This is my second favorite Christmas song of all time...
And, here is my all time favorite...
I hope you enjoy and I hope you have few minutes to spread your favorite carol around, too.
be well,
Dawn
Tags: J-Land, caroling, Christmas, songs, Jon Bon Jovi, Come Home for Christmas, Bing Crosby, White Christmas
Well, it is Eleven
I am doing great! The MRI turned out to be a great experience this time!!! The RN was wonderful and so was the anesthesiologist. I didn't need a lot of meds, just versed, which made me very, very, happy!
They got my vein in my favorite spot on the first try, and everything went great from there! I was alert throughout, but in no discomfort or pain! Afterward, I was sitting up immediately and clear headed, just overly happy!
Like the usual me, but ramped up to giddy-ultra happy!
After a quick drink of water, Hubby brought me a yummy hazelnut coffee that was just what I needed!
The anesthesiologist very kindly gave me the news that to his and the technicians eyes, they saw no evidence of MS - of course, that is VERY unofficial. I really appreciated them telling me though, and I am sure that the MS doc will confirm that Monday am.
The MS doc will probably also be able to give me her thoughts on the tumor, if it looks like it grew or not, but regardless, I will be getting the copies of my MRI on cd for my uber-neurosurgeon and will be going to visit him in January sometime.
Thank you for all your prayers and kind thoughts! J-land must have been working overtime, because I have to say, the whole day was very pleasant! How many people can say that?
Afterward, Hubby took me to the diner and I had a late breakfast for lunch. Eggs Benedict... yum. Always a treat. Then, we headed home to check in on the kids for a bit, and then off to the Container Store for one hour, where I finished my Christmas shopping.
On Wednesday and Thursday at our school, their were two fire alarms caused by construction workers. Which meant the kids were outside in 30 degree weather, without coats, two days in a row, for about 20 minutes each time.
Result? Fuzzy's asthma is flared up! He had an awful night, and is on the nebulizer here at home; three treatments so far. ACK! I could scream... but what are you going to do, really? No way to predict this stuff with construction going on in the school.
Hopefully, with us giving him treatments here at home, and rest throughout the weekend, he will be back for school Monday!
Anyhow, that is my update for now! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday!
be well,
Dawn
This time of year is a wonderful time to count your blessings!
Of course, like many of you, I try to do it each and every Thursday, but at this time of year it just seems more special!
It's all about the 'love' baby!!! lol
1. My boys and how hard they have worked at Boy Scouts!
Here is Hammer... he received 8 Merit Badges, including Nuclear Science, one of the most difficult (but not for him), and is two weeks short of his Star Scout promotion.
Next comes Fuzzy!
Fuzzy received 11 Merit Badges, including Architecture, which he completed on his own, and Aviation that he did with Hammer, and his friend, Russ. Fuzzy is also just 2 weeks short of his Star Scout promotion.
Fuzzy looks so much like his dad standing there with his hand in his pocket! LOL (that is the Scoutmaster in the background of both pics)
To put the promotion level in prospective, Scouts enter with no level, then they earn Tenderfoot, followed by 2nd Class, then 1st Class. Next, is Star Scout, Life Scout, and then the ultimate goal and highest of all Scout achievements, Eagle Scout.
My boys have done really wonderful, considering that they have only been Boy Scouts for 18 months. They have each earned their ranks quickly, working hard to complete all the requirements of each rank, prior to the eligibility date of the rank!
Hubby deserves lots of kudos, too! He is assistant Scoutmaster for their benefit, and works hard for them and the whole troop!
The dinner was very nice, the food was good, but we didn't get home until after 9pm, and the boys, not until almost 10pm since they had to do clean-up!
Which leads me to my next Thankful...
2. Hubby drove the kids today! I was able to sleep in (after I got up to blow dry Pumpkin's hair), and it was nice and needed!
3. My mom came home early! It gave us a nice chance to chat and catch up some, and discuss last nights festivities without being interrupted by the kids! LOL
4. My dad picks up the kids! Which means, I get to stay indoors and nice and cozy while we have an icy, sleety, snowy mix today! The weather folks say we are getting some real snow soon... I am waiting. And, hoping!
5. Coffee... mmmmm yes... hot, yummy, and my caffeine deployment system of choice!!!!
6. MRI tomorrow. I am glad to be getting it over with! I am reasonably sure that it will still confirm no MS, but I really want to hear that the brain tumor is NOT growing. That is really the key here.
Okie dokie... time to have another cup of joe and play some Jewel Miner!
be well,
Dawn
Tags: Thankful Thursday, blessings, family, Boy Scouts, fun, love, coffee, brain tumor,
Hi everyone!
Yesterday I spent most of the day just relaxing. I needed that... the rain and sleet and constant state of storms going through the area, has unfortunately woken up my rheumatoid arthritis and made my more sore than I had been.
Tonight, we have the Boy Scout Holiday Awards Dinner. It is a buffet with sausage peppers, baked ziti, rolls, salad, and lots of desserts. Then, the Boys get their merit badges they have earned and any promotions.
Pumpkin and my dad made chocolate chip cookies last night for the dessert table! Yum!
Since Fuzzy is allergic to nuts/peanuts, this ensures that he has at least one 'safe' dessert to eat! It's easier that way for all our peace of mind!
I saw this out on the web and I decided to play along!
List your 5 Favorite Holiday Traditions
1. Tree trimming. I love when we put up the tree and discuss the ornaments. It is a wonderful way to walk down memory lane; from my childhood, to getting married, the birth of each kid, and adding the new ornaments from this year!
2. Dinner out on Christmas Eve. My parents, Hubby, the kids, and myself, go out for a quiet dinner out. It is perfect because on Christmas Day the house is bustling, busy, and filled to the brim with family!
3. Adults opening gifts on Christmas Eve. This tradition started as a way to keep the insanity to a minimum on Christmas morning. After the kids went to bed, my mom, dad, Hubby and myself would exchange. Starting last year, we allowed the kids to stay up and watch, and they give us their gifts, too.
4. Christmas Jammies. I always had a pair when I was kid, and you just have to wear them on Christmas Eve! So do my kids!
5. New Year's Eve at home with friends. Each year we invite some of our friends and their kids, and we have snacks/appetizers, some drinks, and relax! We toast the New Year at midnight with champagne and sparkling cider and then settle in to chat and eat some more!
***************************************************
So, that is that! I hope to see some of you play along!
I am gonna go rest now! I will take a vicodin to get me through tonight, as it will be a long evening and I am sore! My boys just miss a promotion! They are eligible on January 10th! That stinks doesn't it? Now they have to wait to the Year End party!
be well,
Dawn
I am hearing a big sigh of relief!!!
My mom's MRI came back and it is a hemangioma/blood blister on her liver, and it should resolve all on its own.
A big shout out to my mom's friend, Peggy... HEY PEGGY! Say 'hi' to Tracey and tell her she is my prayers every day!
Okay... now two more things need to go smoothly, my MRI and my mom's kidney stone blasting, and I will be ECSTATIC!
Oh my daughter is such a piece of work! I just called her a 'cherub' and she thought that meant a chariot! LOL Oh my... I laughed so hard, I damn near wet my pants!
So, I had my physical today! My cholesterol was 210, high normal, I guess, but my ratios were good. No need for meds there! Yay! My EKG has not changed in the two years since the last. Yay again! My sugar was good so were my liver enzymes, and all my other bloodwork! Yay Yay Yay!
I mean really, some parts of my body are okay at least!
Thank you everyone, for all your support and prayers. I appreciate it so much!
More later...
be well,
Dawn
What she said...
A comment has been posted to the Journal:
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day
Blue Christmas
Comment from: tenyearnap
"Santa should be bringing you something big this year....like a Jaguar or a yacht...cuz you've been VERY good and have gone through a lot this year. (((((DAWN)))))) --Love, Cin"
Thanks, Cin!!! I hope he hears!!!
be well,
Dawn
ps... I really want the $699 Dell Inspiron Laptop, Santa... the one on sale & that we have a coupon for please... in apple green!
I relate kitty...
You remember my brain tumor diagnosis, right? If not... check it out here: Doctor Doctor!
Finally, the MRI machine is fixed, and I am going to have it done on Friday, with sedation. (the repeat one I need to measure the tumor growth)
Since I need the anesthesia, even though it is a light anesthesia (versed, for those in the know), I have to have my internist do a physical, EKG, etc. Thankfully, I had that scheduled for tomorrow at 10am anyhow, so it all works out.
I also go back to the MS specialist on the 17th.
Not to mention the eye doctor, for further tests on the 18th.
And, I have to schedule with Uber Brain Surgeon for January... but I am getting off the point of what I wanted to say.
Here's the rub. The tumor is there, yeah, I know it, and you know it, fine. AND, the assumption is that everything is fine. It is being a good little slow growing epidermoid or chordoma, just eeking along at a snails pace. Right?
But, what if it isn't? What if I find out a few days after this MRI, and therefore a few days before Christmas, that it is growing faster than expected? Or it has changed in a negative way?
That would really suck.
So, right now, I am totally second guessing the fact that I am doing all of this now, in the middle of December, at my favorite time of year.
And, here is the rest of the dilly. Remember me asking for prayers???
Well, remember my mom having the kidney stones? She did pass the one that was causing her pain, however, there are 3 more, and one is big, 5 cms. The urologist is afraid of her kidney shutting down.
So, on the 18th, my mom is having the ultrasonic blasty thing to break up the stones, while under anesthesia. Ack.
And, they also found a spot on her liver (which was the thing I was really freaking about), so she had an MRI to check that out on last Wednesday. Her doc is supposed to call with results tomorrow. He better, I can't wait any longer. I mean, this is my mom. I need my mom. Enough said... I get too choked up if I go down this road... you know?
Prayers and good thoughts for it not to be anything more than a blood clot would be great! I am sure you can all guess what we do not want to hear. Thank you... in advance... you all rock.
So, yeah. I am having some second thoughts... or maybe, 'panicky' thoughts - but I will just push on through. I will.
AND, I am thinking positive because, well, it's the only way I know how do things!
Good things have been happening, too! As you read in my other entries, we are busy with the season and really enjoying it.
Also, I have been really fortunate that my overall soreness level has decreased in my joints! Yay! Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis seem to know I have enough to deal with right now, so they need to just shut the heck up! LOL The fatigue is there, but anytime the pain is less, it is better, too.
I can last longer, go farther, do more, yada yada... LOL
You know... I don't know if this entry has really made much sense. I think I have just rambled and babbled a bit in a circle. I hope you can make some sense of it!
Just knowing you are all out there... helps.
be well,
Dawn
UPDATE: If I haven't been to your blog lately... I will try to get there soon... so busy!
