It's like this...

Ally and I just got back from the gym. I went every day last week and even though it's Spring break for the kids and me this week, I promised myself I wouldn't fall off the wagon. No, not that one. I've fallen off so many times I've got callouses and other assorted damages from hitting the ground. We'll see how this works out this time. One day at a time, right? I can't do more than I can do. Whoa, how profound is that? You're right. Not very. I'm fighting a cold right now---scratchy painful throat, ears that won't unplug and a heavy feeling in my chest that I fear does not bode well for the rest of the week. Not that we're taking a vacation. We'd love to of course, but what with times the way they are and the things we need to get done here, it simply wasn't an option. So what are we doing for our spectacular spring break? I'm glad you asked. We're cleaning! Yes, you heard right. And my kids (Ok, the younger ones at an...

As I was driving my mammoth suburban on the freeway, all four of my delightful progeny riding along with me, a song came on the radio. It was David Bowie's song Changes . Suddenly I was fourteen years old again, and wondering how in the world it came to be that I was driving a car with four of my very own children inside with me. How did I get so old? It's ok, go ahead and listen. There really isn't much video going on there--just the song and the picture of Bowie. It came out in the 70's. Eons ago for many of you. For me? Not so much. Seems like yesterday. The song always reminds me of my friend Kathy . It was the song we listened to when we were both quite young--though we felt old and mature at the time. It was the song playing on the radio and on the 45 record in her bedroom over across Aurora at her house. It's the song that always takes me back to Kathy. As I drove through the pouring rain on I-5, listening to the song, I wondered where Kathy would...

I read a book written by my friend Stacey. It's called I Never Asked to Become a Butterfly . In it she talks about the transformation she's undergone with her debilitating illness and speaks about how much the change in her appearance has affected her. I'm generally one who sticks my fingers in my ears and goes la la la la la la la I can't heeear youuuuuuuuuuuu if there is something I'd rather not talk about and in this case it's more of a la la la la la la I can't seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee youuuuuuuu when I look in the mirror. Mostly I tend to avoid mirrors and anyone who knows me understands that pointing their camera in my direction is grounds for having to purchase a new one because I've stomped your offending one to tiny pieces. Reading Stacey's book has caused me to think. (Note to self: remember go thank Stacey by whapping her over the head ) Mostly what I've thought about is the disconnect between who I feel I am and what I look like to o...

The day was beautiful....so of course I decided I had to do our taxes. While I worked on those, Lance took the girls out. This was a wonderful thing because it meant that Ashley was finally feeling well again. It's been days since she's been out of bed--much less out of the house. Sooooo, I finished up the taxes and then met them on Queen Anne and then we went down to Myrtle Edwards Park. It was lovely...and beautiful...and all kinds of fun with our girls.

For those of you not feeling well, take my advice and avoid going to the ER. This is where you are likely to pick up some really ugly nasty buggies that will make you feel worse than what you came into the ER for in the first place. Trust me on this. We ended up back at the pediatricians yesterday with what I assumed was strep throat. Having four children who haven't exactly had stellar immune systems has given me a bit of an idea of what to look for and when it came on her so suddenly, I was sure it was strep. It wasn't. Seems there is an icky bug going around the Puget Sound that starts out pretending to be strep throat, with the horrific painful swallowing and then high fevers for three to five days, then moves on to a cough and congestion. Sound like fun? Why yes, yes it is. At the rate my baby girl is going, she's going to have to repeat the fourth grade. To that end, I got an email and a phone call from her teacher saying that we should probably get together and t...

We went from the pediatrician's office who sent us over to the ER at Children's Hospital. Seven hours isn't bad. We've done worse. She's feeling better this morning and we're going to be seeing the GI people soon. We've got yet another Rx for her as well. Wheeeeee! We were going to do some fun things today, but with the lack of sleep last night, our plans for today got canceled. Oh well, it's a sunny beautiful day and we're going to do some work outside in the yard. Allison has a youth temple trip today, and I'll be going with her. And that, they say, is that.

Each Tuesday morning we drive to Children's Hospital so Ash can splash and swim in the pool there. I've posted some videos of her in the pool here before, but never one of her swim therapist. Here is the wonderful Trina and Ashley this morning before they began their session. Before beginning these lessons, Ashley was unable to hold her head above water. I'm so thankful for Trina and her patient teaching. Ash has come so far. Even though she wasn't feeling well today, she still went. Afterward we usually take her back to school, but today she went back home to bed. She had a bit of rough time this evening as well. I hope she can go to school in the morning.

Are usually my favorite days. Back to the work week, back to a schedule. I love having a schedule. It helps. Keeps me sane. Ok, saner. I taught three Spanish classes today and took Ash back to see the doc. They still don't know what's causing her problems. We had another bad night last night, which is why I took her back in. They're sending us to a specialist now, so I'm hoping this will mean that we can figure out where her pain is coming from and what we can do about it. We also began her new seizure meds this morning, as we taper down the others. Other than that....the weather was insane today. Massive snow, tons of hail and it took hubby forever to get to work through the snow up north. Here? Nada remains. Elsewhere nearby it's like a winter wonderland. After teaching today I went to the (gasp!) gym and spent some time on the treadmill and a bike. It wasn't horrible. And now I'm really, really going to bed. I said I was going earlier then...

I keep forgetting to update this now that I've discovered the joys of Facebook. Oh, and agony of dealing with other issues. Like having the neurologist increase Ashley's seizure meds twice in one week because she's had seizures and then finding that the side effects are possibly worse than the seizures themselves. Now we're weaning her off the one med and slowly adding another one. I'm tired.... I've lost count of the nights I've spent holding her as she cries. She's missed so much school lately. You know what would be wonderful? To not have to do this anymore. Yes, there are worse things in this world. I'm quite aware of that. I was actually thinking about that the other day when I parked in front of the house and had a mini-melt down while sitting there for half an hour. Sometimes it just feels good to let it all out. I'd been holding it in for far too long. So, onward and upward.