Big Girls Don't Cry

Your kind thoughts and wishes for me, mean so much. 

Russ had me in tears.

You are all so kind and wonderful... made my day, which otherwise has been a quiet one.  Just trying to rest up for the week ahead.

Hubby had what I like to call a brain fart on Friday night.

My mom's friend Mary had given the kids $50 each, because she had been so ill over the last year, and she had missed seeing the kids for holidays and birthdays.  Silly really, but you have to know Mary to know, there was no stopping her from doing this.

So, Hubby's grand idea was that the kids pitch all that money in to buy something, we pay the balance as Hammer's birthday gift.

What was that something you ask?

A Wii. 

Pronounced 'Wee' like, we swing the controllers around like maniacs and try to not hurt each other or break things while playing.  Ugh.

The original 'plan' was no Wii until the basement was finished.  But, thanks to water damage, and lack of funds for the proper waterproofing, that may be longer away than the original plan.

And, thanks to funds being tight, there is no vacation this year other than going to my cousin's wedding in Indianapolis. 

So, that basically made Hubby feel guilty, turned him a bit soft, and there you have the result.  A Wii.

Hubby set it up last night, after we came home from the barbecue.

The kids LOVE it.

I am still developing my opinion of the game.  I will let you know. 

So far, it seems okay.  The kids actually get a workout while playing.  No broken glass yet, only one accidental injury.  I am still not 100% sure yet though.  lol

Hubby seems to love it as much as the kids. 

Men and boys... the toys grow with them.

be well,
Dawn

 

Tags: hubby, kids, wii, brain fart, coffee, thank you, kids, school, boy scouts, coffee, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, brain tumor, pain, fun, pain

(Un)Comfortably Numb

It's Caturday!!!  Yay!

The barbecue at my cousin's house was wonderful!  I miss Leslie so much, and seeing her hubby and the babies was wonderful!  There was tons of food, the kids went swimming, it was very nice!

The only draw back was the 90 degree heat, but I spent enough time inside that it didn't mess me up too much!  I also drank a lot of water.  The babies were so adorable and are getting so big, so fast.  Well, that is what kids do!

I wish I could say that things are great, but, not so much.  I haven't said much on here, but the headaches are more than just headaches - it is facial neuralgia, and on my right side. 

I am not sure, but it may be from the brain tumor.  It is in the right location to cause it.  It may just be inflammation from the Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

I doubled the feldene which is an anti-inflammatory, and it has helped.  Also, the vicodin at night kind of helps when it gets the worst.  Add that to swollen and painful hands, elbows and feet, and you have a not fun situation. 

BUT, Tuesday I will see my rheumatologist and we will see what we can do.

Until then... I am doing my best to manage my pain and my life with a smile!!!

Here is a meme for you all...

1. What are five TV shows that you love to watch?

In the summer my list is Big Brother 8, So You Think You Can Dance, Mythbusters, Last Comic Standing and Dirty Jobs.

2. What are the last five books you have read?

Harry Potter #7, The Professor and The Madman, Last Words, The Golden Ratio, and Hannibal Rising.

3. Name five friends from your childhood.

Kathy, Fred, Bob, Ilene, and Lisa. 

4. What are your favorite five bath & beauty products?

Dove Sensitive Skin Soap, Aveeno Hand treatment lotion, Eucerin Extra Sensitive facial moisturizer, Bath and Body Works Coconut Body Spray, and my Tweezerman tweezers. 

5. Name five things about you or that you have done in your life that might surprise other people.

     I ran 35 mm reel to reel projectors at a movie theater
    I assisted in an emergency office surgery, where an allograft (pig skin) was being used on an open hand wound.
     I was Red Cross certified to lifeguard.
     I did some volunteer work with severe developmentally and physically disabled children, through Kathy.
     I never changed a diaper before my eldest son was born,then I didn't stop for the next 7 years!  LOL

I hope you all had a good day and stayed cool wherever you are!

be well,
Dawn

Tags: barbecue, 90 degrees, facial neuralgia, brain tumor, meme

Over the Hills and Far Away

A meme, for you to remember me by... more sharing! LOL Friday Fill-In  (stolen from the web... lost the link)

1. Last weekend, I was thinking that I had better call the doctor on Monday!  And, I did!  Thank you for the reminders!

2. If the weather continues like this, I will resort to living in my tub filled with water and occasionally ice.

3. Will my daughter ever grow? (to be taller than she is now...)

4. Often, on a summer's night, I think how I would love to have a jacuzzi to sit in and admire the stars from it.

5. Right now, I could use a good strong vodka martini and a vicodin.  Yes, I know I would pass out, but then I wouldn't feel the pain.  lol

6. My favorite summertime meal is steak on the grill and grilled potato packets.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I enjoyed a great dinner with Hubby and the kids, tomorrow my plans include my cousin's barbecue, and Sunday, I want to sleep late and relax all day!

 

be well,
Dawn

Tags: meme, friday fill-in, good night

I Wish It Would Rain Down

  

Yeah... not the best of days... but in some ways, it was great anyhow.

Both kids had great sleep overs.  The boys here, the girls at Bob and Ilene's.  The boys watched 2 movies, snacked, and played video games. 

Bob took Fuzzy and Pumpkin to the pool today with his kids, which was very nice.  Ilene had to be at the hospital all day; her mom was admitted for low blood platelets.  Ilene's mom has been in very bad way since May, she has chronic heart problems, it would be wonderful if you all could remember her in your prayers.

In other sad news, one of my mom's oldest friends, passed away after a long battle with cancer.  Pat had been battling the disease off and on for many years, this last bought non-stop for about 3 years.  She was a wonderful lady, and her family and our family were close when we were all kids, and it was easy to have 2 families hang out together. 

Pat and her husband retired to southern New Jersey, about 2 hours from here.  My mom and dad went to her wake/memorial today, they were gone from about 1pm until after 10pm tonite. 

A long sad day for them, and all.  :-/ 

Tomorrow, I will try to use some of Pat's fighting spirit to keep me going.

We have a family picnic at my cousin Leslie's home!  The party is to celebrate her two youngest's birthdays, the girls are one and two, respectively, just 11 months apart!  Leslie also has two older girls, 10 and 6.  This is also Leslie's first party she is hosting with us at her new home.

Leslie is having a barbecue which will be really nice, and she has an above ground pool, so the kids are looking forward to swimming!  If the heat is still in the 90's a lot more adults may end up in the water with the kiddies!!! 

Thunder showers have been going through repeatedly for over an hour, I keep hoping that it will cool us off, but according to the weather report, it doesn't look that way!  Ugh! 

The heat has always been a problem for me, my entire life.  And, now it is worse, since my lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are more active.  However, I will drink lots of water, stay in the shade, and try to cool off in the a/c inside occasionally, and do my best to have a great day!

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

be well,
Dawn

                       

 

Tags: heat, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, grief, prayers

It's Getting Hot in Here

It was 99 freaking degrees today.  UGH!  Yeah, we stayed all 'chill' in the A/C.  That is too hot for me to deal with the pool.

Before Lupus and RA, yes, now... no way. 

However, the kids had a nice day - at one point they had two friends here - Russ and Hammer's Gal Pal. 

Gal Pal is doing a summer report on the book 'Girl with Pearl Earring' by Tracey Chevalier, a favorite of mine.  She came to ask me for some help with it, which I was happy to give! ;-)

Russ stayed for dinner, which was hot dogs, baked beans, and a potato salad that I made with no mayo, thinking of my hubby because he hates mayo.

I boiled the red potatoes, until still firm but soft.  I sauteed fresh string beans, chopped onions, and 2 cloves of sliced garlic in olive oil.  After beans soft but not mushy and onions soft, I put it aside in a bowl in the fridge.  Drained potatoes, put them in a fridge also.  Then, tossed together and added grape tomatoes.  Next made a balsamic vinegar dressing, with crushed garlic, basil, and olive oil.  Tossed all together, then back in the fridge, until served, cold.  Yummy.

You can cut the tomatoes in half, I didn't because of Hubby's diverticulitis. 

Russ headed home, and then DogBoy arrived to sleep over.  Pumpkin headed home with Bob, to sleep over their house with their daughter, Peanut. 

Hubby just took all the boys to rent movies, and to 7-11 (which is next door to the video store) for snacks and slurpees. 

I have an awful headache.  Ugh.  I am enjoying the quiet and hoping it will start to ebb before they get back!

Since it is a sleep over night!  I decided to do a meme and may do another later!  A Meme-a-palooza if you will!  Please join in!

TheThree Things Meme

3 names you go by:
Dawn, Mommy, Edd

3 screen names you've had
topaz65, dawnz3devilz, and portkeymom

3 physical things you like about yourself
eyes, hair, nails

3 physical things you don't like about yourself
size 10 feet (thank you kids), my weight, my sore joints

3 parts of your heritage
American, German, Italian

3 things that scare you
no coffee, something happening to kids/family, spiders
 
3 of your favorite bands
BonJovi, Eagles, Def Leppard

(this depends on my mood...)
 
3 of your favorite songs
(so does this, but here are todays...)  'Sweet Escape' by Gwen Stefani, 'How You Remind Me' by Nickelback, 'Time in a Bottle' by Jim Croce (my wedding song)
 
3 things you want in a relationship
Family first, marriage second, sex third... (LOL)
 
2 truths and a lie in no particular order
I love being a mom, I love my pets, I hate coffee (bwah ha! Hard huh?)
 
3 things about the preferred sex that appeals to you
humor, nice hands, expressive eyes

3 of your favorite hobbies
reading, writing, museums
 
3 things you really want to do badly right now
have a snack, get rid of my headache, get a hug from hubby!

3 careers you've considered/you're considering
physicist, economics/business, writer

3 places you want to go on vacation
(oh so many...but here is 3)  Paris, UK, Scotland

3 kids' names you like
(3 that are not my own children's... )  Evan, Dean, Luke (boys)  Brenna, Ariadne, Charity
 
3 things you  want to do before you die
travel, see and enjoy grandchildren, be published
 
3 ways that you are stereotypically a guy
I can shoot, I like watching sports, especially football, I like beer!
 
3 ways that you are stereotypically a girl
I love being pampered, I hate spiders, I like being romanced (DID YOU READ THAT, HUBBY???)
 
3 celebrity crushes
Mark Harmon, Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt
 
3 persons  that you're tagging
You know who you are...  lol

If you play along... drop me a comment so I can check it out!  Gaz and Russ... you haven't meme'd in ages... so C'MON!!!!

be well,
Dawn

ps... Dan, Paul and Cin... this tag is just for you all!  lol

Tags: meme, headache, sleepover, potato salad, no mayo

Thankful Thursday

Yup, I am on cup 3, maybe it's 4, and I just starting to feel perky!

Today is Thankful Thursday!

1.     The safety of my family in the Minneapolis area.  My uncle, my aunt, their kids, and my aunt's family (native Minnesotans), are all safe and well.  I was really worried about them all night last night, especially after I watched the coverage of the bridge collapse.  Very sad, very scary.  My thoughts and prayers go out to those whose families were not as lucky as me.

2.     Coffee.  I have been really struggling lately, trying to manage my Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis issues.  Coffee gets me where I need to be!  Like yesterday, the zoo - thanks to a Dunkin' Donuts large iced coffee with a turbo shot!!!

3.     Hubby.  The big dope, I love him, his help, his goofiness, and the fact that he is still constantly chasing me around looking for 'nookie'.  LOL

4.     Friends.  I am blessed with some great friends in town, and try to be a good friend right back to them.  Just laughing and chit chatting while at the pool the other night, during the swim meet on Monday, and on Tuesday night in the water with friends, really made me happy!

5.     Hammer.  My helpful boy, who never complains as he helps with chores.  Today, he is helping with the laundry, so I do not have to do any stairs.  Fuzzy helped a bit too, but he can't stop his mouth.  So, Hammer, hats off to you.  I needed that today, and this week.

    

Tonight, I am having one, possibly two kids sleep over.  I know.  I am a glutton for punishment, but I just love having the kids friends here, and it is summer.  It is what you do!

I made the kids frozen pizza, but now the kitchen is hot.  Stupid of me... oh well, it will cool down again eventually. 

be well,
Dawn

 

Tags: thankful thursday, brain tumor, brain tumor, brain tumor

Talk to the Animals

Today, Pumpkin went to work with Daddy!

This picture was actually taken in the parking lot where I picked them up from the bus home! 

Since Pumpkin was off having her special day with dad, the boys and I went to our county zoo!

The above album of pictures is from our day! 

It was a really great time!!!

The mountain lions were sound asleep when we were at their enclosure, so, Fuzzy and I moved away.  Hammer started to run to catch up to us, and the male mountain lion jumped down and ran to the fence alongside Hammer! 

Hammer saw him do it, so he ran the other way and the lion followed!  Fuzzy and I ran back to watch and Hammer and the lion played this way for a bit!  It was amazing!  The lion was totally playful, there was nothing 'stalking' or predatory in what he was doing.  We think that Hammer's bright yellow tee shirt today, must be similar to something his trainer or food handler wears!  lol

The tamarinds were also very playful, and were fun to watch!  The elk family was taking a lovely mud bath, which we have in the pictures, until the bisons came and chased them away, wanting the mud bath all to themselves.

The condor danced around displaying his awesome wingspan, hoping the female would come out of the shade of their hut, but she didn't.  The turtles were quite active, one of them was moving about so fast, I think he would have given the hare a run for his money!

It was a lovely day!

be well,
Dawn

Tags: daughter to work day, zoo, mom and the boys