Running through the May Flowers - Page 10

[MelW]

This entire post is a bit backwards because of crazy computer/MDC formatting issues. But the day was overall challenging because of yet another serious relationship conversation, my husband asking for more support while he navigates a very difficult  weeks-long bout of depression/anxiety, plus the ped and looming possible diagnosis for the youngest (see below). I'm exhausted and didn't make my run this evening, but managed to do my 100-weeds Geo-style. If all goes well tomorrow morning I might fit in a run before work, and otherwise will do evening run and/or bootcamp. Race Sunday. 

It's a quiet day in dingoland (or more likely a too-busy-to-post day!) We saw the ped today, who want to do some testing for lupus. So tomorrow I take a three year old for blood and urine tests in the morning before preschool. Wish me luck! Formatting is being crazy

[Plady]

Oh gosh Mel!  Sending luck and all the healthy vibes toward you!

[Realrellim]

MelW--hope you get answers and it turns out to be something fairly benign.

Plady--the Obama fitness challenge sounds fun, as does your hike.

sparkle--I think I could fall asleep on most any floor, anytime. It's not sad, it's a useful tactic for squeezing in a little more.

1jooj--thinking of you as you complete the last minute stuff and fly.

Nick--that's a lot of beans. I'm impressed.

BBM--that's a sweet story.

RR: quick 3 after school. Was supposed to be writing but oh well.

[JayGee]

MelW - oh dear! I hope the tests for your DD can help figure out what's happening.

Plady - I like your movement challenge too! Sounds like a great hike.

Sparkle - I can sleep like that too! I think it is a good skill to have .

RR - just a short hike yesterday with my kids and parents. Pilates this morning, and then a day at the Botanical Gardens.

NRR - my parents are here and we are having fun. My kids love visiting with their grandparents.

[Geofizz]

Mel, I hope the tests turn up nothing. How stressful.

I fear I've crossed the line into obsession with the weeds, thing. I'm now doing 100 before work, and then DD and I spend an hour in the evening. DD and I have really been enjoying the time, though, so it's all good. Except for the weeds. They aren't good. We still have no problems at all locating weeds to pull, either.

I love the idea of family exercise every day!

[babybugmama]

Mel I hope everything works out okay!

Geo - I've been doing the weeding thing, but not counting. If I started counting I would get totally obsessive.

Last nights track work out was awesome.  It's pitiful how hard it was for me and it feels weird since it's my high school coach.  So knowing what I could do with ease then compared to now...embarrassing and yet not.  I'm the only adult female out there trying to hustle around the track.  There are some other women who are racewalking, which looks hard! But that's it.

[Shantimama]

I cheated when it came to weeding. dh did a lot of it and then we covered half of our yard with newspaper and a thick, thick layer of mulch. It looks a lot better! I still have a few plants left to tuck in but I feel more hopeful about the garden this year since I have since we moved into this house 7+ years ago.

Actually got some exercise today - walked 7 km and rode my bike 5 km. My hand aches after the bike ride so I might take it easy on that for a few more days. Still, it felt good to move. I was also remembering the days when my kids were pre-schoolers and I would sneak sets of push ups and sit-ups in when I went to the bathroom, just to fit the exercise in when I could. I have started what I call my kitchen-yoga-practice. It isn't the same as a focused yoga workout or ritual but I can do a fair bit by the end of the day if I do a pose every time I am waiting for the kettle to boil or I am on hold on the telephone. Weird? Yes, but weird works for me so it's good enough.

It is hard to believe ds is the same kid I was so scared for a little over a week ago. The drug is out of his system now and even though he is still having a fair bit of seizure activity he is happy, full of energy and enthusiasm and joy for life again. I am beyond grateful.Turns out the referral to the neurologist never made it though so six weeks later I had to call the pediatrician and ask him to send it again. This is the kind of phone call when kitchen-yoga comes in handy. This is after the referral that was supposed to made after his first EEG in October that we never received a call back on. I will be on this one very closely next week!

This morning I was asked to cater for a 50th birthday party at the end of June. I am excited! It won't be high pressure which is great because I haven't done something quite like this before. I love, love, love to cook and have been having a great time coming up with suggestions to offer. I had a couple of other pieces of work come my way this week which is a huge relief. Every little bit helps, right?

Mel - thinking of you   

[Plady]

Shanti - What a relief for both you and ds!

Just checking in to send some more healthy vibes towards Mel's dd.

RR: As Day 2 of Family Fitness challenge, dd1 and I did 30 minutes of intervals.  She cried through much of it.  Why?  I'm not sure, a combination of friend stress, worry about her grandmother, who knows what else, maybe just not wanting to exercise?  Now that it is done (I'm letting her count her two receses toward the 60 minutes) she's fine.   Meanwhile dd2 is very slightly warmer than normal so she's still in her pjs and watching tv.  DH is doing yardwork.  

I've been fighting grumpy mad sadness all day so I think I'm going to go take it out on the weeds for an hour or so.
 

[tjsmama]

Hooray, shanti! Glad DS is taking a turn for the better!

plady~

mel~Hope the testing all goes well.

The beauty of container gardening...no (or very few) weeds to pull!

I'm coming off of two night shifts and practically no sleep. Yesterday was the kindergarten picnic from 10-noon, so I got 2 hours of sleep on either side of that, then today was the kindergarten celebration (aka graduation), followed by a picnic at the park and a doctor appt, so I squeezed in 3 hours of sleep before waking up in a panic remembering that I needed to elect benefits before open enrollment closes today. A friend is having a party tonight, which should be fun, but I'm also on call and going on very little sleep over the past few days. The prospect of being called in is horrifying, but I think (hope) that I'm safe. We did use our on-call person last night, but there were 9 couplets scheduled to discharge today, so I think it would have to be a crazy run on babies to get me called in. Don't get me wrong, the money would be awesome, but the prospect of being up all night on 3 hours of sleep and 4 yesterday is not so pleasant.

I'm feeling a little better. My throat is no longer sore, and my gums don't hurt as much, but are definitely still inflamed. The rash that I thought was a reaction to the antibiotic that I finished a week ago spread like crazy yesterday, so I went back to the doctor today. My test results were mostly normal, with the exception of one marker that only indicates inflammation somewhere...which, yeah. She thought the rash looked like a strep rash (even though my culture last week was negative), but has no clue on the gums. Net result: 5 days of steroids just to try to blast this thing out of me. I just want to feel healthy again, is that too much to ask? I bagged my planned run on Wednesday and slept for 5 hours instead. Bolder Boulder, what? Marathon training starting in about a month? 3 day bike ride in July?

And, the appraisal for my refinance came back and is way low, meaning that if we don't get it higher on appeal, my payment will be THREE FREAKING HUNDRED DOLLARS more than the original estimate. It's $30k lower than the appraisal that I had done for the home equity line just two years ago, and there's no way the market has tanked that much in two years...in fact, it's been on the way back up. I am irritated. It better come up on appeal.

In happier news, as mentioned, today was the kindergarten celebration. I can't believe kindergarten is over! How did that happen?? And yesterday, DS brought home his perfect attendance award...a certificate, a subway gift card, a free froyo, and $5 at the local toy shop! So proud. I certainly never even came close to perfect attendance!

Me and my no-longer-kindergartener!

Edited by tjsmama - 5/26/12 at 3:08pm

[MelW]

Congrats to Tyler!!!

Nora was a rock star for her bloodwork. The phlebotomist looked a bit nervous (it's a small village and she probably doesn't do much pediatric bloodwork), but Nora was entirely calm, still and cooperative throughout. Other than refusing to give the urine sample in their bathroom, but I collected it in the coffee shop where we were having celebratory sorbetto at 8 am.

The ped will call us with results either way, probably early next week. Also on next week's agenda is doing allergy/anaphylaxis teaching with daycare and preschool and teaching them how to use an epi-pen.

[Realrellim]

MelW--fingers are crossed for good lab results for your daughter.

tjsmama--I'd wondered about that rash and strep too. Craziness. I'm still running with you but I might not hug you. :P Hopefully it will go away by then and you'll be feeling awesome. Congrats on your first-grader!

RR: jumped on my bike after the talent show and before the sun set. It was that or jump out of my skin.

NRR: Mommy-bragging ahead! R rocked her performance at the talent show tonight. She set a blistering tempo and I wondered if she could hold it--and she did. (I was accompanying her; she's never taken it this fast.) It was pretty impressive, especially as the week has included her forgetting to play an entire section of the piece, forgetting half the section, playing the forgotten section middle ending wrong repeatedly and throwing a hissy fit when I asked her to just play that measure five times, etc. And oh the hissy fits and drama! But she got up there and rocked it. Check it out. The triplet section--the one we had so much trouble with this week--was especially awesome. Apparently a little adrenaline is good for her!

J had a fussy day too. Overtired? Something else? I don't know. And then there's the husband. Trying to remind myself to breathe. Between the R drama, the fussy J, the poor sleep wrought by a fussy J who had two very nasty restless nights (digestive-related...don't know to what) earlier this week, the husband and all the stuff that needs to be done or is happening, I'm feeling frazzled.

[Nickarolaberry]

Plady, what kind of intervals are you doing with dd? I need to start doing this with my dd1 who is also on the verge of...sigh. Well, anyway. She needs more exercise for sure (in addition to twice a week karate, and gym class once a week) and we are also really overhauling our family food plans. She likes to bike but I simply can't get out there enough to supervise/go with her with the other two kids and I can't let her go on her own yet especially as we're in a very busy area. Need something else.

Gaye, hope you feel all better soon! Congrats to Tyler!

Real, happy anniversary        (to me as well!) and way to go dd1! 

Shanti, I love the catering idea! That's fantastic and totally up your alley as far as talents and creativity. Wow!   Glad ds is doing better. 

RR: None yesterday. 5 on Thursday. I'm struggling with fatigue and still tightness in the lungs. Not sure if it's allergies or what that is prolonging the athsmatic episode but I really detest being on these meds. I had a z-pac for the bronchitis so I suppose it's also possible that the abx are making me tired too. I am supposed to be running a half marathon on June 3 -- the one I intended to try for a PR -- and now I just don't know. I feel so sluggish on my runs. What sayeth the dingos?

And Plady, you totally ROCK! I  the little gift you sent. Now...where to put that?

[babybugmama]

Very nice Real! E man really liked it "I like her music mom."

[Plady]

Nic - I'm not sure my model was a success but we did 3 minute rounds of lunges w/ squat jumps, jumping rope, mountain climbers and bicycle crunches.  Then we did some rounds of shadow boxing and kickboxing moves.  She really moped and cried and dragged a$$ through the whole thing though.  I'd guess it would be easier to do something she enjoys more but she'd helped think up the moves so I'd hoped that would help.

But she's either in a growth spurt (come on 'up' we've got enough 'out'!) or she's comfort feeding because she's constantly going after the highest car snacks she can.  I hate to scold her for eating but it's distressing to see how she zeros in on the few things we have in the house that are largely bereft of nutrients and wants only those, and in large quantities.

Glad you like the giftie, I was thinking of them as virtual party favors.   (am feeling a little guilt for the inactive-on-MDC Dingos who didn't get one)

Real - That was great!  And Ali G asked if she could have a violin too so she could play like that.  What's the short answer to that?

BBM- Happy Birthday to you!

Gaye and JayGee -   Perfect attendance records?  That's amazing!

MelW - Fingers crossed for good results.

[tjsmama]

Nice job, R!

Guess who got called in to work last night? Yep, this girl! I was at a party, thinking that I was just about ready to head home and to bed (it was all of 9:30) when the call came. I survived, and it wasn't too terrible. I may have been first in line at the coffee shop when they opened (the cafeteria reopens from 11-1 for night shift) to get the largest, most caffeinated beverage they sell. And, I got 9 hours of time and half plus weekend night shift differential, so I think I have a fun new pair of Danskos in my future. And maybe that new iphone I've been wanting....

Of course, that killed off any idea of working out today. Especially since it's crazy windy out and I just can't make myself go out in wind like that. I had been thinking about maybe an afternoon ride after I woke up, but not in that wind!

Oh, and I prednisone. One dose, and gums are already feeling better and I think the rash is a little improved, too.

[Realrellim]

Nick--happy anniversary--and all the rest to you too. As far as the fatigue and tightness, I'd guess the asthma and sluggishness are related. My runs are slower when it's acting up. Now that I'm on Singulair, they've been much better, and I'm guessing I'll be able to drop back to the Qvar once things settle down, allergy-wise, in June. Are you already on a maintenance drug? If not, you might want to ask about one for the next month or so. Or see if you can take some supplements that help fight inflammation which will accomplish about the same thing.

Plady--I usually turn any conversation about "can I do that so I can play/dance like that" to "you know what you're really good at? _____, and I love watching you do ____." R would like dance lessons. R has her mother's (lack of) coordination, so...I don't care if she takes them but that's about as far as that will go.

tjsmama--yeah, that wind is kind of ugly. I'm going running in it anyhow, probably after dinner, with the stroller. J is snoozing at the moment and I'm not going to wake her up. So, are we catching the 5:30 BB bus?

[sparkletruck]

Plady - Love it! thank you


NRR: working our butts off here, no time for anything. Turns out we are closing on Friday, the floors arent done so we cant put furniture in the house unless we want them coated in sawdust so we will stuff all our worldly possessions in the garage and then... camp for a few days? Meanwhile, I finished stripping the wallpaper off the bathroom that is sort of MY project (tile from floor to waist-high, wallpaper up from there) and started hacking off the tile with a BIG chisel and hammer. The wallpaper was a colossal pain... and it turns out, there is more UNDER the tile! They just tiled over it. Really! Awesome, put some ugly on top of that ugly! So I have another half of the room to scrape once I get the tile off. And that's in between the other million things we have to do in 4 days. We're moving tuesday, period. Its the only day we have child-free and work-free for dh. One day, our whole house. Uh huh.

[Nickarolaberry]

Real, I'm on Advair 250/50 now but not loving it. What is the advantage of the Singulair and/or the Qvar? Looking to get by on as little as possible. In the past I've been able to ease off the meds entirely after a month or so. This seems to be chronic but luckily spaced by years.

Sparkle, sending you easy moving vibes. 

Had a nice 11.5 this morning. However, all I can say is, thank goodness I thought to go into the nursing home and ask to use the bathroom. Never considered it before but it was clean and in the right place and they were quite lovely about it at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning. 

Ok...holiday today. Off to synagogue to hear the Ten Commandments (it's the holiday we celebrate receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai) and eat dairy foods. 

Oh yeah forgot to mention...after this weekend (dairy holiday) I am, I think, going mostly vegan. For personal health as well as ethical reasons. Not sure about the kids yet. Dh for sure not although I won't be buying meat anymore. I cannot get the kind of kosher, sustainably raised/humanely handled, grass-fed meat and poultry I feel good about eating or feeding my family. And if I could get it it would be prohibitively expensive. Plus I feel pretty yucky after eating meat these days. My system has gotten progressively more fine-tuned and I guess sensitive to weirdness since giving up (and being careful of) gluten. Dairy has never really been my friend anyway despite my love affair with it . I suspect this to be true for dd1 as well but she is as yet unwilling to go there (I had to refrain from dairy, soy, and corn when nursing her, did not introduce it to her diet til she was 3). Happy to be the recipient of new and lovely coconut milk products like ice cream and coffee creamer so going to ease in that way.

[Shantimama]

Nic, I take Singulair and it really helps. I am notoriously horrible for not using my inhalers as I should but the Singulair keeps things in check with no adverse effects. I find that I am less sluggish when I am taking it. Could be that even when I am not in a coughing - wheezing - squeaky breath kind of place with my asthma, there is still always some inflammation and my breathing is not as good as it should be. When I use my asthma meds properly I am always amazed at what a little extra oxygen to my brain does for my quality of life  

[Realrellim]

Nick--as I understand, Advair has both an inhaled steroid to prevent inflammation (and thus, attacks) and a long-lasting bronchodilator to help reduce issues with exercise-induced asthma.

Singulair treats some allergy symptoms and also somehow is supposed to help reduce exercise-induced asthma. Singulair doesn't contain a brochodilator though, so I'm not quite sure how that works--something about some chemical your body releases when it inhales an allergen, which also can cause chest tightening and such. It can also be prescribed for allergies, apparently. My allergies this time of year are the reason I've had asthma symptoms this time of year for a decade now, so it's working really well for me. Also, it's a pill that's only taken once a day, which is super-convenient.

Qvar is an inhaled steroid but without a bronchodilator component and it comes as a regular inhaler. It comes in a couple of different strengths and needs to be taken twice a day. Also, it's supposed to use much finer particles than similar inhaler-type meds, which means that the medicine goes further into your lungs to treat inflammation and is supposed to also have less side effects because more of the medication goes where it's supposed to be instead of affecting other parts of your body. I had been on 40 mcg when I started. When the cold weather came, I needed to move up to 80 and that's been fine except for the May allergy season. I will drop back to Qvar 80 mcg as soon as I run out of Singular in June. There's even a chance I could go back down to 40 mcg in July and early August (which can also be accomplished by doing one puff twice a day with the 80 mcg; the usual dose is two puffs twice a day).

Also, ITA with Shanti about the quality of life stuff. I'd hoped I'd be able to go off the meds at some point, but there's just been some level of ongoing inflammation for a while now. Then again, we also have our windows open a lot and I don't sleep enough and this basically went undiagnosed and untreated for years, so there may be a lot to work through. This is the first May in a decade where I haven't been coughing every time I try to eat or laugh or my nose feels even vaguely congested or when I take a deep breath, which is pretty awesome!