Officer Lover Pants

He's 5. He's only 5. I know it and he knows it but for some reason, he has a thing for girls. Remember "Alexandra"?. Well the lovely Miss Alexandra came over yesterday to swim with Emily & Greg. Here is the conversation with Officer Lover Pants...

OLP: "Alexandra, my cutie pie came over yesterday"

Mom: "I heard... Daddy told me"

OLP: "She's so cute. Maybe I should spend the night over her house"

Mom: "I don't think so G"

OLP: "She can spend the night at my house... but she can't touch my toys".

If that weren't enough... Here's a photo of him showing his pipes to a girl on Emily's baseball team... He has a real "thing" for her. I've never seen him with blushing cheeks before! Photo blurred to protect identitys (aka I haven't asked her parents if I can publish her photo on the internet!).

Regardless, I'm a bit concerned about how my 5 year old precious little dude has such a thing for girls. You know this is only going to get worse. Not to mention... anyone he dates later in life will have to meet my requirements. lol.

Tastes like feet!

Light bulb over my head after reading Katrina's Blog... BTW, for any Pioneer Woman readers stopping by, thanks for clicking my link. Feel free to reply as you wish...

So back to Katrina's Blog... She has a lot of newbies in her office and some of them have been saying some pretty stupid things lately. Instantly I was transferred back to the early days in my ER career... The stupid thing I did?

A patient was released from the hospital (the upper floors). She's not home 1 hour and has something happen and has to return. Instead of being seen in the ER, I took her back up to the room she was in. As we approach her room I said, "See, it's EXACTLY as you left it!". It would have been helpful to know that the woman was blind!

I would LOOOOVVVVEEE to know one of your most embarrassing moments. We're all adults, and if we can't laugh at ourselves, then we're MUCH to critical. Share yours and I will freely admit something that I did once that is the MOTHER of all embarrassments. Post away my friends... Post away.

Recipe Review...

So Pioneer Woman now has this new website... The Pioneer Woman Cooks.com. Occasionally before she would post recipes and cooking lessons on her original site The Pioneer Woman.com. Yesterday I needed to bring something to a surprize birthday party we were going to. So I used the recipe from her cooking website for Chili Con Queso Revved Up!

OMG... LICK THE CROCK POT CLEAN I TELL YA. It was INCREDIBLY easy to make, although I did omit the Jalapeno for fear out of it being TOO hot. I also tweaked it by adding my favorite herb ever... FRESH Cilantro. YUMMMMMMMMMYYYYY. I could eat it for every meal! It wasn't spicy on the tongue, but after a few bites of it on tortilla chips, you could feel the heat, and PRESTO... your sinuses are clear and you are breathing just fine.

I highly suggest visiting the cooking website for that recipe. For my next venture, I'm going to try and make her bread pudding. I've never had it, but the photo's make me want to try it to see if it's as good as it looks. That will be a dish to be served with company.

Cheers!

Left Alone for Mere Seconds...

And this is what she does with my camera......

Cat Nap...

nar·co·lep·sy (när'kə-lěp'sē) Pronunciation Key n. pl. nar·co·lep·sies A disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable, though often brief, attacks of deep sleep, sometimes accompanied by paralysis and hallucinations.

New Look...

Inspired by Pioneer Woman... Actually last week, she posted on all the banners her blog has had. I started thinking about the warm latte colors mine had, and here the air conditioning has been blowing snow out of the vents for a couple days. So I decided to update for spring/summer. The photo was taken on Emily's birthday. You have to love a camera with a timer!

Today the kids and I went to see Shelby (our niece, their cousin), in her first dance recital. It was AMAZING! Out of the smaller kids, there was always just one girl that knew the entire routine. Shelby was that girl. Watching the dance company perform was just amazing. I wish I could post it here for all to see, but that won't happen for legal reasons. I must say... if you like musicals, and plays, by all means... go see a dance recital. You won't be let down.

I'm now inspired to see more plays, and would LOVE to go see the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for the first time. I have heard they play at Greenfield Village during the summer... with fireworks! Love to see you there!

Have a great weekend! Oh and on Tuesday this week, Emily is having her piano/voice recital. I will record those and post them for all to see.

Abercrombie & Sex...

"These Brown Eyes Will Break Your Heart"... This is the tee shirt that Emily has been wanting and wanting for months. Of course it is at Abercrombie & Fitch... the super expensive place her girlfriend shops at. So off we went to Lakeside Mall. We walk in... the music is BLARING and it is extremely dark in there. However it was tastefully decorated with slate blue walls and white cabinetry and trim. Thankfully this is the time when you want a salesperson to ask you what you need. I asked for the shirt, and luckily they had it.

The shirts are folded into minuscule size and stacked on top of each other 20 high. WHO folds their clothes like this. I instantly pictured the teenager working there, and how she must keep her clothes at home... wrinkles anyone?

As we're looking at the shirts, I happen to start noticing the lyrics of the song blaring away.... "Your sexy eyes, your hot lips.... I want you so bad".... Um hello? Is this NOT Abercrombie for Kids? I mean this wasn't even a little section of the main store. This was an entirely different store across from the adult Abercrombie. This was a store devoted entirely to children. Helloooo? Can you say Teenage Pregnancy? We quickly made our decisions purchasing an additional tee shirt along with a cute pair of shorts. We bolted to the check out with our hands over Greg's ears, trying to keep his fingers from groping the female mannequins.

Through out the entire excursion, Dennis and I kept shooting each other looks that said, "Is this what we've been reduced to?". "OMG she is only 8!!!" "Gone are the days of buying stuff from Walmart that will undoubtly get destroyed by the sandbox". "It's OVER".

She's 8... Remember my post on how fast 10 years went by? Another 10 quick years and my beautiful baby girl will be 18................................... excuse me while I go breathe into a paper bag... yet again.

What Do We Do With Her?

This is the EXACT thought that went through my head when we were being discharged from the hospital. Who in their right mind would let us take this precious little baby girl home from the hospital? How do they know that we are fit to be her parents? Are they nuts?

The day we were discharged, my thoughts proved to be true... My mom had to dress Emily for the first time. I was so used to her being in a hospital infant shirt and diaper, that I didn't know what to dress her in. Regardless, we figured it out quickly.

Emily was a GREAT baby. She was happy, and inquisitive. She loved shopping in Nana's cupboards. She would wear her little apron around to clean, and would regularly stop at the cereal cabinet for a quick snack... apron and all.

I always wished I could have gotten a picture of her pucker. She would pucker up and her top lip would easily touch the bottom of her nose. It was the sweetest pucker I have ever seen, and quickly outgrown.

We had 14 visits to the hospital in preterm labor with sweet Emily. In fact, we spent our second anniversary partly at Troy Beaumont due to contractions. I was SURE we would have her early... but we didn't. Emily was born exactly on her due date; May 30 1999 @ 9:28 am. 29 hours of labor only to have a C-Section. She is worth EVERY second of it.

Of all the gifts I received on our Anniversary, the greatest one of all is my children. I promised that I would be a good mother to them. I would help to raise them into respectful, confident and decent human beings. So far... so good.

Happy 8th Birthday to our sweet "Peepers"

Tribute To America

With Gratitude...

10 Years...

May 24, 1997

Dennis and I were married.

10 Years...

It is amazing how much can happen in 10 SHORT years...

We bought a house... sold a house, bought another house.

Got our first Fur Child... and lost him.

We had two babies... they are now almost 8 and 5.

We've taken too many vacations to count...

Dennis is at the same job,

while I've worn 5 different hats.

We've had 10 different cars...

.

.

.

.

The one thing that is the most clear to me...

.

.

.

I would marry him all over again.

Thank you Dennis,

for what are proving to be the best years of my life...

For our 10 year anniversary, our gifts were...

Concert tickets in the 9th row to see Genesis (my gift to him)

A stunning 3 Diamond (Past-Present-Future) ring

and the beautiful frame you see above (his gifts to me - he even put the pictures in it)

Cat Talking

Omg, you MUST watch this!

How to Wash A Cat - By Bud Herron

A friend that I met off The Pioneer Woman's site, sent this to me. It is so funny, I couldn't help but post it. Watch it. It takes a bit of time, but the laughs you will get, are worth every second!

WHO is THAT?!

Pardon the laundry... It was laundry day. Focus on psycho kitty.

A New Friend

Are You Ok?

The words are still reverberating in my head. "No Lady, I'm FRIGGEN NUTS, Where is the GD CAT shampoo?!" ........ story to follow.

When the Veterinarian that put Booster to sleep asked if we were going to get another cat, I was almost shocked by her question. "For god sakes lady, the corpse isn't even cold yet." (These are things that go through my head that I WISH I could say).

It's been a rough week for Pumpkin. The spunky, tail chasing, shadow boxing kitty, that used to irritate the hell out of Booster, seems to have aged A LOT during this 1 week. He was a wreck. Once we finally got him eating, he spent the next few days going from room to room, over and over looking for Booster. What a heart breaking thing to see. With that... Dennis and I decided that because Pumpkin is still very young (age 3), we wanted to give him another buddy. The search started and ended at the first place I went to on Thursday. The Humane Society of Macomb on 22 Mile Road. The EXACT same place that we adopted Booster from.

Meet Charlie!

Charlie is 8 weeks old and was named by his new buddy Greg. Charlie is a spunky little dude. I personally wanted to name him either Thumper or Thunder because of the sound he makes when he runs down the hallway.

Charlie was a stinky kitty. In fact, the humane society smelled so bad that it actually got to me. Me! The one that can handle ANYTHING.... except copious amounts of pus. yish...... chills....

Anyhoo... Charlie needed a bath, so the kids and I ran up to the exceptionally overpriced pet store on the corner. We went there because there has been A LOT (understated) of traffic around here due to road construction going on nearby. So I ask the burn out chic... "Do you have any cat shampoo?" "You're kidding, right?" she replies. "No, if I was kidding I wouldn't ask for it". "Have you EVER given a cat a bath before?" she asks. "Absolutely" I reply. "It's not really that hard". As we are walking through the store she looks at me and says, "Are you OK?" And this is what I WANTED to say, "No BIATCH, APPARENTLY I'M NOT OK, AND YOU JUST LOST THE FRICKEN SALE, WHERE IS YOUR MANAGER!". But thinking about the traffic (and I'm talking A LOT -imagine taking 20 minutes to drive 2/10ths of a mile), I said, "I'm fine, Kitty stinks, where is the shampoo".

I got the shampoo and off we went. Charlie wasn't too thrilled about how his new adventure was starting out, but after all... I AM the Queen of this house and he needed to know his place... as court jester.

At first, he was so cute and did quite well.

Then something reminded me of the movie Gremlins... NEVER, NEVER get them wet!

After a nice bath, his new Papa held him in a towel. See video below. (If you don't see the video, then YouTube dropped the ball) At first Pumpkin kept looking at me, wishing I would turn away so he could eat this new "snack". Afterall, Pumpkin does weigh in at 15.8 pounds and Charlie at 2.5 - you do the math.

We have been supervising their "visits" to make sure that Pumpkin doesn't accidently hurt his little friend. It has been going quite well. In fact, Pumpkin has been swishing his tail, and batting at Charlie with his huge marshmellow paws. He just isn't sure how to "play" with Charlie, because he is so much bigger than him. I would be willing to say that I think things are going to work out nicely...

Wouldn't you agree?
Booster will never be replaced. But a cat's broken heart is on the mend.

What the H*** was that all about?!

The very question I wondered over and over as I watched Grey's Anatomy this evening. Is George leaving?! Derek and Meredith are over? Christina flipping out at the end was a replay of myself earler this week, although I wasn't screaming that I was free. Oh and what about Meredith's sister introducing herself to George at the end! OMG THAT was the chic that was hitting on Derek. THAT is going to go over like a lead balloon. I totally can't believe how this season ended and I'm already chomping at the bit to see how next season is going to go. I already know I'm going to like Addison's spin off - Private Practice. With that kiss that guy planted on her during their sort of "pilot" episode, I was hooked. It's like reading a romance novel w/o having to even pick up a book. Yep. Hook, Line and Sinker. This season finale left me totally shocked at all that took place. Let me know what you thought... reply my friends... reply...

Tomorrow I'm going to have a surprise for y'all. IF I have time to post it before going to save lives!

Wanted...

So we have decided... Booster CAN NOT be replaced. We are NOT looking to replace him as he was so unique. However... We have decided that Pumpkin being only 3 years old, needs a playmate. He is still so lost without Booster. He is finally eating, but to watch him go from room to room, and camp out by the door waiting for Booster's return is heart wrenching. We have all the means to help a boy out. So we are on the search.

We are looking for a male kitten. MUST BE SHORT HAIR. NO fluff balls wanted. We want it young so that it will be fun and spunky. Plus he won't be set in his ways yet. There ARE RULES to this house. Kitty's on the counter is a NO NO. I would like to find something with interesting color, stripes or spots. Pumpkin needs to have a little wirey friend that will play with him. I think it's exactly what the doctor ordered.

Know of anyone with Kittens? Inquire within.

Coming Around Again...

It's been a rough couple of days. I will be the first to admit that. My husband thinks I'm manic. I awoke at 5:40 this morning to what I would call an anxiety attack. I INSTANTLY missed Booster the moment I was conscious. I spent the next hour and a half crying about how I was second guessing what happened. OMG Did I murder my cat? This is the feeling that comes when you have to take your precious fur child to someplace other than his veterinarian.

I got online and chatted with Katrina while I could barely see the screen. I have been feeling horrendous over this. The anxiety, guilt and grieving have been unbearable. While chatting with her I began to feel better. I decided that I needed to talk to Dr. Ruiz @ The Kitty Clinic. Talking to the doc totally relieved me of the guilt I was feeling. I will spare you the details as you may be eating, but she basically said that Booster made it easy for us. There was no "guessing" on what day we should end his suffering. He went from being "OK" to critical in a matter of hours. There was no other choice to be made. I could not put a price on how she made me feel after that call.

Pumpkin (pictured in front w/white and orange fur) on the other hand is dealing with his own grief. He is a train wreck at the loss of his buddy. He hasn't been eating and did not use his litterbox in 24 hours. She made me an appointment for him.

Pumpkin and I arrived promptly at 1:30. He was a nervous wreck. His paws were sweating and the hair was falling out in clumps. She checked him out and said he looked pretty good for a kitty that hasn't eaten since Saturday night. She shot an appetite stimulant down his throat, then syringe fed him about 8 syringe loads of food. She warned of one side effect with the pills... Howling. The cat may start to howl like he is in pain, but he won't be. Great.

Dr. Ruiz gave me a hug and an angel kitty pin. She was very warm and comforting about what has happened. They really liked Booster there. Then again... they love all the kittys. Pumpkin is still walking around in a daze. He is a lost soul. We will get through this. I keep telling him we will because I know we will. It sucks, but we have to keep on living.

Thank you again for all of your warmth and support. I have some breathing exercises to do. ;o)

I have decided...

Grief is the most powerful and WORST of all emotions. I feel like I am losing my mind. One moment I'm fine. The next, I want to throw up. I would like to thank all of you for your kind emails and phone calls. It is very nice to know there are people that care. It doesn't make it any easier, but knowing that people care - means a lot. I probably won't be posting until I come to grips with what has happened. Long story short, he was fine one moment, and bleeding out of the nose the next. I am second guessing myself like crazy which doesn't help. Out of the entire family, for some reason, I'm the one that just can't seem to handle this at all. I am praying that this will get easier and just stop hurting the way it does. It is like being eaten from the inside out... literally. Again thank you for all of your thoughts and condolences.

Valerie

As It Was In The Beginning, It Was In The End...

We got Booster in September 1997. The year we were married. The house was too quiet, and we needed a companion. What a wonderful boy. At the Humane Society, I picked him, because he was rubbing up against the door of the cage. We went into the little room and he proceeded to try and chew the buttons off my sweater. He was a keeper.

I brought him home. He was scrawny, had fleas and a respiratory infection to boot. We cleaned him up, medicated him and debugged him. What a quirky cat. He LOVED to get celophane wrapped candies out of the dish on the coffee table and would bring them to us in the middle of the night. We would throw them down the hallway and he would fetch them and bring them back.

When I would come home from work, he would hear the car pull up and would jump on the counter by the door. He would smash his head through the blinds to see me and couldn't wait for me to get through the door. He would instantly give me "brown sugar" (I called it that because he was orange). He still met us at the door to this day. He was our FIRST child.

When I left for the hospital to have Emily, I remember worrying that I didn't want him to lose his place in the family. He never did, although many times he gave me the "what were you thinking" look.

He came to be known as the speed bump in the hallway. You never went down the hallway at full speed, because he would be there. He learned to sit and shake his paw for a treat the way a dog would. He would beg for food from the dinner table.

We had a Cat/Dog. I never wanted a dog, because all dogs I had known, begged. How did I manage to get a cat that begged? Booster would spend hours watching the birds out the window and was very intrigued the first time we had a squirrel come to the door of our old house.

Booster could hear a can of cat food being opened from a mile away. He would wake up out of a dead sleep and come running for it. He would purr at the sound of Aunt Donna's voice when I put the phone up to his ear. You could hear him snoring from across the room.

This past year, he took an interest in sitting with me. It was the first time in his whole life that he actually liked to sit next to me and to snuggle. He would come running to the front door when it opened, because he loved to cook himself in the sunshine that it provided.

He was a wonderful pet. I loved him so much and will always. My heart is broken because today, on Mothers Day, I had to put him to sleep. He developed a bleeding disorder which I found when I awoke this morning. I took him in and there was nothing that could be done. He tried to meow to me when I spoke to him in the car, but nothing came out. He purred the whole way there which made this even harder.

I loved my sweet prince. I will miss each and every little thing he did, including watching over us at night while we slept.

Good Night sweet boy. I will always love you and will NEVER forget you.

Love Momma.

Booster Patrick Milobar
May 13, 2007

NO one is THIS lucky!

So today I went to my annual Scrapbooking Megameet aka The Superbowl of Scrapbooking as Dennis calls it. I have been going to this with Kim ever since I met her, so this is my.... 3 or 4th year. We lost count.

This year Katrina went with us. She is a newbie. I told her... wear comfy shoes, get there early and by all means... PREMEDICATE. It is like sensory overload. A gazillion women all pushing and shoving for the best deal. (Picture one of those bridal dress give aways you see on TV where they are all tripping over each other).

I am proud to announce that I did not spend a million dollars this year. I admit I may have been coerced into buying somethings that I don't know what I'm going to do with yet, but I had too... they were cute!

So we took 3 classes. Awesome classes which I will post a photo of some of the projects on another day. First I have my story to tell...

In each class, we have a registration ticket to hand in. The instructor draws names from these tickets and gives the winners some fabulous prizes.

First class... Katrina Wins!!! She was the first name drawn. We were so excited!

Second class... Katrina Wins again! What are the chances?! Again we are laughing and excited for her.

Third class.... The biatch wins again. Are they kidding? Katrina, if you're reading this take notice... you're not invited next year. wink wink It was a TON of fun even if I'm the BIGGEST LOSER.

It was a ton of fun, and again... worth the trip. I bought some stuff and will now have to unload some things in the garage sale to "make room".

"The Smart Kid"

When Emily was in Kindergarten, she floored many people with her accelerated reading skills. One parent still recalls the time Emily was reading out loud and read the word metamorphosis correctly and without hesitation. That parent urged her son to "sit by the smart kid" from that point on.

Now that she is finishing up second grade, she still "wows" the crowd and is frequently asked to help other students with their work as she flew threw hers.
That is the Emily that many of the students and parents know at her school.

My favorite version of Emily is the one that asks for Lip Blam because she can't get the BALM part right. Or today she gave me a chuckle when she asked for a Neopitopian (Neopolitan) ice cream cone.

Now if we could only end the confusion of Emily calling me her teachers name, and her teacher being called 'Mom'.

Barracudas Opening Day

Emily hitting the FIRST pitch!

Ahhh the peace and quiet...

I did it. I have been threatening to do it for years now. Having 6 loads of laundry on a beautiful day such as this, I packed it all up and went to the laundromat. I had ALL of it washed within 45 minutes. It was a little pricey, but how can you put a price on your time?

There is something very peaceful about an empty laundromat. There was one other elderly man there and the woman that was working there. I went in, loaded the machines and had just enough time to quickly glance over my latest BHG magazine.

The dryers were another story. After putting in quite a bit of money, I finally decided to bring home the damp clothes to hang what I don't dry all the way, and the rest I will work through as the day progresses.

I also stripped our bed, cleaned it, turned it, (have you ever attempted to turn a KING size mattress by yourself? Hello 1-800-BAD-BACK? lol). Plus I took the skirt off of it, which now will be a comical event trying to put it back on. The top mattress must weigh all of 100 pounds or more. Plus Dennis is working today. Sheesh.... I feel like Laura!

Regardless, most of my laundry is done. A huge weight has been lifted. So I stand here at the kitchen counter, typing on the laptop, with a HUGE bowl (think party size from nearest grocery store) of fruit salad and "dip" to pick through... No TV. No Kids. No nothing... but the whirr of the dryer.

The BIG Event!

On Sunday, Emily made her First Holy Communion. It was a beautiful and touching mass. Father Mike was entertaining while officiating the Mass. She was absolutely beautiful. Emily was very appreciative for of all those who thought of her on her special day. I was very proud of her as she was a gracious child.

Click the Photo...

FYI to make a photo bigger, CLICK on it.

Barracudas Opening Day!

2007 Barracudas

(Emily is sitting, second from left)

Charles in Charge...

Kayla, Emily, Gabrielle, & Lauren

Post O'Rama...

BUSY weekend for us. Busy being an understatement. I'm going to upload as many photos as I can, but there may be multiple posts, so read on...

Mrs. Milobar... Can we see you for a moment?

Ahhhh yes. Words every mother wants to hear. This is what I got to hear at the Dentist office this afternoon. Emily and Greg both had cleaning appointments. Greg offered to go first. He was so excited.While Emily and Greg disappeared through the door, I relaxed in the waiting room and caught up with the latest edition of Family Circle with the sun warming my back. It was after Greg had finished with his cleaning that I heard those very words.

The receptionist showed me the way to the room. As we approach the examination room, I find the Dentist outside the door, laughing hysterically. Uh oh. I peek in to see none other than GREG. Emily is in the chair with the hygenist cleaning her teeth. Greg has on goggles, a mask and gloves. He is "assisting" in the cleaning. Oh No...

The hygenist was laughing so hard I'm surprised she didn't hurt Emily. That kid totally made their day. And they made his by sending him home with gloves, and a mask along with a tooth brush, paste, flossers and a water gun.

No wonder they LOVE the Dentist. Oh... Greg is changing careers now.

Boy in a Bubble

I'm becoming addicted. To The Pioneer Woman's website that is. Every since I began reading it, I haven't stopped. I read it EVERY DAY. As funny and photographically (is that even a word?) talented Ree is, I am learning something about myself the more I read her blog. I am an overprotective parent. The photos she shows of her rather young children on these beautiful horses, gathering cattle, makes me feel like I'm in the process of raising sissys. To see her 4 year old on his own horse, makes me feel stupid that I won't let my kids on their bikes without helmets. A horse has a mind of it's own and can "flip out" at any given moment. And here I am, worried that my child will fall off his/her bike in which they are approximately 6" off the ground, and in full control of.

In the past couple weeks, I have realized that I need to relinquish some control and let them be kids. Yesterday was a great experience for me. Dennis, Greg and I went to Weigands Nursery to look for a tree. While the storefront is beautiful, the BEST part is exploring the back 40 to find a hidden treasure. It is dirty, and rocky, but peaceful and enlightening. Greg was fully dressed to catch the bus as soon as we would arrive home.

As we walked through the back of the nursery, Greg found a rock that he wanted to carry around. Then he found a large chunk of wood, approximately 12" long. As he is carrying his "treasures" I happen to look over at him and found that he was covered in dirt. His coat, shirt and pants had dirt all over them. My first inclination was to flip out, but then I remembered Ree's kids on horses and how relaxed she seems to be. Instead of doing what I would normally do, I blew it off and let him have his moment. He's a boy and what damage is dirt going to do if he happens to take it to school with him? Nothing. So with that, I felt that I had a breakthrough moment.

Greg went to school, dirty and all. Dennis and I planted our new tree - A weeping Eastern Redbud which we put in front of our house by the bedroom window. Then when the kids got home from school, we all worked in the front yard. Weeding, putting in weed mat and lots of new, fresh mulch. It was EXACTLY what I needed. I feel so refreshed and renewed, and much more relaxed. Thanks Pioneer Woman. You have enlightened me.

www.thepioneerwoman.com

Crazy for a Reason

Sometimes I feel that I have to watch what I say to certain people about my feelings on prescription drugs. I mean here I am, working in health care where prescription drug use is the norm. I see people every day, that just want the "quick fix" in a pill. Unfortunately I'm not one of those people. I am mostly against prescription drug use, because I feel that it is important to get to the root of the problem, instead of masking it. However, I MUST ADD that some things NEED the drugs. For these problems, it is impossible to "fix" the problem, so therefore the drugs are needed. So before anyone starts spouting off on the defensive side, know that if your "issue" can not be solved in another way, then I 100% agree that you need the meds. THERE.

So, this past week hasn't been a cake walk for me. As you know, I've had this dumb sinusitis. Along with my antibiotics, I was prescribed Deconamine which is an allergy pill. I took 1 Deconamine and spent the next 12 hours stoned... waiting and praying it would wear off. I must add that I was at work during this "episode". During my impairment, I lost an entire box of new scalpels, forgot why I was calling a patient on the phone, right about the time they answered, and gave my coworkers some really good laughs. Just as it wore off, my doctor happened to walk in, wearing a tee shirt and jeans. He had just brought an Ultrasound Machine to the practice (which is next door). I told him what happened, so he told me to grab samples of Allegra D. Allegra is a great allergy medication, however the "D" has been having a profound effect on me.

While I can't believe how well I am breathing, the side effects are killer. Just this past weekend, I went to my "happy place" which is Nino's of course, and had a very strange thing happen. In fact, it almost required a paperbag to cure the problem. I am chalking all of this anxiety up to the meds that I am taking. Lucky for me, the antibiotics will be finished tomorrow night, however, I desperately need to find an alternative to this Allegra D. I have been avoiding coffee like the plague, because the caffeine in combination with the pseudoepedrine are making me feel like I'm nuts. Literally.

So... I need to get to the root of my seasonal allergy problem, because the current course of treatment just isn't working. Well it's working, but it's doing more than I would prefer. I can't just stop taking it without another method, because that's one reason I ended up with the sinusitis in the first place. Well that and the fact that I didn't finish my antibiotics the first time... in March.

Operators are standing by. Feel free to post your "holistic methods" for my reading pleasure.

One of the Coolest Doc's I ever Knew...

PFLAUM DR BRADFORD D D O
April 30, 2007
Of Waterford, died suddenly April 27, 2007 at 44 years of age. Loving husband of Heidi, whom he married on August 8, 1998. Loving and devoted father of Sydney, Ashley, Nicholas and Hailey. Loving son of Beth Pflaum. Preceded in death by his father, Dr. Byron C. Pflaum. Dear brother of Dr. Byron (Sue) Pflaum, Hilde (Dennis) Dilley and Barb Pflaum. Son-in-law of Rich and Jenny Fedorczyk. Brother-in-law of Rich Fedorczyk, Jody Fedorczyk and Michael Fedorcyzk. Also survived by nieces and nephews: Adrienna, Jason, Liz, Bri, Taylor, Jody, Jr., Austin, Ian, Christopher, Anna, Carter and Kaitlin. Best friend of Mark Vento and Dr. Dave Yangouyian. Brad was a graduate of North Muskegon High School and Michigan State University. He earned his doctorate at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He did is internship at Garden City Hospital and his residency at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital. Brad was Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. He was the Director of Emergency Medicine at Oakwood Heritage Hospital. Brad loved and adored his family and enjoyed golfing, boating and snowmobiling. Funeral Service will be Wednesday, May 2, 2007 11 a.m. at COATS FUNERAL HOME, Waterford. The family will receive friends Tuesday 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to a Trust Fund for his children's education. To send a private condolence to the family select guestbook at www.coatsfuneralhome.com

Happy Wothers Day!

Yesterday I went to Greg's School for Mommy Time. It was WONDERFUL. We went to the multi-purpose room where they sang to us. Then the children went with a teacher to watch a movie, while we were escorted to the Library where we watched a DVD made by the teacher. I loved every minute of it. After the video was done, the children came back to us and presented us with the items shown above. The plate has a drawing of Greg and I standing next to a tree. It is in my curio cabinet and will be cherished forever.

Mommy Time

Greg is FRONT and CENTER in Red White and Blue Flowered Shirt.

Amen!

This was sent to me by a friend. I LOVE it! As you can see.

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as they see fit.
In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test,
which I have no problem with. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to
get a welfare check, because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on
their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sit on
their butt. Could you imagine how much money the state would save if people
had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check. I can totally agree.

Did I tell you?

I could swear in an earlier edition, I said something about finishing antibiotics. Didn't I? Sorry, I'm feeling a little hypoxic. That would be because I never finished my antibiotics from my sinusitis I had in March. I guess I'll finish them this time... until then, if you haven't seen her blog, you must read The Pioneer Woman's blog. I laughed hysterically and coughed to the point of passing out at the same time.

On the forefront... we went to the Tiger Game yesterday with Kraig and Katrina. It was awesome!!! When Markus Thames hit that homerun, it landed about 3 feet in front of us. We were on TV! Anyone want an autograph, lol. It was a beautiful day and I'm so glad we could go. I have the savage farmer tan to boot.

Yes... He Did It Again...

Greg and I ran to Meijer this morning. As we are walking down the main aisle in the grocery section, I notice this man. Mid 30's, acting like he's shopping, but not doing a very good job of it. You know the type... Department 10 - AKA Security. I start chuckling to myself because "I" know exactly who he is, but he doesn't know I know. I hadn't said a word to Greg and suddenly...it is at this precise moment that my beautiful child, fruit of my womb, love of my life, blurts out,

"WE'RE SHOPLIFTING!"

I have NO idea where this came from, and why he said it, but I AM grateful that I was wearing a slimming tee shirt, jeans and birkenstocks. Plus carrying my tiny spring purse. For that... I had no where to put anything, even if I wanted to.... except in to the mouth of the babe.

Test Pilots Wanted...

I told you it sounded freakish. I'm fairly willing to take control over my health, but to actually read what that does to your body just flips me out. Katrina?? Any takers on this?

Looking for Briget

Briget,

I can not find your email address to write you back. Email me at PlacesToSea@comcast.net.

Valerie

Test Pilots Wanted...

You guys are nuts... I googled the recipe to see if I could find it only because the one I have here on paper is quite extensive. This is the one I found that seems quite close to the one I have. I am a too big of a chicken to try it. So ya'll have at it and let me know how things "come out", lol. Make sure you have some Propel Water or Gatorade on hand in case you throw your acid base balance off. http://home.bluegrass.net/~jclark/liver_cleanse.htm I will be standing by with an IV needle in hand. :)

What They Don't Tell You...

I met an interesting woman last week. It was Friday at Emily's softball practice. Her daughter is on the same team. Last week's topic of discussion... Liver & Gall Bladder cleansing done at home.

I was totally enthralled in this discussion. I find it shocking that with the right "recipe", you can get your gallbladder and liver to purge nasty stones and other "stuff". At the same time, it sounds horrifyingly scary. I took this new information to work with me on Saturday and spoke to one of the doc's. It was a GREAT conversation and once again, makes me so happy to work where I do. You get sound medical advice, in a very casual atmosphere w/o making an appointment. Dr. Steffan's advice? Be careful of your electrolytes and send me the recipe.

Today she brought me the recipe for it. It sounds actually fairly easy, but sounds like it takes your body through a wild ride. I'm almost too afraid to do it, but am interested to see what my liver and gall bladder may be holding on to. The woman has the most pure skin I have EVER seen. It is absolutely radiant. It is so fair, and clean. Just looking at her, you know she has it together. Not to mention that she does "healing energy work" (Today's conversation topic).

The entire conversation started after Kim and I were discussing my new job. The woman overheard us talking. When she came to talk with me, she said that she is a patient of one of one of the doc's in our group. He is fully aware of her gallbladder cleanse, in fact, he knew exactly which recipe she was going to use, as he too is into holistic healing. This is the part that they don't tell you...

We have been going to Silver Pine Family Physicians since 2000. We see Dr. Kotsonis who is a D.O. He is now my boss. He is the only D.O. in the group. I chose him because of his medical degree. A D.O is a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine. They like to use other methods of healing rather than to hand out pills fist over cuff. He has been awesome in this capacity, even doing my neck and back adjustments periodically. Dr. Thibault (pronounced Teebow) is the woman's doctor. He is the one that likes holistic remedies. Never... in all the years that I have known these physicians, have I EVER known them to be into alternative therapies. Yet now that I work there... I am "learning". One physican in particular injured his finger, causing him to get a nail fungus. He firmly believes that taking Lamisil for the recommended period of time, absolutely leaves a little "something" behind in your liver. Hmmm I wonder if that could be "cleansed" out???

The moral to my story? Don't be so quick to jump into a pill bottle. When you have a little something going on, ask your doctor what "other" remedies they think would work prior to popping the pills. Plus hit the internet for some "tips". As always do what your Doc tells you to, but you may be surprised... what they don't tell you is that they too are all about natural cures when warranted.

Please Pass the Xanax

Today Dennis and I went to Lowes to get ideas for our kitchen. Our wheels ARE turning. First off, let me update and tell you that the laundry room will be staying upstairs. After a lot of consideration and advice from people (including our trusty realtor, Debbie), we have decided to keep it upstairs. It is just going to be reconfigured. No big deal. In fact today I realized that my friend Genevieve's laundry room is almost exactly like mine. The exception is that her washer and dryer are both under the window. Plus she has a bigger window than I do. With her laundry room like this, it looks quite big.

Anyway, we went looking today. Cabinets... he wants white, I want maple. I want some glass doors, he doesn't. And so it starts. We did pick up a couple of books to look through and so far we have come up with a couple ideas, however the one thing we both agree on is that we need someone to "design" it for us. So we're going to be looking for the "free" design services of local companies.

I'm sure we will have our bumps along this road, but I am very glad that we have decided to do this now. We have no intentions on moving anytime soon. At this moment, I can visualize Emily and Greg both graduating out of this house. Now if I can just keep Dennis from ripping out the kitchen before it's time.

On a lighter note... Katrina turned me on to this blog. http://thepioneerwoman.com/ I read some of it yesterday. The woman is a total scream. I highly recommend it for your reading pleasure. Plus her photographs are stunning.

New Kid on the Block

We woke up today to find a new kid on the block. It appears the Bunny & Squirrel are sharing quite nicely. Too bad Pumpkin wants to eat them.

The Glass is FULL

When I was little and heard the phrases regarding the glass being half full or half empty, it really got me thinking. People make up these things, but not a lot of people stop to think of "What does it REALLY mean?" I decided at that moment that I was going to be a "half full" type of person. I still am to this day and I take pride in it. In the grand scheme of things, things can be a whole hell of a lot worse. Count your blessings.

Yesterday I decided that I am incredibly lucky to work at the Urgent Care. I wanted it so badly. Even way back in the early days when the property was just a field, and the hint of a building being erected, floated through the departments at the hospital. We were all a buzz hoping and wishing for an Urgent Care to be built on that spot. How ironic that not only would I get my wish, but my very own physician would be the one opening it. Even more ironic that he would ask me personally to come work there.

Let me tell you... I LOOOOOOVVVVEEEE my job. I can't believe I actually get paid to work there. I've decided that having lunch & dinner brought to us every day is really a huge perk. Especially since it's from all our favorite restaurants! I try to make wise food choices, but when they brought in Andiamos, all bets were off! So not only do I get paid to work there, I save money by having my meals provided, PLUS they bring in such an abundance of food, that last week alone, I didn't have to cook dinner on 2 different days! We have great conversations, lots of laughs and with spring break... it has been so slow that I actually got paid to watch Grey's Anatomy last night.

Officer Charles in Charge...

Greg FINALLY stopped puking today. Actually this morning. I think that it was a hypoglycemic episode. For those who have it... you know how bad that sucks when you are vomiting from the flu? I was ready to plug the kid into a D5W IV drip. (Sugar water).

So today, after Emily's piano lesson, we had to get out of here. I absolutely felt like the walls were closing in on me. I can't imagine why. Maybe it's because from 6 - 8 am this morning, I had to do 2 loads of laundry and clean the living room carpeting. (note to self - next time sick child is in living room, make sure bucket is handy).

So once we got little boy blue's sugar adjusted and he got some rest, he was READY to go. She finished her piano lesson and off we went! We picked up Subway, and went to the fire station to visit Dennis, who has been there since Monday morning. I must add that he is ALWAYS gone when the kids or I get sick. So I would like to take this moment to thank ALL of those who have bailed me out with Propel water, and other items that we just could not live without - at moments when I absolutely could not leave the house. I am forever in your debt.

After eating lunch with Dennis, the kids and their Daddy jumped into the ambulance to check it out. They then started preparing the truck for the next run. "This is where Greg gets to 5 finger discount some gloves and Daddy gives him a couple syringes (w/o needles) to play with.

After getting out of the truck, we noticed a sheriffs car out on the driveway. Greg went NUTS!!! He took off like a shot running through the fire department to see the officer who was standing inside. Greg zeroed in on the gun. He was totally in awe of this deputy. Greg then proceeded to ask the officer how many bullets he had in his extra clips. "Do you have a strip of 40 bullets?" (I think we need to lock out the military channel on the TV). The officer was more than nice in answering all of Greg's questions. He actually couldn't get over Greg and how he was not shy at all. Considering he had us all calling him Officer Charles last summer, you can imagine he was just a little excited.

The officer then asked Greg if he would like to see the patrol car. Are you kidding? Someone please pass the child a paper bag to hyperventilate into. We went outside where Greg promptly took his place in the front seat. He looked over everything even grabbing hold of the steering wheel. He asked lots of questions including "Why is there a cage in the backseat?" The officer said it was for the "thugs". This is where Mommy steps in and kindly reminds Greg to AVOID the back seat at all cost or he will suffer a wrath unlike any other... from his mother.

Greg gets out of the car and starts checking out the officer again. Out come the hand-cups (as Greg calls them). 2.2 seconds later, he has Emily's hands pinned behind her back and is asking for the cuffs. Emily was a great sport through it all. The officer showed the cuffs and said that next time he will give Greg a lesson in "speed cuffing". Great. Just make sure you have the key.

After Greg unhands Emily, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out... the syringe! The officer looks down and says, "Oh what is this? Drug paraphernalia?". Dennis promptly lost color and his eyes were like baseballs. Literally. It was hysterical. We explained where it came from, but it still pretty much floored us. Greg almost got a little ride in the cage to the Hackel Hilton for some Prime Rib, which is apparently what they serve there... according to Greg.

5.2 seconds....

We spent Easter at Tim & Stacey's new home in Troy. Their home is absolutely stunning and now has us incredibly motivated to make some "changes". Their home is so tastefully decorated, and so "dooable" for people like Den and I. 5.2 seconds is about how long we were in our door before Dennis was standing in the laundry room with a measuring tape in hand. Our wheels are turning, however, I am still pushing for laundry in the basement. My theory is this... People that live in a colonial, who have first floor laundry are the same as people who live in a ranch that have laundry in the basement. It's no big deal to me. I AM the one that does the laundry around here, so I would prefer it down there. It is a royal pain in the hoohaa to walk around drying racks all the time.

So with that, we are "thinking".

This was a WONDERFUL Easter. We had the best time. Uncle Don has been doing a lot of cooking in his retirement. He made 2 GREAT hams, a HUGE bowl of Potato Salad, weighing approximately 200 pounds, which was awesome, plus 3 different cakes! YUM!!! Stacey made baked beans (Vinnie put cinnamon on his, so I followed suit for a change and liked it quite a bit). We also had Salad (which I will post the recipe for) and rolls. We all took home left overs. The company was fun. We had a lot of laughs, a lot of coffee, and just visited. Chuckie has lost too much weight. I told him that if he didn't start a maintenance "plan" that he would start to "click" as he walked from his bones knocking together.

Tim & Stacey were wonderful hosts. Their kids are a riot. Maddie was pretty bent out of shape when her Grandma (Aunt Margie) put her coat on. Maddie promptly went and got her shoes and coat and thought she was going to the Fwaiwer (Trailer - aka Aunt Margie's & Uncle Don's camper out at the lake). Forget the fact that the trailer is covered in snow and ice!

It was such a great time. We are already looking forward to next year. Now where's that hammer????

Dog in Pool...smartest dog in the world

I LOVE this!

The Sweetest Recipe I ever got... How Much Cinnamon?

F.F.F.F FREEEZZZINN!!!!

HOLY smokes it was cold yesterday! Yes.. I know, many of you will say, "It was nice out". It was, but our seats for opening day were DIRECTLY underneath the scoreboard. Literally. When I looked up, I saw the dead bottom of the board. We couldn't even see what was on the board. So, for the first 2.5 hours of the game, we were freezing our kahonies off. I thought I had dressed appropriately, but I guess not.

It was a lot of fun. Where else can you go and tie one on at 11am and be dead sober by 4? The bathroom was a little scary, so we quit drinking immediately after entering the park. For some odd reason, (I'm chalking this up to the 44,000 + fans)there were lines everywhere.

It almost makes us sad for the days when the Tigers sucked. You could buy a nose bleeder seat and then move down to sit right by First Base... (we actually did this when Bobby Higginson was still on the team). Now that they are hot, the fair weather fans are out in full force.

I look forward to the day where we will be sitting in our regularly scheduled seating.

On another note... this week is FLYING by! Good lord! It is Wednesday tomorrow!!! I have a lot to accomplish before the kids get out of school on Thursday. That includes a return to the vet for Booster. I will keep you posted on him. Until then...

Have a Wonderful Easter!

Section 146, Row KK, Seat 11

That will be my location tomorrow for TIGERS OPENING DAY BABY!!! I am very excited about this coming year. ESPN is saying that the Tigers will probably go to the World Series again this year and if they do... THEY WILL WIN IT!

Vamanos Le Tigres!!! For our spanish speaking friends....

For those who want to know... we are not sitting in our "normal" seats for opening day. Our regular seats will once again be Section 150, Row A, with NO ONE but the visiting team's pitchers sitting in front of us. We have a quite a few games we can not attend, so if you are interested in scoring some tickets in stellar seats... shoot us an Email. We are not scalpers. We only want what we paid for them. And yes... if they make the playoffs, I WILL be going.

Vamanos Le Tigres!!!

OMG! I'm turning into my Mother!!!

There is a common joke around here. Sorry Mom, but it pertains to you. For the rest of you here is my story...

While we lived in Milford, my mom worked at IGA up in town. She always got her groceries there. I don't quite remember when she stopped working there, but we moved to Harrison Township in 1986. Quite a difficult move for my sister and I, although my parents would say differently.

After we moved, my mom became a BIG fan of the local party stores. Dick's Party Store was right on North River Road. Literally less than 1 mile from our door. Pete's market, was across the river about 2 miles away. Audrey, my mom and I all worked there at some point. The owners, were pretty decent people, and very hard working.

We had to bypass these two stores to go to the local grocery stores, Kroger and Farmer Jack. When we needed a substantial amount of groceries, we would go to those places, however if it was 1 or 2 items, it was quicker to hit the little party stores... You know the place... where butter is like $8 per pound... Loaf of bread... $5 lol.

Now that has become the joke in our house... As most married couples do, over the years, we have come to know a lot about each other's childhoods. My excitement over getting my license was quickly dashed by the 2000 trips per week up to Pete's or Dicks for a pound of butter. It cost more for the product than it did for gas getting there!

Unfortunately, I find that I am falling into the same bad habit!!! Case in point... I have been to Walgreens twice in the past 2 days! Yesterday it was for laundry detergent, because I wanted to get my laundry going and Costco was too far away(It's like 1 mile). Second was for canned cat food. With Boosters recent "issues" I am finding that the resident moocher wants only canned cat food. He proved it to me today by presenting his dried "reconstituted" cat food onto the living room carpeting.

I have Meijer like a mile away too. Why my sudden obsession with Walgreens? Because 1. I don't wish to take part in international culture day at Meijer which happens to be EVERY day. Apparently manners are not a priority in foreign countries, as their former residents and our new immigrants have shown me.

2. When I need like 1 thing, why in the world would I want to wait behind a person with 237 items in their buggy?

So with that... I got Tide... 2 for $7 and cat food... yes it was pricey at $.69 per can. Petsmart is MUCH cheaper at something like $.33 per can. I am just not into shopping with the weekend warriors anymore. Now I don't feel like I can poke fun at my mom anymore and her extravagant shopping at Pete's or Dick's which is now "D" Brothers.

It all makes sense to me now...

For those of you that commented on my kitchen post and other postings... I just haven't gotten a chance to "publish" them as I still can not log in on the desktop pc. If Katrina (who thinks she has NOTHING to talk about) would UPDATE her blog, then I would be able to leave a comment on her's, which allows me to go to mine without having to sign in again... which would let me publish the comments... so GET CRACKIN GIRL!

Get Rich Quick!

I need money. I big chunk of it. Den and I agree that we both have the urge to tear out our kitchen. I want it redone. Our laundry room is off the kitchen. The washer and dryer are on one side of the wall, with the stove on the other side of the wall. I want that wall removed, and the washer and dryer to go downstairs. (In my opinion first floor laundry is overrated). Dawn said to get Granite counter tops. To me, that is trivial. They are pretty, but overpriced in my opinion. I would like to look at different surfaces, but laminate is fine with me. I want a built in double oven, with a cooktop in the counter. I want the refridge to go where the pantry is now. That will open up our dining area A LOT.

So tell me... where do I come up with a chunk of change? The last thing I want to do is finance it. Plus I don't mind doing manual labor. I know that will save us a pretty penny as well.

And that my friends is my .02 cents!

PS. I LOVE working. There is nothing better than pulling in a paycheck.

Petri Dish Playtime...

That sums it up around here lately. Dennis has had 8 days off. During that time, Emily had the flu which included the hospital stay (this overlapped his last day working), then he had the flu, then Greg caught a cold, then an ear infection, then I caught something. I say something because I haven't the slightest idea what it is. I am pretty sure it is a sinus infection. Luckily I had a prescription that I hadn't had filled yet, so I'm good to go. Now I just need a time warp so I can feel better instantly!

That's about it on the homefront this week. Oh and in regards to the skateboarder that was pushed by the cop... he had it coming. Punk!

Thank God He's Only 5!

Alexandra is Emily's friend. She is very short, and very cute and has VERY long hair that goes well beyond her little hiney. Her father was bringing her over one day and Greg drops this bombshell, "I LOVE looking at your daughter". That statement is verbatim out of Child B's mouth. I almost FELL OVER. Thank God he's only 5 because if he were about 16, I'm sure Mr. Cooper would have knocked his block off. lol.

Enjoy the cartoon! Thank God my cat's like being vacuumed with the hose! Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

The Winds of Change...

The title reminds me of the movie... Chocolat. It is a GREAT movie. However the movie does not relate to my topic. Well sort of... In it, Julia Armond moves to a french town to open up a chocolatrie. She befriends a gypsy (Johnny Depp) which turns most of the town against her. She decides that she and Annuk, her daughter are going to leave. She drags a fighting Annuk down the stairs only to find many of the people that were against her, standing in her kitchen, making chocolates... preparing for a festival. She is floored. With that she decides to stay. With the winds of change howling outside her bedroom window, she decides to throw the ashes of her deceased mother into the wind. The winds of change which had initiated her wanting to move in the first place. She decides her mothers ashes can move on, she and Annuk will stay put.

The winds of change seem to be howling around this house. For some odd reason my taste for coffee is changing too. A week ago, I felt I could not live without it. Suddenly, I find I don't even want it. It's the Green Tea. I'm becoming addicted to the green tea. Today instead of firing up the coffee pot, I made tea instead. This is WAY out of the box for me. That's all I had to say. :)

The movie is one of my favorites. Definitely a "Purchase Worthy" movie!

Lookin' for a Leprechaun!

I'm going to lose it... My mind that is. This week has been the week from HELL! Everyone is getting these horrendous illnesses. Where are they coming from? Are the bacteria and viruses becoming resistant to antibiotics and antibacterial cleaners? This week, Emily went to school on Monday, then proceeded to vomit and have diarrhea the rest of the week. It also included a stay at the Pediatrics Unit at Troy Beaumont Hospital for IV rehydration. I'm telling you... Diarrhea is one thing, but 48 hours straight of vomiting? It makes you gain a whole new appreciation for just having diarrhea. At least you can keep the fluids down!

My week included numerous loads of laundry, catering to her every whim, and trying to comfort her when I was at a total loss. Lucky for us, it all ended for her yesterday.

Fast forward to today... Dennis just came off of a 48 hour shift... He now has the flu. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! He has been in bed all day. I can not believe this. My freshly bleached bathrooms are once again contaminated hazardous zones. Emily is walking on pins and needles. She wanted to leave the moment that she found out daddy has the flu. Can you blame her? Ugh... Cheers to another week in the trenches.

Michigan Stadium dedication - 1927

For your viewing pleasure... Notice the fields around Michigan Stadium! Not to mention the grass leading up to it.

You're doing what?

Laura is a good friend of mine. I met her while her son Brian and Greg were in a Come Play with Me class together two years ago. We've been friends ever since. One day last spring, Greg and I stopped over their house. They live like 1.2 miles from our door - if that. As I pull up, I found a ton of stuff out on their driveway. The entire garage was cleaned out. I thought to myself, "Well that's cool, I finally get to meet Ron" who is her ever elusive husband (he travels A LOT). We knocked on the door repeatedly but no one answered. So we quietly went around back, expecting to find her out there. Sure enough L & B were having hot dogs for lunch. Ron was nowhere to be found. Laura, decided to take it upon herself to clean out the garage, moving shelving units, ladders, paint cans, the whole nine yards. So I asked her why she would do such a heavy task, as it seems like that is the man's domain. (Whenever we have a party, Den's priority is to clean the garage... even if it's 12 below, and even when no one will be out there - it is his "thing").

Her reply... she wanted to sweep and mop the garage floor? "Huh?" I replied. "You're doing what?" She proceeds to tell me that a lot of dirt comes from the garage floor. Especially after the car brings in a lot of salt in the winter.

Today I had that lightbulb moment. I pulled the car out to clean it out and wash it. When I saw what was on the floor, it suddenly became quite clear. This week, providing the weather stays stellar, the garage will be swept and mopped. If Laura can do it, I can do it.

She is on my mind right now as I sit here drinking Green Tea that Den made. It was Laura that got me hooked on it. She says, "A thin slice of fresh ginger and a bit of honey in it make it quite palatable." She has also lost 7 pounds on it for some reason that neither of us can figure out. Now he and I are green tea junkies.

The official "BOOSTER" update...

I think he is playing with my emotions. Friday we had Mike & Donna over. Booster is her boyfriend. He will purr for her at the sound of her voice. Once I even put the phone up to his head and she talked to him. Instantly... he was purring. I say he is a "cheap date" as he gives up the purr so easily.

Friday while they were here, he would have NOTHING to do with her. He stayed in his bed all day. Again he wouldn't eat. She and Mike were as worried as I was. Yet as soon as their car left the driveway, here he comes. He plops down on the kitchen floor, purring like a harley. I put his food out and he went to town on it. I don't get this cat. I swear, I think he is playing on my emotions.

We are still giving him the pills, but at this point, I don't know what is up with him. He seems to be acting quite normal. I hope it is just IBS and tomorrow I will be calling for his recheck at the vet. He appears to have put on more weight which is a GREAT thing.

180 degree turn around...

Yesterday I called the vet quite worried about Booster. He was very weak. He wouldn't get out of bed and he wouldn't eat. I went to the office and picked up steriods and antibiotics for him. They also gave me 2 cans of cat food with syringes in case he completely stopped eating.

It was a very emotional day. I gave him the two pills before I left for work.

Upon returning home. I was met at the door by none other than Booster. He met me like he normally does. He was a totally different cat! He followed me around for a while before falling asleep in the hallway. This was after he ate A LOT of cat food.

This morning he came into our room to greet me. I am so relieved.

I am still giving him the pills because they are not sure if he has cancer or if he may have IBS. Keep your fingers crossed. He has been acting like himself again, even wanting to play with me for a few minutes this morning.

So far so good.

IBS or Cancer?

That is the question of the week. I didn't mean to be so "non-existant" but it's been crazy around here. The most recent developments in the Nut House are with Booster. He has lost some serious weight. I called the vet yesterday and took him in. He went from 17 pounds to 14 within a short period of time.

They drew blood which he was NOT happy about, and took an Xray. Funny how a cat's ribs look tiny compared to an adults. Theirs are match stick thin. His protein was extremely high which they can't figure out. He has an elevated calcium, but not high enough to diagnose him with cancer and he is almost anemic.

They said because of his history of cancer (hence the amputation of the tail) that they think it is cancer. The bizarre thing is that he's acting quite normal. Besides the weight loss, you wouldn't know anything is wrong.

So today they called with some more blood work results which were pretty normal. The vetrinarian that called said she thinks he could also have a severe form of IBS. Hmmm I say, scratching my head.

They said they can put him on cortisone pills twice a day. If it is cancer it will help with any pain he may be having, and it will prolong his life. If he doesn't have cancer, it won't hurt him either. Hmmm...

So today I started feeding him in the kitchen (their bowls are downstairs). This way I can see how often he is eating. He ate quite a bit today, so who knows.

Keep kitty in your prayers. He will be 10 this year. He's definitely too young to go. We got him in September of 1997 when it was just Den and I. He would keep me company while Den was at work. He greets us at the door every time we go out, and he sleeps in the hallway at night to "keep watch". He is my little dude. My boyfriend. Plus he can sit and shake for a treat.

Namaste.

Tip O' the Day

First off... sorry for the delay. I caught a bit of stomach flu from work. It goes with the part I guess. I'm debating on wearing a mask while checking in patients from here till the end of flu season.

My tip o' the day...

Start cracking open your windows. Last night we slept with our bedroom window cracked open about 1/4" and let me tell you... It was the best nights sleep I've had in a LONG time. The fresh air just knocks you out.

Currently I have my window open, the front room window open, and the large bathroom window open. Later I will close them and open the kids windows. Remember, just crack it open. You're not looking to give the gas company an added bonus!

Our Home is growing by 30,000 sq ft!

I want this!

http://allcities8.california.remax.com/listings/ListingDetail_r4.aspx?LID=27895579#aTop

Hook, Line and Sinker

I LOVE Pottery Barn. I just opened up an email from them. I have to right click a box to download the pictures, and before I did so, I immediately thought... I don't even want to see what it is because I'll WANT IT! Of course it is all of their cutest Easter goodies you absolutely must have!

Their decorating is so warm and inviting. It is so simple too as in... not chaos central. I do suffer from CHAOS (Can't have anyone over syndrome) due to a lot of crap that accumulates in this house. However, I receive their catalogs regularly and even bought their series of books off Ebay. I strive for the simplicity of their decorating. In order to not have their catalogs accumulating, I do rip out pages with ideas I like and I put them into a 3 ring binder with the thing I liked best about the photo... pointed out with big marker.

My current obstacle... how do decorate the mantle. I struggle with this ALL THE TIME. Today I was thinking that I would like to put up photos of our family and closest friends - as couples. It would look great in black, or silver frames. It is after all a "family" room.

On a final note... I did have my hair cut off. I will post a photo of it this coming weekend. I have a weird thing that happens... when I have my hair cut, it takes me about a week to get it looking the way I want. So right now, I'm going to just hibernate and try to get around inconspicuously for a few days. Unfortunately it's not like no one will notice. Lynda my hair guru said we should have done a before and after. Yep. It's that drastic. Holds goo much better now, lol.

Cheers!

Stop the mania!

Did you watch Grey's Anatomy on Thursday? First off, I missed last weeks episode due to work. Then I had planned on watching it on Friday only to find they had a VERY old episode on... The one with the bomb in the body cavity.

So Thursday, I tuned in and turned the phone off! For some odd reason, we're getting a lot of phone calls after 8... from solicitors. They are very irritating.

What an emotional episode! I cried almost from beginning to end. McDreamy cried... I cried. Yang cried.... I cried. Seeing Denny.... I cried. Seeing Merediths Mom die... I cried. Bawlorama I tell you! I literally woke up on Friday with swollen eye's, lol.

I am so glad they didn't kill her off. According to www.comcast.net news, Shonda Rhimes the producer of Greys is planning to do a spin off... such as Cheers became Frasier, and some others that you may know. I was so worried they were going to take her off there, but then again... How can it be "GREY'S Anatomy" with out Grey? Meredith that is....

The battle ensues with the food at work. Yesterday it was food from Red Lobster. No seafood of course but a HUGE tray of chicken strips, with every possible dip they make, 2 HUGE bowls of salad, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, and their famous cheddar biscuits. I was very good and only had 1 Cheddar Bay Biscuit. It was delicioso.

On my blog, you will notice a link on the side for Katrina's blog. I urge you to take a gander. She & Kraig are currently in Mexico getting a healthy dose of Vitamin D, but when they return, she will be embarking on an incredible journey through IVF. Join me in my good karmic thoughts for them. I see her not only having a baby, but I am coming up with the color blue every time I think of her. If you don't see the link her it is... http://secondcitystories.blogspot.com

That's it! CUT IT OFF!

I can't take it any more. My hair is driving me NUTS! I have been growing it out along with the bangs, since... last September. It is making me totally batty. Especially now with my job. I can NOT have hair in my face. Some girls do it, but for me... I don't feel it is professional. So my appointment is for 9:30 Saturday morning. Chop chop!

Doomed I tell ya!

I don't know how in the world I am EVER going to lose weight! With the recent news about how Heart Disease will affect almost ALL American women, I must admit, that just adds more to my pandemonium. I have already diagnosed myself with an OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) regarding my kitchen floor. I am so obsessed with the crumbs that end up on it. I would be willing to bet that every time I am walking through and I feel a crumb through my sock.... my blood pressure increases by 20 points easily. I am half tempted to get a dog just so he can eat the crumbs! lol.

So I worked at the Urgent Care again tonight. I happened to swing into the break room for a potty break, and noticed 2 boxes on the counter... make that three. 2 boxes of pazckis (sorry if it's wrong, I don't think this word is in spell check), and 1 box of Whitmans Sampler Chocolates. Just knowing what is in the "donut" boxes, I avoided those all together. I did, however, succumb to 1 piece of chocolate out of the other box.

Here is the problem... I offically started at the Urgent Care on February 8th. I work 2-3 days per week. I have had to buy only ONE lunch in all of that time! The drug reps bring in so much fricken food, it's sick. How in the world is anyone supposed to eat healthy and lose weight? God, no wonder they do such good business. They are trying to kill everyone with their goodies! We're going to become their biggest clients.

Tomorrow I am taking a stand. I am asking my family to bring me a lunch since I'm working the day shift. I told Emily that I even want her to put a note in it for me, just like I do for her every day. A nice lean meat sandwich on whole grain bread would be nice, with a bottle of water and a nice piece of fruit... preferably a banana which I happen to be craving.

This is going to be a horrendous struggle. Luckily the Prompt care is VERY FAR from the break room, which makes it very inconvenient to visit frequently. Amen!

P.S. For the locals... tonight was VERY slow. I need job security. Please spread the word that we are open and no one needs to have a Beaumont doctor to be seen. They will even fax your info over to your doctor, no matter which health system they belong to. Very high class in my opinion. Open 7 days per week, 10am to 10pm.

Tip O' the Day...

I've known this for a relatively short period of time, but today I read it in Prevention and I feel it deserves a spot on this blog...

ICE = In Case of Emergency.

You should store this (ICE) in your cell phone with the phone number that is to be contacted in case something happens to you. Let me tell you... I can not tell you how many times in the past that I have gone through a patients purse or wallet, including scrolling through a cell phone to contact someone, because the patient was not able to do so, nor communicate to whom the call should be placed. We are all human. Things happen. Be sure that your loved ones can be contacted if something should happen to you.

In my phone I have "ICE - Dennis" and his cell phone. I will be changing it so that it has his cell, home number, and work number.

"What the HELL is this!"

These were the resident 5 year old's EXACT words as he held up a slice of cantaloupe at Bakers Square during dinner. Apparently the little man did not know that it looks like that when you slice it. As I was trying to "correct" him, I ended up with my face buried in Emily's back as I was laughing uncontrollably. Anyone within an earshot of this child had to hear that.

I'm chalking this one up to Emily's "F" bomb when we were house hunting!
We were looking at a house. Dennis tried to open the bedroom blinds to see what the view was outside the window, but could not find the cord. He states, "What the..." and 2 year old Emily promptly filled in the blank!

Ahhhh yes... another day in paradise......

Arctic Winds are Blowing....brrrrrrr......

1 tank top, 1 tee-shirt, 1 turtleneck, 1 pair long johns, jeans, socks, fleece pull-over, winter squall coat, hat, scarf, and gloves... That is what I wore to clear the tundra off the driveway.

This is what Emily chose to wear...