After months and months of testing, we have a diagnosis. I have fibromyalgia.
I'm so torn about this. I'm glad to finally have a name for the pain and fatigue I've experienced for the last year. I'm so very sad that it is something that I will be living with for the rest of my life. I've only known for 5 days, I've started taking medicine 2 days ago. I'm in shock and denial. I'll discuss it more later, but for now, I have things to do. Thanksgiving was wonderful. The moment we got back in town, we hit the ground running to get ready for the Christmas party we host every year the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'm off to do laundry and decorate some more!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Vacations from the Farm
Our family loves to vacation. We don't care where, we don't care for how long. We just love to go.
Buying a hobby farm was a threat to that love of ours. We can't put chickens and pigs in a kennel like we would the dogs. It became quite a problem.
The first time we went on a trip, we hired our dentist's son to come down once a day to feed and water everyone. He did it once, then something came up. When we got back, we found out that our dentist actually took care of everyone. Not exactly what we were going for, nor was it his dream for a second job.
That is when God intervened. The family with whom we carpooled mentioned their neighbor who watches dogs left at home to make extra money. I called her and found out that she used to live on a farm. Not only does she know how to take care of chickens and pigs, but she could milk a cow for us if we ever decided to go that route.
The set-up has been perfect. She and her husband will come over with their grandchildren and stay for hours, playing with the dogs, collecting mail, feeding and watering everyone, and taking any veggies that ripen in the garden while we're gone. They are thrilled to take the eggs the chickens lay and just spend time on the property.
We don't have to worry one bit about how everything is doing. To be truthful, they are better at taking care of the animals than we are. She talked about holding the chickens that first trip of ours, and I about passed out. How exactly did she catch them?
Another blessing is that she is always available on the holidays, which is when we travel every year. I don't know what we would do without this family. Which reminds me, I need to call her to let her know when we're leaving.
Have a wonderful, fun-filled, great-tasting, safe Thanksgiving!
Buying a hobby farm was a threat to that love of ours. We can't put chickens and pigs in a kennel like we would the dogs. It became quite a problem.
The first time we went on a trip, we hired our dentist's son to come down once a day to feed and water everyone. He did it once, then something came up. When we got back, we found out that our dentist actually took care of everyone. Not exactly what we were going for, nor was it his dream for a second job.
That is when God intervened. The family with whom we carpooled mentioned their neighbor who watches dogs left at home to make extra money. I called her and found out that she used to live on a farm. Not only does she know how to take care of chickens and pigs, but she could milk a cow for us if we ever decided to go that route.
The set-up has been perfect. She and her husband will come over with their grandchildren and stay for hours, playing with the dogs, collecting mail, feeding and watering everyone, and taking any veggies that ripen in the garden while we're gone. They are thrilled to take the eggs the chickens lay and just spend time on the property.
We don't have to worry one bit about how everything is doing. To be truthful, they are better at taking care of the animals than we are. She talked about holding the chickens that first trip of ours, and I about passed out. How exactly did she catch them?
Another blessing is that she is always available on the holidays, which is when we travel every year. I don't know what we would do without this family. Which reminds me, I need to call her to let her know when we're leaving.
Have a wonderful, fun-filled, great-tasting, safe Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Viking, shmiking
I tried milk jugs. I bought buckets. I looked at paper mache, paper folding, and paper crumbling. Duct tape had looked promising. In the end, plain old boring cardstock was chosen.
A month and a half ago, I offered to help my eight year old's teacher to come up with an activity to go with the book How to Train Your Dragon that they read in class. Silly me. I thought it would be easy. Let me just say that finding a cheap, easy way to make Viking helmets does not exist. Oh, and they aren't cheap to purchase, either. There are plenty of ways to make them, but none of them are good for a room full of 8 year olds to do in 15 minutes. So, I went the simple, boring route and cut out the helmet and horns from cardstock for the kids to decorate and glue together before I stapled them to bands around their heads.
I then went through something similar to make dragons for them. Stuffed paper dragons, foam cut-outs, or even purchasing cheap ones. Decorate with feathers, crepe paper? In the end, I went with photocopies of coloring pages.
It doesn't matter what I chose. The kids will have fun as long as I sell it. I planned to have everyone give himself a Viking name, put their individual touches on the helmets, then go on a dragon hunt. I'd take them on a hike through and around school to the dragon den. Each child would find his own dragon, and we'd head back. The dragons would of course then wake up, and we'd have to run for our lives, just like the book. We'd end up back in the classroom, where the kids would then decorate the dragons and name them. To wrap up, any child that chose could intro himself and his dragon to the class.
Great plan. I am excited to do it. Then, at 5:00 am, 9 year old vomits in his bed. Plans are shaken. Maybe if I let him sleep, he'll feel better. He can just stay with the younger boys with my friend who was going to watch them. Great idea, until said friend called to say he had a child vomit in the car in the drop-off lane at school.
So, after almost two months of preparations, I had to send the supplies into school with the eight year old. His teacher was going to carry on without me. So much for my Viking name.
A month and a half ago, I offered to help my eight year old's teacher to come up with an activity to go with the book How to Train Your Dragon that they read in class. Silly me. I thought it would be easy. Let me just say that finding a cheap, easy way to make Viking helmets does not exist. Oh, and they aren't cheap to purchase, either. There are plenty of ways to make them, but none of them are good for a room full of 8 year olds to do in 15 minutes. So, I went the simple, boring route and cut out the helmet and horns from cardstock for the kids to decorate and glue together before I stapled them to bands around their heads.
I then went through something similar to make dragons for them. Stuffed paper dragons, foam cut-outs, or even purchasing cheap ones. Decorate with feathers, crepe paper? In the end, I went with photocopies of coloring pages.
It doesn't matter what I chose. The kids will have fun as long as I sell it. I planned to have everyone give himself a Viking name, put their individual touches on the helmets, then go on a dragon hunt. I'd take them on a hike through and around school to the dragon den. Each child would find his own dragon, and we'd head back. The dragons would of course then wake up, and we'd have to run for our lives, just like the book. We'd end up back in the classroom, where the kids would then decorate the dragons and name them. To wrap up, any child that chose could intro himself and his dragon to the class.
Great plan. I am excited to do it. Then, at 5:00 am, 9 year old vomits in his bed. Plans are shaken. Maybe if I let him sleep, he'll feel better. He can just stay with the younger boys with my friend who was going to watch them. Great idea, until said friend called to say he had a child vomit in the car in the drop-off lane at school.
So, after almost two months of preparations, I had to send the supplies into school with the eight year old. His teacher was going to carry on without me. So much for my Viking name.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Eating on the Go
Two or three times each season, we have a night like we will tonight. This is what we will be doing today:
2:45 pick kids up at school
3:00-4:00 8yo and 10yo piano
4:30-6:00 12yo basketball practice
6:00-7:30 9yo basketball practice
6:45-7:45 8yo basketball practice
7:30-9:00 12yo Boy Scout meeting
You might wonder, when and where will the children eat, change clothes, and do homework? It's going to have to be the van, as it is supposed to rain this afternoon and evening.
I made the choice years ago, when my oldest became a toddler, to avoid fast food like the plague. It was just a matter of how. I went to a Tupperware party and saw a lunch box that would be perfect.
I bought three (and a fourth when the fourth child was born). For 9 years we have used these boxes. We've taken them on every picnic we've been on. We've used them in the car when on road trips, so we didn't have to stop for dinner. Every single day for an entire school year, my kids ate breakfast out of them on the way to school. (eggs, french toast, cereal, and all) These boxes have lived through it all. I love them. They are the best things I have ever purchased to help my family eat well and cheaply on the go. Some reasons I like them so much:
1. I can clean them in the dishwasher.
2. I save money by not buying sandwich bags.
3. A juice box, sandwich, cheese stick, and two sides fit in it.
4. I don't have to worry about dirty picnic tables. The kids eat right out of them.
5. They save space. All four can easily fit in our cooler, with room for my lunch and ice packs.
If you would like some, they are called Lunch-n-Things Containers. I have no affiliation with Tupperware, and I never have. I just want to help you out.
I'm on my way to fill them now. So much to do, so little time.
2:45 pick kids up at school
3:00-4:00 8yo and 10yo piano
4:30-6:00 12yo basketball practice
6:00-7:30 9yo basketball practice
6:45-7:45 8yo basketball practice
7:30-9:00 12yo Boy Scout meeting
You might wonder, when and where will the children eat, change clothes, and do homework? It's going to have to be the van, as it is supposed to rain this afternoon and evening.
I made the choice years ago, when my oldest became a toddler, to avoid fast food like the plague. It was just a matter of how. I went to a Tupperware party and saw a lunch box that would be perfect.
I bought three (and a fourth when the fourth child was born). For 9 years we have used these boxes. We've taken them on every picnic we've been on. We've used them in the car when on road trips, so we didn't have to stop for dinner. Every single day for an entire school year, my kids ate breakfast out of them on the way to school. (eggs, french toast, cereal, and all) These boxes have lived through it all. I love them. They are the best things I have ever purchased to help my family eat well and cheaply on the go. Some reasons I like them so much:
1. I can clean them in the dishwasher.
2. I save money by not buying sandwich bags.
3. A juice box, sandwich, cheese stick, and two sides fit in it.
4. I don't have to worry about dirty picnic tables. The kids eat right out of them.
5. They save space. All four can easily fit in our cooler, with room for my lunch and ice packs.
If you would like some, they are called Lunch-n-Things Containers. I have no affiliation with Tupperware, and I never have. I just want to help you out.
I'm on my way to fill them now. So much to do, so little time.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Time with my mom
I had such a lovely weekend with my mom on our annual shopping trip. It's my one time each year to actually buy for the family and some Christmas gifts without my little distractions. But the best part is getting to just spend time with my mom. She has had a rough year. At this trip last year, my sister and I finally convinced her that the pains in her chest were not heartburn. Three weeks later she was having surgery to fix the complete blockage in her heart. Then, a few days before her birthday in March, she found out that she had cervical cancer. Over the next few months she went through chemo and an awful haul of radiation. Complications have plagued her the whole way through. Praise God, she has made it through, is feeling well, and is cancer free. So this weekend was extra special. So much in such a short time, we hardly had time to breathe for 365 days. We both enjoyed relaxing, talking, laughing, and buying a sweater or two.
Make sure you hug everyone you love every chance you get. Things change so fast.
Make sure you hug everyone you love every chance you get. Things change so fast.
Friday, November 12, 2010
I'm looking at it's head!
While I unloaded the groceries this morning, I let the toddlers stay outside and play. (We're having a streak of gorgeous weather around here!) On one trip outside, two year old wasn't where I left him. I called his name, and he replied, "I'm looking at it's head!" Around the corner I go, and see my son sitting in the grass, looking at the head of a dead opossum. Yes, just a head. No opossum body anywhere around.
Now, most moms in this situation would flip out. The first time this happened, I most certainly did. Part of me wishes I still did. The fact that I don't means I have seen this same scenario too many times.
We have two outside dogs. They are so very good to the kids and any other human that comes to visit. They do, however, take pride in ridding our yard of unwanted critters. Sure, I would rather they simply scare the offenders away, but this will have to do. We frequently find carcasses of moles, mice, raccoons, opossums, birds, and sadly, sometimes our own chickens. Once we even found a weasel. We have learned to simply toss the remains out into the field and move on. Our children aren't even phased by finding a dead animal. They actually get excited when the body finally decomposes and they find the leftover bones.
I think the only animals that have alluded them thus far are a skunk and a squirrel. By the smell of the dogs, I know they have tussled with skunks. And we have laughed ourselves silly watching the dogs tree squirrels, then try to jump up and grab them. (One enterprising squirrel actually jumped from the tree to the garage roof, which you can see in the above photo. There was nothing for the squirrel to grab onto, so it slid down the roof and went flying. As soon as it landed, the race was on again.) Apparently, only the truly great dogs can capture skunks and squirrels.
I'm off to dispose of the opossum head. Perhaps I'll find the rest of the poor thing on my way to the field.
We have two outside dogs. They are so very good to the kids and any other human that comes to visit. They do, however, take pride in ridding our yard of unwanted critters. Sure, I would rather they simply scare the offenders away, but this will have to do. We frequently find carcasses of moles, mice, raccoons, opossums, birds, and sadly, sometimes our own chickens. Once we even found a weasel. We have learned to simply toss the remains out into the field and move on. Our children aren't even phased by finding a dead animal. They actually get excited when the body finally decomposes and they find the leftover bones.
I think the only animals that have alluded them thus far are a skunk and a squirrel. By the smell of the dogs, I know they have tussled with skunks. And we have laughed ourselves silly watching the dogs tree squirrels, then try to jump up and grab them. (One enterprising squirrel actually jumped from the tree to the garage roof, which you can see in the above photo. There was nothing for the squirrel to grab onto, so it slid down the roof and went flying. As soon as it landed, the race was on again.) Apparently, only the truly great dogs can capture skunks and squirrels.
 |
| Roy, the "I was this close!" Wonder Dog |
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Attack of the Stinky Ladybugs!
I walked outside to enjoy the beautiful, sunny day. Within seconds, I was completely covered with ladybugs. I looked around and saw that ladybugs were on every surface and swarming in midair. What is it about this house and creepy, crawly bug overpopulation??
This first happened our first year in the house, and has occurred again and again over the years. To be fair, they aren't actually the cute, wouldn't-bother-a-soul ladybugs. They are some sort of beetle that look exactly like ladybugs. My kids say that they smell, but I haven't experienced that. (Side note: I actually discussed olfactory decline with friends of mine, all of whom have five or more children. We all assumed that with so many babies, we'd be able to smell a bad odor a mile away. Not true. Every single one of us have gotten worse at it as we have more babies. Bad enough that I can't jump without peeing, but not being able to smell things? Where does that come from?) Back to the bugs.
When the bugs do swarm, it's only for a few hours. The number diminishes, but plenty stick around to irritate me to no end. They are all over every surface in the house, including the ceiling! I vacuum constantly, with the two year old behind me yelling, "There's one! It's a bug!" every five seconds. I spent an hour sweeping the house this morning, and as I sit here writing, I can see bugs on the floor and three of the windows. UGH!
What is the life span of a beetle? It can't be long. I am convinced that these bugs simply come here to die. They just want a nice place to spend their last 15 minutes of life.
I just heard another bug land next to me. Pardon me while I go get my vacuum.
This first happened our first year in the house, and has occurred again and again over the years. To be fair, they aren't actually the cute, wouldn't-bother-a-soul ladybugs. They are some sort of beetle that look exactly like ladybugs. My kids say that they smell, but I haven't experienced that. (Side note: I actually discussed olfactory decline with friends of mine, all of whom have five or more children. We all assumed that with so many babies, we'd be able to smell a bad odor a mile away. Not true. Every single one of us have gotten worse at it as we have more babies. Bad enough that I can't jump without peeing, but not being able to smell things? Where does that come from?) Back to the bugs.
When the bugs do swarm, it's only for a few hours. The number diminishes, but plenty stick around to irritate me to no end. They are all over every surface in the house, including the ceiling! I vacuum constantly, with the two year old behind me yelling, "There's one! It's a bug!" every five seconds. I spent an hour sweeping the house this morning, and as I sit here writing, I can see bugs on the floor and three of the windows. UGH!
What is the life span of a beetle? It can't be long. I am convinced that these bugs simply come here to die. They just want a nice place to spend their last 15 minutes of life.
I just heard another bug land next to me. Pardon me while I go get my vacuum.
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