Vacation is Over!

Well, I'm back from the lovely land of Mepergan. I had such a nice week laying around, catching up on magazines and DVR. What perfect timing that we had bought a new mattress a few weeks before. I didn't even think about it at the time. But it was lovely laying (lying? totally can't remember the grammar rule on that one) on our new memory foam mattress. Much better than last time laying on the old one. It seriously was fabulously comfortable! Like I was floating. Of course, the drugs probably helped with that feeling. LOL!

Thanks to everyone for their prayers! Uterine polyp and cyst on rt. ovary are removed. Doc also found and removed two cysts on my left ovary and more endometriosis. He also discovered that my uterus was flopped over and attached to my left ovary. At least, I think it was my left ovary. Once Rhett knew I was alive and still had all my organs, he had a hard time listening to the rest. I'll find out all the gory details next week and even get to see pictures. Yay! That's always a fun doctor's visit. It is just so amazing to me to be looking at pictures of my insides that I sit there and giggle like an idiot and end up totally embarrassed and then can't ask any questions. And this doctor is super serious which is going to make me laugh even harder.

Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to heal that I will not have more adhesions from this surgery and for the pathology report on what was removed.

Thank you all so much for your support! I really appreciate it!
Believing in the power of prayer,
Mama Said

Surgery is Finally Here

Well, the surgery I mentioned oh so many months ago is now finally about to happen. Please pray for me as I undergo surgery next Tuesday to remove a polyp in my uterus and something on my ovary (either a developed cyst or more endometriosis).

I was really, really nervous. But since I put out an APB to all my friends and family to begin praying for me, I have been feeling alot better. It's weird, but I can feel that my name is being lifted up.

Of course, I'm terrified that something is going to happen with this surgery that will totally impair my fertility. I'm scared there will be major scar tissue from other surgeries that will cause complications and/or require removal of ovaries or tubes or something. There is also a risk that my uterus can heal shut depending on how deep the polyp is and stuff. They will do everything possible to prevent that, but the things they do also leads to greater risk of infection. To top all of that off, I think they are going to give me an antibiotic that is a cousin to the one (Levaquin) that landed me in the hospital for 4 days with colitis the last time I had it. Oh, and of course, there is the very minute risk of cancer. Small, but still a risk. And I reckon if you are the one in a gazillion who gets it, it really doesn't matter how small the risk is.

So, all that to say, I just can't wait to have this behind me! It is what it is. God already knows it and has it planned. So, let's get it done, find out the outcome of it, and move on!

I covet your prayers! May God bless you!
Mama Said

So, About the Whole Chores Thing . . .

when exactly does it pay off to "patiently" teach your child how to do tasks around the house? I am a basket case from doing it!

I have been planning on starting BFG on some you're-part-of-the-family-you-have-to-contribute chores and some chores that earn commissions in 2010. But because I am having surgery next week, I knew I should put it off til February so we could be consistent.

However, BFG has really been wanting an I Spy computer game and she had run out of birthday money. So, Rhett being the darling, thoughtful man he is, told BFG she could do chores around the house to earn the money for the game. It was a brilliant idea! BFG was pumped! The problem is I'm the one who is left dealing with having her "help" me around the house.

I have been insane! There was one day I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from offering her the money to not do the chores. I really wanted her to run off and watch TV and just let me clean the darn house. But I knew that would obviously send a very wrong message.

So, here I am with days like that and Rhett comes home from work every day and says, "Here, BFG, I've got you a present. Here's a dollar for your I Spy envelope."

Great. The chores were his idea. How is that fair? He gets to be the free-money hero while I'm the grumpy old chore troll! What the heck? Oh, well. I did get her to keep her shoes picked up for three days straight for a dollar. That was like a piece of heaven not having to trip over them or remind her to pick them up or pry them out of the dog's mouth. Aaaaaah . . . . .

She finally only needed two more dollars. I was going to Target anyway. So, when she asked for an icee and popcorn, I said why don't we use that $2 and put it toward I Spy? She agreed and was thrilled. Hey, she didn't work for it, but it still taught her something about money, right? And I really, really wanted to do my own chores today in peace and that was totally worth $2!

At Target, she said that if they make any more I Spy games, she thinks she will get sick of doing chores. Oh, my love, just wait til February when you are doing most of the same stuff for free.

Mama Said

Crisis Cleaning

You know how some people have a crisis and the first thing they do is clean? It's like how they cope with the crisis or something. Well, that is so not me. When a crisis hits, I'm the type that goes for food or a nap.

I noticed today that for some unbeknownst reason all of our little crises around here require me to clean! And I hate it! It's the absolute last thing I have the time and energy for. And, it's not like just picking up a little. No, our mini-crises require every nook and cranny of the entire house to be scoured and disinfected.

Think about it . . . lead paint scare--scoured the house, mice---scoured the house and washed everything in my cupboards, pin worms scare--kept the house scoured, fleas--scoured the house and washed everything, more lead paint scares, more mice. . . . . See? I am just plumb worn out from scouring this darn house!

Now, the latest is Rocky the Magnificent Collie has ringworm. Not kidding. So, after another mad dash to the vet today, I had to scrub the house and start washing everything. For the next, oh I don't know how long, I have to treat Rocky with 3 different things including an ointment to put on 4 or 5 times a day, wipe down surfaces he touches with diluted bleach spray, wash his bedding, and keep his chew toys sterilized. Oh, and keep him away from BFG and the cat all the while waiting for symptoms to show up on them in 10 to 12 days. Plus, we have a friggin' cold front so I can't just throw him outside for the duration of this.

Okay, now I've got that out so maybe I can have a good night's rest on our brand new mattress!

Mama Said

Just In Case You Ever Think You're A Reindeer . . .

Don't make your parents close their eyes while you gather their presents you're going to deliver. Don't put the said presents in the middle of the floor. And especially don't choose a metal cookie cutter as one of the presents. And don't run across to the room to "take off" to deliver the presents and make a flying leap. Seriously. It's a really bad idea. Just as BFG. BFG is now the Red-Toed Reindeer because she landed on the metal cookie cutter and sliced her pinkie toe in a "V" shape.

It was pretty ugly. I was so scared. It was bleeding so much that I couldn't tell if she had like severed her toe or what. I kept trying to look at it and would almost throw up and just put the rag back over it so I could calm down. I didn't even know she had the stupid cookie cutter in the floor because I "wasn't looking" trying to play along with her "game".

It's not too bad. I mean it's bad, but not go-to-the-hospital bad. She's gonna be sore for awhile, but she's still got all her digits attached. Praise the Lord! It really could have been a lot worse.

And just in case you are a mom who does not pretend to be a reindeer and instead you take care of hurt ones, here's my lesson learned. Well, besides that it might be a good idea to keep your eyes open at all times. I knew there was a lot of blood and when Rhett got her to the bathroom, somehow out of nowhere I remembered some tip I'd read about using a dark or red bath cloth so that the child can't see the blood and freak out. I think it's a great idea 'cause BFG was freaking out at the blood. Of course, she could see the trail she left on the floor. But the downside with the red cloth was that I couldn't see how much she was bleeding and that kept me from being able to analyze the situation and made me freak out more. Just something to think about . . .

Still feeling a little nauseous,
Mama Said

Okay, So Maybe The Shot Would've Been Better

Following up on the whole "Loser Mom" thing . . .

I made a really dumb choice today. After months and months of debating the swine flu vaccine (and yes, it's friggin' swine flu, not H1N1 in my world), I narrowed everything down to today.

Yup, today was the "big day" and I had made a huge decision to get the Flu Mist. I am/was a little scared since it is a live virus. But BFG always gets a bad skin reaction from flu shots and I think it's from the thimerosal in them. The only thimerosal-free ones here were at the health dept. for kids younger than her. And, let's face it, I was not going to wait in line with literally 1000 people for a chance they might give her one. Leaving us the only other thimerosal-free option---the Flu Mist. And, anyway, a little squirt of the nose is a piece of cake to a kid compared to a needle in the arm, right?

Oh, boy, was I ever wrong! This was one of the worst experiences I've had with her in the doctor's office--ranking right up there with taking her blood when she was three to check her lead levels and one time when she was two I thought she had a bladder infection and they had to catheterize her to get a sample. Yeah, a squirt up the nose ranks with that. Can you believe it? I can't. I'm still furious!

It should have been so simple. We went to a walk-in clinic that we frequent for flu shots. I went first to show her what it was like. It was like nothing. Nothing, ya'll! Kind of like a little bit of nasal saline spray running down the back of your throat. Easy peasy.

Oh, not for BFG. They do have to do a squirt up each nostril which should have been my warning sign. Yeah, the nurse got the first squirt done and BFG starts squalling saying it burned, it burned. There is no way that burned! I don't know if the nurse maybe scraped the inside of her nose with the syringe or something. But that mist did NOT burn. So, she is screaming bloody murder. The entire clinic can hear us. I'm promising her milkshakes and ice cream dipped in gold if she'll let the nurse do the other one. No dice. Scream, scream, cry, cry, wail, wail.

Then, ooooh, the taboo happened. It started dripping out of her nose. The nurse panics and starts saying, "Tilt your head back. Tilt your head back." I'm grabbing BFG's chin trying to tilt it up. BFG is screaming harder and trying to avoid the syringe at all costs. Drip, drip. The nurse, " Lay down! Lay down!"

So, basically, we got BFG laid down. There was no consoling her. So, we had to hold her and force the rest up the second nostril with her screaming. Yeah, and this was supposed to be easier than a shot. I was fuming. I feel a little sorry for her now since she was obviously scared of something and it turned into a traumatic experience. But I was pretty darn mad. I know what it felt like and it was a simple, simple painless procedure. All she had to do was let them squirt it up her nose. It was ridiculous!

She doesn't even flinch at shots. I should have just gotten the darn shot and prayed for the best. Afterward, she said the mist was way worse then the shot. Oh, really? That's funny since it's pain-free. But, oh well. I guess it'll be the shot from now on for her. I hope her life never depends on me getting something up her nose because now it will never happen.

It's always right when I feel confident I've done the best I could or made the best decision that everything falls apart. I don't know why I waste my time worrying and researching.

Mama Said

It's All In The Little Things . . .

It hit me today that when I look at the overall "big" things in our life, I really think we're doing okay and we're certainly blessed.

But it's all the little things that get to me and make me feel like a loser . . .

Oh, you know, like when you take your 5 yr. old to the dentist to have her first two cavities filled. You already feel like a loser because you feed your kid candy all the time and she has cavities and for some really dumb reason you had put a 4 1/2 yr. old in charge of brushing her own teeth. But then you show up late in the cold rainy weather with her hair still wet from her bath because you let her stay in the bath too long because you were jabbing on the phone and it was slow-going getting ready because you are tripping over boxes and boxes of Christmas stuff that have yet to be opened after four days of sitting around.

Then, you explain to the dental assistant how nervous BFG is and how she's sensitive to loud noises and you cram ear plugs in her little ears that you bought especially for this (although they will come in handy in defense to Rhett's snoring). It's at that moment you know you are being the overbearing mom just like the ones you hated when you were a teacher and you strive so hard not to be.

And a little too late you realize, she is getting all numbed up right at lunch time and the dentist tells you that she cannot eat anything for awhile. That would be no big deal except he asks you straight up if she's had lunch yet, which of course she hasn't but she should have since most little kids do eat before noon. So, your southern cover-up instincts kick in and you smoothly say, "Oh, she had a late breakfast." And the moment that slips out, you realize you have no idea if she had a late breakfast or not. Who knows what time you fed her? You can't even remember what you fed her. But you did feed her breakfast, right? Whew. Okay, I did do that. Score one for me.

And that was just one hour of my day,
Mama Said