The Nothing Thread

[gopherit]

Also, a heads up that I'm glad someone gave me - some kids are drowsy when they come out of anesthesia, but most are upset, or panicky. Both my kids woke up screaming and scared because I think they were very disoriented by the anesthesia. They don't remember that either - my dd's first memory of the whole thing afterward was actually in the car going home, but it can be very hard on a mom. I was glad that I was prepared for that to be a normal response to anesthesia, or I would have thought something was really wrong and that I needed help.

It's not just kids, either - some adults are like that too. They can become downright a danger to themselves, they get so irrational and unreachable and thrash around. I know my DH's grandfather was like Dr. Jekyl/ Mr. Hyde as he would go in/out from anesthetic, and my DS9 is the EXACT same way. In fact, they had to literally strap DS's IV down to the bed because they were afraid that as he came to, he would tear it out. I remember that my other son came to see his brother in the hospital, and looking at him, lying there conked out with his arm swathed in an inch-deep of bandages all then tied to the bed, DS said in complete shock, "You mean, on top of everything else that was already wrong with him, they BROKE HIS ARM, TOO?"

[gopherit]

Talked with a guy this weekend who takes the family (5 in all) to the Poly for a week every year. Been doing this for 4 or 5 years he said. I told him he should seriously consider DVC and he just shrugged it off. Oh well.

Maybe they are monorail snobs, LOL. (Same goes for Bavaria's GF friends!)

Some folks are just more resistant to change, for whatever reason, and aren't interested in looking into any alternatives. I think they hear the acronym DVC and think they will be locked into a traditional timeshare at Disney only and with little or no choices there or elsewhere. You can try to explain it, but if the receiver ain't receptive, all you'll get is static. Too bad, for them and for you ... (especially if ya live in a state with that recruiting bonus!)

[jnrrt]

Oh, Gopherit, it's twisted, but I'm totally laughing at the picture. Your poor ds!


In other news here, the Salvation Army truck just came and backed their truck right into my big tree. Broke off two big branches. Aarrgh. And the guy's like "But, there's a tree over your driveway". Yep. Funny, it's a big tree, most people see it. I said, "Why did you pull into the driveway, then? Didn't you see it?" and he said, "Yeah, I saw it, but that's what we do, pull into the driveway. That's what we do." Okaaaay. That's a rule, apparently. My driveway is about 30 feet long. That would be a long way to carry those bags of clothes, I know. And he said, "How do you drive in your driveway with that big tree?" and I answered I don't know what because I was trying to be nice, but I was thinking, "I don't drive a GIANT TRUCK!" Strangely, our cars fit under the 10' tree with less problems apparently than said giant truck.

So bummed too because that tree was really hurting when we bought the house, and we have spent literally years nursing it back to health. And what do we do? Do we ask Salvation Army to pay for an arborist? I mean, we're trying to support them, we like them, we just don't like them taking out our trees. Aarrrgh again.

[DisFlan]

Storms are comin' here, too. I'd just booted up my laptop when the Weather Radio went off. We're in another storm watch and it's getting darker. I guess it's another afternoon with the Weather Channel, but if it means rain, then great!

Erin - I'll agree with the "after surgery" comments. That seems to be when kids REALLY need the hand holding and reassurance. They can't fully wake up right away and that can be so frightening. They also often can't see clearly right away to know that mom is right there. Everything smells strange, sounds strange and they just know it's not a normal time. Just stick close and let Addison know that YOU know how she's feeling (validate it for her), that you know everything is weird for right now but it'll be better soon. Just chat and be normal for her. You'll both be home before you know it.

With Versed (and a few other drugs), chances are pretty good that she isn't going to remember any of the post surgery stuff, even though she'll seem like she's awake. But it can still be an upsetting time for both of you.

Good luck!


DisFlan

[PoohsPal]

So Carrie the wings series is tied 1-1 heading back to Edmonton could get tough for Stevie Y and the boys they didn't do so well in Edmonton this season. I am just happy the HABS blew out the Canes in game 1 tonight I figure is going to be a much much closer game.
Sunday was much closer than the score told, but still very disappointing. You know my Wings do have a pretty good road record, though, this year. :D (Even if not in Edmonton) I'm not worried. It'll be close, but not time to panic yet.

Wow, these people paying big bucks every year for GF and Poly. That's nuts, but some think you have to spend the big bucks to be any good. To each his/her own.

[ErinC]

Thanks for all your help so far! I tried to find a book about it (someone else's suggestion), but so far, what's out there isn't available without ordering it, and I don't have time to order anything. The doctor was reassuring that they would give her the "happy" drink before doing the IV and any other sticking. Someone else mentioned something about an extra change of clothes for me, just in case she gets sick all over me when it's over. DH will be there with me, he sometimes reason's with the kids better than me. We went and pre-registered, and she was all about "what are we doing here?" I told her that we had insurance paperwork to fill out. "She continued to ask me the same question about 20 times. Somehow, we got bumped to 2nd in line for surgery. So now we don't have to be there until around 7:00. I just hope that isn't code for "you be lucky to get into surgery before noon!" She was so young for her first surgery (4 months old), that I obviously didn't have to make any explanation. I think they just gave her gas. She did have an IV just in case for some reason they needed it. All of that was done without me being in the room. They brought me to her as soon as she was awake. She was screaming, but they were trying to make her drink sugar water out of bottle, and she was a breast fed baby, so her unhappiness ended as soon as she was fed. I kind of felt bad about not being in the room while they were putting her to sleep. I have a friend that has a child that has had some major health issues. She has to be put to sleep a lot for testing. My friend told me that one time she insisted on being in the room while they put her to sleep, and she has always regretted it. She said it just put a mental picture in her mind that she can't get rid of. Thanks for all the well wishes. Hopefully this will all be nothing but a bad memory come Thursday!

[Rash]

This week's Word-To-Scream-In-Public-For-No-Apparent-Reason is: sewage.

[TW1]

SEWAGE!

THough this is exactly what DW and I were yelling in the street last month! A neighbor a few houses away, and a few feet higher than our house, had the stuff pouring out of the vent in her driveway, it was just flowing down the street, right across our driveway for a few days before they could fix it! YUCK!

[gopherit]

SEWAGE!

THough this is exactly what DW and I were yelling in the street last month! A neighbor a few houses away, and a few feet higher than our house, had the stuff pouring out of the vent in her driveway, it was just flowing down the street, right across our driveway for a few days before they could fix it! YUCK!


Oh GROSS. Surprised Board of Health didn't come out there! We have a creek in our backyard that will inexplicably rise... sometimes foam or discolor, even... on a DRY DAY. :headscrat I asked Dh one day to come look, and what did he think caused it. He says, "Ah haaaaaa.... I thought I heard one of the neighbors up the street flush....":sosad: (At least it doesn't look/smell of sewage though! We aren't sure, but we think it's somebody far up the road with some sort of sump pump that kicks on now and again to purge old sitting rainwater from some drainage areas... our area is also rife with some natural springs.... but whatever the case, it surely isn't water I'd ever let MY kids play in!)

[bavaria]

Yeah, great - SEWAGE! I hope that doesn't jinx my plumbing work that I still need to do (found out that the broken shower part isn't in stock most places as it's 'too old!')

Hopefully off to Home Depot tonight so that I can fix the darned shower - cranky today because I had to take a bath instead of shower...... :umbrella:

Erin, best wishes for your little one!!!!!!!!!!!

[TW1]

Surprised Board of Health didn't come out there!That was the only way I could make the fix it! No one believed us until I called the BoH who promptly took care of things, and stuck the neighbor with a massive bill that could have been avoided if they were decent people. (yes, I took small pleasure in seeing the township backhoe digging up their driveway and just imagined the cost of that 'emergency' service.)

[RweTHEREyet]

DisFlan, I am so impressed with what your Mother has accomplished in such a short time. I hope your family has been telling her how proud they are of what she has done and that she isn't just sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair. Ihope she keeps up the good work and makes even more progress. :kickingco



My 86 year old mother walked a mile this morning. She just called and told me.

Flash back to January when she was in the hospital. She'd been having trouble breathing but would NOT go to her doctor. She'd almost turn blue with any exertion. My DH had diagnosed her with heart problems a couple of years ago and referred her to a cardiologist, but she was SO pig-headed about it and she wouldn't take her meds or exercise. Well, in January, the you-know-what hit the fan. She finally couldn't get out of bed. My brother carried her to the ER. We all really thought this would be it.

I went in to see her and just stared at her. She knew I was p!ssed as hell at her and I couldn't help it. She opened one eye and stared back. We both sat there. I finally said, "I am SOOO mad at you, gawd damn it. In a couple of years, you'll have been a great-grandmother and you won't be here to see it. Your grandson loves you deeply and will want you to visit WDW with his FAMILY, and you can't walk ten feet. Because you won't do what it takes to be able to."

I could see I'd hit home. She pulled her oxygen tube aside and said, "Okay, what do I have to do?" I dragged her cardiologist off the patient floor right then and had him tell her.

We got her started on a good schedule of meds and cardiac rehab. She started walking a little every day. She started with one stair a day and worked up to all of them. And today she walked a mile.

So for all of you who are dealing with family health problems, there is hope. There have been ups and downs, but we're getting there! And chalk another one up for WDW!


DisFlan

[RweTHEREyet]

So Carrie the wings series is tied 1-1 heading back to Edmonton could get tough for Stevie Y and the boys they didn't do so well in Edmonton this season. I am just happy the HABS blew out the Canes in game 1 tonight I figure is going to be a much much closer game.

I am not really a hockey fan, but I have to pull for the Canes since they are right here in Raleigh, where I live. Right now the Canes are up by 1 it's 4-3 in the 3rd. Guess they were embarassed by last night.

9:50 P.M. It's now tied 5-5.

Heartbreaking loss 6-5 in double overtime.

[RweTHEREyet]

I have been trying toc atch up on all that has happened here this weekend. I don't know how you guys keep up with everyone.

Erin, I am sending good wishes for your daughter.

ColoradoBelle, not sure how you keep your sanity with all the lawyer and judge crap going on.

Kristi, hope you are on the road to recovery, and same to you PoohsPal. Hope you guys are both better.

And I am sending good thoughts to everyone that needs them that I haven't mentioned . After I go thru two or three pages of threads, I get a little fuzzy, if you know what I mean.

Truth be known, I am also a little distracted watching 24, too.

[Colorado Belle]

RWe...I find that if I let this thread go more than 3 pages without catching up that I get blurred vision too!!!

Yes, my life for the last 5 years HAS been a soap opera...you are right (and probably about crooked judge on the take too). But lots of my past years were of the 'fairy tale' variety. So I guess this is some weird kind of pay back for the good times. Do they give Emmy's for my kind of soap operas tho? Can I get a special pin at Guest Services, and maybe balloons? Well, I don't take this crap on vacation anymore.....spoiled last year's May and December trips and I told the judge NO MORE. So I have to write a letter to the Court informing it that I'll be gone and I'm not responding to any drivel while I'm away.

All this talk about drugs. I 'm allergic to versaid but LOVE valium IV....reportedly I tell jokes all through surgery. Anesthesia scares me though...hope I can make it through a few more decades without doing the gas thing.:holymoly:

So is everyone coming out of the strange cycle we all seem to be in?

I leave Wednesday morning for Tampa, then Friday to the World!
All I can say is::jumpingbe

hope everyone cheers up, feels better, gets well, etc. Check out our BWV Webcam of our Grand Gathering Margarita Party May 1 @6:00 PM . It will be a hoot and you are all invited!

[Rozzie]

howdy all.

Rough rough day. One of those "aint even gonna talk about it" days. I did get publically humiliated in front of all my coworkers today by the leading neurologist. Good times. :goldfish: :goldfish: :goldfish:

Update on my mom: Yes, it's staph. Yes she has taken her antibotic 3 days in a row now. We all went to dinner sat night after the "procedure" and between 3 Dr's and 2 RN's at the dinner table, we put the fear of God into her about taking them. Right now, the area does not look good. Oozing stage. (TMI, huh?) Hopefully in 23 days, it will be all healed and I will be at my happy place not taking care of mom.

Erin, wish I could give you some great sensible advice on Addison. But there is a reason I don't do Peds! Seriously, I think just by being honest about the procedure, and it will be okay. I am not a parent, nor do I work with kids, so all I can offer is love and support. I surely will be thinking of the 3 of you on Wed.

sorry Carrie you are still having a hard time. It is hard to think that FIL may not know all what your DH did for him. That's why I always think families should keep visiting logs...."Rozzie visited at 8pm and stayed 15 min, said something about Lost being on...." Seriously, I see it so much, usually the family and friends who kept the all hour vigil during serious times just collapse from fatigue once the "corner" is turned. Hopefully your FIL understands how much your DH did for him.

where is llovell? anybody seen laura?

[RweTHEREyet]

Tis true Rozzie, when my Mom had been given Ambien and drugs for Parkinsonian syndrome, she went totally haywire, hallucinating, etc. Then they gave her halodol (2 doses) and she slept for 2 full days and nights. I spent the majority of the time with her, but when she did wake, I wasn't there, and she said she had not seen her family in two weeks. I was exhausted and hearbroken. The nurses told her how much I had been there, but for her to think she had been all alone was so upsetting to me.

I am hoping that everyone has a great day and those feeling sick start feeling better and no new disasters today.

Erin, still sending good thoughts your way for tomorrow's event.

[Rozzie]

RWe...I find that if I let this thread go more than 3 pages without catching up that I get blurred vision too!!!

Yes, my life for the last 5 years HAS been a soap opera...you are right (and probably about crooked judge on the take too). But lots of my past years were of the 'fairy tale' variety. So I guess this is some weird kind of pay back for the good times. Do they give Emmy's for my kind of soap operas tho? Can I get a special pin at Guest Services, and maybe balloons?

OMG CB, what a great idea! I think the crap pin is a great idea. Maybe it could serve as a allday-- any ride FP. Lord knows you deserve some special PD. Hope you have a great trip, and can get away from all that worries you. :flowerfor

Can't wait for May 1st, I think I am going to have my own little margarita to help with my depression with not being there with all of you! :yes: I'll have Buffet cranked also to help lift my spirits!!!!

[Colorado Belle]

OHHHHH...good idea.....BUFFET ...who has a CD Player?
I am immediately looking through the CDs to see if X left me anything worthwhile....BUFFET!!!! A home boy (Aspen days)

Sorry you won't be there Roz, but we will be toasting you! I am grabbing up margarita stuff right now. I like the idea of a crap pass...maybe that is what I'll say in my letter to da judge: going to Disneyworld; taking a crap pass. AdiosMF

I bad. heeheehee

[bavaria]

Rozzie, I hope that your mother is doing well. Erin, hope that you and the little one got through today! and DisFlan, great for your mother!!!!

When does illness-free year start???? can't be soon enough.

CB, are you going to right a book or appear on daytime TV one day??????

Sorry if I missed anyone, busy week. And I just foudn out that my May project delayed and yes, I could have gone to WDW next week.... GRRR But such is my schedule, gotta stay flexible and just smile. Plus I heard that my Gulf Coast trip may start earlier than I thought, so that's good news.

Best thoughts to everyone!!!!

[gopherit]

Oh drats. Bad day in gopher hole. Dd has some sort of mystery ailment, and once I leave work @ 5, I'm taking her to the ER. I had an appt for tomorrow at 9 am because of her tremendous allergies (a new thing for her... she takes 4 steps outside and BAM - her eyes swell up! Not good.) Every day since Sat., dd wakes up and says she's fine (other than a snuffle of allergies). Then by mid-day, up shoots her temp. At night around midnight, it shoots up again to around 102-103 and makes her physically sick to her stomach... it all smacks of her last case of strep to me, so I'm taking her to the ER to get checked out.

Meanwhile DH is on boy-detail; baseball for DS11 and Cub Scout Pack mtg for DS9. Somewhere in the middle, I hope we remember to eat dinner!

Later....

[PoohsPal]

Yikes gopherit! Hope all goes well at the ER!

Erin - I'll be thinking of you guys tomorrow!

Monster busy day, but no real news on the home front, so that's a good thing!

[Colorado Belle]

Rozzie....I'm sure we could find room for you if you manage to come down next week! Please try. You could be our Monday GG 'surprise' entertainer. Have you ever jumped out of a cake before?

Seriously though (well, as serious as one can be on a nothing thread): if you can get out of :computerg , try to come, if only for a few days. Won't be the same without you!

[PoohsPal]

Rozzie - Was running and remebered that I forgot to say sorry about your horrible awful day. That's just wrong!!!! :rant: WHo do I need to kick? Hope your mom's hand clears up. That's nasty stuff!

[Rozzie]

ah shucks, guys, ya'll always make me feel better!!! Mom is hanging in there, the nasty stuff is actually on her abdomen. It lookeed a tiny bit better at todays "examination and take your pill" visit.....LOL, I so have to treat her like a 2 year old during stuff like this!

Gopher! Whoa Nelly! ER! Hope they find out what is causing dd to feel so bad. Hopefully you can update us soon, wishing all of you up there the best. Poor little thing, I know she will be grateful when they can figure it all out.

Erin, also thinking of you tonight, and will be thinking of you tomorrow. Let us know as soon as you can how it all went. Is it going to be at Thomas? Many good thoughts and PD sent your way....

If there is anyway to make it CB, I would be there. Have fun with your crap pass, you deserve it!! (the pass that is, not the crap!!:D )

have one of these for me--:margarita Buffet or Bust for the whole MO travel gang!!

[ErinC]

Just doing some late night checking in. My tummy is in knots right now. We didn't get in until later tonight. As soon as I got Addison in the tub, Dh took the big girls to his sisters for the night. She will drop them off at school in the morning. I didn't want Addison to know they had gone, because they all worship the ground that DH's sister walks on, she would have been really mad. After I got her out of the tub, she crashed watching her disney Dvd and drinking her milk in my bed. She'll never know that the girls aren't here tonight!

I was a little aggravated earlier today, the hospital moved her surgery time again, now it's "please arrive at 7:30." Originally it was 6:00. I asked the nurse why it kept getting moved later, and she said that twice a month they don't start surgery until 8:30 in the morning. Well they already told me that she is second. Soooo, if person one goes in at 8:30, there is no way that they are going to get to her until at least 9:00-9:30. Since she can't have any thing to eat or drink, this is really going to be hard now. I wasn't worried when it was so early, but if this drags on all morning, it could really get ugly with her. The part that really aggravated me was I'm sure this is not "new" news to them. Like they didn't already know they would have a late start that day!:mad: I guess we'll talk about the surgery when we are on our way to the hospital in the morning. I just don't want to give her too much time to fret about the whole thing. Anyway, enough of my griping. Thank all of you soooooo much for your sweet thoughts. I'll post as soon as I can tomorrow.

Roz- yes the surgery is at Thomas Hospital. We had the option for the one in Daphne(the outpatient surgery center) or Fairhope. I think the Dr. preferred Fairhope, just in case he would need to keep her overnight. (probably won't happen though). Sorry you had such a bad day! I wish you were going to be my babies nurse tomorrow! Hope your Mom improves quickly.

Gopher- sure hope that your DD will get over the mystery illness quickly. Hope the ER wasn't a zoo.

CB- have a great trip, you deserve it!

[Colorado Belle]

Erin:
Sending you and your baby BIG HUGS and lots of pixie dust! Hope that the nurses treat her like the goddess that she is, and that she remembers that 'the hospital' is an ok place to go to ...once in a while. I know her surgery will be just fine, but it is a hard time for mommies.....Please post as soon as you can!
:dust :dust :dust :dust

[DSNY FN]

Hey Carrie things are starting to look bleak for your Wings they are now down 2-1 in teh series to the Oil and they still havew 1 game left in Edmonton. My Habs are rolling though going home tonight to play teh Canes up 2-0 in the series. Hab nation is going to be rocking tonight how I would love to be at the Bell Centre for this game.

[Rozzie]

Just checking to see if Erin has posted a update of any sort. 8am local time, hopefully they could bump up her procedure. Let us know Erin! We are all thinking of you!! :hug:

Gopher--how did it go last night, I hope you have some good news to tell us! and dd is feeling better today!! :hug:

[PoohsPal]

The later time is sooo frustrating. My nephew was soupposed to be first on the list. Yeah, he had a 1:30. That just stinks. Hope everything went well Erin!!!!

[AFMom]

Well - it's only 8:10 - I'm sure you have a long day at the hospital still, Erin, but I'll be thinking of you and your daughter........
Gopher - I hope everything went ok at the er! Uck!
Getting ready to go to a autobody shop to get minor work done on my truck - but of course, I have to drag the kids along and all 3 of us have to wait forever for it to get done. No one to take a 2nd car along, and the kids are pretty much always around! So I'm taking some of their school books with me - maybe we can get a good chunk of the school day finished there in those little plastic seats.
Not going to be a fun day. We then have to run an errand to DH's squadron, go to a Cub Scout day camp planning meeting (again - dragging the kids along) and then off to gymnastics. Hate days like these - we'll almost never be home.
Have a good Wednesday, all - we're half way to the weekend!

[jnrrt]

Thinking of you and your daughter, Erin. Let us know how it went - I'm hoping it all went like clockwork!

Gopher, I hope your dd is okay as well! There's never a good day to go to the ER...

Rozzie and CB, I'm sorry about all the yucky stuff going on! That is no fun at all.

Well, I can relate to Kristy and the kid-dragging phenom. We're having an insane week here, and I just realized that not only am I already planning to take my kids to 2 things they probably shouldn't go to, I also forgot to get soccer car-pools set or child care for a performance I have tomorrow night. Yikes.

We've got a huge conference coming in this week and I'm doing 2 services, coordinating visiting bands, and then doing the special music for the kickoff at another church, so this whole week is insane. Coordinating with lots of people I don't know, everyone having different expectations, and then trying to get to the other church to sound check and figure out equipment, all of which is a bit different and with a new sound guy, and still have my normal life. Plus we added a 7 hour rehearsal for my new play after church on Sunday, so I'm not looking forward to the next several days. But the class I was teaching ended on Monday night, so I'll be the only one on this board PRAYING FOR MONDAY! I have a free evening then, yippee!

I hope we all get all these health struggles turned around! People have been hammered here. We've just realized that my son has allergies which have been really bad here lately - our pollen counts are through the roof for some reason this year. So now we're trying to figure that out, and I hate using drugs with little little ones. It just seems like a bad idea. But what are you going to do? He kind of has to breathe.

So, if anyone has any good thoughts on helpful allergy stuff for little ones, I'll take it!

Hope you're all having a good Wednesday, and that we hear from Erin soon!

[PoohsPal]

j - I was just told that using saline nasal spray can jhelp allergies alot. Cleans the nasty pollen out. Not really a drug either. Might not hurt, although I have no idea how little ones do with nose spray. Yuck!

[TW1]

So, where were you 20 years ago today?

DW and I were living in Vienna and reliving the morning we woke to read about Chernobyl. It was really scary and for the next week there were also sorts of shortages on milk and bread etc as nervous folks bought everything they could and stayed inside. Newspapers were running really hideous pictures, didn't have a tv at the time, but we'd gather in a friends apartment and watch the news unfold and the weather patterns to see where the cloud was drifting.

So why am I living about 100 miles downwind from Three Mile Island today?

[gopherit]

{{taking big gulp from my hi-test double shot cup o' joe....}}

MAN WHAT A NIGHT. Big apologies, this is long and I'm torqued!

"Zoo" would imply a certain organization & refinement that this ER did NOT have last night. We got there at 5 and did not get home until 12:30. And honestly I would have been ok with that - the world suddenly gets ill at once sometimes, and I know that there were several folks brought in with some very serious deals (heart attacks, accident victims, little tiny infants, etc). I was totally patient with that aspect - probably moreso than anyone else in that over-packed waiting room. HOWEVER - what BOILED MY EGG was waiting and then paying for a bonafide lack of intelligence. :dunce:

No issues with the triage nurse - very accommodating, despite the chaos of the night. But when they took us back to curtains, I could tell right away that this 2nd nurse was NOT listening. SHe asked if dd was vomiting/diarrhea/nausea (from the checklist), and I said, "She has vomited a few times, but only when her fever spikes late at night." So she proceeds to circle the entire trio of those ailments. I point out, no, she isn't exhibiting signs of gastroenteritis (although half the ER was, which was scary for those of us who DIDN'T have it, as it's really NOT a parting gift we want. Rice-A-Roni would be much better thanks, or even nothing at all!) THe nurse gets snippy and says, "But you SAID she's VOMITING!" I clarify and say, "No, I said she vomiTED - past tense - and predictably, if we let her fever go above 101, she'll most likely do so again!" Sensing that she was still confused/ticked off/ maybe just overworked, I attempted to soften my words, saying, "I'm just trying to point out that the fever seems to be the root cause that needs to be addressed; I'm sorry if I was short with you, but I just didn't want you thinking she has a stomach flu issue." SHe snaps back, "Well for your information, I wasn't THINKING anything."

Understatement of the Night. :rolleyes:

So it wasn't a good sign already. Dd fell asleep on the bed waiting for the doc, who showed up 2 hrs later. Soon as he rounded the corner, a cold chill passed through me.

OMG. IT'S HIM. :holymoly:

This doctor was in the ER last year when I had to come in to have a surgical incision drained. The words "incompetent boob" don't even do him justice. He told me to just go home and take pain killers. I told him my surgeon TOLD me to come in. He said, "Well, but have you TRIED pain killers?" I told him yes, I have Versed from my surgery, but I'm off that now, and I wouldn't BE in pain if he would just drain this thing. His reply, "Try taking the pain killer with food. Have you tried that? Are you taking a high enough dosage?" I showed him the incision and told him exactly what had to be done - that my surgeon had done it before twice already, I knew what I was feeling, I didn't need to be knocked out or in a stupor, it was SIMPLE. He wrinkled his nose, looking at my incision from afar (the incision was tidy and neat - it's not like I was a freak show) But he would NOT come within 10 feet of me, and just said, "Ummm, noooo, I don't think so. How about an antibiotic?" I said NO, it's NOT INFECTED. Finally I made him call my surgeon, who came in, and man, was my surgeon, flaming mad. :mad: I later talked to my surgeon about the ordeal (the ER doc watched my surgeon do the procedure, then tried to give me Rx for antibiotics and Percoset when I left!) My surgeon had some VERY choice not-for-prime-time words to say about the whole thing.

And so now here stood Dr. Johnny B. FeelGood at my dd's bedside.

He flipped dd over and looked at her ear. "Well," he declares profoundly, "THAT'S probably the problem. Look how RED and INFLAMED it is." Uh, hellllooooo, SHE HAS BEEN LAYING ON IT FOR 2 HOURS! AND SHE HAS A FEVER! He hadn't even looked IN the ear when he made this statement. He then does so (but BARELY - I have no clue how he could have seen anything. I've seen 3 year olds do a better impersonation of a doctor. He could have learned more watching General Hospital. Or staying in a Holiday Inn Express.) He then looks in her other ear - hmmm, it looks fine. I noted to him that she isn't complaining of any problems with her ears, nor fullness. He just blinks. He stands up - good lord, I think his exam is DONE! He says, "Well, let's give her something to make her feel better - have you given her anything for fever?" Yes - it's in the chart - Motrin, at 4 pm, which I note is wearing off, and we will need something for that stat or she will start to throw up. His reply: "How about giving her both Tylenol AND the Motrin - have you done that?" I reply that the Motrin is fine, so long as I stay on top of it. SHe hates the Tylenol so if I can squeak by with the Motrin, I'll stay with that for now. He blinks. Several times. Hands in his pockets. So I also note that she has some bizarre purple marks on her palate. And he blinks. "Really." I add. "YOU SHOULD SEE THEM." So he acquiesces to LOOK in her throat, and sure enough, there are the spots. Hmm. Like an afterthought (I mean he LITERALLY, like, oh yeah, I almost forgot, manner) decides to feel her glands too. And palps her belly. Says no tenderness.

Well, he says, "I say let's just give her that pain relief, and do the Motrin and Tylenol together. And let's keep her on JUST clear liquids for now."

Huh? "Clear liquids? But she's fine with food! And this is already Day 4 going on 5 of the paliative care routine. You know, I brought her in purely because this all smacks of the last time she had strep, so I was just hoping you would do the strep quick check."

He blinks. "Why?" OMG, is he SIMPLE?!?!?!?

As calmly as I can: "To DETERMINE if she has strep."

Blinks, and then he says, "No, it doesn't matter whether she has it or not. I'm gonna give her antibiotics for that ear, so I don't care if she has it or not. Do you?"

Yep. He's simple.

And as Doctor Phil says, Folks either Get it, Or they Don't.

And clearly, I had a huge "Don't" on my hands.

With my dd's interests at heart and trying to spirit her away from this creton as fast as possible, I said tersely, "Fine. An antibiotic. Yes, Zithromax is fine. Some Motrin too, please, or she will never keep the Zithro down. She's already at about 101."

Well, another 1.5 HOURS later, in comes the nurse. Whoops - she says - she apparently has all the dosages for a 5 MONTH old child - dd is 5 YEARS old. Disappears, comes back. She gives me the Zithro, I wake dd, but I can already tell - we are VERY near the point of no return - 101+ and ready to hurl. I get her to take the Zithro, God love her, but alas - they did not bring any Motrin! The nurse says, "Well I can go get some." Oh no you don't - not another HOUR in this he**hole! So I respond sweetly as I can after midnight and say, "It will just be faster if I take her home." Nurse insists it's no bother - they have it handy, around the corner. She disappears - and comes back with Tylenol. :huh:

"I spoke with the doctor - he said no Motrin, you have to use this."

ok, NOW I'm angry. :mad: "WHY?"

"Well, he says she took Motrin last, so now she has to take the Tylenol."

I reply with clenched teeth: "Yes... and that was NINE HOURS AGO. The efficacy ended back at HOUR 6. Tylenol makes her gag as it is, and it does NOT act as fast as the ibuprofen. It will not be as effective at this point - she is gonna vomit the Zithro and the tylenol right back on us!"

Nurse: "Well, he insists you MUST alternate. You had Motrin last, so now it's Tylenol. Doctor's orders."

Now I'M blinking. What the? Did I pass out and land in the Twilight Zone? :veryconfu:

Nurse: "So... do you want the Tylenol or not? Or do you want me to go back to him and tell him what you said?"

Me (long pause, probably NOT long enough, but I needed to get my kid home): "Actually, the things I would want you to tell that doctor should NOT be heard by my child. So if those are my papers in your hand, please just give them to me now because I have GOT to get her out of here ASAP."

So we made a bee-line for the door, got dd in the car and home. She was starting to feel nauseated already, so as soon as I got her in the door, I immediately got her a cool towel for her forehead and into her bed to make her as comfortable as possible. Got her some Motrin (cursing Dr. Blinky the whole while) which she took readily, then some sips of Gatorade, and satyed with her for about 30 minutes until she was sleeping fairly well, so I could remove the twoel and feel the meds were kicking in.

I then went downstairs and filled DH in - if the saying were true about how if people talk about you, your ears burn - well, that doctor's ears would have spontaneously combusted and be nothing but carbon DUST by now.

Dd is staying home today with her sitter / adopted grandma, who will no doubt dote on her - after all that, she deserves it, sez I. She's still feverish, and I sure hope whatever the REAL source of her infection is, this drug will kick it. I have some peace of mind knowing that we have a follow-up appt in a few days with dd's EXCELLENT pediatrician. Thank goodness for him - the world could use a million of him.

In anecdotal summary : My DS11's counselor was trying to help my DS with his issues around perfectionism and asked him the other day, "Hey, you know what they call the guy who finishes dead last in his medical school graduating class?"

Answer: Doctor.

I now know his LAST name too.

[PoohsPal]

Oh gopherit, I cannot beign to imagine how horrible that was!!!! Only you could make it funny at the end! ;) Perhaps next time you ahould try an ER in teh next town. I'm sure an extra hour or so of driving would be much less frustrating than what you went hrough. Looks like teh butt-kicking crew needs to head towards that ER!

[Rozzie]

whoa gopher. I am so sorry you had a such a horrible time with the ER staff. We always say ER nurses/Docs are awesome with blood, guts, and glory. Really they save a 1000 lives, but with illnesses, they are the pits. I think that is why so many things go wrong in the ER, they are on "blood and guts" mode, and blank out on illnesses. BTW, some of the nurses in our ER are some of the cockiest, arrognant, snippy folks I have ever met. Evidently that is not a regional thing. Sorry you had a snippy nurse. I cannot imagine ever saying that. I would so be fired on the spot!
I am glad you dd has a follow up appt. And that quack of a Doc in the ER, I would so stay far far away. Let us know how the follow up goes, I hope your dd gets to feeling better. Give her a feel good hug from Roz...

Well, my mom calls and announces her wound is worse. Then asks "do you think this is something serious??".......:headache: Uh, mom, do you think the Pope is catholic?? Silence on the phone......then she says "I made a appt with the worst dermatologist in Baldwin county on Friday." I about fainted on the phone. She made a appt without me dialing the #!! The doc she is going to (the only one that would take her within the next month) is a real SOB. She then asks me "do you know how to talk to rude cocky doctors?" Uh, hello? anyone home? I report to brain surgeons everyday. LOL...

jnrrt--sorry about the allergy trouble. I can't imagine struggling with pollen. Your poor baby. I think you are doing the right thing. I do hope that they can find something for relief in times like this for ya'll. Big get well hug to your little one also....

any news from Erin, I sure hope we hear from her soon!

[gopherit]

We have 3 hospitals in our immediate area - and I have had a baby in each of them (I call it my own personal form of the Triple Crown, haha). Hate to admit it - but this one's the best of the 3. In their defense, I have had decent experiences at this hospital and use it primarily b/c our ped's office is in the hospital... but sometimes... oye vey. I tell ya, every time I have a night like this, my heart aches for those poor souls who DON'T have a primary care physician and have to rely on the ER and that doc for all their med needs. I also hurt for those who don't have the education to know if they are getting substandard care. I told DH we had 2 factors against us -

(1) dd didn't seem "sick enough" when we came in (on Motrin, she seems fine, because the fever is only 100 and she has a high pain threshold) and

(2) I am too dang calm.

I think it bumps us down on the richter scale of urgency. I also think education can be a "negative" sometimes. There is a PA there that I disliked due to his cocky attitude. I think he was threatened to a degree by me and wanted to show me that he "knew more". Whatever. He and I often butted heads on things. But I tell ya what, I would take him and his arrogance in a heartbeat over Dr. Incompetence. It's one case where ignorance is not bliss - at least not on the receiving end, anyway. Or maybe it WOULD be if I would just take the Rx and go with it, huh. I've just never been one to want to "mask" an illness - I don't want to be in pain, but I don't want to be out and incoherent either.

I kept waiting for psych ward to come down asking where their escaped delusional "pretending to be a doc" patient was - it was that bad. :yes:

Called dd - she's sounding much better, and was hard at work stacking the "Sorry" card deck against her sitter, LOL. Better days on the horizon in gopherville, thank goodness. Took office assistant to lunch today - Panera Bread was OUT of all romaine lettuce - what a weird thing to run out of. SO I had soup and a half sandwich, but got a cappuc. to go to get me through the day. It's weird - I almost always am up until 2 am anyway, but for some reason, nights like last night just sap me senseless. Must be the emotional toll it takes on a person - you folks with ailing parents and kids having surgery and hubbies traveling and court days pending - whew - I raise my coffee mug to you and say, "Here's to better days and rested nights ASAP for all!" :ale:

[bavaria]

Ugh Gopher! I hope that your little one gets better fast and doesn't have to deal with that again.....

Had to laugh about Panera Bread was OUT of all romaine lettuce - what a weird thing to run out of. SO I had soup and a half sandwich. I'm not a Panera fan, but went to one in NC and when I entered they said 'just so you know, ma'am, we have no bread, no soup, and no sandwiches today...' ??????????? ummm, so why are you open?

Happy Wednesday everyone!

[gopherit]

Had to laugh about . I'm not a Panera fan, but went to one in NC and when I entered they said 'just so you know, ma'am, we have no bread, no soup, and no sandwiches today...'

Panera bread with no bread? Are you certain you didn't walk into the Monty Python Cheese Shop? ;)

(Anybody recall that sketch? It was Monty Python, right? The guy walks into the cheese shop and asks for cheddar - they don't have it. Swiss? Nope. Provolone? Nada. Starts getting ridiculous, asking for everything from edam and brie to lindberger...)


What WERE they selling - coffee and danishes? Can't thing of anything else they have! One of the guys I was with griped about the place, saying, "Why do they have to give you BREAD with everything?" He wanted dessert instead , but as I noted to him, for that he would need to visit "Panera Cookie", LOL.

I don't mind Panera, but I have found them to be spotty as well. They forgot my salad dressing at one, gave me stale bread harder that titanium at another, and now the no romaine predicament. Weird. I actually don't go to ours very often, because we have an excellent little local bakery that I am afraid will get pushed out of business by Panera just because Panera has a bette location and is bigger inside. So while I'm in town, I typically only buy that sort of fare at our local place, and only do the Panera thing while out of town. Just my little way of helping a local guy out, I guess, LOL. (Although if Panera keeps running out of staple items like lettuce, they may do that job for me! :yes: )

[ErinC]

I'll type fast while Dd is resting. Things went great this morning. She handled everything so well. I didn't tell her about what was going on until 5 minutes before we walked out the door. She seemed fine with the whole deal. We waited for about an hour in the lobby and then they took her back to surgery waiting. She was really concerned about when she would get her IV. I don't think that I mentioned it, but last week, a friends little boy (4) got two kidney stones. We went to see him in the hospital. He of course had an IV and couldn't eat or drink anything. We kept talking about how Graham had his water going in his arm, and she just thought that sounded cool. She finally looked at me and said, "what time is it when I get my tonsils out?" She never seemed upset about it at all. The effects of the versed were pretty funny. She made some comment about Iraq being far, far away!:confused: Not sure where she picked up on that. Anyway, we survived. I knew by the way the nurse came out of the double doors to come and get me that she was not happy. She was hollering our last name really loudly by the time she hit the doors. Addison was of course upset, but she finally calmed down after a few minutes of being in the room with me and DH. She seemed much better after her Loratab "cocktail"! She started drinking right away, so we got to come home really quickly. She's asleep in my bed right now. Hopefully we will make it through the next couple of hours okay. All her nurses were awesome, very kind and considerate. Even offered to get me a drink and said she wanted me to comfortable while we waited. DH is off picking up the big girls at school. He'll be home shortly. Just wanted to check in and let you know we are doing okay. You guys are so sweet with all your comments. Thanks so much!

Gopher- you win the prize! Hope whatever the antibiotic is, it works! Good Grief!

[PoohsPal]

OK, I can rest easier now. Thanks so much for checking in Erin! Glad everything went well. Hope she heals very quickly and easily!

[bavaria]

Erin! :cheerlead :clappingh Glad that it went well!! Speedy recovery to your DD!!!!

Gopher - I asked the same; they said that they were serving beverages!!! My oddest Panera experience was in a Chicago suburb - we went in business suits on a weekend to get lunch; about 35 ppl in line and I swear that 32 of them were wearing PJ's! Men and women!!! needless to say we felt a little overdressed. ;)

OK, I seriously need to get back to work to finsih a big mess.....

[gopherit]

My oddest Panera experience was in a Chicago suburb - we went in business suits on a weekend to get lunch; about 35 ppl in line and I swear that 32 of them were wearing PJ's! Men and women!!!


Ok, THERE'S a mental imagery I won't soon forget, LOL! :p

I just know I'm gonna call it "Pajama Bread" next time I'm there....

[Rozzie]

Great news Erin! Sounds like Addison handled her surgery better than 90% of the adult population. Kids are just awesome. I am simply amazed all the time by their courage in scary new situations. Hope ya'll have a restful afternoon. Thanks for checking in so fast! :goodvibes


Well today was the official "bury the hatchett" day. I invited brother and SIL to meet us for lunch. It was great to see my nephew, and since she is due anyday now, I decided that now was the time. It went well, and everyone was cordial. She and I actually make eye contact while talking to each other. :Paranoid: Big victory. It was really hard to do, but I just decided I don't want to have any regrets in my life, and I always wanted to know that I *tried* to have a functional family. Anyhoo, that was my afternoon.

[ErinC]

Just checking back. We are on our second dose of Loratab. She is still doing pretty well. A couple of times she has cried, and it just breaks my heart. I can't imagine how crying must hurt her throat. She managed a popsicle a while ago, and doesn't mind drinking, so we are good there. I forgot to mention earlier that the Dr. said that her tonsils were recessed and very large. He indicated that it was a good thing we got them out. Since they were recessed you really couldn't tell how big they were until they were out. He also said they removed a good bit of adnoid tissue. He indicated that she would have a some swelling for a few days. She kinda sounds like a cat purring when she is asleep. But I was glad to hear his comments, at least it made me feel like the surgery was warranted.

DH is gone to Lowe's. With all the other stuff going on yesterday, my washer quit working!:blech: It would fill up with water, but it wouldn't aggitate or spin. So I now have a nice soaking wet load of laundry in my floor, and I'm waiting on DH to go purchase me a new one. I shopped online for about 15 minutes, and called around to what was available at the moment (which was a really short list), and sent him off to Lowe's. No telling what I will end up with. I told him I really like the $1200 front loaders. He said sure, no problem, I'll be glad to buy it for you, but we can't go to Disney next year!(yeah right) I told him to buy the cheapest one they had!:hahahaha: Just kidding, I gave him a couple of requirements, and told him I really didn't care about the rest. The most important thing is that he get it home and get it working so that the kids have some clean uniforms to wear to school tomorrow!:help:

[RweTHEREyet]

Geez Erin, when it rains it pours, doesn't it. Glad all went well in surgery and that things are going well at home, too, with dd. Sometimes I think everything happens at once so that you can't dwell on any one thing for too long,know what I mean?

[RweTHEREyet]

Ugh Gopher! I hope that your little one gets better fast and doesn't have to deal with that again.....

Had to laugh about . I'm not a Panera fan, but went to one in NC and when I entered they said 'just so you know, ma'am, we have no bread, no soup, and no sandwiches today...' ??????????? ummm, so why are you open?

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Bavaria, I don't think you ever saw my post when I asked you where you were when you were in NC. It sounded as if you near the Charlotte area. What did they have left for you to eat, or did you leave?


Gopher, what a nightmare. You were a lot more patient than I would have ever been. They probably would be getting someone to do a psych consult on me by the time I finished having a fit.

[withdisneyspirit]

So glad everything went well, Erin:woohoo:

Way to go, Rozzie!

Gopherit, there are no words! I avoid ER's like the plague!

[gopherit]

DH is gone to Lowe's. With all the other stuff going on yesterday, my washer quit working!:blech: It would fill up with water, but it wouldn't aggitate or spin.

If you're in the market for a new washer anyway, go for it. But f you are remotely considering repair, you might have a good shot - from what details you gave, it sounds like possibly a coupling, or maybe a timer or water level switch. Keep this website handy - these folks are awesome.

http://applianceguru.com/

Personally, I've replaced everything on appliances from a few switches (water level, safety interlock) to timers, dryer belts, thermocouples, fuses, to the actual appliance itself (I've installed dishwashers, water heaters, water softeners, more than my share of sinks.....) Frankly, DH has gotten WAYYYYY too used to it, though.... sometimes I'd give my eyeteeth for the ability to just say, "Let's go to Lowes!", LOL! But I just can't STAND not knowing what is wrong.... even on an appliance that NEEDS to be trashed! And DH can't stand to PAY for what's wrong, LOL... so together, we're a lethal combination of frustration and frugality until we reach fruition! :headbrick

One thing that works to our advantage - no repairfolks ever suspect ME as being the "repairperson" of the household. I have been known to do a REALLY good job of playing dumb just to get info. It's also amazing how many complete lies I've caught some folks in, because they think I'll believe anything and know nothing. :rolleyes: Caught a plumber once trying to see what else was in our basement (OTHER than the water heater gas line he was there to inspect.) Said he was "checking out" our house's gas/water lines for us. I pointed out that neither the water nor gas lines are routed in THAT part of the house - he was pointing to electrical conduit tubing! Then he tried to swap out some of my nice wrenches for his el cheapos. I pointed out the error of his ways asap. Some of those guys are REAL gems and a discredit to their profession. :mad:

[bavaria]

Bavaria, I don't think you ever saw my post when I asked you where you were when you were in NC. It sounded as if you near the Charlotte area. What did they have left for you to eat, or did you leave?
.

RWe, I was in NC a few times last year - Charlotte, W-S mostly - I think that was W-S!!! I love your state, by the way - had some great road trips there in the past

Happy thought for the day - I went to the office supply store today and got carded - had to prove that I was over age 16!!!! :upsidedow

[jnrrt]

oh, you have to love that, bavaria!

Great news, Erin, I'm glad she came through it all so well!

[ErinC]

If you're in the market for a new washer anyway, go for it. But f you are remotely considering repair, you might have a good shot - from what details you gave, it sounds like possibly a coupling, or maybe a timer or water level switch. Keep this website handy - these folks are awesome.

http://applianceguru.com/

Personally, I've replaced everything on appliances from a few switches (water level, safety interlock) to timers, dryer belts, thermocouples, fuses, to the actual appliance itself (I've installed dishwashers, water heaters, water softeners, more than my share of sinks.....) Frankly, DH has gotten WAYYYYY too used to it, though.... sometimes I'd give my eyeteeth for the ability to just say, "Let's go to Lowes!", LOL! But I just can't STAND not knowing what is wrong.... even on an appliance that NEEDS to be trashed! And DH can't stand to PAY for what's wrong, LOL... so together, we're a lethal combination of frustration and frugality until we reach fruition! :headbrick

One thing that works to our advantage - no repairfolks ever suspect ME as being the "repairperson" of the household. I have been known to do a REALLY good job of playing dumb just to get info. It's also amazing how many complete lies I've caught some folks in, because they think I'll believe anything and know nothing. :rolleyes: Caught a plumber once trying to see what else was in our basement (OTHER than the water heater gas line he was there to inspect.) Said he was "checking out" our house's gas/water lines for us. I pointed out that neither the water nor gas lines are routed in THAT part of the house - he was pointing to electrical conduit tubing! Then he tried to swap out some of my nice wrenches for his el cheapos. I pointed out the error of his ways asap. Some of those guys are REAL gems and a discredit to their profession. :mad:


Gopherit- I really suspect it's just a belt or something. Probably simple. My DH is an awesome guy, so I don't mean this to sound mean, but I think he likes to play dumb when it comes to household stuff. The man can take an entire car apart and put it back together, so I know it's not over his head. He just doesn't want to be bothered with it. I attempted to take it apart and see what was wrong with it, loosened the whole back of the washer only to find out, I should have just flipped it upside down. Frankly, with all that was going on yesterday, I just wanted a quick fix so that I could get the kids uniforms washed, and go to bed. I think he just preferred to go waste the money on the new one vs. atually take the time to fix it. I got the new washer, which right now I'm hating. It is so loud and shakes terribly. He leveled it last night, I've leveled it a couple of times this morning, and it is still really loud. It's a whirlpool, it's a super capacity washer, not the most expensive, but not the cheapest they had. I just don't think it should be that loud.


Anyway, Addison is doing great today. Had a few bites of yogurt for breakfast, and then ate the bologna, out of a lunchable a few minutes ago. She keeps asking if we can go "shopping"!:D She is my girl for sure! I told her we had to stay home today, but maybe tomorrow if she felt like it I would take her somewhere. I'm amazed at her, she is a trooper.

[PoohsPal]

Great news Erin!

Gopherit - Sounds like a cool site. Dh is pretty good, but somethign to keep in mind.

Rozzie - Good for you!

OK, here's a Nothing story if there ever was one.

Mom and dad are watching tv last night. They recently got/found teh feature on their sattelite that puts teh caller id on the tv screen when someone calls. (First time it happened they thought the basketball player on tv had the same name as dh.)

OK, so last night, dh's name pops up, bbut the phone never rang. They call anyway. he says he did not call and I am not home. Wasn't the way my cell would have come up, so they are totally confused. Dh gets stuck talking ot my mom for quite soem time. (He hates the phone.)

SO, mom gets back to her chair and has dad rexind their tape to where she left. Hmmmm.... Name pops up again in teh same spot. They finally realize that they were watching a show they taped Tuesday. That's when I had called them. :fresh:

[Rozzie]

well just a little vent. If you are not in the mood, just skip down. LOL, who really wants to hear someone whining?? ;)

DH's job really is a load lately. Another day off we have together, and he is out the door all ready trying to stomp out a "fire". He has had only 3 days off this month. :thumbsway I know, there is nothing to say, nothing to do. I just try to be understanding, not get mad when he goes in. I just worry about his stress level. I think I am going to tweak our trip plans and really knock out a lot of running around, and put in a lot more relaxation time.

okay vent over. Sorry to be a downer today. What was the SNL skit, "Debbie downer?"

Hope everyone is having a good day!

[PoohsPal]

Looks like we were posting at the same time Rozzie.

That stinks!!! Very good of you, though, to try and make your trip more relaxing to make up for it!

BTW - How's your mom's hand?

Latest update on FIL. Still on track fro grafting Friday. May go home following week if he is strong enough to pull himself up. MIL cannot carry him. 6 to 9 months before he will be able to climb stairs again though! :faint:

DH's next project is to put a shower on their first floor. I think that's family (his family) project #5 for this summer. Don't think there are enough weekends. Yikes. (Reminding myself to take my own advice and not look too far out in the future.)

[Rozzie]

thanks for the update on your FIL Carrie. I was wondering how things were going. 6-9 months before stairs? Wowser, is there a lot of stairs in their home? Is that the reason for the shower installation? Glad to hear the good news on his possible discharge. Is he on a floor now? I guess Physical Therapy is working with him. Hopefully his strength comes back very quick. Give him all our best. :flowerfor

BTW, Carrie, I cracked up at the story about the caller ID. That is so my parents, it is not even funny! :D

[PoohsPal]

Rozzie -Yes, he's on a floor (out of ICU). Was in a closet for 3 days (not even room for the chair PT wanted to sit him up in). Much better room since Monday. Yes, that's the reason for the shower. I shouldn't whine, it's just anothe rthing on a really long list. They just do not have a shower downstairs. It's 5 steps to get into the house, though and a step from the entry to go anywhere, so it seems to me like thye'd be better off finding something else. MIL is thinkng about having ot move in one of he rparents (don't know when that happened), plus other issues ppossible in the future. Hoenstly, their hose is broken up an dhard to get around. If they want to make it fit what they say, it can't happen there. Gonna' take more than a shower on the first floor.

ANother funny. When I was at the hospital 2 weeks ago, dh and I ran into some family firends at the elevator. The one was embarrassed as she did not know how to turn off her cell. Her kids usually help her with that stuff. I showed her and told her how to turn it back on. She was so grateful. I just looked at her and said, "That's ok, I have a mom too."

[jnrrt]

Carrie, thanks for the update on your FIL - I'm glad he's making progress.

I loved that story about your parents. That's hilarious! And not only would my parents do that, I might too.:)

Rozzie, I'm glad you reached out to your SIL, but I'm sorry you get to see so little of your dh. That stinks. We're not seeing much of each other right now either, and I'm not enjoying it, but I can see the end in sight, so I have it a bit better. I hope your trip is totally relaxing, great time together.

Performing tonight. Still don't know what I'm doing for the featured music. Probably should pick that. Before tonight. And before rehearsal - it often helps the band to know what they're trying to play. They're funny that way. I'm going to get right on that. Sometime in the next few hours. Hmmmm.

[PoohsPal]

it often helps the band to know what they're trying to play. They're funny that way.

:ROTFL: People can be so weird that way. ;)

Good luck tonight!

[ErinC]

Carrie, your story was too funny! I can see the same thing happening with my parents.

Okay, here is my DUHHHHH story for the day. I call Lowe's and tell them that I think this washer is defective. The guy immediately asks if it is jumping all over the floor and making really loud noises. I said "yes that is exactly the problem". He then politely asks, did you remove the yellow shipping strap from the back of the machine? He said "don't cut it, be sure and pull it out of the machine. I went and crawled behind the machine, sure enough, yelllow shipping strap still intact! You know the one right under the label that says "please remove shipping strap from machine or it will not operate properly!" I pulled the shipping strap out of the back of the machine, and sure enough, it works like a charm now! I promptly called the installer of the machine (DH) and let him know about the strap! He laughed and said " Do you want to make me a "sign", or do you just want me to do it myself? :Pokepoke: I told him at least he wouldn't be trucking the new washer back to Lowe's tonight!:D I tried to console myself with the fact if the guy "knew" exactly what to tell me to do, than he must get several other non direction reading idiots that call everyday! Oh well, I really like my new washer now....... the old one is still sitting in the driveway, just in case Gopher wants to run down to Alabama and figure out what is wrong with it!

[PoohsPal]

Too funny Erin! So, who made the sign? ;)

[RweTHEREyet]

RWe, I was in NC a few times last year - Charlotte, W-S mostly - I think that was W-S!!! I love your state, by the way - had some great road trips there in the past

Happy thought for the day - I went to the office supply store today and got carded - had to prove that I was over age 16!!!! :upsidedow

If you ever get to our part of the state, we will definitely have to meet up. We are about 1.5 hours East of Winston-Salem, Charlotte is further.

[bavaria]

RWe, I have wonderful memories of a road trip I took from Charlotte to Asheville and into the Smokies. I got up very very early to watch the sunrise in the mountains and it was truly an awesome experience.....

I was a little miffed that I couldn't go to Charlotte earlier this year. I've never been to the NC coast yet, although I would like to do that as well some day.

Would love to meet up one day in your part of the world! (But first I am going to Rozzie/EricC/AFMom territory, according to my schedule......) Actually, I am going to TW1 country FIRST, and then hitting the gulf coast a few times.

[gopherit]

If you ever get to our part of the state, we will definitely have to meet up. We are about 1.5 hours East of Winston-Salem, Charlotte is further.

So you're where, over in Raleigh area? BTW - I think NC would be a great state to live in - I sure have driven through it enough times, LOL. I've lived above N.C. (in VA and WV) now for about 18 yrs, but since my family still lives in S.C. (and we gotta go south for WDW too!) you can imagine we've put in our fair share of miles down I77. Dh and I have pipe-dreams of moving back to VA (then our kids can go to Va Tech as in-staters, haha!) But with the way our jobs are, I told DH we would be more likely to get moved to Fayetteville than Virginia. I've visited there and would be ok with it - hey, you've got some GREAT colleges there (just some not-so-good lacrosse players, LOL) . My family used to vacation every summer at Holden Beach; I know Dh would love being closer to a coast. My parents aways felt that since they paid state taxes, their kids should just go to that state's schools - if you wanted to go elsewhere, that was fine - so long as it was the same price or less, or you made up the difference! Well, that meant NC and Georgia were out of the question, but for some reason, Va Tech wasn't too bad at the time. Not so anymore. Looking at the tuition and board rate for my S.C. niece who's going to Tech now made me temporarily blind. :jawdroppi

[TW1]

Gopher

We're not supposed to be looking at the cost of college yet are we? :crymeariv (and you've got 1 more than me barreling down that path right now...)

It has crossed my mind that Univ. of Penn costs about the same as Penn State plus 100 point contract a year. I'm tempted to let the kids decide which they'd rather have!

Hey Bayern, Enjoy your trip to Philly! Weather is looking just perfect for the next few days.

Weekend plans anyone?

[lllovell]

Just checking in for a moment! I am busy at work and kinda in a posting slump. Trying to get out of that today :)

Boy have you all been busy. I have to go and read what everyone has written and catch up! Have a luncheon in a few minutes (yummy) but I promise I will be back in a bit!

Just didn't want you all thinking I had jumped off the "nothing" train.

:grouphug:

Laura

[AFMom]

I'm in college fund denial. My kids will have $30,000 student loan debt like we do, I'm afraid! I think what we have saved will pay for their food for 1 year. That's about it. And they're already 8 and 9.... we're doomed. But really - both of our parents didn't help us out with college at all! We got married right out of high school, and knew we were on our own!
I'm hosting a baby shower this weekend. My girlfriend adopted a baby boy from Ethiopia - he's a doll! I'm hoping she brings him, but i think she needs a break. She has 3 little girls as well - so we're showering her with boy clothes!
Sunday I get to go to the Thomas Kincade Gallery in Destin. They're having a highlighting event - I get to get my Disney 50th painting highlighted some more. Boring for the kids - but too bad!
After this weekend - my stress levels will finally drop! Yay!!! No big plans until Cub Scout day camp in June - and hubby comes home!

[bavaria]

Hey, Kristy - you shrunk! (your photo got smaller) But I guess that the 'hubby countdown' is most important anyway! :blueflowe

[DisFlan]

We've had bad weather all week and I probably won't be around much for a couple more days. I'm sneaking in now on battery between rounds of storms with lots of lightning. And we're in for more of it through Sunday. We need the rain, but Boooo! on having to unplug everything!

Have a nice weekend, everyone!


DisFlan

[Colorado Belle]

Here I is in sunny Tampa, headed over to the World tonight.
Had fun here visiting friends. Dinner last night in Bradenton, about an hour south, with some other old friends...We all met up on a board similar to this one (only it was about saving marriages).

Well, TW1, I am a Penn STater, go Penn STate. U of P doesn't have Joe Pa, but I don't understand what these 'contract points' are all about?????????

Re college:
My kid is THROUGH college. When she was born, I put $5000 of my 'runaway money' into a mutual fund for her. When she was 18, it more than paid for all college expenses. She went out of state, BUT within a year she qualified for instate tuitioin. (She filed her own income taxes for her last two high school years and was thus 'independent' of us; and after one year out of state, she was a 'California girl' living , working and paying taxes there.
But the point is: if you can get money working for them in a good mutual fund, you will find that college won't break the bank. Warning: if they have money, it is hard for them to get a scholarship/loan...so this is a double edged sword. We figured with X's income as a doc, she would never get a scholarship....so saving money in HER name was the way to go. But it really adds up!

OK...back to the WORLD.....a few hours away.

[TW1]

Well, TW1, I am a Penn STater, go Penn STate. U of P doesn't have Joe Pa, but I don't understand what these 'contract points' are all about?????????And UPenn doesn't have Ye Olde College Diner and their famous grilled stickies!
The "contract" is the 100 DVC point contract! I could get them through Penn State AND buy them 100 points a year for the price of a year at UPenn!

Enjoy your trip!

P.S. So, why is the sky blue :thumbsup:

[nono]

Bar's open....today, I'm mixing up Gin & Tonics with lime for those of you with Spring Fever.

The rest of you get Yuenglings. :beer:

Paying for kids college? Sure for undergrad. Daughter's account has been open for over a year. Will do the same for each subsequent child. We put a little away each pay period.

[lllovell]

mmmmmmmmmmm - a nice cold gin and tonic sounds heavenly - but I am a huge beer fan as well...

decisions....decisions.....

I need to open PJ's account, but the boys have 529's already. *making a note* I keep forgetting!

Laura

[ErinC]

Let's don't talk about college, it depresses me! I'm already depressed thinking that it won't be long before DD9 (10 next month) won't like me anymore. I know that we aren't supposed to be "buddies" with our kids, but I remember how I felt about my mom at her age!:sosad:

Okay, on to happier talk! CB, I grew up in Bradenton! Did you eat anywhere good? I haven't been back to Bradenton for about 4 years. It is incredible how much it has grown.

DisFlan- hang in there. Sorry about the cruddy weather.

We are not too scheduled this weekend. Soccer at 11:00 tomorrow and that's about it. I guess we'll just see how Addison does and take it from there. She's had a pretty good day today, although I think the 3rd day thing is ringing true. She isn't quite the bundle of energy she was yesterday.

Rozzie- how is your mom? I hope things are improving. By the way, just who is the worst Dermatologist in Baldwin Co? I'm dying to know. I just made an appointment with one, and I sure hope it's not the one you are talking about.

[TW1]

One for the road. :beer:

Have a great weekend everyone!

[Rozzie]

:beer: thanks for the beer nono! I can always count on you for getting it cranked for the weekend....

paying for college? My father believed it "built character" for me to pay my own way through school. What always stinks is, he is really rolling in it. Jags, big boat he cruises to the Carribean every June, and trips to Hawaii at moment's notice. But he was/is going to teach me to value my education by not giving me a dime for it. LOL, another chapter on therapy for my dad and I.....I survived just fine. A little wacky, but manageable.....:hahahaha:

Good news on mom, Doc thought it was a cyst that ruptured. Should clear up fine. We celebrated by going to the Outlet Mall and both spent some $$$. I haven't done that in forever, I forgot how much fun it is to pretend your rolling in it!! LOL, I didn't over do it, everything was on sale, promise.....:bagovermy

have a great weekend!!

[withdisneyspirit]

I am really close to the college thing:scary: I have a child who will start his senior year of high school this coming fall and another starting ninth grade :violinist

I do have the PACT program paid in full for each. It is a prepaid tuition account that will pay for four years of college at an in-state public university or college. DS16 is looking closely at Auburn. It is rather nervewracking to have it so close now!!!!

[ErinC]

I am really close to the college thing:scary: I have a child who will start his senior year of high school this coming fall and another starting ninth grade :violinist

I do have the PACT program paid in full for each. It is a prepaid tuition account that will pay for four years of college at an in-state public university or college. DS16 is looking closely at Auburn. It is rather nervewracking to have it so close now!!!!

NO! NO! Don't let him do it!!!!!!:hahahaha: :hahahaha: :Pokepoke: The directions should be , head to Birmingham, and then veer to the left, not the right! ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PoohsPal]

WHat a day! :scary:

Erin - My parents are snow birds that spend 6 to 8 weeks in Bradenton every year!

I love Hillview Grill in Sarasota adn Two Jays. Only spent a few days there, but love the area!

OK, really need to get to bed. CAn you tell dh's is gone again. I cannot get myself to bed!

FIL - Update. Skin graft went well, alhtuogh will not know if it took for 48 huors. Surgeon was happy and anesthesiologist (sp?) had been there fro op 2 or 3 and could not believe how well he was doing now! DH was very pleased. It's wonderful to hear happy and hoeful in his voice again!

Yes, schmuck me skipped the trip. We were supposed to go tomorrow, but I had a huge presentation today. Was huge (for me) to begin with. Then main presenter from my office alled in sick. Just me, my boss, and the VP. I did 50 pf the 60 min. talk. Projector did not work, so these poor people had to listen to teh entire, somewhat techinical presentation. Yikes. We did ok, though. DOn't knwo how anyone stayed awake!

nono- still don't know how Yeungling tastes and never had a G&T :eek:. CAn I just have a Captain & Coke?

Happy weekend everyone!

[withdisneyspirit]

NO! NO! Don't let him do it!!!!!!:hahahaha: :hahahaha: :Pokepoke: The directions should be , head to Birmingham, and then veer to the left, not the right! ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You haven't lived in South AL long enough yet, huh, Erin? :hahahaha: Actually, my family has more crimson fans than Tiger. When we moved to Montgomery, I was 14 and U of A had been beating Auburn so much that I picked the underdog at the time, Auburn:Paranoid: So, I have always been an Auburn fan.

Don't tell anyone here (Birmingham) this, but DS has always followed pro teams more because his dad is from NYC. We are going to Auburn May 6 to watch DS13 sing in the Young Voices concert and let DS16 look around :kickingco

[gopherit]

My father believed it "built character" for me to pay my own way through school. What always stinks is, he is really rolling in it. Jags, big boat he cruises to the Carribean every June, and trips to Hawaii at moment's notice. But he was/is going to teach me to value my education by not giving me a dime for it. LOL, another chapter on therapy for my dad and I.....I survived just fine. A little wacky, but manageable.....:hahahaha:



My folks believed we kids had to pony up some part of it too - so they made us provide our own money for texts and any other spending. The textbooks could run up a hefty fee, I tell ya! Every summer, I would work my tail off to have "book and pizza" money for college, while my friends went off to the beach. :sosad: I also worked as a tutor, edited a creative writing magazine and proofread for an art journal to make money during the year. I think my mom only had to pay about 8K for my 4 yrs at a very pricey private college (what would have cost about 40 K back then). SO I came through debt-free on that one. For grad school, I was on my own - and that's probably when I decided to get my PhD in science, NOT English, LOL. My best bud in college had the same GRE scores as me and a higher GPA in English than I did in Chemistry... but while I was being offered the salary of most 1st yr teachers for a grad school assistantship in chemistry with zip tuition costs, she got about $500 off on books - that's all. There's just so much more financial support for the sciences from outside industry, and that money does eventually trickle down to the students who will become the next scientists, whereas, how many banks or publishers are funneling buckage into schools to create the next great accountant or author....not many. I figured I could teach science as easily as English, and eat better while doing it, LOL. Sad but true, sad but true... :yes:

And then I got my PhD and found out how nice the pay was in the industry - so much for academia - I'm such a cop-out! :hammer: Speaking of teaching - it still is my first love, though. Boy did I have fun yesterday! Worked at my kids' elementary school, teaching grades 1-6 about animal adaptation to habitat for Earth Day. DH worked too, teaching them about bioponds and such - it was so much fun.

Today was a busy day at the ballfields - Opening Day. Ugh. 3 games to attend. The weather was SO awesome, though - 75 and sunshine all the way. DS11's team won 9-1, DS9's team lost 1-9. (And no score in the tee-ball game..... that's the kind of game I like! EVERYBODY'S happy, LOL!) And MAN are the allergens high. Poor dd is just dyin' - we give her Claritin every day, and it just can't keep up. Gonna have to get that girl to an allergist stat.

Hope everyone's Saturday is a good one! Tonight we have PROMISED the kids a family "game night", so I'm off to get dinner ready... Let the Games Begin!

Ciao for now!

[jnrrt]

We're trying to be good about college, really. Not doing too badly, but it's easy to put it off when they're little.

My dh and I met at a scholarship dinner (how geeky is THAT!) and so we both finished undergrad without debt, although I had three jobs during school to pay for living expenses and books - my scholarship was only tuition. Grad school was a different story - I had to laugh at your story Gopher. When my dh went to interview at the school he eventually went to (PhD in physics) they were even taking ME to lunch (and we were only dating at the time), telling me how happy we would all be, totally wooing him, it was crazy, and then he got it and no tuition, decent pay, all was great. When I came out the next year to audition at my school in music, they were basically like, we spit on you, and laugh at your feeble attempts to extract money from us. We only take 3% of applicants - if you don't want to pay us lots of money to come here, there are many who will, and so pretty much every penny my dh made we put toward my school. I told him he must really like me.

So, I guess that means we'll be hoping that the kids take after him and go into the sciences? I know that at least my older dd was collecting bugs this afternoon. That's promising...

[withdisneyspirit]

I was lucky enough to manage no debt either. I won a scholar award which paid half my tuition at the private college I went to - Huntingdon College in Montgomery. My parents paid a quarter of the tuition and I paid a quarter for a couple of years. Then, I moved out on my own, got married and we paid for the rest ourselves. Needless to say, I worked my way straight through college, almost fulltime work and then fulltime school too. The good old days...I am sure I am working even harder now:hammer:

[Rozzie]

Oh Erin, you know I have to do it!!!!!!! WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!




fear the thumb, baby! fear the thumb!!!:cheerlead
Sorry, I'm 3rd generation Tiger!!! Way to go Lisa with the great school choice!

[AFMom]

Hi all. Happy Sunday. Baby shower went great yesterday - guest of honor is so adorable - we all just "awwed" the heck out of him.
I need somewhere to whine for a moment. Well - not really whine - I'm just on edge or some reason. DH has been very "busy" the last two days and I can't wait till things calm down for him. So - I think I'll treat myself to a hard earned glass of wine this evening. It's the "sleep inducer" of choice for me!

Carrie - anxiously awating news on that skin graft - how much longer until you know if it took? Oh, and you're certainly not a schmuck!

WDS - I can'tr imagine being that close to the college thing. Mine are 8 and 9 and I'm already a bit panicked.

Rozzie - glad you got some good news on your mom. Was it the Silver Sands? We were there today, got myself a new antenna ball and a cute little purse. I also got an adorable outfir for a soon-to-be-born baby in CA.

FYI all - the Character Warehouse at Silver Sands Outlets (in Destin, FL) has a who;e bunch of BCV DVC shitrs for sale. Polos and T-Shirts. I was bummed that there weren;t any OKW or SSR.......

[Rozzie]

Kristy-we were at the Foley outlets. Whatever they call it now, LOL. It has changed names 3 times in my lifetime it seems. The Disney Store there had a bunch of junk. It is so hit and miss. Got some cute shorts at Eddie Bauer though, so all is not lost! Also actually found some stuff at Polo that didn't cost a fortune.

Anyhoo, here is a big hug for you this early morning, :hug: I hope things get better for your DH soon, and he is able to call and put your tired mind at ease. I really don't know how you do it. I so admire your strength.

[DisFlan]

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. DS, DIL and I spent Saturday at the Tanger Outlet Mall in Branson - mostly buying "manager" type clothes for DS to take to Orlando. Shirts, ties, slacks. The sales were great! 40-60% off the SALE prices for men's stuff at Van Huesen and a other places. Went by the Disney Outlet store and got some some cute things for my nieces to play with while they're here.

It poured rain almost all day Saturday (as in frog-strangler-thunder-boomer-and-lightning type rain), so Branson was NOT crowded. Which is a rare thing on a Saturday! We got pretty soggy at times, but we got a lot done in just a few hours.

Speaking of college funding - THE biggest gift we're giving DS for graduation is a debt-free education. He's worked at least part time the whole way through to help cover expenses, but we covered his tuition. He can now start adult life without student loans hanging over his head.

It's fixin' to start storming again. I think the drought is about over.


DisFlan

[gopherit]

Home today with a sick DS11. Or at least, I sure hope he's sick... he seems sick, but I'm always afraidwith him there is some hidden covert meaning to it, especially since he left school Friday in a snit. Seems he and his teacher had a disagreement (which is a first, b/c his teacher thinks the sun rose in this kid). Something about homework, for which DS tried to use a "no homework" pass for, but teacher said no, he couldn't use it for this assignment because it was a 2 day assignment as it was, so not eligible for the pass, yada yada.... I see both sides of the argument and think the teacher had justification for what she said, though maybe not the WAY it was said....DS takes things too personally, and the teacher had a stressful day (I know - I was there at the school all day and I was stressed out too, LOL!) DS is just having a difficult time learning about responsibility. ANyhooo - I half-wondered if this illnesswas due to the Friday mess, but he has all his homework (that we know of) done, and missing school today means missing his baseball game tonight, which he REALLY didn't want to miss because he plays against his best friend's team, so I'd say his feelings are genuine. Can't really detect a fever on him... but man is he congested. Maybe it's just a crappy ol' cold. Kinda hope that's the case - especially after last week's episode in the ER. Still very torqued about all THAT. :mad:

Well, better go actually do some WORK. Got some email to plow through, some spreadsheets to work on...sigh.... it never ends.

LATER!

[AFMom]

Oh - I hate those on-the-fence sick days. So much easier when they have a fever. But I know that I can feel like crap without a fever - so there ya go. You're a good mom to keep him home - whether he is or not. Maybe he just needs a down day and doesn't feel quite good enough. I'm sure it was a tough call for him with the baseball game and all.
I really want to get out to the Foley outlets - they're pretty close to me. I'm trying to find cute disney stuff for the kids to wear in Dec. The Character Warehouse actually has Disney World merchandise - but nothing was the right size......
DH e-mailed me at about 10 last night. I was so relieved. He thinks I'm being silly. Easy for him to say - he knows what's going on out there. Said he couldn't tell me anything, of course (I'm pouting). But I'm just happy to have heard from him.
It is SOOOOOO a Monday. Hey - Kim - we need a Grumpy dwarf smile with all those new smilies! This coffee ain't strong enugh!!!
So - coffee and leftover baby shower food in the closet - I have a wide array of sweets and little bite sized foods..... All of which will make me not fit in my clothes. So - help me get rid of the leftovers!:D

[ErinC]

Happy Monday everyone (yeah right!), is it summer yet? My kids are dragging, and sooo ready for school to be out. A few more weeks and we can sleep in!

Gopher- how's your daughter? Is she any better? Sorry your son is not feeling well.

We had a pretty low key weekend. Just the usual stuff. I did manage to slip in some "when are we going back to Disney conversation on DH?" Gotta be sure to use those AP's again before they expire. My two choices are Dec.30-Jan. 7, or Feb.17- 25. I'm really begging for the Jan. date. The kids don't have to be back at school until the 8th. I know that New Years would be busy, but the first week of Jan. should be not so crowded, don't you think? The Feb. dates are our Mardi Gras holiday, but that is also Pres. Day, which will mean a very crowded park. Plus the kids would miss three days of school that week. I'm just not sure DH can swing the New Year thing. I remember a lot of computer work that had to be done last year, resetting a lot of stuff for the shops. I'm trying hard not to remind him of those things!:D It all sounds so far away, but since both fall on Holidays, I figure if we don't book it soon, it won't be available.

PS- too all you tiger fans, the tide rolled over you this weekend on the baseball diamond! Just in case you missed that bit of info!:Pokepoke:

[ErinC]

Where is Stimpy? I'm getting worried, she hasn't posted in a long time?

[bavaria]

I 'saw' Stimpy on another thread on Friday... hopefully just a busy weekend! Gopher, didn't your family get the memo? May 1st was to be the start of the official Mouseowners 'No Family Illness' year....

Found some photos of one of my Alabama jaunts

Coon Dog Cemetary - we searched high and low for this and had a great time doing so!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/797570-R1-22-23_edited.jpg

I don't really know why, but I like this sign - made me feel like I had gone back to the 1930's. BTW, had an excellent meal in Tuscumbia

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/797570-R1-21-22_edited.jpg

[Rozzie]

Bavaria--I got goosebumps on the coon dog cemetary. :dog: Reminds me of Where the Red Fern Grows, I just adore that book. There so many little places in Alabama that has so much character, so many places I haven't seen. Just when you think you have seen a lot of your state---

Hope Gopher's DS picks up the MO memo, and starts feeling better! So agree on the temp or no temp issue. So many days I feel like utter slime and no fever to be found.

Erin, yayayeah, ya'll did do some mop up work on the diamond.....:D

[TW1]

Reminds me of Where the Red Fern Grows, I just adore that book. Ahh, Ol' Dan and Little Ann brought some serious tears to DD's eyes last summer.

Did I read somewhere they were making a new movie?

[Rozzie]

Ahh, Ol' Dan and Little Ann brought some serious tears to DD's eyes last summer.

Did I read somewhere they were making a new movie?

oh my, I think I remember hearing something like that. That will be another movie I would never be able to see. I cannot watch anything that has a animal dying. I really just lose it. The book as a child really hit me hard, but I think now I just emotionally can connect to characters so much more. Especially this year, as we lost our beloveed Gracie. Hey, mmmn....maybe they can change the ending to a happy one, or at least where there isn't a death. Heck, if they change the ENTIRE ending to the Horse Whisperer......:veryconfu

[DisFlan]

You and me, Rozzie! Old Yeller just about does me in. I had a VERY hard time following the stories about the displaced Katrina and Rita pets. We're still sending support money for the pets that were transferred into Arkansas.


DisFlan

[Rozzie]

You and me, Rozzie! Old Yeller just about does me in. I had a VERY hard time following the stories about the displaced Katrina and Rita pets. We're still sending support money for the pets that were transferred into Arkansas.


DisFlan

confession: the only charity I donated to for Katrina was Noah's Ark. I about went ballastic about those Katrina stories. I know I just wouldn't have left my rooftop without my babies. :tearsaref

omg, Old Yeller should be banned from the shelves, or at least come with a year supply of Prozac...

[ErinC]

I'm not even sure I've seen old Yeller(we have it here at the house). I did read where the Red Fern Grows. I know that Old Yeller has an "unhappy" ending and I won't watch it. I don't like any movie that does not have a happy ending. DH gets so mad at me when we try to pick a movie, but I just tell him that there is so much unhappiness in the world, I don't have time to subject myself to another 1 1/2- 2 hours of unhappiness. Horror films are completely out of the question. About the best I can do is subject myself to watching Extreme Home Makeover every week. We tivo it (while we are at church) and then watch it when we get home. That show makes me cry almost everyweek. Some of the circumstances that these people find themselves in are just awful! At least most of these shows have a happy ending.

[Rozzie]

Erin, I am so with you on happy endings. This is the exact reason I refuse to go see that 9/11 movie. I figure just like you, I see enough unhappiness in the world, and too many sad endings. That is the reason we love WDW like we do. DH and I were trying to teach my mom last night about Disney Magic. There is always a happy ending, the good guy always win, and sadness is always temporary. I guess that is what connects all Disney fans. We all believe in happy endings. :grouphug:

[gopherit]

Made it into the office (and boy am I working, huh!) ACtually - waiting imaptiently on a call-back.

DH came home to stay w/ DS. I did sick-kid duty all last week, so DH agreed, it's his turn. So DH told his boss - get this - "I need to go home at noon because I need to give my wife some relief." :holymoly: And he WONDERED why he got teased about it. Does he not remember I have to work with these SAME people TOO?!?!? (DH once took pictures of our 1st son to work.... 2 of which were of me holding the baby right after I nursed him, and wasn't, well, completely covered!! About killed him over that.... he's lucky to have lived to see 2 more kids born and still call me his wife.)

Anyhoooo - frankly, DH is happy as a clam to be home today - when I left he was laying across the master bed, watching Talladega on the tube while pretending to work on his laptop. He will probably tell the guys at work he spent the whole afternoon in bed. Niiiiice.

DS clearly doesn't feel great - when I left, he was wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants AND his Jeff Gordon knit winter hat, hunkered up in a ball on the couch. And this is a kid who, like me, tends to run 10 degrees hotter than the average bear when he's well. He also hates to be absent from school because he hates to do all the make-up work, so he must be feeling pretty crappy, poor guy. I think he really needed to know that if he felt bad, we would stay home with him. He doesn't get sick often, and when he does, I think he presses through it because he's afraid of disrupting schedules, missing school, make-up work, etc. He needed a sick day... it's just a shame he had to be, well, SICK in order to have it!

Well, giving up on my return call and off to track down other work. I have ballfield duty @ 6 pm (yes, even though DS isn't playing!) A mom's job is never done, eh....

[gopherit]

Coon Dog Cemetary - we searched high and low for this and had a great time doing so!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/797570-R1-22-23_edited.jpg



Sorry, but all I could think about, much to my dismay, was Stephen King's Pet Semetary.

Ewwww.

I'm with you Erin about the horror and sadness. If movies are meant to entertain, why spend that entertainment time wallowing in sorrow or clenched in fear. Plus, most of the horror movies infuriate me with the idiocy. Just HIDE IN A HOLE, people. And the graphics - c'mon now, is all that FD&C#5 REALLY necessary?

I think not - count me out and pass me a comedy and some popcorn, please. :goodvibes

[withdisneyspirit]

I'm not even sure I've seen old Yeller(we have it here at the house). I did read where the Red Fern Grows. I know that Old Yeller has an "unhappy" ending and I won't watch it. I don't like any movie that does not have a happy ending. DH gets so mad at me when we try to pick a movie, but I just tell him that there is so much unhappiness in the world, I don't have time to subject myself to another 1 1/2- 2 hours of unhappiness. Horror films are completely out of the question. About the best I can do is subject myself to watching Extreme Home Makeover every week. We tivo it (while we are at church) and then watch it when we get home. That show makes me cry almost everyweek. Some of the circumstances that these people find themselves in are just awful! At least most of these shows have a happy ending.

Well, you may be an Alabama fan, but we are sure alike on the above. I have no time for unhappy endings, tearjerkers and definitely no time for horror films. DS13 was watching Homeward Bound the other night and I came in on the last third and seriously felt the tears starting over whether Shadow was coming home. Bad thing was I knew he was coming home and I still teared up:tilt: What can I say; I am just too sensitive for the heavy, bad stuff!!

ETA: Yes, Rozzie, I believe in happy endings too!!!!

[bavaria]

I cry at any movie! That's why I rarely go see a movie in public. I even cried during a company orientation video....:crazy:

And I agree about horror movies.... I even walked out of the Terminator at Universal - it was shortly after 9/11 and I couldn't deal with all of the violence

[AFMom]

I don't like sad movies much - unless they are extremely well made (Life Is Beautiful is my favorite movie.......) - but I have to admit to loving a good horror movie. :shhh: Not the slash-em-up kind - the pshychological thriller type!
The coon dog cememtery reminded me of Stephen King as well. Much of my adolesence was spent reading his books! I read good books, too,,,,,
Getting no sleep here. Anyone have wonderful sure-fire getting to sleep methods? It's been over a week now and even my 2 cups of strong coffee aren't helping me in the morning now.:help:

[gopherit]

Anyone have wonderful sure-fire getting to sleep methods? It's been over a week now and even my 2 cups of strong coffee aren't helping me in the morning now.:help:

I don't want to see less of you for this advice, but the advice I was given a few mos ago was: no computer in the evening. Using computer before going to bed supposedly interferes with good, deep sleep. I was in a vicious cycle - use computer, try to sleep, couldn't sleep, use more computer! I'm not always good at following this advice, but I will say, when I stay away from it after 6 pm and end my evening with a book or sudoku or such, I fall asleep and stay asleep a LOT easier. Worht a shot - but then, I'm not under the same type of duress you're under.... have you tried hypnosis? :hypnotict :hypnotict :hypnotict

[AFMom]

Oh - that's bad. I'm horrible in the evening. That's DH's best time to e-mail and we try to sit and e-mail back and forth for a while - kinda like a really slow chat! I wonder if tv does the same thing? I've been reading - but with the tv on in the background so the house isn't so darn quiet after the kids go to bed.
I'll have to go tech-free for a few nights and see if it helps. Never tried hypnosis...... Although I have heard it works for a lot of people......
BTW - I just noticed that my son has the exact same blue shorts and Old Navy t-dhirt you son has! Too funny.......

[PoohsPal]

OK, swamped at work and I have a ton of catching up to do here. Just wanted to post this, as it made me think of my Nothing friends.

Hope nono doesn't get mad at me for it. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/dizneyscrapaddict/lovemyputer.gif

[ErinC]

Getting no sleep here. Anyone have wonderful sure-fire getting to sleep methods? It's been over a week now and even my 2 cups of strong coffee aren't helping me in the morning now.:help:

Did you try reading my trip report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:hahahaha: :hahahaha: :hahahaha:

Seriously, I've heard the same advice that Gopherit gave you. Also, don't sit and read or watch TV in bed. Only go to bed when you are ready to go to sleep. My main issue is with caffiene. I drank two glasses of Milo's tea with a late supper last night, and that did me in. If all else fails have you tried Tylenol Pm or some light sleeping aid?

[Piglet513]

Hope everyone is doing well. Took DS to his two-year-old check-up yesterday and now Friday we are off to another specialist. (He has mild craniosynostosis=early closure of skull sutures which put us through much worry when he was 9 months old.)

This time it is to a urologist. Seems his testicles haven't decended correctly. They have noticed this at other check-ups, but this is the first time they have referred us to a specialist. My research on the internet last night tells me this should have been fixed by the time he was ONE or damage could start occuring. I really hope they find nothing wrong enough to have to correct with surgery. We dodged the bullet with his skull, so we are hoping he is spared with this too!

[bavaria]

Piglet, hope that everything is ok with your little one - in case you missed it, as of May 1st we were supposed to have 'no family illness' time! That was supposed to mean that every loved one stays healthy and no more illnessess

AFMom, I used to be the queen of not sleeping, for various reasons. Now I sleep well, unless I am up too late on the computer. Then I get weird dreams or can't sleep. (The other day I woke up NEEDING to memorize '29' and '52' - took me all day to puzzle those out and I can only come up with the channel numbers for HGTV and Food Network????????)

I know that ppl disagree about when to exercise, but I find that a brisk walk in the early evening (about 3 miles or so) usually works for me now. And no caffeine after noon. Best of luck!

Some mornings you need the eye-rolling smiley... I mentioned last week that my friends were going back to the Grand Floridian and I arranged a very large gift basket for the kids from Peggy's Sweets. My friend told me yesterday that they assumed that it was from the hotel for a repeat guest - yeah, right! They stayed on site exactly once before..... GRRRR I hope that the kids know that it's from Auntie Bavaria, not the hotel!

[Stimpy]

Just checking in quick! You guys scared me away with all the paying for college talk ;) We had several minor "disasters" this past week, but coming here it all gets put into perspective. I've been trying to keep up and reading about what some of you are facing certainly makes my stuff look so minor. Judges, Doctors, ER's....I don't know how you all do it sometimes!

Thanks for asking about me Erin, very glad to hear your DD is doing well!

Piglet, I hope your DS is ok. When is his birthday? I just took DD to her 2 year check-up too. She's 4/21.

Gopher, hope your kids are all recovering and doing well.

Kristy, I have about 4 different prescription sleeping meds in my closet that I can't use. Meds always seem to have the opposite effect of what they are supposed to do for me. If it was legal, I'd send them down to you. Obviously, if I can't sleep myself, I can't offer any advice. I hope you get some much needed and deserved rest soon.

The past week and a half here has been unusually stressful around here. I had my DSis and her family up for the party at my house that I was invited to ;) It went well. The day after they went home, DSis was broadsided with her DS-4 months, in the car with her. They were both ok.

Took DD to her 2 yr check up. When the nurse is weighing her, she laughed and said "I just weighed my granddaughter this morning and she was the EXACT same weight" Oh really? "Yes, but she's only 8 months old!" Hmmm...thanks, I really didn't notice how small DD was before this :hammer: (Ok, I was a bit sarcastic!) DD is only in the 10% for weight and height but she always been and she's been consistent. Apparently, DS, who was always in 90% for height (50% for weight) took all the height genes. Anyway, DR said not to worry but we would keep a close eye on her. Of course, all the mommy guilt sets in again b/c I had several medical problems while pregnant with her and I blame myself.

We had a minor scare on Saturday with DS. He was extremely ill with a high fever and throwing up. He rarely gets sick and when he does he recovers very quickly...knock on wood! I'm not normally an over-worrier about my kids when they are sick but since he had a farm animal petting zoo visit the school on Friday all I could think of was the children in the news a few years ago. DR said "keep an eye on him but don't worry" He's still kind of "off" today.

Sunday I had to spend all day with DH's insane family for his sister's baby shower. There was serious fighting between the families for 2-3 months about this shower. About every little detail! The location, the guests, the food etc. I learned a long time ago to just keep my mouth shut when it comes to his family. Found out SIL in-laws are nuts too! Both families spent the whole day giving snide remarks to each other. I thought at one point my other SIL was going to go at it with BIL's mother. I could not wait to get home. I can only imagine how poor DH's sister felt. :sosad:

And of course we had the usual Little League and Cub Scout aggravations thrown in! Thank goodness SWW are right around the corner...I need the distraction for a while ;)

[Stimpy]

Some mornings you need the eye-rolling smiley... I mentioned last week that my friends were going back to the Grand Floridian and I arranged a very large gift basket for the kids from Peggy's Sweets. My friend told me yesterday that they assumed that it was from the hotel for a repeat guest - yeah, right! They stayed on site exactly once before..... GRRRR I hope that the kids know that it's from Auntie Bavaria, not the hotel!

How did the basket come out? I was thinking of ordering one for my nephew's first trip in November :)

I think Disney owes us all a lot of baskets!! :woohoodan

[gopherit]

Bavaria - everyone needs an Auntie like you! (Can you adopt us?!? :flowerfor )

AFMom - I think TV was listed as less fo a prob than computer. That said, however, it ain't good.