go the biopsy route now and are scheduling for next week. MEANWHILE back at her uterus, the PET scan concluded that the cysts etc there are benign and just need to be removed for removals sake. OK, HELLO! why didn't we do this 6 months ago! Instead they have one Dr. say it can't wait until after the holidays and then it gets cancelled twice and 6 months later she gets told it's a nonevent! She is so fried! She spent the entire weekend in tears. I call and listen but I don't think it helps much.

The chiropractor told 17 that his hip is getting better. He's been going to weekly treatments in the hopes that he would not have to undergo surgery. We are told that his muscles are too strong fro his bones. - I'll give you a sec to read that again. Because of that the muscles can pull off the bone and take chips with it and that's what happened to his left hip joint. He had an xray and they have determined that with this therapy he getting that it would stimulate growth and repair itself. It seems to be working- at least for now. It's something he has to watch.

I did not go to work yesterday because my head weighed like 562 pounds all by itself. I could barely lift it to drag myself to the bathroom. Apparently, sleeping reduces head weight because today not only can I lift it but most of it's parts are working ;)

I've gotten updates on other friends who have been sick and have other friends and family that have assorted things. Many of the updates have been good. There are a couple I haven't heard from. I need to send a card. I love sending cards. I think it cheers people up. It cheers me up.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Sick

I'm sick. It's not that bad...if I don't breathe too much I won't cough....if I don't cough my ears aren't ringing...if I don't move my head too much or open my eyes in the light my head doesn't hurt.
Obviously, didn't go see grandma today; they'd probably admit me. I can hear her witching and moaning about it from here, she'd doing much better.
More some other time.

Friday, March 02, 2007

My tough old lady

Two day ago the doctors were making me decide whether to insert a feeding tube for my GM. After a day fraught with thought and prayer I decided no, I honestly don't think she would want that. So, they tried to reduce her sedatives so that she could swallow and eat something. I was able to get her to drink one of those fortified milk drinks, Ensure.

This morning, she is awake and alert! Arguing with the tech from respiratory that she doesn't need an aerosol, she NEEDS BREAKFAST! Arguing with the nurse that she must bring her a phone and her purse IMMEDIATELY so she can call her Dr because they are trying to kill her here... Enter me.... Good Morning! You're awake! GM: Of course I'm awake they are trying to kill me. Did you bring me breakfast!?

I fed her scrambled eggs, grits and an Ensure. She ate it all. She argued with me about her illness because she has no lung problems because she never inhaled in the +65 years she's smoked, she has no kidney stone because she's never had them before she just needs a laxative, she has no heart problems she's just upset that we are keeping her here unnecessarily, she has no blood pressure problems she just needs her grapefruit juice. Why did I bring her here and why won't I let Pacito (a Dr. she knows- who's probably retired by now) see her. The fool idiot that came to see her this morning is NOT her Dr. I tell her he's stuck with him, Olivia (the nurse) and me until she gets out of here. Poor Olivia, she's trying to be cheerful, she comes in delighted - Finally, you are awake, I can talk to you. GM: Why should I talk to you, you are poisoning me with all these fool things, get me my Dr!

And to think that 3 days ago they were telling me it was touch and go. She's a tough one but we always knew that. I tell her to be nice to Olivia that she's been taking care of her all week. She answers, I don't have to be nice to anyone, especially people who are trying to kill me.
Gimme patience :)