I saw Dr. W today. He and I had a fine discussion about my foot, the fact that the swelling and bruising have subsided nicely and the need to ditch the cast. I talked with him about my job as display staff at a gallery, my need to do pretty intensive display here very shortly and his thoughts about me, my foot and a ladder.
:insert disapproving face:
I told him that my concern was that I am up and down stairs, up and down ladders and quite literally hanging from the ceiling and that standing on a ladder has me rocking right on the part of my foot that I broke.
:insert squinty face:
"Could I break this again?"
With no hesitation whatsoever, "Absolutely." I asked if there was anything that I could put in my shoe to keep my foot from rolling and with a shake of his head and without hesitation in his voice, "No."
The bone breaks easily. It needs a good 6-8 weeks to properly mend. I was farmed off to the fine folks at radiology. After the radiologist took my x-rays, she offered to take me back up to the office in a wheelchair.
"So, it is still broken, huh?"
:insert funky look:
"I know that you couldn't tell me if it was."
"Really, it isn't a problem for me to wheel you up there."
Mmm, hmm.
Dr. W said that the office would phone. Phone they did. "Alignment is still good, but nothing significant has changed. Stay in the boot. The doctor wants to see you back in 4 weeks."
October 28th it is. I'm not disappointed. I'm one who would rather do what we need to do and do it right the first time. When Dr. W was talking, "Well, it is either the boot or orthopedics," I stopped and said, "Really? Orthopedics?" He chuckled and told me that it was far down his list. Very far. Good. Let's keep it that way. Until October 28th or later, we're still bootin'.
Smiles in my day:
- Having an in-depth discussion with Dr. W about the blood clotting disorders, how the MTHFR that I test for is really not anything that effects anything other than making sure that the cholesterol is tended to and kick in a baby aspirin if I want. I told him that I've been doing that, along with a prenatal vitamin for the extra vitamin requirements. He was pleased and I'm glad that we got to discuss it in full and be done with it.
- Having a good talk with K-'s teacher today and a lot of updates on testing that was done.
I've had a pretty intense past few weeks. Gosh, I'm tired. Perhaps the stress will lift soon.
Have a great day!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Church homeless.
For the second time in our married life, we have left our church home. In both instances, it was a matter in the making over several years.
The first was in support of our pastor. Our church had dwindled down to 30, people were being all judgmental, up in everyone else's business and when the final straw came, we left along with another couple and the pastor and his wife.
We searched a few churches and after a month and a half, we settled on the church that had been our home for the past 7+ years.
Our pastor at this last church retired 4 1/2 years ago. He is a wonderful man with a kind soul and an ability to tie the bible and current life issues altogether.
We wish he had never retired.
Our current pastor kind of hit us off guard from the beginning. There were things that we didn't agree with, but rolled with the changes anyhow because we figured that everything would mesh a bit eventually.
They never did.
Recently, there has been a lot of rush to judgment going on and instead of embracing members in times of challenge and strife, there are members beating them down. Why wouldn't they want to reach out to them? One of the "them?" She is one of our extremely good friends. What has happened to her was the straw the broke the camels back.
We are at a place that we don't like to be, yet look forward to the opportunity to explore. Neighbors had us visit their Episcopalian church with them a few weeks ago. The church is beautiful and the people are absolutely wonderful. The church service is conducted in a very Catholic manner and while that is certainly not a bad thing, I've grown up Baptist (since the age of 7) and Hubs has been going to the Baptist church with me since we were engaged. We've both been out of it for so long. It was a culture shock of sorts.
K- and I will be hanging at another Baptist church with friends of ours for the next few weeks. They are a small, tight-knit but welcoming congregation that we met at a cook-out this summer. Their pastor is very down to earth. At least we know that these next few weeks, K- and I won't be the only ones bringing a bible to church with us.
In the weeks that follow, we're going to be visiting the Methodist church up the street. They have fantastic children's programming and a Sunday school specifically on CURRENT SOCIAL ISSUES! Hubs was even excited about that! We've been to the church for kids events and are excited to see what a Sunday holds.
We'll be checking out some non-denominational churches. One thing we know is that we aren't in a rush to settle in. We want to find the perfect church home were all of us can feel at ease again. Still, the idea of being church homeless is one that brings me much anxiety. It brings Hubs excitement to see homes that will be a better fit for us and K-.
Pray for us, will you?
The first was in support of our pastor. Our church had dwindled down to 30, people were being all judgmental, up in everyone else's business and when the final straw came, we left along with another couple and the pastor and his wife.
We searched a few churches and after a month and a half, we settled on the church that had been our home for the past 7+ years.
Our pastor at this last church retired 4 1/2 years ago. He is a wonderful man with a kind soul and an ability to tie the bible and current life issues altogether.
We wish he had never retired.
Our current pastor kind of hit us off guard from the beginning. There were things that we didn't agree with, but rolled with the changes anyhow because we figured that everything would mesh a bit eventually.
They never did.
Recently, there has been a lot of rush to judgment going on and instead of embracing members in times of challenge and strife, there are members beating them down. Why wouldn't they want to reach out to them? One of the "them?" She is one of our extremely good friends. What has happened to her was the straw the broke the camels back.
We are at a place that we don't like to be, yet look forward to the opportunity to explore. Neighbors had us visit their Episcopalian church with them a few weeks ago. The church is beautiful and the people are absolutely wonderful. The church service is conducted in a very Catholic manner and while that is certainly not a bad thing, I've grown up Baptist (since the age of 7) and Hubs has been going to the Baptist church with me since we were engaged. We've both been out of it for so long. It was a culture shock of sorts.
K- and I will be hanging at another Baptist church with friends of ours for the next few weeks. They are a small, tight-knit but welcoming congregation that we met at a cook-out this summer. Their pastor is very down to earth. At least we know that these next few weeks, K- and I won't be the only ones bringing a bible to church with us.
In the weeks that follow, we're going to be visiting the Methodist church up the street. They have fantastic children's programming and a Sunday school specifically on CURRENT SOCIAL ISSUES! Hubs was even excited about that! We've been to the church for kids events and are excited to see what a Sunday holds.
We'll be checking out some non-denominational churches. One thing we know is that we aren't in a rush to settle in. We want to find the perfect church home were all of us can feel at ease again. Still, the idea of being church homeless is one that brings me much anxiety. It brings Hubs excitement to see homes that will be a better fit for us and K-.
Pray for us, will you?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tales from the Trenches: Ideas one might consider when functioning in public.
1. When you have a cramp in your foot and you decide to take your shoe off in an art gallery, you may want to avoid re-enacting the scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles where John Candy announces that, "The dogs are really barking tonight." Don't worry. After she stopped waving her shoe around in the air, I asked that she put it back on because it is unsafe to walk through the gallery without shoes on. There could be glass or pins or, God forbid, a bare foot walking around.
2. It's always fun when someone has insisted on being all self-service, drop an art made piece and either display it back on the shelves making us look like we're selling inferior merchandise or, my personal favorite, hiding it. It's like our version of Where's Waldo?
3. When your child has a "po*o*py diaper" and you announce it through the store (though the scent is announcement enough), you might want to consider the carry in-carry out rule that several state parks have. Changing said diaper in a small, one seater, equal to your home 1/2 bath if you live in an old house 1/2 bath, is fine. When leaving said biohazard in the trash, it stinks up the whole joint. We're not talking just the bathroom, but it makes the WHOLE joint smell bad.
4. When you keep asking a chick with a broken foot to come back and get things out of a case for you, they may get a little irritated on the 10th trip because you had no ability to make up your mind and even then, you announced that you'd be back next month and we won't be surprised to see that very same pair of earrings come back.
5. Mind your children. Really. When you buy them something and they rip it from the package, could you hand me the package pieces to throw away. Littering a Goldie Locks path (ETA: Hansel and Gretel) out the door with bits of plastic and paper isn't something necessary. We're pretty close to the parking lot. I don't think you'll have a problem finding how to get back in again.
6. Don't be offended by being asked if you want a gift receipt. I know you think that the flaming pink flamingo earrings are a perfect fit for everyone, but not everyone will embrace them. I know it is a shock, but people do return things. They might even return the perfect gifts that you've given. Shocking, I know.
7. I know that I've said this before, but when you wear enough perfume to choke a clydsedale, you may want to consider toning it down a bit. When we still smell your perfume in the gallery two hours after you have left, that is going beyond having a personal scent. Consider a few things. First, perfume does have a shelf date. It can go bad. Believe me. Secondly, there are people who like to breathe. I'm just saying. Breathing is good.
8. If the toilet paper is low and you notice it, I realize that it isn't your job to tell me. However, there are occasions that we check in the morning, we are well stocked and bless the people and their many bathrooming needs. Just let us know if we need to do some tending. Again, a sensitive matter that people don't like to do and I'm not mad about it (or anything else listed here-- irritated, maybe), but think of your fellow shoppers. There's no next door stall to knock on to see if they can spare a square. Bummer, dude.
9. Step away from your phone.
10. Buckeyes are not chestnuts. Pick all you want but NO, you cannot eat them. I understand critters eat them, but don't. eat. the. buckeyes.
11. I'm happy to throw your cup away. You needn't display it on the shelf with the other art. No, really. You may be famous one day, but until then, no one is considering purchasing your used beverage cup.
12. We know that we write slips by hand and that our credit card system is analog and goes slower than the Pony Express. However, as charming as you may find that it isn't, I can't do anything about it. We aren't going computerized. Think of it as small business charm. Besides, if you asked to have a $1.50 ornament wrapped at Target, they would think that you are crazy. We may think that it is crazy to wrap the $1.50 ornament, but at least we'll do it. See? A nice trade, eh?
13. I know that it is particularly difficult, but do your best to park between the lines. They are yellow and bright and you don't need to double park your car in the front lot that holds all of 10 cars. If you feel the need to double park your car, you can park it on the street where no one can park next to it.
14. If you are an artist with an appointment to show your items, don't just show up any ole day and think that it is okay. Art school 101 tells you that you need to 1. make an appointment and not just drop by and that 2. keep said appointment. Not everyone who was going to meet with you is on schedule or available for your drop-in time.
15. If you are an artist who crafts things specifically for children, don't be offended by my asking about the tiny little buttons that you have on your items or lead standards for your pieces. You are embellishing commercially made items with tiny buttons with no okay for lead. Telling me that the buttons are antique and that that you assume that "since you bought the things in the store that they must be okay," isn't good enough. They sell things chalked full of lead or cadmium all the time. I stopped selling my items because of CPSIA guidelines. Though I talked to manufacturers about lack of lead and so forth, I couldn't be positive that the store hadn't sold me old lead-laden stock. To avoid being sued, I stopped selling my work all together. Keep in mind that I bring up the tiny little buttons on your items as a choking hazard because it isn't good to hand things off to babies that they may chew off, no matter how well they are sewn on. (Follow the toilet paper tube rule.) I know that your small child is probably not an eater and mine wasn't either, but there are plenty of them out there. There are also standards. That is why I'm not dogging on your work, I'm just not trying to kill a kid with it.
2. It's always fun when someone has insisted on being all self-service, drop an art made piece and either display it back on the shelves making us look like we're selling inferior merchandise or, my personal favorite, hiding it. It's like our version of Where's Waldo?
3. When your child has a "po*o*py diaper" and you announce it through the store (though the scent is announcement enough), you might want to consider the carry in-carry out rule that several state parks have. Changing said diaper in a small, one seater, equal to your home 1/2 bath if you live in an old house 1/2 bath, is fine. When leaving said biohazard in the trash, it stinks up the whole joint. We're not talking just the bathroom, but it makes the WHOLE joint smell bad.
4. When you keep asking a chick with a broken foot to come back and get things out of a case for you, they may get a little irritated on the 10th trip because you had no ability to make up your mind and even then, you announced that you'd be back next month and we won't be surprised to see that very same pair of earrings come back.
5. Mind your children. Really. When you buy them something and they rip it from the package, could you hand me the package pieces to throw away. Littering a Goldie Locks path (ETA: Hansel and Gretel) out the door with bits of plastic and paper isn't something necessary. We're pretty close to the parking lot. I don't think you'll have a problem finding how to get back in again.
6. Don't be offended by being asked if you want a gift receipt. I know you think that the flaming pink flamingo earrings are a perfect fit for everyone, but not everyone will embrace them. I know it is a shock, but people do return things. They might even return the perfect gifts that you've given. Shocking, I know.
7. I know that I've said this before, but when you wear enough perfume to choke a clydsedale, you may want to consider toning it down a bit. When we still smell your perfume in the gallery two hours after you have left, that is going beyond having a personal scent. Consider a few things. First, perfume does have a shelf date. It can go bad. Believe me. Secondly, there are people who like to breathe. I'm just saying. Breathing is good.
8. If the toilet paper is low and you notice it, I realize that it isn't your job to tell me. However, there are occasions that we check in the morning, we are well stocked and bless the people and their many bathrooming needs. Just let us know if we need to do some tending. Again, a sensitive matter that people don't like to do and I'm not mad about it (or anything else listed here-- irritated, maybe), but think of your fellow shoppers. There's no next door stall to knock on to see if they can spare a square. Bummer, dude.
9. Step away from your phone.
10. Buckeyes are not chestnuts. Pick all you want but NO, you cannot eat them. I understand critters eat them, but don't. eat. the. buckeyes.
11. I'm happy to throw your cup away. You needn't display it on the shelf with the other art. No, really. You may be famous one day, but until then, no one is considering purchasing your used beverage cup.
12. We know that we write slips by hand and that our credit card system is analog and goes slower than the Pony Express. However, as charming as you may find that it isn't, I can't do anything about it. We aren't going computerized. Think of it as small business charm. Besides, if you asked to have a $1.50 ornament wrapped at Target, they would think that you are crazy. We may think that it is crazy to wrap the $1.50 ornament, but at least we'll do it. See? A nice trade, eh?
13. I know that it is particularly difficult, but do your best to park between the lines. They are yellow and bright and you don't need to double park your car in the front lot that holds all of 10 cars. If you feel the need to double park your car, you can park it on the street where no one can park next to it.
14. If you are an artist with an appointment to show your items, don't just show up any ole day and think that it is okay. Art school 101 tells you that you need to 1. make an appointment and not just drop by and that 2. keep said appointment. Not everyone who was going to meet with you is on schedule or available for your drop-in time.
15. If you are an artist who crafts things specifically for children, don't be offended by my asking about the tiny little buttons that you have on your items or lead standards for your pieces. You are embellishing commercially made items with tiny buttons with no okay for lead. Telling me that the buttons are antique and that that you assume that "since you bought the things in the store that they must be okay," isn't good enough. They sell things chalked full of lead or cadmium all the time. I stopped selling my items because of CPSIA guidelines. Though I talked to manufacturers about lack of lead and so forth, I couldn't be positive that the store hadn't sold me old lead-laden stock. To avoid being sued, I stopped selling my work all together. Keep in mind that I bring up the tiny little buttons on your items as a choking hazard because it isn't good to hand things off to babies that they may chew off, no matter how well they are sewn on. (Follow the toilet paper tube rule.) I know that your small child is probably not an eater and mine wasn't either, but there are plenty of them out there. There are also standards. That is why I'm not dogging on your work, I'm just not trying to kill a kid with it.
The end.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Look! A break and I didn't even expect it.
No. I'm not even the president.
I have the appointment to check in on my foot on Thursday and I came to realize that on my last appointment, I've neglected to share some fairly vital information with my doctor regarding the whole story of Bailey, my hospitalization and the blood clotting disorders (homozygous for MTHFR and PAI-Type 1.) There are new studies that have been done on the blood clotting disorders and information that I don't know. I'll take him a copy of the genetic testing that was done and perhaps we can have a bit of a brief sit-down about it. Tears will be shed on my part and I know that he'll feel bad that he inadvertently tossed a freight train at me the last I was there. I've had discussions with myself numbering more than I could approximate on about how to get all of the information out there, have it be concise enough without sounding like I'm blathering on, but still be coherent and intelligent. He is a great guy and when he finds out that his bedside manner fell short that day, he will feel like a total heel. My point is not to make him feel bad, I just need to know the updated information and how that has a bearing on my physical health. Still, I've chewed and gnawed on the conversation nearly all month.
I love my doctor. Truly. He is a great guy. That has made my thoughts of the conversation even harder.
I'm busy with tons of stuff, still cruising on a foot that I'm thinking needs to remain booted for a little while longer while carrying a rather heavy mental load.
I'll be checking in. Don't worry. I didn't forget about you!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
We wait all year for this.
 |
| Sean Casey and me standing with TIV2 at the Carnegie Science Center in March, 2011. We went for a talk that Sean was giving on his IMAX movie, Tornado Alley. Props to Hubs for taking a picture of me that doesn't make me look drunk or high. |
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tales from the Trenches: When Aircast boots attack.
My poor husband. I didn't sleep well last night, flipped over, awoke half-flip and in time to see my aircast boot nail him squarely in the knee.
Talk about a rude awakening.
Poor guy. When you sleep with someone who has to wear a boot, you need to put up some fluffy wall of defense. Don't worry. He only moaned for a short while.
Smiles in my day:
- Though not what I signed up for, K- woke me up at 4 AM to "count her dollars" that the tooth fairy left for her. She counted them in full voice. No whispers. Let me repeat the time. 4 AM. I'm glad that she was so excited to finally get that first tooth out of the way.
- Scented candles at work when nothing else smells pleasant. The building smelled funky when I got in, then people in general smelled gross. Thank goodness for scentedness!
Have a great day!
Talk about a rude awakening.
Poor guy. When you sleep with someone who has to wear a boot, you need to put up some fluffy wall of defense. Don't worry. He only moaned for a short while.
Smiles in my day:
- Though not what I signed up for, K- woke me up at 4 AM to "count her dollars" that the tooth fairy left for her. She counted them in full voice. No whispers. Let me repeat the time. 4 AM. I'm glad that she was so excited to finally get that first tooth out of the way.
- Scented candles at work when nothing else smells pleasant. The building smelled funky when I got in, then people in general smelled gross. Thank goodness for scentedness!
Have a great day!
Monday, September 19, 2011
At 7 3/4.
 |
| HOORAY! K- lost her very first tooth-- finally! |
 |
| Her tooth fairy box. It is tucked just under the one corner of her pillow. She wanted to make it easy on the fairy after all. |
She was eating a piece of corn and it finally loosened her tooth.
Now we've been waiting. And waiting. The tooth has been a source of entertainment. We nicknamed it "Mr. Wiggles." She could do "witch tooth" (AKA closing her lips and leaving that one to hang out) and do to the "draw bridge" (AKA drop the tooth flat out.) Every now and then, it would be a little agitated and bleed slightly. What did I do to remedy the situation?
I bought corn for dinner and made her keep gnawing on it.
Hubs buttered it up and they were having lovely conversation as Hubs ate his dinner late because he had been tending to the lawn before the rain that is due tomorrow. "Mom! I have a hole! I don't know where it went! I think I swallowed it!" We talked about that being a possibility and that it was okay if it happened. Certainly the tooth fairy would completely get it. She called my in-law's to let them know and I found her tooth sitting on the Toys R Us ad that she had been reading. We did have a tooth to put in the box after all!
What is the tooth fairy leaving behind? Well, I had gotten a $5.00 for the first tooth. I have a dollar for each one thereafter. MIL decided to sweeten the pot because K- has had to wait for so long and she slipped me another $5.00. (She insisted.) I'll tell K- that she has two $5.'s because the tooth fairy felt bad because of her long wait. I will let her know that the haul for a typical tooth is not that large at all. However, we'll be doing the transcontinental tooth fairy. I have foreign coins and odd American currency (gold dollar, SBAnthony dollar, a $2.00 bill) and she'll get one of those to collect and learn about each time the fairy turns up.
We have another loose tooth. I expect that one to pop out within the week. Aunt Kristin was right. She said that when the first one comes out, K- would be dropping teeth out like no tomorrow.
I'm so excited for her!
Smiles in my weekend:
- K- losing her tooth!
- Rare butterflies for our state nectaring at our plants. There is one that Hubs needs to go to work to identify. Another is not a state butterfly at all. One is a tortoise shell that Hubs has only seen one other time ever. He said that I officially have a better selection of butterflies than they do on the 250 acre prairie that he has at work. :)
- Going to my neighbor's church today for a Homecoming Celebration. Bless their hearts. They were so happy to have us there. We were Episcopal for the day and we were the only ones who came with bibles. It struck my Baptist heart as a little odd and I'm sure that we struck them as equally as odd. They were lovely people and Hubs commented on people smiling and really open and making us feel welcome.
Have a wonderful week!
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