In a small town in Massachusetts
Where I was born 41 years ago.
Now I'm living in Wisconsin, wearing purple snuggies!
And eating chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.
Made with love by my hubby!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Quick Update
Well, I had my surgery this past Friday. All went well and I was at home and in bed by about 3:30pm.
They removed the cyst and he is 99% sure there is nothing to be concerned about. But they do send it in for testing just to be sure it's not cancerous. He tried to just remove it and leave the ovary but once he detached it, he could not stop the bleeding so he just took the entire ovary along with it. Which is perfectly fine. I knew that was an option. I have a spare that will take over for the missing one. We aren't planning on any more kids so that wasn't an issue either.
For the most part I'm back to normal, though there is still some soreness periodically and still a bit tired and need to randomly nap. The pain medication has a tendency to slow things down in the bowel department so I had to get some Milk of Magnesia to help things along.
Three words! Dis...gust...ing!!
That is the absolute worst tasting thing I have ever tasted! Leave it to hubby to get a non-flavored version. (Though otherwise he has been awesome taking care of me!) My mom said the stuff she got in the hospital at least tasted minty.
BTW, her surgery went well also. Once he got in, it was not nearly as bad as expected and he is pretty confident he was able to clean it all out pretty well. She has been home, resting. She goes back at the end of the month for follow up and to figure out when chemo starts.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers sent. They were much appreciated! I hope all my blog/Internet friends are doing well as I haven't been around as much keeping up with you all.
They removed the cyst and he is 99% sure there is nothing to be concerned about. But they do send it in for testing just to be sure it's not cancerous. He tried to just remove it and leave the ovary but once he detached it, he could not stop the bleeding so he just took the entire ovary along with it. Which is perfectly fine. I knew that was an option. I have a spare that will take over for the missing one. We aren't planning on any more kids so that wasn't an issue either.
For the most part I'm back to normal, though there is still some soreness periodically and still a bit tired and need to randomly nap. The pain medication has a tendency to slow things down in the bowel department so I had to get some Milk of Magnesia to help things along.
Three words! Dis...gust...ing!!
That is the absolute worst tasting thing I have ever tasted! Leave it to hubby to get a non-flavored version. (Though otherwise he has been awesome taking care of me!) My mom said the stuff she got in the hospital at least tasted minty.
BTW, her surgery went well also. Once he got in, it was not nearly as bad as expected and he is pretty confident he was able to clean it all out pretty well. She has been home, resting. She goes back at the end of the month for follow up and to figure out when chemo starts.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers sent. They were much appreciated! I hope all my blog/Internet friends are doing well as I haven't been around as much keeping up with you all.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween!
My daughter Skowt and her friends are part of a group at school called "Students 4 Service". They do service projects, volunteer their time and fund raise for different causes.
Each year the teacher has them Trick or Treat for change and they donate all the money they collect to the local food pantry. Skowt and three friends went out last night in our neighborhood. I'm proud to say that in just 2 short hours they collected almost $200!! They got some candy too...Bonus!
At one of the houses a guy threw in 3 bills. Well, as the girls walked away they realized one of them was a 100 bill and not a single like the other two. They quickly discussed it among themselves and went right back to the house and asked the guy if he meant to put that in there. He of course did not, he thought it was a 3rd single and thanked them for returning it. He said he would have given them about $20 to start but saw that he only had a couple small bills. So proud to hear that they were all honest and returned the money. Guess, I'm doing something right!
Was a little disappointed to hear how rude some people were to them though!! One woman, as soon as she saw them at the door said "I wasn't planning on giving any candy to teenagers!"
What has she got against them? Would she rather they were out causing trouble?? Once they explained what they were doing she did change her idea of them and gave them some money. sheesh.
Another guy yelled to his wife from the background not to give them money cuz they were probably just gonna keep it for themselves and buy booze. Excuse me?? Of course when I asked my daughter what house he was at she "forgot".
Here are my kids dressed up last night for Trick or Treating....
Each year the teacher has them Trick or Treat for change and they donate all the money they collect to the local food pantry. Skowt and three friends went out last night in our neighborhood. I'm proud to say that in just 2 short hours they collected almost $200!! They got some candy too...Bonus!
At one of the houses a guy threw in 3 bills. Well, as the girls walked away they realized one of them was a 100 bill and not a single like the other two. They quickly discussed it among themselves and went right back to the house and asked the guy if he meant to put that in there. He of course did not, he thought it was a 3rd single and thanked them for returning it. He said he would have given them about $20 to start but saw that he only had a couple small bills. So proud to hear that they were all honest and returned the money. Guess, I'm doing something right!
Was a little disappointed to hear how rude some people were to them though!! One woman, as soon as she saw them at the door said "I wasn't planning on giving any candy to teenagers!"
What has she got against them? Would she rather they were out causing trouble?? Once they explained what they were doing she did change her idea of them and gave them some money. sheesh.
Another guy yelled to his wife from the background not to give them money cuz they were probably just gonna keep it for themselves and buy booze. Excuse me?? Of course when I asked my daughter what house he was at she "forgot".
Here are my kids dressed up last night for Trick or Treating....
She was going for Lady GaGa but we had to work with what we had!
The Mad Hatter
Happy Halloween!!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Why I've Been MIA
It seems like I go in spurts on this blog. I post quite a bit for a time then go a long time with nothing or very little. Usually it's because of blogger's block, having nothing I feel worthy of blogging about. But sometimes it's because I just don't feel like blogging. Like has been happening lately. We've been having some issues going on in our family that have made me emotional and I don't feel like blogging, much less anything else. So as I've said once before what's a blog about my life without sharing the bad along with the good? So I thought it was time to share what's been going on so I can get on with it, move past it and have fun blogging again because I did have some other blogging ideas. I'll try to keep it brief.
First, remember back in April when I talked about our vacation curse and my mom getting sick in TN? Well, once she got back they gave her more antibiotics and drained the cyst or whatever it is and thought she was good. Her doctor wanted to follow up in 3 months with another CT scan just to be sure and we thought all was right in her world. Well, after only 2 months it started acting up again, turns out it started getting bigger again. They opted for surgery to remove it, once he got in there he realized it was cancerous. Obviously not what anyone expected. Since he's not an oncologist he just took some samples and closed her up. He got a gynecological oncologist (it's located in the area where her uterus and ovaries used to be) involved and she is now scheduled for another surgery on Wednesday, which will later be followed up by chemo and radiation.
In the mean time I went for my annual mammogram on the 14th and they saw something yet again. It's the same spot as always that was determined just to be some cysts/fatty tissue but the radiologist claims it's gotten bigger and recommended an MRI. Well, before doing that I decided to call my gyno, see what he said and possibly go back to the specialist I've seen in the past before scheduling a super expensive procedure I may not need. So I see him on November 4th. Praying that it's nothing again.
And if that is not enough........while talking to my gyno I decided to let him know about the super heavy periods I've been having the past few months. The I have to go home and change my clothes kind of super heavy. He had me come in for an ultrasound. They found 2 uterine fibroids. Now in and of themselves they are not big deal. They are very common, not cancerous but just make you bleed. Alot. But while doing the ultrasound they also take a look at the ovaries. Turns out I have a Dermoid Cyst on my right one. That has to be removed. So I go in for surgery on Nov 12th. That's what I'm concerned about. There is a possibility that could be cancerous. Again, I'm praying it's not. While they are at it they will also be doing a uterine ablation to take care of the fibroids and hopefully control the menstrual bleeding if not stop it all together. I could live with that!!
Anyway, don't look at this as a "oh poor me" post. I'm not going to turn my blog into a pity party. I just wanted to give you an update into what's been going on with me. I would appreciate a prayer or two and some good thoughts that my mom and I get through it all OK.
First, remember back in April when I talked about our vacation curse and my mom getting sick in TN? Well, once she got back they gave her more antibiotics and drained the cyst or whatever it is and thought she was good. Her doctor wanted to follow up in 3 months with another CT scan just to be sure and we thought all was right in her world. Well, after only 2 months it started acting up again, turns out it started getting bigger again. They opted for surgery to remove it, once he got in there he realized it was cancerous. Obviously not what anyone expected. Since he's not an oncologist he just took some samples and closed her up. He got a gynecological oncologist (it's located in the area where her uterus and ovaries used to be) involved and she is now scheduled for another surgery on Wednesday, which will later be followed up by chemo and radiation.
In the mean time I went for my annual mammogram on the 14th and they saw something yet again. It's the same spot as always that was determined just to be some cysts/fatty tissue but the radiologist claims it's gotten bigger and recommended an MRI. Well, before doing that I decided to call my gyno, see what he said and possibly go back to the specialist I've seen in the past before scheduling a super expensive procedure I may not need. So I see him on November 4th. Praying that it's nothing again.
And if that is not enough........while talking to my gyno I decided to let him know about the super heavy periods I've been having the past few months. The I have to go home and change my clothes kind of super heavy. He had me come in for an ultrasound. They found 2 uterine fibroids. Now in and of themselves they are not big deal. They are very common, not cancerous but just make you bleed. Alot. But while doing the ultrasound they also take a look at the ovaries. Turns out I have a Dermoid Cyst on my right one. That has to be removed. So I go in for surgery on Nov 12th. That's what I'm concerned about. There is a possibility that could be cancerous. Again, I'm praying it's not. While they are at it they will also be doing a uterine ablation to take care of the fibroids and hopefully control the menstrual bleeding if not stop it all together. I could live with that!!
Anyway, don't look at this as a "oh poor me" post. I'm not going to turn my blog into a pity party. I just wanted to give you an update into what's been going on with me. I would appreciate a prayer or two and some good thoughts that my mom and I get through it all OK.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Reading Rick's book
For the past couple of days I've been trying to read this....
Rick Springfield's autobiography, which was released on Tuesday. I'm only about half way through it but my mind has been racing and I have some mixed feelings about it and just wanted to get some of them out.
I can tell you right now this post will probably be quite lengthy so if you don't have much interest in Rick, his life, his book or my thoughts on it you may want to skip this post.
Consider yourself warned ;)
For those who do want to read on I've tried to keep it pretty general and spoiler free in case you have not read the book. The few things I mention specifically are already out there and have been discussed in the press etc.
So, even before I started reading I was having some mixed feelings about it. I was excited to get it and read all about my idol. But I was also a bit apprehensive because of the comments he'd made about even "die hard" fans being shocked by some of the content. Did I really want to read it? Would there be things in it that I didn't want to know? Would it change my view of the man I've "loved" since I was twelve? I'm trying hard not to let it!
On the one had I feel sad for him because of some of the things he's gone through. All the rejection, loss, death, sadness and depression. All the feelings of self doubt, self hatred, and lack of self worth. All the moving around, always being the new kid and not feeling as if you belong anywhere. Because I get that. I've had many if not all of the same feelings myself. Maybe not to the extent that he has but they've been there and many times still are. I only moved once when I was a kid but it SUCKED. Big time. So I can only imagine what it was like doing it as often as he did.
But on the other hand, he's done some not so good things. Things I normally don't condone and look down upon. Things I would never have done myself. But what am I supposed to think of all that? I mean should that change the way I feel about his work? The songs that mean so much to me and kept me going as a teen? Many of which were inspired by these very things? Things that happened in the past, many before I was born or even knew who the hell Rick Springfield was? Can I keep the artist and the man behind it separate?
I dont' know.
I mean, there are so many other bands and singers out there with songs I like. I don't know much if anything about their past, their personal lives. They could have done some of the same things yet I still love the songs. How about people I know in real life? I'm sure many if not all of them have done some not so spectacular things in their past that I would frown upon but we are still friends. Still family.
So just because I chose to read about Rick am I supposed to give that all up because I disagree with some of his choices? How can I? His music is part of me and who I am today. It got me through some rough times and I'm thankful for that. It means the world to me.
Along those same lines, my husband did some pretty bad things before I met him. Some maybe worse than what Rick has done. Some he may never even tell me. I know he's told me a lot but I still get the feeling there are things he's too ashamed to tell me. But I was able to get past those things and fall in love with him. He became my best friend and we've been married for almost 20 years and our marriage is stronger than ever. So if I can get past what my husband has done, the closest person in my life, shouldn't I be able to do the same when it comes to Rick?
I don't know.
Then on the issue of infidelity.....I haven't gotten to that part in the book yet but I obviously know it's coming. I'm trying to decide just how I feel about that. At first I thought well, that's between him and his wife. If they are able to work it out and she is able to forgive him for it and stick with him then more power to them.
But then I started thinking about my own feelings on it. If it happened to me I don't think I could get past it. To me that intimacy is a very private, personal, meaningful thing and if my husband did that with another woman I would be crushed.
I have pretty much disowned my father for the same thing. I haven't seen or spoken to him in over 12 years because he wanted me to accept his new wife. The woman that had a part in breaking up my parent's marriage. So how do I disown my own father for it but overlook Rick doing it? Because it's not personal? Because there were other circumstances (alcohol) in my parents breakup besides just infidelity that are also part of the reason I haven't had contact with him? Because it really has nothing to do with me and being a fan of his work?
Again, I don't know.
The weird thing is, despite the fact I'm having all these conflicting feelings and wondering "am I still a fan, do I still like him, should I be thinking differently of him?", I'm still feeling "protective" of him. He's had a lot of press lately and when I see an article or a comment on an article that is not so flattering or rude, that's shooting him down for some of these things or as many are, not quite accurate in the details.........seriously if you're going to criticize someone get the facts straight!.....I feel the urge to defend him.
I'm also upset that I didn't get to go to the book signing at the Mall of America this past weekend like I'd hoped or that I am unable to make the two in Illinois this coming week.
Does anything in the book change the fact that he and his music has meant so much to me over the years? Does it make me a bad person if I still want to be a fan?
Like I said I'm only half done with the book. Maybe things change. Maybe my thoughts will change. We'll see.
I guess now though after typing this all out I'm starting to realize we all have our own demons, faults and shortcomings. Who am I to judge what he has done? Or my dad for that matter?
Now what do I do?
Guilty and confused,
Rick Springfield's autobiography, which was released on Tuesday. I'm only about half way through it but my mind has been racing and I have some mixed feelings about it and just wanted to get some of them out.
I can tell you right now this post will probably be quite lengthy so if you don't have much interest in Rick, his life, his book or my thoughts on it you may want to skip this post.
Consider yourself warned ;)
For those who do want to read on I've tried to keep it pretty general and spoiler free in case you have not read the book. The few things I mention specifically are already out there and have been discussed in the press etc.
So, even before I started reading I was having some mixed feelings about it. I was excited to get it and read all about my idol. But I was also a bit apprehensive because of the comments he'd made about even "die hard" fans being shocked by some of the content. Did I really want to read it? Would there be things in it that I didn't want to know? Would it change my view of the man I've "loved" since I was twelve? I'm trying hard not to let it!
On the one had I feel sad for him because of some of the things he's gone through. All the rejection, loss, death, sadness and depression. All the feelings of self doubt, self hatred, and lack of self worth. All the moving around, always being the new kid and not feeling as if you belong anywhere. Because I get that. I've had many if not all of the same feelings myself. Maybe not to the extent that he has but they've been there and many times still are. I only moved once when I was a kid but it SUCKED. Big time. So I can only imagine what it was like doing it as often as he did.
But on the other hand, he's done some not so good things. Things I normally don't condone and look down upon. Things I would never have done myself. But what am I supposed to think of all that? I mean should that change the way I feel about his work? The songs that mean so much to me and kept me going as a teen? Many of which were inspired by these very things? Things that happened in the past, many before I was born or even knew who the hell Rick Springfield was? Can I keep the artist and the man behind it separate?
I dont' know.
I mean, there are so many other bands and singers out there with songs I like. I don't know much if anything about their past, their personal lives. They could have done some of the same things yet I still love the songs. How about people I know in real life? I'm sure many if not all of them have done some not so spectacular things in their past that I would frown upon but we are still friends. Still family.
So just because I chose to read about Rick am I supposed to give that all up because I disagree with some of his choices? How can I? His music is part of me and who I am today. It got me through some rough times and I'm thankful for that. It means the world to me.
Along those same lines, my husband did some pretty bad things before I met him. Some maybe worse than what Rick has done. Some he may never even tell me. I know he's told me a lot but I still get the feeling there are things he's too ashamed to tell me. But I was able to get past those things and fall in love with him. He became my best friend and we've been married for almost 20 years and our marriage is stronger than ever. So if I can get past what my husband has done, the closest person in my life, shouldn't I be able to do the same when it comes to Rick?
I don't know.
Then on the issue of infidelity.....I haven't gotten to that part in the book yet but I obviously know it's coming. I'm trying to decide just how I feel about that. At first I thought well, that's between him and his wife. If they are able to work it out and she is able to forgive him for it and stick with him then more power to them.
But then I started thinking about my own feelings on it. If it happened to me I don't think I could get past it. To me that intimacy is a very private, personal, meaningful thing and if my husband did that with another woman I would be crushed.
I have pretty much disowned my father for the same thing. I haven't seen or spoken to him in over 12 years because he wanted me to accept his new wife. The woman that had a part in breaking up my parent's marriage. So how do I disown my own father for it but overlook Rick doing it? Because it's not personal? Because there were other circumstances (alcohol) in my parents breakup besides just infidelity that are also part of the reason I haven't had contact with him? Because it really has nothing to do with me and being a fan of his work?
Again, I don't know.
The weird thing is, despite the fact I'm having all these conflicting feelings and wondering "am I still a fan, do I still like him, should I be thinking differently of him?", I'm still feeling "protective" of him. He's had a lot of press lately and when I see an article or a comment on an article that is not so flattering or rude, that's shooting him down for some of these things or as many are, not quite accurate in the details.........seriously if you're going to criticize someone get the facts straight!.....I feel the urge to defend him.
I'm also upset that I didn't get to go to the book signing at the Mall of America this past weekend like I'd hoped or that I am unable to make the two in Illinois this coming week.
Does anything in the book change the fact that he and his music has meant so much to me over the years? Does it make me a bad person if I still want to be a fan?
Like I said I'm only half done with the book. Maybe things change. Maybe my thoughts will change. We'll see.
I guess now though after typing this all out I'm starting to realize we all have our own demons, faults and shortcomings. Who am I to judge what he has done? Or my dad for that matter?
Now what do I do?
Guilty and confused,
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