Blissfully Unaware of the Chaos the Surrounds Me

Random Sunday . . .

I worked at church.

On our way to church? Halle fell down and got got some major road rash. I feel guilty because I had just told her to hurry up. Hello, jerk-Mom!

After we went to Pasquini's last night, I got to spend some time my friend Renee and about 20 of her best friends. OMG. Talk about exactly what that amazing girl needed!

John and I got to sneak out and see "What to Expect When You Are Expecting", while Dylan and a friend saw "Battleship".

I felt a little lame that we went to the movies instead of watching the solar eclipse. But I have been dying to just go to the movies with my husband for so long!

There was some yummy eye-candy in that movie. Who knew? Plus, it was actually really cute. And I may have even cried just a tiny bit!

I colored with Halle for so long this weekend that I feel as if I have carpal-tunnel syndrome. Ouch.

See . . . I told you it was random!

Creeks, Harry Potter and Grand Juries . . .

all in 24 hours! Isn't that an odd combination?

First, we headed out for a quick creek adventure (on our bikes as my car was in the shop). Plus it's probably only a mile away.

Once we got to "our" spot, we were glad to see that no one else had snagged the rock or shore yet. Dibs! The kids had a great time catching minnows (54+), jumping off the rocks and floating in the creek. We only had a couple of hours, so we are planning a return trip very soon!

We headed out and rode straight to a pool-date at a friend's house. Six 7th Grade boys. Holy earplugs! Loud. Loud. And more loud! But fun. 

Then, we finally made it home, did an easy dinner and whatnot around the house and . . .  drumroll, please . . . headed out to the Midnight Premiere of Harry Potter! (Dylan and I were in our custom iron-on tee shirts. John declined to wear one. Poor sport that he is!)

The boys headed out around 7:30 while I got Halle settled and ready for bed. They got in line while I waited for the sitter. I swung by Ben & Jerry's and got Dylan some ice cream and then joined them in line at the theatre around 10:00. We were then about 2/3 of the way around the building. Good times . . . 

The line started moving around 10:45 and we were seated in the theatre by 11:15 or so. Although we were split up . . . poor John had to sit by himself! It was that or sitting in the second row. John chose to sit by himself versus the second row!

All I can say about the movie without spoiling it? It was well done! Amazingly well-done! It was by and far my favorite movie of all of them, with the first one coming in second. The effects were fabulous, the acting was superb and they kept it close enough to the book that I was pleased. As a total book-over-movie snob :) It was a great experience for Dylan to be at the midnight premiere. It was actually great for us too - it was my first midnight showing as well! It was great fun to be in the theatre with people who cheered and clapped and boo'd and cried along with us.

But, I was exhausted. Absolutely fried when it was done. And being that I am a total sleep-wacko, I couldn't just come home at 2:30 am and go to sleep. Nope. I had to fiddle-fart around, have a drink, sit on the couch and unwind my mind before I could get to sleep. I am now officially old and fussy.

Then, I had to get up on Friday morning and drive to Redding. To make a presentation to members of numerous Norther California Grand Juries. And I hadn't reviewed my presentation since last year. Whoops. Needless to say, it may not have been my best 75 minutes ever. But it probably wasn't my worst. I had lots of participants tell me that it was excellent, so I'm going with that. Even if it could have been much, much better!

There's always next year!

Rambling . . .

First off, my niece Sydney is in the OR right now, having fluid removed from her chest cavity and lungs. I am feeling really far away (she is in Sacramento). I had offered to go down tonight and hang with her sisters, which ultimately, John's Dad and Stepmom did; but I am feeling really useless. So I am praying a lot.

I am tired, but trying to not complain. I realize that my jet-lag/whacked sleep schedule is a result of my wonderful tropical vacation. I cannot get to sleep before midnight or 1 am. (9 or 10 pm Hawaiian time.) Which kinda sucks when (a) we are no longer in that time zone and (b) it's pouring down rain, cold and nothing like Hawaii here at the moment; and (c) I have to get up at 5:30 am to leave for work in the mornings. But anyway . . . 

I am back to my pre-Hawaii weight. Which was really hard to get to prior to my trip. I was a little whacked about getting back to it. Now that I am there, another 10 pounds to go between now and June 1st. (Yes, you've all heard my arbitrary weight goals before. This is the closest I've been. Easter candy aside.)

Jackass. The movie. I rented it and watched it with Dylan, even though it was unrated. So, so , SO very wrong. But watching him laugh and fall over? Totally worth it! (Although I did skip through a few sections. Very important to note!)

Tahoe. We are supposed to go up there next weekend. Assuming that the highway (80) is open. Dylan's snow clothes are huge on him. So I had to  buy smaller powder pants. Even though I probably gave away this exact size a couple of years ago. So in the last month? I have had to buy him (smaller) swim/summer clothes AND snow clothes. Awesome. I am so glad that I give away things/pass them on too soon! (Don't ask me if Halle's snow boots actually fit her. I am going to assume that they do. And then just shove her feet into them. So help me.) The flu took about 8 pounds off of my already slim son. Praying for wellness and a milkshake or two along the way for him.

My house? A wreck! Dishes, laundry, general crap . . . oh my! I need to pull it together and catch up!

Mac movie . . . I hired an 11 year-old to make a memorial video that I should have had done months ago. Photos are scanned. Video is input. Music is chosen. The family member in question? (John's stepmom's son), is back in hospice care. And I don't feel confident that I can whip this thing together in a timely manner. But an acquaintance's son knows the program . . . I haven't negotiated price yet, but I'm oh-so-certain that it will be well worth it!

Tomorrow I have two doctor's appointments. The first is with my GYN. To review my care/peri-menopausal plan and subsequent hormone levels. My bet? That my estrogen is "high", or at least higher than I am used to (non-existent). My gamble is a 280-310 range, versus my (normal) below 50 that I've become used to in the last three years. (Below 50, by the way, equals the typical range for a male.) I am guessing this because of several factors, not the least of which are some really (TMI!) tender boobs. So we'll see. :)

The second appointment? In quasi-relation to those tender boobs? Is a bilateral breast ultrasound with a breast specialist. This was the recommendation following my baseline mammogram. Then I have a secondary mammogram next week as well. I am still banking on the idea that I have lumpy, bumpy (but non-malignant) boobs, nothing more.

Lastly, I am clearly handling things well/better/more even-keeled because of my Lexapro. Otherwise known as what has kept me sane and healthy since December 21st. I am 100% certain that pharmaceuticals are/can be utilized to keep us all heathier/happier/more balanced. Which is clearly the case with me and my doctor's recommendation to utilize a mood stabilizer to well; um, stabilize me. Amen and amen. More on that later.

But just know that without it? Things like packing/prepping/scheduling/relationships/breast ultrasounds are much, much harder for me. And I am all about surviving/bettering/enjoying the process. And if Lexapro helps make that a better journey for me?  Amen.

 

Whoops, We Forgot About . . .

the tree. My sad, messy, been-up-for-a-month Christmas tree did not get taken to the curb this morning. So as we were headed out the door to Dyl's basketball game, the Boy Scouts (or rather, the Boy Scout Dads) arrived to take our tree from the curb. Where it was not. John supposedly convinced them to come back later, but alas, later came and went and no return visit to pick up our tree. So since we mailed their donation earlier this week? We basically just paid $20 for John to go out and cut up our tree to stuff it in our yard waste container. Fail!

In other Saturday-ish news . . . Dylan's team had a great game this morning. They ultimately won by 29 points, which was a little sad for our friends on the other team. The best part though? Was watching our guys act like a team. Of the 11 players, 11 took shots and 10 scored at least one basket (including the Dyl-man), so that was fantastic!

John and spent a little time in the garage, organizing, donating and restoring it a bit after the craziness of the last couple of months. Halle and I spent some time playing "tiny princesses", house, magnetic dolls (very cool modern versions of paper dolls) and; the very best  plaything of the day? Baby Alive! She finally got to be fed (both food and a bottle) and holy Baby Alive . . . that thing can poop and pee! We went through a few food packets and several diapers and many squeals and screams. Halle (and admittedly the rest of us) are thoroughly disgusted by what comes out of that dolls behind. Especially when fed the "peas". Eww. Far too lifelike if you ask me!

John and I also took the time to watch "Dinner for Schmucks" during Halle's nap. Wow. Wish I could get that 1.5 hour back! Not the best movie we've ever seen, that's for sure! Last night, however, we let Dylan watch "Grown Ups" and we all really enjoyed it. It was pushing the envelope for him, for sure, but we're stretching ourselves and trying to let him watch a little more than we have in the past. John and I had seen it in the theatre and decided it was not appropriate for him, but a few months have gone by and he's getting more mature. So we'll see.

Now we're all ready for bed, except that it's only 7:00. This cold, foggy weather doesn't do much for us getting out and about, that's for sure! So John's picking up breadsticks from Left Coast and we're going to call that dinner. Not my healthiest food choice all week, but hey . . . it's Saturday night. That's what those WW Flex Points (or whatever they're called in the new program) are for!