Lazy Sunday

Here in Texas it is already too hot to be outside in the middle of the day. Surrounded by technology, family football games and outdoor activities have fallen by the wayside as vacant stares are aimed at computers and x boxes.

In my day, we were lucky to have a little bit of time on the one computer in the house, my Dad's. Actually, I'm not sure computers were even invented back then....

Open?

The "open" MRI is so not open. It's still a tube. Granted the diameter is twice the size of the standard one, but I would not call that "open". But, I did it. I had to close my eyes before he moved me into the tube, and I made sure to keep them closed the entire time. I didn't even open them when he injected dye into my arm halfway through the test. It sounded like I was underneath a construction site, which brings the feeling of being buried alive.... See? This is why I had so much trouble with this test. I replayed favorite movie scenes in my mind, mostly, to keep my mind from fully realizing what was going on. And like I said, I didn't open my eyes for anything. The ativan helped with that...ha!

Oh, and the results are already in....

My brain is completely normal. Say what??

Next step is an EEG. I'll never pay off these medical bills.

Tomorrow is a New Day

I am scheduled for an open MRI tomorrow morning at 7 am, I have to check in at 6:30. Everybody wish me luck.

I'll leave you with some silliness. My husband loves his girls, that's for sure.

Epic Fail

MRI: Ummm, no freakin' way. I know I am extremely claustrophobic. Ridiculously so. The radiologist made it as far as pulling that metal head cage thing (have no idea what it's called) down over my head before I bolted. I didn't even make it into the tube. I mean, I got really upset. I could tell she was irritated with me. She tried bringing Corey into the room with me, putting a rag over my eyes and headphones with music over my ears. The whole way home, I kept imagining that tube and my heart would speed up. Now I have to reschedule, in a partially open one (thank heavens), with medicine to help me relax (thank heavens). A waste of time for everyone involved, and I feel bad about that. But jeez, it freaked me out.

On a brighter note, this is Greta. She was abandoned, so we rescued her. She's the sweetest, most affectionate kitten ever. I particularly love her checkerboard face. If you look closesly at the first two pictures, you can see it.

Getting to Know You

The Questions...

1) Do you have a "fetish"? No, I can't say that I do. If I simplify the definition to mean something I must have, I'll say 10 hours of sleep and dessert every night.

2) Do you sing in the shower? That would be a resounding yes. Actually, it depends on my mood. Obviously.

3) Who was your first crush? Donnie Walburg from New Kids on the Block. And I'm talking about the old New Kids. My first concert was theirs, and it was pure pre-teen ecstacy.

4) What do you think is the best manly trait a guy can have? Protectiveness. I love when a guy is protective of me. A physical trait? Definately muscular forearms. Weird, I know. Until I met my husband I never really even noticed that part of a man's body. My husband spends a whole lot of time turning screwdrivers, and his forearms are a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Seriously hot. Turns me on.

5) Do you sleep naked? No freaking way. My sleep tank even has to have some sort of support in it.

6) What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? Adjust my bra. Clench my fists and swear under my breath. Pull my undies out of my rear.

7) What's the first thing you do when you go online? Check my email, then go down my list of blogs in my favorites list from top to bottom.

8) Summer is... Hot. Dry. We don't generally take a "summer vacation", and my husband's job is particularly busy in the summer so it is a whole lot of just me and the kids. Did I mention hot?

Visit www.mannland5.com and play along!

Let's See If I Can Get My Thoughts Together

So Sunday morning I got out of the shower and started to brush my teeth (still wearing only a towel wrapped around me, just like every other day). I began to feel what I have always called "deja vu". You know, where you feel like you have experienced this exact same situation before, and you even know what is supposed to happen next. Here's where I start to sound crazy, so bear with me. When I first started experiencing these deja vu moments, it felt weird...cool actually. Recently when these episodes start, I would try to stop it because it was becoming very intense, and frightening. On Sunday I couldn't shake it off. I remember walking into my bedroom, trying to stop the deja vu because it was becoming overwhelming and scary. The next thing I know, Corey was trying to get me out of bed and telling me we were going to the hospital (he had been at work, my two older kids were here and my 11 year old was smart enough to call him immediately. Luckily he was working only 15 minutes away.). It was terrifying, because I couldn't remember what day it was, didn't know he'd been at work, couldn't remember fixing breakfast for the kids earlier, basically didn't know WTF was going on. Scary. I had a black eye, and bruises up and down my legs. Apparently I had been walking around naked...scary too! We went to the ER, where they told me I had a seizure, and apparently have been having them for years. I went to the neurologist on Tuesday, and she told me I had epilepsy. These "deja vu" moments I have had for years were little seizure in a small part of my brain. Something happened that caused it to spread and involve more of my brain on Sunday. (I had started taking Mega T Green Tea pills for my post-baby belly fat, the neurologist thinks that may have played a part). One of the tell-tale signs of a seizure is a taste you get in your mouth, and I always wondered why my deja vu came with the same taste in my mouth. Now I know!! Anywhoo I am on anti-seizure meds, am scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday, and can't drive for 6 months. Boo on that part. (Nothing showed on the CAT scan btw, so no real worries about the MRI). I don't really know what we are going to do to get through our days at home now, we used to go to Target, Ross, Walmart, the park. We'll be rich, I guess, without all the shopping. No wait...I'll be paying these medical bills. Hmmm

Say What?

Today I was diagnosed with epilepsy. Huh? I had a seizure on Sunday morning, and I will tell the story, but I just can't tonight. It's not a good story, and I am exhausted beyond all reason. Here's the worst part of the whole deal...I can't drive for 6 months. I don't know what it says about me that I'm most upset about that part, but there it is. House arrest, here I come. I will be insane inside a month.

to be continued...

Midnight Scare

This little girl (seen here eating grilled corn-on-the-cob several nights ago) is sick. Was very very sick. Tuesday morning at about 1 am, Madison woke up. Monday afternoon and evening she felt slightly warm to the touch, so I gave her some ibuprofen before bed. She had no other symptoms. When she woke up, she was hot. On fire. Our thermometer battery was dead, so Corey headed to the all-night Walgreens while I gave her some more ibuprofen and started rubbing her with a cool wet washcloth. It took 45 minutes for Corey to return, and when he did I was shocked to see that her temperature was 104.4. It scares me to think what it started out at if it was still that high after the dose of medicine and cold cloth. I took off her diaper and put her in a cool bath, and called her doctor's office. I was told by the person who answered the phone that they could page the on call doctor and she would call me back, but it would cost me $25. Jeez. But whatever, I needed to know if we should take her to the hospital. In 4 children, I have never seen a fever that high and I was terrified. She still had no other symptoms, and was playing happily in the water. In fact she threw a huge fit when I took her out. The doctor called and said to keep up what I was doing, and take her in tomorrow. Anyway, she went back to sleep with the fever only having gone down to 102.5. In the morning, it was only 101.5, and I took her in to see her doctor. They drew blood, and she has a virus (he said that her throat is very red, and he is seeing tons of kids with this virus right now). We had a devil of a time getting her to bed last night, it was nearly 9 pm before she would stay in her crib and go to sleep. This morning her fever was 100.4, and she seems to be feeling somewhat better. I hope she reverts to her usual easy manner at bedtime, because last night I got a taste of what some poor parents go through. Monday she goes back to her doctor for her 18 month check-up. Since we still haven't reached the $3500 out-of-pocket we have to pay before insurance kicks in (I think we are at around $1000), all of this really sucks. But she's ok, and that's what matters.

A Lovely Surprise

This afternoon as I drove down my street returning from a quick trip to the grocery store, I noticed a minivan parked in my driveway. When I pushed the button for the garage door opener and it began to go up and still the car didn't move, I became annoyed. Sitting in the street blocking traffic, I tapped my horn. Finally, he reversed to let me pull in, and pulled in behind me. I admit it, I was irritated. When a man stepped out of the van and said "Boy am I glad you are home", I was even more irritated. I shouldn't have been. Cause this is what he was bringing me.

Thank you, Mary. You are a sweet, thoughtful person. I don't know what those other women are talking about when they complain about their mothers-in-law.

***anybody notice the tiny hand in both pics? Maddie is fascinated and doesn't quite get the look-with-your-eyes-not-with-your-hands thing.

Happy Mother's Day

To me, and to all of you internet peeps.

(Yes, Maddie, you're absolutely right...life is a roller coaster.)

Here I Go Again...

...trying to win something! Jennifer is hosting a giveaway for Robeez shoes, and I am crossing my fingers hoping to win a pair for Maddie!

Danger At Our House

Here is Taylor pushing Maddie around in the baby doll stroller. Now Maddie, mind you, is no lightweight. The wheels creak and bow out, the cloth seat has already ripped off once.

It is a tragedy waiting to happen. Just kidding. But one day soon, she will go crashing to the floor. Luckily the floor is only 6 inches away.

Studious Students

Except, they are not doing research, or studying or whatever. They are playing games. Ahem. Oh, speaking of studious students, I need to brag on my 11 year old. She scored a 100 on the TAKS math test (the standardized state testing for Texas) and 95 on the reading section. Can I get a woot woot?

She's Got the Look