Victory

am writing today as distraction to avoid current task at hand ... anthony and I are working on the marriage prep courses with newly engaged couples at our church. have new couple starting tuesday with new program and am just now looking over guide manual. to begin, we're supposed to draw a family tree as an example for the couples to draw out their own families. sounds easy but designated signs and symbols are completely confusing. do not consider myself to be a dumb person (unless topic is geography) but somehow have drawn my family tree so that I am now married to my parents as opposed to being born of them ?!?! cannot possibly be this difficult. Anthony will be home soon and feel certain he will know what to do.
have had another wonderful day outdoors putting out mulch and flowers and mowing the grass. simply pretend I am working on the impeccable landscaping at DisneyWorld and have great fun. also is great fun because previous hideous sinus/allergy calamities would have kept me indoors but they are (for the moment and knock on wood) conquered. victory.

Biker Girl

am absolutely appalled at gas prices today ... went to fill up tank and had to re-mortgage house in order to pay for gas. wonder if there is some way to produce gasoline from own land, perhaps like digging for oil can dig in backyard until locate gasoline. in meantime, will go to wal-mart and buy cost-effective bicycle for daily driving. will feel free as wind blows through hair knowing that I am powering bike not ridiculously expensive gasoline. wonder what color bike I will get?? perhaps red with safety flag on bike. on second thought, is almost eighty degrees today and feel certain bikes have no air conditioning system. plus, what hairdo is appropriate for wind-whipped hair?? having second thoughts about bike idea.

Flowers for Martha

Have spent gorgeous afternoon outdoors planting flowers ... feel even martha stewart would approve, especially in light of her new "softer" personality since leaving prison. always feel closer to God when am one with nature, particularly as need God's protection when accidentally digging up huge and likely poisonous worm creatures. though was sad about it, gigantic but flowering weeds were pulled, an always distressing chore as they seem to grow so well. outdoor activity will be large test for allergies as pollen abounds. interesting to see how I will react. (perhaps interesting only to me but interesting nonetheless.) neighbors out this afternoon as well (is everyone on break from IVF like me??) working in their yards, creating a "Leave It To Beaver" feeling of neighborhood unity and simpler times. feel should leave front door wide open to welcome neighbors in for piano sing-along and hot homemade apple pie. two problems with this, however: no piano in house and no idea how to make apple pie. plus welcome feeling has passed and am now going to take long shower while deep conditioning hair.

Frogger

have been neglecting blog recently and for no particular reason. am back now and reporting in on latest wildlife event. as many know we live in house with a koi pond just outside our window. pond is apparently love pond as last spring NUMEROUS frogs arrived there to loudly issue their mating call for the course of several months. did not at first understand what was happening as raised blinds one morning to look out on one pond and saw one frog riding around piggyback style on another frog in the pond's current. called anthony over to see fun-loving frogs, thinking frogs were merely engaging in morning merriment. not so as soon after a large stream of eggs was floating along with them. frogs were engaging in morning merriment alright but merriment of the variety that produces baby frogs. however, worst part of story is LOUD mating call occurs primarily at night and keeps certain members of household (ME) awake. currently working on feasible solution as need sleep.

The Passion of the Christ

(Update on sweet Mary: she returned to the vet today to have her stitches removed; however, and not to our surprise, her front right paw had to remain re-bandaged due to the fact that she pulled that stitch out last week. They put a clean bandage on, and she goes back on Friday to have it checked again. God bless Mary ...)
With Easter just around the corner, I have felt a nagging need to watch "The Passion of the Christ," which I did today. Having never seen the movie but inundated with all the press it received last year, I was unsure exactly what to expect, I just felt like I should watch it. Now don't get me wrong, watching this movie is not a decision to be made lightly because it is extraordinarily violent to the point of barbarism and incredibly bloody. Although I understand this is only Mel Gibson's vision of the Crucifixion of Christ, I find it hard to believe that the actual occurrence was very far from what was on the screen. The experience I had was almost beyond words ... I have heard the scriptures read since I was a little girl but never in my life have I actually considered the immense and excrutiating suffering Jesus endured to save us from sin. The movie portrays this suffering in absolutely unflinching detail, and at times it is almost impossible to watch yet equally impossible to look away. There are some incredibly beautiful scenes, many involving Jesus' mother, and the final image is absolutely triumphant and breathtaking. Not to overstate, but watching "The Passion of the Christ" is a life-altering event and one that most certainly will remain with you.
May God continue to bless us all ...

Return of Deck Creatures

having somewhat serious day as is holy week and focusing on upcoming easter celebration ... however, being me, am still having bizarre little life issues such as return of under-the-deck creatures. my sweet mary (when not stealthily chewing off the bandages on her paws) is back to sniffing the deck while looking through the cracks to see underneath. am disturbed by this as after several minutes of looking her tail begins to wag as if she's seen another animal friend. got up courage to also look through cracks (certain that eyes would be gouged out by deadly animal) but saw nothing but dirt. concentrating on turtle theory as like that one the best.
still somewhat recovering from sinus surgery ... able to breathe through two nostrils now and very much enjoying this new feeling but neck is still swollen near incision site and feel like frankenstein with stitch scars. know scar will fade though and will not give in to superficial concerns. have new sinus rinsing system to thoroughly cleanse nostrils each night. is very weird but oddly comforting sensation. simply mix solution and use bottle to shoot up into one nostril until it comes out the other side. feels very much like when was younger and would get water up nose at pool but makes perfect sense as that is exactly what is happening. am so profound and wise today.

Freezer Farewell

enjoying wonderful weekend ... went to Palm Sunday service this morning and now at home waiting for torrential downpour continuously predicted by weather people.
only writing today to report that Miss Callie is moments away from burial. have located appropriate final resting place and it is not the freezer. rest in peace, miss callie.

Two Plus Two

Am singing praises of Roto Rooter today ... commode has been unfortunately stopped up for the last few days. if anyone read Wednesday's entry can put two and two together (no pun intended) and figure out why. anyway is now unstopped and we are back to two fully functioning commodes. when wonderful repairman arrived this am found self unexpectedly feeling guilty about still wearing pajamas. while he worked on commode felt compelled to sit on couch and type furiously on laptop as if am important executive-type person working from home. then remembered am still recovering from gross sinus surgery and am allowed to be lazy and put away laptop. consoled myself with the thought that when recovery is complete will commence to creating landscape masterpiece outdoors and doing intensive spring cleaning indoors. perhaps will be year I will let cassette tape of "footloose" go. doubt it as is such good music.

Living The Grudge

(Must begin with a happy birthday to my dad!!)
have just returned from doctor ... stitches removed and keloid theory blown completely out of water. wonderful doctor said area is just swollen with a possible hematoma, meaning he may have to drain some blood off when I return in two weeks. joy.
now to continue the grudge conversation from yesterday. for those who don't know the grudge is a remake of a Japanese film ( I think it's Japanese.) in the re-make they used lots of japanese actors, including scary children who kept jumping out at innocent people such as sarah michelle gellar. anthony felt it would be humorous to hiss at me this morning like scary kids in the grudge. not amused at all, especially when he did it over the phone. anywho, as I left dr's office, cell phone rang with a number I didn't recognize. answered anyway and heard someone speaking (wait for it) Japanese on the other end. not kidding at all. was very eerie, particularly when scary voice left an incomprehensible message. coincidence?? I doubt it. Anthony has conjured scary children into our lives. way to go. am now living the grudge. just what I need.

8:10 PM
Returned awhile ago from Irish Coast Pub with some of Anthony's work friends ... feel getting old as smoke, crowds and loud music were no longer fun but annoying. glad to be home in flannel pj's by fire watching march madness.
have officially become redneck ... arrived home to find sweet mary's entire right paw bandage on floor. had to re-bandage her using duct tape to hold it on. discussed using leftover moustache bandage tape from last week but figured too easy to chew through. feel duct tape is one of the best inventions ever. from hemming pants to re-bandaging dog's paws it never lets you down. except when it comes to warding off frightening children from the grudge.

Victory for Mary

Due to very poorly timed and unfortunate mini stomach bug calamity will have stitches removed tomorrow. have been ill all day but feeling much better now so will go tomorrow afternoon to wonderful ENT doctor ... looking forward to stitch removal and presenting my keloid theory to doctor like some sort of brilliant medical layperson. feel have learned A LOT lately about various medical happenings. speaking of, sweet mary's pathology report came back today, and everything looks fine. very grateful and blessed. just to show off new grasp of medical terms she officially had a benign perianal gland adenoma.
am now watching "the grudge" alone in house ... questioning this decision as movie is very creepy and scary with many frightening looking children jumping out. strange movie but feel need to follow through as am not quitter. (do wonder why all scary movie participants don't just run from threatening children, etc. instead of re-entering house, elevator, or other structure to re-encounter said threateners and usually die.) will be glad when Anthony gets home from work.

Keloid Theory

stitch removal re-scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. have new theory regarding continued swelling on neck. believe may be a keloid. will have to ask excellent doctor tomorrow.
still choosing appropriate burial ground for Miss Callie. she remains in garage freezer. in meantime, mr. rambo has made himself right at home and has bonded very well with mr. roxy...have just realized how bizarre all this must sound.

Home Sweet Freezer

am struggling with filling out comment card from surgical center ... had excellent pre-op care, but post-op care was not so excellent. don't feel that nurses should have to be hunted for in manner of scavenger hunt when one needs them following surgery. wrote this on card ( not those exact words) but am now feeling hideously guilty as don't want to offend anyone. Anthony (who was also present at the time) agrees with me about post-op care so will mail card tomorrow.
*post-op update: nose no longer whistling like tea kettle ... neck still swollen and sore but will have stitches removed tomorrow and will be able to ask excellent doctor about swelling. Sweet Mary is back to her old self and is stealthily gnawing on the bandages on her feet when she has a chance. can't remember if mentioned her dew claws were removed during perianal adenoma surgery since we were paying for anesthesia anyway as she often cracks them and they are merely extra unused part of paws. veterinarian dad suggested this.
Mr. Rambo has made himself at home and is happily residing with Mr. Roxy... Miss Callie is wrapped up in freezer until can figure out appropriate place to bury her. realize her residence in freezer may appear humorous but is actually just practical. also, freezer home of Miss Callie is in garage not in kitchen.

IVF Ramblings

5:10 PM
Well, Mr. Rambo is now officially a part of our family, and Mr. Roxy has accepted him very well. Mr. Rambo is solid white with just a hint of blue on his tail feathers, and he is very handsome.
To update the progression of my sinus surgery recovery... I can now breathe better through one nostril (the swellling will take several weeks to go away completely), but it sounds like a tea kettle whistling on the stove. Also, Anthony says I am now snoring at night. Good grief.

Rambo

It has been my experience that early morning phone calls which awaken you very rarely bring good news. Such was the case today ...
We had to take Miss Callie to the Vet Emergency Room last night (actually Anthony took her) because she very suddenly dropped to the bottom of her cage and wouldn't move at all. I took her out and held her for awhile, certain she was about to die. However, after 30 minutes or so I decided maybe we (Anthony) should take her to the ER in case there was anything they could do. She didn't appear to be suffering at all, but I just wanted to make sure we had done all we could. She has been to the ER several times and always been seen by the same vet, who is extremely compassionate and caring. Luckily he was there last night ... he took her, gave her a shot and said he wanted to watch her overnight, but there were no guarantees she would live. Well, early this morning he called to say she had died. I wasn't at all surprised, but I was extremely grateful he could make her comfortable during the night. Anthony will be going to Petsmart this afternoon to get a new parakeet we will call Rambo (yes, we think it's funny also.) We still have our other parakeet (Mr. Roxy), who is only two years old, and I know he'll be glad to have a new friend as he has been looking for Miss Callie. Life goes on ...

The Joy of the Moustache Bandage

Ok, I'm taking a tiny break from my VERY non-productive existence in recovering from surgery to return to this webpage ... In order to maintain what shred of dignity I have left, I will only say that Tuesday was absolutely NOT one of the best days of my life. Sinus surgery is not necessarily painful but fairly gross. Just suffice to say that what goes down the throat during this surgery (lots of blood apparently) must come back up. If it sounds gross, only imagine experiencing the joyful day I had. Adding to the joy was the "moustache bandage" I wore for 48 hours after surgery. This high-tech bandaging requires a folded up piece of gauze that is taped under the nostrils. It was changed very frequently after surgery, but I finally got to take the whole contraption off yesterday, leaving lovely adhesive marks on my face where the tape was. Fabulous. Each day has been a little better, thank the good Lord above!! They removed my lymph node on the right side of my neck, which required a two-inch incision, and I'll have the stitches taken out on Tuesday. It's not overly attractive, although several people who have seen the incision site say the stitches are beautifully done. We'll see ... At least I still recognize myself.
In the meantime, I have been watching very important movies and resting. I must highly recommend "Wimbledon" and especially "13 Going on 30." Both movies were really cute and sweet and ended happily. Mom, Dad, Anthony ( best nurses EVER) and I will be screening "Laws of Attraction" tonight ...
Lest I forget to mention that sweet Mary is in surgery even as I write. She'll be coming home late this afternoon so we can recuperate together.
Thank you for the many phone calls of support as I get over this most messy surgery. I know in the end (whenever that may be) it'll be worth it so I can breathe properly, which must be a wonderful thing!

Bye Bye Salamanders

(FYI: Miss Callie is still hanging in there ...)
Ok, friends have suggested deck noises are perhaps turtles under deck laying eggs ... I very much like that possibility as eliminates scarier theories relating to hellbender salamanders. Will enjoy raising and nurturing baby turtles when time comes. Will call them appropriate names such as Franklin and such and perhaps take them for walks around the neighborhood. Or not as neighbors might feel I am crazy.
Surgery on for tomorrow ... still concerned about face but confident will recognize self after surgery. Looking forward to proper breathing utilizing both nostrils. Will return to this webpage soon ...

Juicy Couture

(Update on Miss Callie: still fairly tired-looking. unsure about vet's diagnosis ... have had pet parakeet who had to be put to sleep because he had a tumor, and her symptoms look very similar. However, am not vet and will wait and see.)
Must take moment to make movie recommendation ... went to see "The Pacifier" last night and loved it!! Hideous movie reviews but still thought movie was really cute. Parts were cheesy but still a wonderful feel-good movie. Will be surprised if movie doesn't open number one at box office this weekend. Theater where we were was PACKED ...
Have picked out comfortable outfit for Tuesday's surgery. Will wear sweatpants with matching zip-up sweat jacket (in wonderfully complimentary color) and no shirt underneath. Was at first concerned about this as could only picture Jennifer Lopez in her Juicy Couture sweatsuits with only sweatsuit jacket and no shirt underneath and big cleavage showing. Realized that have no cleavage to speak of, so problem solved. Feel it's important to wear something I can slip back into that doesn't have to go over head as expect nose and neck to be sore. Must not sacrifice fashion despite that will have on no make-up or toenail polish. Not to mention may be nauseous from anesthesia and dignity will be out the window along with heinous hospital gown. Too much info ...

An Ounce of Patience

oh wish that life would calm down just a smidge ... awoke this morning to find Miss Callie (one of our two parakeets) fluffed up, shivering and lethargic. went to favorite aviary doctor, whose office is first come, first serve (NO appointments). took Miss Callie, good book and settled in waiting room. after two hours, at least 10 different dogs (two of whom were having a serious emergency), about seven cats, an iguana and a guinea pig, favorite doctor called us back. looks as if miss callie has sinusitis and possibly some other infections ... again, pathology reports will be back within a week on the sample he took from her. came home with antibiotic to simply mix with her water. here begins the interesting part ... bottle states clearly to add one ounce of liquid antibiotic into one gallon of water and use that to fill and re-fill her water supply each day. no problem, except not sure how much one ounce is. afraid too much antibiotic will kill tiny bird and too little will do no good. commence to running around house seeking something that will measure just one ounce. think shot glass is one ounce but not positive. kitchen measuring devices show milliliters and such but converting to ounces requires the restoration hardware pocket reference book and a calculator and just don't have that kind of energy after hours spent at the vet. check medicine cabinet for plastic measuring device as would accompany robitussin, etc. but nothing there. become slightly distraught as sure antibiotic therapy is key to Miss Callie's regaining her health. in desperation try turkey basting device as discover has ounce measurement on it but definitely did not work. then ... hark, see that bottle containing antibiotic is VERY clearly marked in ounces, so simply pour one ounce into leftover Hurrican Ivan bottled water and give to tiny Miss Callie. consider taking some myself as am now very tired from whole experience ...

Sweet Mary

Sweet Mary will live!! The spot was a tumor called a perianal adenoma, but it is benign. God is good!! We have two approaches we can take: one is conservative, which simply involves watching the spot; the other involves removing it entirely, which is the route we elected to go. So next Friday Mary will have the adenoma removed ... it's outpatient surgery, so she'll be home that afternoon. In other words, half of our little family of four is having surgery next week. Should be most exciting!!
After reading my dad's posting on the guestbook (and a bit of internet research to verify he wasn't making info up) I am now thinking what lives under our deck is a hellbender salamander. In actuality I saw a site that says they can become 29 inches in length, which is ominous considering the internet said they prefer to walk as opposed to slithering around. Maybe he'll knock on our backdoor soon?? Good lord.

Vet Calamity

have not ventured onto deck today ... Anthony is home and will check for deck creature in the daylight when he gets home from work tomorrow.
just to keep life interesting, my sweet Mary (our 6-year-old black lab) is in a medical calamity. had small mass on her hind quarters (polite phrasing) that had to be popped on Saturday. tissue samples sent to Miss. State for pathology report ... of course vet called while I was at church earlier today and left message on my voicemail saying he had results and to call him to discuss them. by the time I got message vet was closed so freaked out and assumed results will show cancer and I will have to get a job to pay for Mary's chemotherapy. (am surprisingly calm in human crisis situations but not when animals are involved) called dad (who fortunately is a vet), and he suspects she merely has an inflamed anal gland. will call FIRST thing tomorrow to get results. am prepared for anything at this point...
five days until sinus surgery but seems unimportant considering Mary's medical crisis.
(FYI: realize am most probably overreacting to situation but is not my fault as come from a LONG line of overreacting family members.)

Deck Creatures

ah, the joys of cooler weather ... jungle temps have given way to unseasonably cooler weather here on the Gulf Coast. feel temp change is a direct result of another shift in the atmosphere resulting in a re-direction of the jetstream, thereby minimizing global warming and allowing reduction in earth's temps. sounds good anyway.
have potentially large calamity on hands. was on back deck today with laptop ... felt would be extremely hip to sit in the beautiful sun and compute something. only problem is sun was SO bright could not even remotely read computer screen. anyway, as I was sitting on deck (no idea why I was not in chair) I heard constant yet intermittent knocking under deck. listened closely, though not actually putting head onto deck surface for fear of source of knocking coming through deck to capture me. noticed mary and hope sniffing deck earlier in the day so feel large creature is habitating under the deck. fear it has mated and knocking was baby creatures signaling they were hungry to mom creature who was out hunting. will heretofore be extremely cautious on deck. on flip side feel good about home as is obviously warm and inviting if strange creatures wish to live here. happy thought.
six days until sinus surgery; IVF far from mind these days.