On the Road to Recovery

What an eventful week. I'd started having a fever Thurs, then Fri. It seemed higher than normal for me. I had pain in my kidney. (My husband always laughs at this. He thinks it's funny that I know what ORGAN is hurting. I guess it's like saying, oohh, my pancreas). For real though, it's always that right kidney. I don't know if I put pressure on it or what, but I'm going to have to change my lifestyle a bit. I've decided, I will drink 5 oz of water an hour. I hate water. No, I loathe water. I'll come back to that...

So, the diagnosis was that I have a kidney infection. It freaked me out; it still freaks me out. The Dr. was very serious that I don't want another one of these. I'm on these huge antibiotics that make my throat sore. And, I can't be out in the SUN :( What timing...July. Hubby's b-day is coming up this week. I want to make it good. He's very special. He's quite a guy to deal with my sickliness...again. During church today, I just wept and wept during worship. It's just what I needed. I just have to quiet myself to hear Him, too.

So about the water, I have to drink "plenty of water" with this med. Isn't that specific? I could go the whole day and not drink a thing, and now I have to drink loads of this stuff. Help me Lord, I'm going to have to do it. It's a lifestyle change for sure. I've pretty much stopped eating meat. There's too many weird stuff with meat, and the fact that it stays in the body for so long, that it's easier to avoid it. So that's another change. I also may start taking milk thistle and dandelion (detoxin), but I'm up for suggestions. I just have to make sure I am getting rid of toxins.

On a 2nd? 3rd? note, I don't know what we're doing for school this fall, so I better get my butt in gear now that my butt is not 102.7 degrees.

I Feel Like a Kid Again!

It's so fun having an amusement park pass. Thanks to Laura, she inspired us to purchase a year pass for our family and have since used it twice this month. I was kind of bummed after the first visit, to have paid full price for a year pass and only be able to ride the Ferris wheel. But alas, it was only fear stopping me! I thought if I rode anything remotely crazy, I would for sure end up with broken bones. Well, when we went yesterday, I rode the upside down roller coaster, the Space Shot (it shoots you into the air), and many more.

We have a quite interesting situation in our family. Me, the one in the wheelchair, will ride anything. My big strong husband? Not so much. So when E wants to ride the big ones, who has to go? We have to pick between actual safety of my body, or my husband hurling up his lunch. I feel really great that I took a chance, showing my son that "mommy can do it, too". Hubby actually rode some that he swore he never would go on. Then, he swore when he went on them. It was hilarious. The greatest was probably when the amusement park employees offered to watch the kids while hubby went on the Space Shot. Man, did he try to get out of that one. But, he rode. What a man! He does feel bad, however, about the number of times he said "shit" sitting next to 8 & 9 year olds. If you know my husband, you know that he hardly ever cusses.

Moving on, our day today at home was great. It is nice when you're on the go all the time, to just not have anywhere to be. I could tell the kids got a little restless by the end of the day, though. Our window a/c DID NOT keep up with this heat. It was 85 in our house most of the day. Yikes! I'm excited about our upcoming planning meeting this Fri. for our home school group. I'm excited and a little anxious about this school year. It's our first "official" one. I'm so glad we are in the group we are. There are co-ops, and great people. One common goal of educating our children. No hidden agendas. That's how it should be.

A Day of Firsts

July 8th, 2007 will go down in history for my E. In one day, he lost is first tooth and learned how to ride a bike. I tell you, this kid has the knack for picking up anything sporty. He was on this [2 wheel] bike for, not kidding, 5 minutes, and he'd ridden a half block. On the way back to our house, he rode the whole way down our street. Yeah hoo, another 6 yr old milestone!

We are, as a family, attempting an actual sabbath day. For a long time, we haven't really rested and enjoyed each other because of this or that. While it doesn't matter what day you choose to do this, we chose Sunday. We spent the day playing games, and eating mexican straw hats (another of my hubby's "recipes"). It's basically tortilla chips and every possible taco fixin' dumped on them. That evening we went to Grays Lake, for an impromptu bike ride/bbq. Since it was so impromptu, we didn't bring silverware/napkins/plates. We only had our meat, a bag of frozen corn, watermelon, a knife, and foil. We made those little camping out packets of food. I'd never heard of them until I met my husband. (I was a suburban girl). All in all, a very good time.

To catch you up on today, we went to the wading pool with some home school friends. What a great time. I just love Mondays at this new park. Even though the kids come back semi-burnt, we all have a ball. It doesn't seem to matter how much sunscreen I put on the boys, it always rubs off. I'm going to invest in a different kind, with more natural ingredients, but more waterproofing if that's possible. Any suggestions?

Aaaaah, the smell of paint!

Yes, we're at it again. We went to the Bondurant waste facility to collect paint for the kids' bedrooms. Yes, that's right folks. We's here paint our house for FREE; we spare no expense. One will be a park theme (with slide, swing). One will be a schoolroom/toy room (with city/superhero theme). A good friend came over (the one that will be doing the actual artistic painting). And she will be here all tomorrow, too. Some bad news: hubby went to mix the white paint for the base coat and realized that is is a hazy, 1970's greenish-white. So, that is the color of one room. Oh well, it will go with the general chaos that is already in that room. So I am sitting here smelling paint fumes. Again. You know what, though? Our house is going to rock. Maybe not according to proper decorating standards, but I think the kids are going to really like it. So here's to redecorating. It's not so fun while your in the thick of it, but it feels great when you're done!
My friend H mentioned that she had her kids watch(ed) Rescue Heroes. WHAT A GREAT SERIES! It not only teaches things (like what to do in an electrical storm). It shows how and what they do to actually save people (in cartoon language). They are my new fave, and E is just sure he is going to be a fireman. I think he really is serious this time. I can see in his eyes the desire to help people. "To save that little Billy Blazes from the burning building." We just had so much fun today. While L took a nap, E and I went for an outing. I am trying to get in the habit of taking them both out individually. They are together so often, that I want them to figure out their own likes/dislikes and who they are as a person. Anyway, while on our outing, we went to Salvation Army and picked up the aforementioned movie as well as a much wanted Magic School Bus and When Harry Met Sally (ok, that was for me). We also went to Starbucks and played checkers. It's funny, E always goes up to the counter and asks for a strawberry latte. They look at me like, he orders lattes'? Why yes, yes he does. What he really means is that strawberry frappe thing with all the whipped cream. Yeah, like I'd let my 6 yr old go up and order himself a latte. It's funny, because they look at me with confusion every time. And we go to the same Starbucks every time we go! I just take true delight in E's outgoingness (is this even a word?) I have realized, though, that L is not like that as much. He is in subtle ways, but I was noticing that with his cousins, he just did what they wanted. Not good. I want for my kids to have a mind of their own, to stand up for their beliefs. It could be that they are just different kids, but I think parents shape their kids more than they'll ever know. Heck, I didn't grow up with my dad, but I am still tight with money and stubborn as hell. So what does that say about genetics?
Well, I guess it's getting late, I'll update everyone on the room adventure. You never know what color our house will end up next!

Happy 4th!

I won't delve into it here, but for anyone who would like to know the facts about Francis Scott Key, please look it up. You will be amazed at the bravery, the pride, that Americans can have. Do we still have the pride and sacrifice it takes to make this country great, I mean really great? That's my only deep question on this day that "the bombs bursting in air" once again happens, to remind us of the ones that went before us to make this country great.
So moving on to our day! We had a pleasant day. It started out with meeting a friend for a parade, then we got confused about the meeting place. So, we sat with family. I say that in a kind of down tone and this is why: I have no family left close by. I do have my step-dad close by, but he's not a go out with the fam type of guy. We usually go over to his house for dinner about 2x per month. Our only option is my inlaws, and since I'm not at liberty to complain, I'll just say that I was glad for the day to finally end. I guess I feel hemmed in at others' house the whole day. I can't get around, check on the kids, make my own food. I feel like an invalid. But the kids had fun, and we did light fireworks when in got dark.
One awesome bit of news: my sis called me during fireworks to tell me that she is engaged! Her fiance is such a great guy, and I am just tickled that I was 2nd in line to hear about the news (after parents). We actually have different mothers, for those of you who didn't know. Although my sis and I did not grow up together, I had always hoped for us to be close. I am so glad we are. I always wonder how it was growing up knowing that your dad had been married to someone else and had had a child. I only know about it from the other end, being without my dad.
Oh well, I guess it's late and I'm rambling. I'll close it for tonight and dream up something for the next day I post. Hugs to all!