True to my predictions, I was a busy bee today, washing and drying and folding and putting away all our travel clothes. I even turned in the dry cleaning. It's like we never left. Ha.
After clothes and chores, the kids and I took a couple of hours this afternoon to watch "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on DVD as a follow-up to finishing the book last week. What a great movie. I can hardly wait for "Prince Caspian" to come out on disc. We should be through with the book by then. Then it's just a matter of counting down until the film makers find a way to put the other five books on the big screen. I also feel the same way about "The Hobbit."
I do enjoy reading classics to the kids, and then following up with the movie version. It's great to listen to their commentary regarding how the screenplay does or does not follow the book. A couple of scenes in The LWaW movie today were noted for being "more exciting" than the ones described in the pages of the book. At least it got the little scholars thinking for themselves, and that's the ultimate goal, in my humble opinion.
I got back on the treadmill today after my long hiatus from exercise. Whew, that travel food really packs on the pounds. I'm just happy to be back to myself again where I can actually work out without collapsing.
Speaking of travelling, let me add here that the children were wonderful on our 1700-mile road trip. For the most part, that is. I can hardly fault them for cracking under the strain occasionally, but they really worked hard to get along in that teeny little back seat.
I'll have to admit though, I confessed to being ready to exit the vehicle before we even hit the driveway. I was tired of breathing air exhaled by my family, tired of listening to talk radio, tired of reading (gasp!) and tired of just hearing their voices for cryin' out loud. Every five minutes from behind my head, "Mom!" By the last hundred miles, I was barely grunting in response.
Did I mention I am ever so glad to be home? At one point today, I just closed the laundry room door and listened to the sounds of clothes washing and drying. Ah...peace.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Homecoming
Ah...home sweet home., safe and sound.
We got up this morning and snagged breakfast, then loaded up the car for our next adventure. Over in Hiddenite, we sluiced for emeralds and other gemstones, and took screen-boxes down to the creek to prospect for treasures. We didn't come back empty-handed, but really, unless someone polishes and/or cuts a stone, all one truly ends up with is a pretty rock. So, we have a few more pretty rocks for our rock collection.
The last leg of the journey was totally uneventful except for driving through a couple of strong rain showers, but that didn't "dampen" our spirits at all, and we pulled into home around 5:30 this evening. Everyone piled out of the car and did their share schlepping things inside, and then the kids dispersed into their favorite areas while my sweet honey cut the grass and I opened the mail.
All in all, it was a nice journey, barring the fact it was for a sad occasion in the first place. I am so glad we went together as a family, and I am pleased the children got to see cousins they had never met, and honestly may not see again for years.
We saw beautiful scenery, ate yummy (and sometimes not-so-yummy) food, played in pools and creeks and did a little discount outlet shopping. But of course, the very best part of a journey is coming home. The felines were very happy to see us. I don't know about the fish, because, well, they don't exactly emote, if you know what I mean, but I like to think there was a small gleam in each fishy eye when they saw us.
And with that, I'm off to unpack and sort laundry. I believe tomorrow will be a Tremendous Washing Day.
We got up this morning and snagged breakfast, then loaded up the car for our next adventure. Over in Hiddenite, we sluiced for emeralds and other gemstones, and took screen-boxes down to the creek to prospect for treasures. We didn't come back empty-handed, but really, unless someone polishes and/or cuts a stone, all one truly ends up with is a pretty rock. So, we have a few more pretty rocks for our rock collection.
The last leg of the journey was totally uneventful except for driving through a couple of strong rain showers, but that didn't "dampen" our spirits at all, and we pulled into home around 5:30 this evening. Everyone piled out of the car and did their share schlepping things inside, and then the kids dispersed into their favorite areas while my sweet honey cut the grass and I opened the mail.
All in all, it was a nice journey, barring the fact it was for a sad occasion in the first place. I am so glad we went together as a family, and I am pleased the children got to see cousins they had never met, and honestly may not see again for years.
We saw beautiful scenery, ate yummy (and sometimes not-so-yummy) food, played in pools and creeks and did a little discount outlet shopping. But of course, the very best part of a journey is coming home. The felines were very happy to see us. I don't know about the fish, because, well, they don't exactly emote, if you know what I mean, but I like to think there was a small gleam in each fishy eye when they saw us.
And with that, I'm off to unpack and sort laundry. I believe tomorrow will be a Tremendous Washing Day.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Pushing South
We're getting closer to home. This morning, we were up bright and early, packing the car and breakfasting at the hotel. We pulled out of Pittsburgh at 7:10 and headed south. Lunch found us at the northern Virginia line, and the very first thing I noticed was that I was totally back in "sweet tea" country. Whew.
Now, we're settling into our hotel room in central North Carolina, resting for the final push home.
There were several places I'd wanted to stop on the way south, but something about the smell of nearing home makes me want to just get there. We did stop at the Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum in Bastion, VA, but that was a dismal disappointment. What a shame that the people of the area don't care enough about the original inhabitants to maintain their history. I think it's awful to let that kind of heritage die from apathy.
I did enjoy staring at all the geological formations on the sides of the interstate. How amazing the forces that must have been present to fold all those sea-floor layers into undulating mountains. I kept wishing I had a pickaxe and permission to just wade in and start looking for fossils and other artifacts.
I've decided what I want to do when I grow up...I'm chasing archaeology and geology for information about our past. I think that will be a fascinating career.
Now, we're settling into our hotel room in central North Carolina, resting for the final push home.
There were several places I'd wanted to stop on the way south, but something about the smell of nearing home makes me want to just get there. We did stop at the Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum in Bastion, VA, but that was a dismal disappointment. What a shame that the people of the area don't care enough about the original inhabitants to maintain their history. I think it's awful to let that kind of heritage die from apathy.
I did enjoy staring at all the geological formations on the sides of the interstate. How amazing the forces that must have been present to fold all those sea-floor layers into undulating mountains. I kept wishing I had a pickaxe and permission to just wade in and start looking for fossils and other artifacts.
I've decided what I want to do when I grow up...I'm chasing archaeology and geology for information about our past. I think that will be a fascinating career.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Remembering
Reporting from PA:
The weather is still beautiful here, as was the service for Aunt Nancy this morning. Afterward, the family and friends went to a local club to celebrate her life with food and remembrances.
Later, we went to Uncle Eddie's house to visit some more. While we were there, we got to see old photos and yearbooks and hear fun stories.
The girl and I headed across the greenway to check out a cemetery that was nearby. We walked among the tombstones for half an hour or so, looking at names and dates, specifically for the oldest marker we could find. That turned out to be a fellow who died in 1877. Wow.
We paused at the graves of the children, pondering how they left this life at such early ages. I reminded my daughter that antibiotics and other life-saving medicines were rare, if not completely unavailable a hundred years ago, and encouraged her to be thankful that we live in a time when those diseases that were once death sentences can sometimes be knocked out in a few days.
After hugs all around, we drove back to our hotel. My sweet honey and the kids are downstairs swimming now, but I'm hanging out in the room with a rumbly tummy. Travel doesn't always agree with me.
The weather is still beautiful here, as was the service for Aunt Nancy this morning. Afterward, the family and friends went to a local club to celebrate her life with food and remembrances.
Later, we went to Uncle Eddie's house to visit some more. While we were there, we got to see old photos and yearbooks and hear fun stories.
The girl and I headed across the greenway to check out a cemetery that was nearby. We walked among the tombstones for half an hour or so, looking at names and dates, specifically for the oldest marker we could find. That turned out to be a fellow who died in 1877. Wow.
We paused at the graves of the children, pondering how they left this life at such early ages. I reminded my daughter that antibiotics and other life-saving medicines were rare, if not completely unavailable a hundred years ago, and encouraged her to be thankful that we live in a time when those diseases that were once death sentences can sometimes be knocked out in a few days.
After hugs all around, we drove back to our hotel. My sweet honey and the kids are downstairs swimming now, but I'm hanging out in the room with a rumbly tummy. Travel doesn't always agree with me.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
North of the Mason-Dixon Line
Today, I'm posting from sunny Pittsburgh, PA. I was going to tell you all about my trip before we left, but with all the frantic packing and scurrying around until 11:00 Friday night, well, I just didn't have the oomph left.
Anyway, here's the scoop. My sweet honey's aunt (his mom's brother's wife) passed away Friday after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. From the get-go, my husband was just going to fly up here alone, but after some discussion, we decided to pile in the car and make the drive together as a family for a couple of reasons.
One, we love Uncle Eddie and wanted to share our condolences with him personally. Another, we didn't want to be apart from our main man during this time. And finally, I thought we would all enjoy a road trip through four states, some of which the kids had never seen. So, here we are.
We left Saturday morning and headed north. There was a shopping stop at JR's Cigar outlet in NC. Love that place, and my sweet honey just can't pass up the bargains on his favorite cigars. We stopped for the night in Oak Hill, WV. The girl brought a couple of disposable cameras she'd found in a drawer at home, and she spent the first 400 miles clicking away, totally unconcerned that she probably has twenty pictures of the flash reflected from her window.
Last night as I was laying out our clothes for the next morning, I discovered that while my daughter's swimsuits, shoes and "necessities" had made it into the suitcase, her actual CLOTHES were still back in Georgia. Rat patooties. I always fuss and fuss about being the one that has to pack for four, and inevitably, something important gets left behind, but I have NEVER neglected to include an entire wardrobe. Double rat patooties.
Fortunately (I think,) our hotel was next door to a K-Mart. We hit that at 9:00 and snatched up four complete oufits in about twenty minutes. Another $75 poofed away like dandelion seeds. I so hate paying retail...despite the fact that all our selections were on clearance! Argh.
Anyway, we raced back so she could try on everything, just in case we had to make a mad dash back in there the next morning if something didn't fit. Mercifully, everything fit, and we were set. We got up this morning, feasted on a delicious complimentary breakfast and headed out.
We stopped at the New River Gorge bridge to take in the scenery. After a short back-road drive around the area and under the new bridge and over the old bridge, we got back on the highway, crossing over the Three Rivers bridge in Pittsburgh shortly after noon. We've spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with family after checking into our hotel here.
The first faux pas I made was to order sweet tea at a restaurant. Of course, they don't serve sweet tea up here. I knew that, and still had the nerve to ask for it. And for the record...they didn't have Dr. Pepper, either.
Now, I'm hanging out in the little hotel cafe, internetting like some tech-savvy geek, but we all really know better, don't we? At least I'll be clever enough not to order grits in the morning.
I'll update as I get a chance!!
Anyway, here's the scoop. My sweet honey's aunt (his mom's brother's wife) passed away Friday after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. From the get-go, my husband was just going to fly up here alone, but after some discussion, we decided to pile in the car and make the drive together as a family for a couple of reasons.
One, we love Uncle Eddie and wanted to share our condolences with him personally. Another, we didn't want to be apart from our main man during this time. And finally, I thought we would all enjoy a road trip through four states, some of which the kids had never seen. So, here we are.
We left Saturday morning and headed north. There was a shopping stop at JR's Cigar outlet in NC. Love that place, and my sweet honey just can't pass up the bargains on his favorite cigars. We stopped for the night in Oak Hill, WV. The girl brought a couple of disposable cameras she'd found in a drawer at home, and she spent the first 400 miles clicking away, totally unconcerned that she probably has twenty pictures of the flash reflected from her window.
Last night as I was laying out our clothes for the next morning, I discovered that while my daughter's swimsuits, shoes and "necessities" had made it into the suitcase, her actual CLOTHES were still back in Georgia. Rat patooties. I always fuss and fuss about being the one that has to pack for four, and inevitably, something important gets left behind, but I have NEVER neglected to include an entire wardrobe. Double rat patooties.
Fortunately (I think,) our hotel was next door to a K-Mart. We hit that at 9:00 and snatched up four complete oufits in about twenty minutes. Another $75 poofed away like dandelion seeds. I so hate paying retail...despite the fact that all our selections were on clearance! Argh.
Anyway, we raced back so she could try on everything, just in case we had to make a mad dash back in there the next morning if something didn't fit. Mercifully, everything fit, and we were set. We got up this morning, feasted on a delicious complimentary breakfast and headed out.
We stopped at the New River Gorge bridge to take in the scenery. After a short back-road drive around the area and under the new bridge and over the old bridge, we got back on the highway, crossing over the Three Rivers bridge in Pittsburgh shortly after noon. We've spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with family after checking into our hotel here.
The first faux pas I made was to order sweet tea at a restaurant. Of course, they don't serve sweet tea up here. I knew that, and still had the nerve to ask for it. And for the record...they didn't have Dr. Pepper, either.
Now, I'm hanging out in the little hotel cafe, internetting like some tech-savvy geek, but we all really know better, don't we? At least I'll be clever enough not to order grits in the morning.
I'll update as I get a chance!!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Rodentia
I finally got my laptop working again, so I hope I will be able to post more. As it was, every time I wanted to post, some kid would be doing something online, and I'd get totally sidetracked and forget to get back to the business of reporting our lives until after I was ensconced cozily in bed. And I wasn't about to get up and go allllll the way downstairs then.
Anyway, we're all doing great and getting along. That's about as much as one can ask, I guess.
My daughter has gotten into her head that she wants a guinea pig. To postpone the inevitable, I pointed her to a kid-friendly search engine and told her to work up a presentation for us and hold a family meeting about the rodent. Sure enough, she dove into it with gusto and made such a lovely plea for a new pet that we raced right out and got her a Peruvian Guinea Pig that very afternoon at her behest.
HA HA HA HA!!!!!
SO NOT.
We did, however, promise to take her to a couple of pet shops to discuss the aforementioned critter with a pet-person, to do more research and gather more info. In reality, it's just more delaying tactics on our part. I, for one, do not want a fuzzy cavy in my house. I'm partial to cats...who have a tendency to eat rodents on a regular basis.
Not only that, these wretched things can live for up to 10 years! Who do you think will be pig-sitting when the cherub is out being a teenager at the mall?? Not I, said the little red hen.
Despite our objections, she continues to obsess about a guinea pig, sketching cages for Dad to build and looking on the internet to see how hard the little creatures are to train. (You can train them?) I finally had to put a Middle Ages book in front of her. At least that got her mind in another dimension for awhile.
I'll be sure to update you all as this saga progresses.
On a sad note, one of my cousins in Florida passed away from colon cancer. She and I met only once in person, after she had found me on an ancestry-tracing site. She and I emailed back and forth for nearly a decade, and I followed with much trepidation the story of her brave battle that went on for almost two years. I will miss her stories and jokes and her funny way of always typing in caps. So long, Betty.
Anyway, we're all doing great and getting along. That's about as much as one can ask, I guess.
My daughter has gotten into her head that she wants a guinea pig. To postpone the inevitable, I pointed her to a kid-friendly search engine and told her to work up a presentation for us and hold a family meeting about the rodent. Sure enough, she dove into it with gusto and made such a lovely plea for a new pet that we raced right out and got her a Peruvian Guinea Pig that very afternoon at her behest.
HA HA HA HA!!!!!
SO NOT.
We did, however, promise to take her to a couple of pet shops to discuss the aforementioned critter with a pet-person, to do more research and gather more info. In reality, it's just more delaying tactics on our part. I, for one, do not want a fuzzy cavy in my house. I'm partial to cats...who have a tendency to eat rodents on a regular basis.
Not only that, these wretched things can live for up to 10 years! Who do you think will be pig-sitting when the cherub is out being a teenager at the mall?? Not I, said the little red hen.
Despite our objections, she continues to obsess about a guinea pig, sketching cages for Dad to build and looking on the internet to see how hard the little creatures are to train. (You can train them?) I finally had to put a Middle Ages book in front of her. At least that got her mind in another dimension for awhile.
I'll be sure to update you all as this saga progresses.
On a sad note, one of my cousins in Florida passed away from colon cancer. She and I met only once in person, after she had found me on an ancestry-tracing site. She and I emailed back and forth for nearly a decade, and I followed with much trepidation the story of her brave battle that went on for almost two years. I will miss her stories and jokes and her funny way of always typing in caps. So long, Betty.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Playing Catch-Up
Well, you all know how much I love Mondays. Today is no exception. Except...I have a ton of catching-up to do with you! I'll make it easy and just hit the highlights, unless I find something story-worthy...
With the kids in camp last week, my sweet honey and I were able to ride to our hearts content in the mountains, and we took complete advantage of the situation. That being said, I really think I'm maxed out on curves with heart-stopping overlooks...at least until next weekend. Heh.
I did get some things done last week, other than lazing around and buzzing around. I signed up the cherub for another season of baseball and gymnastics, hoping for zero broken bones to interrupt the flow of athleticism in our world.
We attempted to register for a family karate class, but we were totally overwhelmed at the introductory class, not to mention the astronomical fees to participate. As a friend of mine recently said regarding her karate class,"Wait, I'm PAYING you to yell at me?" No thanks. We'll just have to find something else for the boy to do. He says bowling is "his thing." I have my doubts.
The kids and their friends have been swimming in the lake, the vineyard is looking awesome and the grass is green from the lake irrigation. Speaking of vineyards, one of our kidless jaunts included tours of the wineries around Dahlonega. We had lunch at Frogtown Winery, and it was a culinary feast for the senses. The cheeses went amazingly with the wine and the avocado sandwich on grilled flatbread sent chills down my spine.
Interestingly enough...we had table-company.
I've not ever had a canine friend join me for lunch, but Sadie was such a sweetie with those liquid-brown eyes, I was enamoured from the get-go. And I don't even like dogs.
We came home with a couple of bottles of delicious Georgia wine, but I'm still on the hunt for those amazing cheeses.
I made some fun dishes this week, including cinnamon-apple muffins (made with fresh-milled flour and fresh-grated apple,) burgers (made with sour cream, parmesan cheese and parsley mixed right in,) and chicken pesto pasta (made with meat from a lemon-pepper rotisserie chicken and basil from my herb garden.)
All meals were not gourmet, however. There was that one trip to KFC at the girl's request. Sigh.
The weekend was generally boring, in that we mostly hung around the house and vegetated. (Is that even a word?) Regardless, we wrapped up our vacation week with rest and relaxation, although the laundry is calling my name this morning. Back to work.
With the kids in camp last week, my sweet honey and I were able to ride to our hearts content in the mountains, and we took complete advantage of the situation. That being said, I really think I'm maxed out on curves with heart-stopping overlooks...at least until next weekend. Heh.
I did get some things done last week, other than lazing around and buzzing around. I signed up the cherub for another season of baseball and gymnastics, hoping for zero broken bones to interrupt the flow of athleticism in our world.
We attempted to register for a family karate class, but we were totally overwhelmed at the introductory class, not to mention the astronomical fees to participate. As a friend of mine recently said regarding her karate class,"Wait, I'm PAYING you to yell at me?" No thanks. We'll just have to find something else for the boy to do. He says bowling is "his thing." I have my doubts.
The kids and their friends have been swimming in the lake, the vineyard is looking awesome and the grass is green from the lake irrigation. Speaking of vineyards, one of our kidless jaunts included tours of the wineries around Dahlonega. We had lunch at Frogtown Winery, and it was a culinary feast for the senses. The cheeses went amazingly with the wine and the avocado sandwich on grilled flatbread sent chills down my spine.
Interestingly enough...we had table-company.
I've not ever had a canine friend join me for lunch, but Sadie was such a sweetie with those liquid-brown eyes, I was enamoured from the get-go. And I don't even like dogs.
We came home with a couple of bottles of delicious Georgia wine, but I'm still on the hunt for those amazing cheeses.
I made some fun dishes this week, including cinnamon-apple muffins (made with fresh-milled flour and fresh-grated apple,) burgers (made with sour cream, parmesan cheese and parsley mixed right in,) and chicken pesto pasta (made with meat from a lemon-pepper rotisserie chicken and basil from my herb garden.)
All meals were not gourmet, however. There was that one trip to KFC at the girl's request. Sigh.
The weekend was generally boring, in that we mostly hung around the house and vegetated. (Is that even a word?) Regardless, we wrapped up our vacation week with rest and relaxation, although the laundry is calling my name this morning. Back to work.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Touring the Foothills, Well At Last
What a great week we've had so far! I finally, FINALLY feel like myself again.
The kids are both in camps this week, and my sweet honey got home from his weekend-away on Monday afternoon. Plus, he's off ALL week (!) so as soon as we drop off the kids in the mornings, we have until about 2:30 every day to spend together.
Yesterday and today were riding-in-the-mountains days...one of my favorite things. One of our friends joined us on Monday for lunch in Dahlonega, but it was just me -n- my honey today for lunch in Ellijay. I don't know where we're going tomorrow, but I bet it'll be fun!
The kids have had a blast so far in their camps. He's doing a gymnastics camp where he got to make a cool tie-dye T-shirt and do karaoke, and she's doing a "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" camp where they pamper the little princesses all week. Between spa visits and cheerleading/dance instruction, we may not be able to live up to her new standards by the end of the week.
This is the first year they've gone to separate camps, and everyone who knows them says they're acting completely different this year, but in a good way. I'm glad to hear it, and bully for them.
I've been playing the "good mom" this week to make up for being slack for the last three. I've gotten up and made breakfast for the troops the last three days, plus packed their lunches and whipped up yummy dinners...at least Monday and Tuesday. I was a little tired this afternoon, so it was "fend for yourself" night.
I personally had leftovers from Monday. I made this awesome pasta dish with tri-color rotini pasta, meat from a lemon-pepper rotisserie chicken and homemade basil pesto sauce made with basil from my own herb garden. Then we made bruchetta to go with it from some Tuscan garlic bread I got from the store, topped with fresh tomatoes, roasted garlic and artichoke hearts. Delish.
So, I am totally well at last, and I feel like I can maintain some sort of order around here again. I even did meal planning and grocery shopping (with a list) for the first time in four weeks. There's nothing like being down ill to make everyday chores very attractive.
And with that, I'm going to bed. I hope the weather holds out for tomorrow...I'm ready to see the mountains. Again.
The kids are both in camps this week, and my sweet honey got home from his weekend-away on Monday afternoon. Plus, he's off ALL week (!) so as soon as we drop off the kids in the mornings, we have until about 2:30 every day to spend together.
Yesterday and today were riding-in-the-mountains days...one of my favorite things. One of our friends joined us on Monday for lunch in Dahlonega, but it was just me -n- my honey today for lunch in Ellijay. I don't know where we're going tomorrow, but I bet it'll be fun!
The kids have had a blast so far in their camps. He's doing a gymnastics camp where he got to make a cool tie-dye T-shirt and do karaoke, and she's doing a "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" camp where they pamper the little princesses all week. Between spa visits and cheerleading/dance instruction, we may not be able to live up to her new standards by the end of the week.
This is the first year they've gone to separate camps, and everyone who knows them says they're acting completely different this year, but in a good way. I'm glad to hear it, and bully for them.
I've been playing the "good mom" this week to make up for being slack for the last three. I've gotten up and made breakfast for the troops the last three days, plus packed their lunches and whipped up yummy dinners...at least Monday and Tuesday. I was a little tired this afternoon, so it was "fend for yourself" night.
I personally had leftovers from Monday. I made this awesome pasta dish with tri-color rotini pasta, meat from a lemon-pepper rotisserie chicken and homemade basil pesto sauce made with basil from my own herb garden. Then we made bruchetta to go with it from some Tuscan garlic bread I got from the store, topped with fresh tomatoes, roasted garlic and artichoke hearts. Delish.
So, I am totally well at last, and I feel like I can maintain some sort of order around here again. I even did meal planning and grocery shopping (with a list) for the first time in four weeks. There's nothing like being down ill to make everyday chores very attractive.
And with that, I'm going to bed. I hope the weather holds out for tomorrow...I'm ready to see the mountains. Again.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Quiet Times
This has been a very quiet weekend. With my sweet honey out of town and my kids entertaining themselves, I've had fun just planning out our next school year and reading some of my books. The kids didn't come home from their sleepover until late Friday night, so I spent the day out and about at the library, clothes shopping and hanging out at Barnes and Noble. I'm sure I could live in that store if they'd let me.
My neighbor stopped by to bring chocolate (!) as a thank-you for us watching her critters while she was gone. When she left, the cherub came in from a movie night with a friend, and the mom and I wound up chatting until nearly midnight. We all slept in the next morning!
We've had some awesome rain the last couple of days, but there was still time between showers today to slip out and get some groceries. I'm so ready to get back to the everyday tasks of meal planning and cooking. I've missed being in the kitchen.
As for my health, I am not sure I've reached 100% yet. I think I will schedule that follow-up appointment with my doctor after all. That should tell you something...I never go to the doc unless it's absolutely necessary. Wish me well.
So, now I'm off to watch a movie with the kidlets while the rain continues to help ease our drought conditions. Except for wet cats licking themselves into a frenzy, the atmosphere around here is pretty laid-back. And I like it that way.
My neighbor stopped by to bring chocolate (!) as a thank-you for us watching her critters while she was gone. When she left, the cherub came in from a movie night with a friend, and the mom and I wound up chatting until nearly midnight. We all slept in the next morning!
We've had some awesome rain the last couple of days, but there was still time between showers today to slip out and get some groceries. I'm so ready to get back to the everyday tasks of meal planning and cooking. I've missed being in the kitchen.
As for my health, I am not sure I've reached 100% yet. I think I will schedule that follow-up appointment with my doctor after all. That should tell you something...I never go to the doc unless it's absolutely necessary. Wish me well.
So, now I'm off to watch a movie with the kidlets while the rain continues to help ease our drought conditions. Except for wet cats licking themselves into a frenzy, the atmosphere around here is pretty laid-back. And I like it that way.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Free Day
Goodness, I had no idea I'd been so slack in posting. Well, let me bring you up to date...
Monday night, the grandparents took the boy out for ice cream and presents since his birthday was Tuesday. Yep, my "baby" boy is 12 years old! Yipes!
Tuesday, we took the day off from school so he could play his new video game for a while. We went to the grocery store so he could pick out his favorite dinner (pepperoni calzones,) and we made an ice cream sandwich cake for our dessert. We layered ice cream sandwiches in a baking dish with whipped cream and popped it in the freezer to firm up for dinner.
Then when Daddy got home, he opened the presents from us which included an RC boat. Before dinner, we headed out to the dock so he could motor around in the lake. After dinner, I had to make his party cake for the next day. He requested an ice cream sandwich cake, but without the ice cream. This is the result of his design instructions:
Monday night, the grandparents took the boy out for ice cream and presents since his birthday was Tuesday. Yep, my "baby" boy is 12 years old! Yipes!
Tuesday, we took the day off from school so he could play his new video game for a while. We went to the grocery store so he could pick out his favorite dinner (pepperoni calzones,) and we made an ice cream sandwich cake for our dessert. We layered ice cream sandwiches in a baking dish with whipped cream and popped it in the freezer to firm up for dinner.
Then when Daddy got home, he opened the presents from us which included an RC boat. Before dinner, we headed out to the dock so he could motor around in the lake. After dinner, I had to make his party cake for the next day. He requested an ice cream sandwich cake, but without the ice cream. This is the result of his design instructions:
Yum, huh? I simply took a chocolate cake mix and a white cake mix and baked two cakes in lasagna pans. That gave the scalloped edge. (My sweet honey did the mixing!) I split the chocolate cake and inserted the white cake with some white icing as glue, and then the boys poked holes in the top with candles to represent the ice cream sandwich holes. Voila! My first "designer" cake!
So, on Wednesday, we headed to the local bowling alley for a joint party with the boy and one of his homeschooling friends whose birthday was the 5th. We all had a blast, except that I was still dragging. I barely made it through the event and had to come home to a two-hour nap. Thank goodness my sweet honey took the afternoon off to drive us there, or I'd have missed my own son's birthday party.
Anyway, yesterday was a regular school day, and last night was the wrap-up meeting for my book club. One of my friends picked me up so I didn't have to drive, and as of the meeting time, I was finally feeling like my old self again. I did tire out pretty quickly, and conked out as soon as she dropped me off at home, but this morning I am officially done with medicines and as they leave my body, I'm getting stronger and stronger.
The kids went to a sleepover last night, my sweet honey is gone, and I have the whole house to myself for the rest of the day. I'm meeting a friend with the kids this evening, and while she takes our girls to a chick flick, I'll take the boy to a movie to round out his "birthday week."
And that gets you caught up with our lives! I think now I can get back to the business of living instead of merely existing. Yahoo!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Return From the Near-Dead
Normalcy! It's good to see you again.
This is just another typical Monday morning in our world, and I couldn't be happier. I got to LEAVE THE HOUSE last night to go out for dinner. It was like being released from prison. (Not that I'd actually know what that's like, but I can imagine it felt like last night.) I didn't want to surprise my tender insides with pizza, so I got an awesome avocado sandwich and yummed it down like it was chocolate. I followed it with a couple of crusts from the kids' slices, and called it dinner.
Today we are back into standard first-of-the-week cleaning mode and homeschool subjects. This month and next will wrap up our year, and I'm already making out my plans for the September kick-off.
I'm still running just short of 100%, but I can feel the strength returning. I walked (strolled, actually,) on the treadmill this morning for about a mile, and cleaned some long-neglected corners of the upstairs before the kids got up. Then we tidied their rooms and came downstairs for read-alouds. A short break for email and lunch, and we'll wind up the day's to-do list.
Now, I'm headed to the kitchen to eat something, because one of these medicines calls for food, while the other one calls for lots of water. I only have four more days of medicinal intake, and I can proclaim myself CURED.
My doctor asked if I was supposed to follow-up with him after the meds are gone, but I told him that although I liked him a lot, I had no intention of seeing him again for at least a year, and that when I got to the bottom of my little amber bottles with the child-proof caps, I'd decide if that was just wishful thinking. I see no need to see a doctor when you're well, unless it's a yearly physical. And, he agreed with me. Let's hope I don't have to cross his threshold for some time.
In other news, our new neighbors are expanding their little deck into something that resembles the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse at Disney. The cement truck just arrived, so we get to listen to that racket for several hours while they schlep the stuff into the back yard one wheelbarrow-full at a time. Sheesh. At least the value of our house is going up by the moment at someone else's expense. Nice.
Ok, I'm moving away from the front window where the truck sits roaring in the street, going back to my comparatively peaceful upstairs with the nice, quiet washing machine. Life is good.
This is just another typical Monday morning in our world, and I couldn't be happier. I got to LEAVE THE HOUSE last night to go out for dinner. It was like being released from prison. (Not that I'd actually know what that's like, but I can imagine it felt like last night.) I didn't want to surprise my tender insides with pizza, so I got an awesome avocado sandwich and yummed it down like it was chocolate. I followed it with a couple of crusts from the kids' slices, and called it dinner.
Today we are back into standard first-of-the-week cleaning mode and homeschool subjects. This month and next will wrap up our year, and I'm already making out my plans for the September kick-off.
I'm still running just short of 100%, but I can feel the strength returning. I walked (strolled, actually,) on the treadmill this morning for about a mile, and cleaned some long-neglected corners of the upstairs before the kids got up. Then we tidied their rooms and came downstairs for read-alouds. A short break for email and lunch, and we'll wind up the day's to-do list.
Now, I'm headed to the kitchen to eat something, because one of these medicines calls for food, while the other one calls for lots of water. I only have four more days of medicinal intake, and I can proclaim myself CURED.
My doctor asked if I was supposed to follow-up with him after the meds are gone, but I told him that although I liked him a lot, I had no intention of seeing him again for at least a year, and that when I got to the bottom of my little amber bottles with the child-proof caps, I'd decide if that was just wishful thinking. I see no need to see a doctor when you're well, unless it's a yearly physical. And, he agreed with me. Let's hope I don't have to cross his threshold for some time.
In other news, our new neighbors are expanding their little deck into something that resembles the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse at Disney. The cement truck just arrived, so we get to listen to that racket for several hours while they schlep the stuff into the back yard one wheelbarrow-full at a time. Sheesh. At least the value of our house is going up by the moment at someone else's expense. Nice.
Ok, I'm moving away from the front window where the truck sits roaring in the street, going back to my comparatively peaceful upstairs with the nice, quiet washing machine. Life is good.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
It's a Fifth Kind of Day
No, I'm not starting in on the hard stuff just yet. It's just that it feels like an "after the Fourth" afternoon.
We took the kids to the pool earlier today, so they got to swim and splash while I stayed safely in the shade. I made the mistake of letting my leg hang out of the golf cart in the sun for not 5 minutes, and ended up beet-red in the places touched by the beams. When they say sun-sensitive with regards to these antibiotics, they're not kidding.
I have a raging case of cabin fever. With the exception of the hospital on Monday and a jaunt to the neighborhood pool today, I've been on our property for a week. I don't have the energy to go anywhere, but I'm itching to do so. Come Monday, I'm hitting the grocery store or something, just to get out of the house. Hopefully I'll be at 100% by then.
My sweet honey is feeling the call of the wild, too. I think he's going off with some friends tomorrow. I would normally go with him, but I can't deny him an outing just because I'm stuck here in antibiotic purgatory. I'll be first in line to head somewhere next weekend. He's taken such wonderful care of me this last week and a half, he deserves a day off.
As for me, I'm headed back to my books. At least I can travel in my mind, if not bodily.
We took the kids to the pool earlier today, so they got to swim and splash while I stayed safely in the shade. I made the mistake of letting my leg hang out of the golf cart in the sun for not 5 minutes, and ended up beet-red in the places touched by the beams. When they say sun-sensitive with regards to these antibiotics, they're not kidding.
I have a raging case of cabin fever. With the exception of the hospital on Monday and a jaunt to the neighborhood pool today, I've been on our property for a week. I don't have the energy to go anywhere, but I'm itching to do so. Come Monday, I'm hitting the grocery store or something, just to get out of the house. Hopefully I'll be at 100% by then.
My sweet honey is feeling the call of the wild, too. I think he's going off with some friends tomorrow. I would normally go with him, but I can't deny him an outing just because I'm stuck here in antibiotic purgatory. I'll be first in line to head somewhere next weekend. He's taken such wonderful care of me this last week and a half, he deserves a day off.
As for me, I'm headed back to my books. At least I can travel in my mind, if not bodily.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Relapse!
Happy Fourth! I am taking it very easy today, forsaking all festivities in order to 1) get better! and 2) stay out of the sun, because one of my antibiotics makes me sun-sensitive.
So, what the heck?? I was on top of the world Wednesday, and yesterday, I went back several steps with fever and more pain. This dehydration monster is horrible, and even though I'm beginning to despise swallowing liquids of any sort, I have to keep drinking water and sports drinks so I don't end up back in the hospital with another IV stabbed in my arm.
My doctor called me to tell me my liver and kidneys were unscathed (yay) and to assure me that, although it would take some time, I will eventually return to normal. It can't be soon enough for me.
Anyway, I'm back on the couch/bed/gazebo chair with short little walks in the yard. I like to sit and watch the fish swim in the pond. But as for celebrating anyone's independence, that will come the day I've taken the last pill and am able to LEAVE THE HOUSE!!
So, what the heck?? I was on top of the world Wednesday, and yesterday, I went back several steps with fever and more pain. This dehydration monster is horrible, and even though I'm beginning to despise swallowing liquids of any sort, I have to keep drinking water and sports drinks so I don't end up back in the hospital with another IV stabbed in my arm.
My doctor called me to tell me my liver and kidneys were unscathed (yay) and to assure me that, although it would take some time, I will eventually return to normal. It can't be soon enough for me.
Anyway, I'm back on the couch/bed/gazebo chair with short little walks in the yard. I like to sit and watch the fish swim in the pond. But as for celebrating anyone's independence, that will come the day I've taken the last pill and am able to LEAVE THE HOUSE!!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Full Recovery Expected
Ah...the miracle of modern medicine. I was still feeling a little weak and feverish this morning, but by lunch, I had perked up considerably, and by late afternoon, I was reading to the children, sweeping floors, doing laundry and decorating the house for the Fourth. Ain't life grand?
Seriously, it's almost as if I'd never been sick. I told you these antibiotics were high-voltage. Except for the diet I have to follow, which is just common sense, I can get back to having serious fun.
As for the decorations, we really out-did ourselves. My daughter said we were ready for a visit from the President. We have banners, flags and all manner of baubles and trinkets of the red/white/blue kind. Makes me want to salute something.
I even managed to catch up on some schoolwork with the kids today. It looks as if we'll finish on schedule after all, despite my forced "vacation."
Anyway, the crisis has passed, and life goes on.
Seriously, it's almost as if I'd never been sick. I told you these antibiotics were high-voltage. Except for the diet I have to follow, which is just common sense, I can get back to having serious fun.
As for the decorations, we really out-did ourselves. My daughter said we were ready for a visit from the President. We have banners, flags and all manner of baubles and trinkets of the red/white/blue kind. Makes me want to salute something.
I even managed to catch up on some schoolwork with the kids today. It looks as if we'll finish on schedule after all, despite my forced "vacation."
Anyway, the crisis has passed, and life goes on.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
So, What's Been Up With Me?
Thursday - not feeling well
Friday - sick
Saturday - very sick - fever 102+
Sunday - very, VERY sick - fever 103+
Monday
Desperate for a doctor, my sweet honey made an appointment for 1:45, then we were blessed with a cancellation that brought us to a physician at 9:00. After vitals and some questions, they were doing the needle stick with a lot of letters and numbers and the word STAT being tossed around like confetti. They handed me a blood work report and sent me straight to the ER.
By 10:30, I was gowned and under the care of a wonderful nurse named Cathy. Then came the inevitable thousand questions, three extra needle sticks including a rapid hook-up to an IV, a gallon of orange filth I had to drink, dye shot into my veins, three CAT scans and a diagnosis of acute colitis, pathogen unknown, which is medi-speak for one bad-ass bacterial infection from the very pits of hell.
After some high-voltage antibiotic was shot into my veins, I was given four prescriptions and a strict diet, plus orders to stay home and rest for a week and drink my weight in water every day.
I still have the fever, but I'm hoping that after 10 days of two different VERY STRONG oral antibiotics (they are so strong, I have to take anti-nausea meds before I take them,) I should be fine and dandy and back to normal.
I hope so. Two hundred years ago, people actually died from this stuff.
My family has been amazing. My sweet honey and awesome kids have been nothing but supportive. He and kids sat in the ER waiting area for SIX AND A HALF hours with nothing but a couple of handheld games and a TV to amuse them. What troopers. After I'm better, I'm taking them somewhere FUN.
Tuesday
As for my sweetie, he's gone back to work today, but has called often to check on us. The kids have done the list of chores I had for them, and have kept my medicine and food schedule with the kitchen timer. And except for this small excursion to the computer, I've been in bed.
Which is where I'm returning...right now. Goodnight, Gracie.
Friday - sick
Saturday - very sick - fever 102+
Sunday - very, VERY sick - fever 103+
Monday
Desperate for a doctor, my sweet honey made an appointment for 1:45, then we were blessed with a cancellation that brought us to a physician at 9:00. After vitals and some questions, they were doing the needle stick with a lot of letters and numbers and the word STAT being tossed around like confetti. They handed me a blood work report and sent me straight to the ER.
By 10:30, I was gowned and under the care of a wonderful nurse named Cathy. Then came the inevitable thousand questions, three extra needle sticks including a rapid hook-up to an IV, a gallon of orange filth I had to drink, dye shot into my veins, three CAT scans and a diagnosis of acute colitis, pathogen unknown, which is medi-speak for one bad-ass bacterial infection from the very pits of hell.
After some high-voltage antibiotic was shot into my veins, I was given four prescriptions and a strict diet, plus orders to stay home and rest for a week and drink my weight in water every day.
I still have the fever, but I'm hoping that after 10 days of two different VERY STRONG oral antibiotics (they are so strong, I have to take anti-nausea meds before I take them,) I should be fine and dandy and back to normal.
I hope so. Two hundred years ago, people actually died from this stuff.
My family has been amazing. My sweet honey and awesome kids have been nothing but supportive. He and kids sat in the ER waiting area for SIX AND A HALF hours with nothing but a couple of handheld games and a TV to amuse them. What troopers. After I'm better, I'm taking them somewhere FUN.
Tuesday
As for my sweetie, he's gone back to work today, but has called often to check on us. The kids have done the list of chores I had for them, and have kept my medicine and food schedule with the kitchen timer. And except for this small excursion to the computer, I've been in bed.
Which is where I'm returning...right now. Goodnight, Gracie.
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