After being in a stalled period, when I was waiting for everything to happen, everything is NOW happening.  Each new day is bringing a new schedule of "happenings" and it's probably best that I resign myself to the roller coaster ride for a while.  Don't get me wrong, things *needed* to start moving.  Now things ARE moving, and moving quickly.  I'm just along for the ride!

What am I talking about?????  Let me count the ways . . . (You can choose the highlighted subject matter and read only what you want to - the list is endless!)

TEETH:  This doesn't exactly make me busy, but . . . Luci lost another tooth yesterday.  While she was in Jesse's care, they went to a pawn shop.  He put her on a piano's bench and told her not to move.  As she was climbing down, the bench broke.  She knocked her remaining front & center, upper tooth slightly loose.  By last night, she had another tooth missing!

Speaking of Luci, she said something funny the other day and I posted it as a "Pulse" yesterday.  Something happened that scared her and she said, in a breathless voice with her hand over her heart, "Oh!  You scared me so bad, you made my heart beep!"  My little drama queen!

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WEAK COFFEE:  I'm having a hard time waking up and trying to feel my brain come alive.  Normally, it's not so difficult for me.  As I sit here STILL trying to wake up with a cup of weak coffee (must have "under measured" the coffee into the coffeemaker last night!), I will get back to all that is going on this week.

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CHIRPER:  I took Chirper in for his nail trim and weight check.  I expected him to weigh slightly less because he's been refusing his high nutrition, prescription, canned food mixed with infant vitamins.  He prefers dry kibble.  He's also been a little wheezy after playing hard with Sushi and I was worried the stress was draining his body.  On the contrary!  He has gained another 2 ounces and sits at a solid 7 pounds!     I was shocked.  The vet listened to his lungs and heart, shook his head, and said he was clueless as to why he was so hardy, but to keep doing whatever we were doing.  I reiterated that we pray (*I* pray) for him all the time.  He was flabbergasted that Chirper is doing so well and, for so long,  The vet's gaping mouth proved he was speechless!   THANK YOU, LORD!!!!!  I give God all the praise for Chirper's good health. 

SUSHI:  He also said to give Sushi a while to settle down.  She is still so much "puppy" and the high energy level will decrease by this fall when she turns one year old.  He said her maturity level would be comparable to a 16 year old human.  So I asked, "As long as I don't give her the car keys, we will be okay, then?"  He also suggested holding off on another dog because she might teach the new dog "her ways" and then we'd have two dogs that nip and herd people/children/cats.  So, wait, we will. 

His receptionist had a funny story about solving Sushi's need to herd and corral.  She said a friend had a cow dog (like Sushi) and she threw empty milk cartons in the backyard and taught the dog to gather them.  The dog would go for each jug, drag it by its handle to a common area, and continue until each jug had been placed in one area.  Those were "her cows" and it gave her something to do with her God given instinct!  Pretty clever solution, huh?!!! 

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FOSTER CARE:  While we were eating, the intake worker for foster children called and said in a pushy voice, "We need to get this file done.  I haven't heard back from you and I *NEED* to set up a visit.  This is taking too long."  I bit my tongue and didn't tell Jesse what he had said . . . I reminded him that he had called me last week when I had strep throat and THAT was why I hadn't gotten back with him in a 24 hour time frame!!!!!  I SO wanted to say, "We've been waiting for YOU since June 20th of last year (!!!) . . . " but, I didn't.  Jesse is off Thursday and I told the worker he would be home in the afternoon, so we set a 2pm meeting here at the house to sign papers.  Now we are just waiting for him to have Stephanie's background check done and her "house" (snicker) approved!  Rolling my eyes about the whole stinkin' thing.

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PAINTER:  Jesse also informed me, yesterday, that the painter wasn't going to just "come to give us an estimate" on Thursday, but would start painting the same day!  I had no idea someone would be here tearing up the house; but, oh well . . . life happens.  The guy from DHS will just have to overlook the painter and his mess.  So now, Thursday is no longer my own - it has been made into other people's schedules and demands - just like Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

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ROOFERS:  Yesterday evening, before dinner, the roofers showed up again.     Apparently the house WASN'T finished.  The ridge shingles were still missing in a couple of places - they had run out of what we bought.  They were back to complete their job . . . in the dark.  Pound!  Pound!  Pound!  Jesse made arrangements to meet Rob (son-in-law) for hot wings and told the girls and I to go somewhere for dinner to escape the pounding.   I really didn't need to escape.  Being here with three girls and even more animals, I'm able to block out most annoying sounds.  HOWEVER, I needed no encouragement to not cook!  We went to a nice neighborhood restaurant, but only ordered sandwiches to keep the cost down.  I had wanted a "good" pizza, but didn't think Luci's newly made toothless mouth could handle it.

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DENTIST:  Speaking of teeth . . . The girls have their dentist appointment this afternoon - their yearly exam.  I have given up trying to teach school this week.  It just isn't coming together for us.  I'll start back again on Monday.  At least, that's the plan!

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TAXES AND INSURANCE:  I haven't touched the remaining income tax receipts.  Jesse asked me again this morning to work on that mess.  AND, he asked  me to call the insurance company to tell them the roof is finished, so we can get the balance of the money they owe.  They only give you SOME up front and then, after repairs are made, they cut a check for the remainder.  I'm assuming they don't need the inside ceilings all finished before cutting that final check.

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As you can see, my life is at the mercy of all of my appointments, etc.  The whole month is shaping up to be a bunch of appointments for various things.  And let me not forget Rissy's big birthday party on the 27th!  That's only a week away!

Like I said in the beginning, after being in a holding pattern for months, everyone is ready to call and set appointments.  Things I've been waiting and waiting for to happen - are now happening and happening!  I guess that's a good thing!

Today's To Do List:
*  Call insurance company
*  Pick through piles on desk and hide
*  Forge forward with receipts for IRS
*  Clean bathrooms & dust house
*  Turn last night's thawed chicken thighs into tonight's dinner
*  Maintain my sanity

Be Blessed  ~

Jesse is taking off today and Thursday.  SURPRISE!  Couldn't get his requested Saturday, so he's home today, instead.  Major adjustment!

He's taking the girls to get/do something - can't remember what.  I am traveling alone to take Chirper to the vet for his nail trim and "weigh in" this morning.

I guess we're all meeting back here this afternoon where I will attempt to teach and battle through more house work.  The fairy maid/s didn't come while I was sleeping last night.  Everything is just where we left it - in a mess!

I got my laundry and the sheets finished yesterday.  Spent a lot of time online looking for ideas/gifts for Rissy's b-day.  As long as they arrive in time, I think she'll enjoy her presents.

Chirper and Sushi are already at it this morning.  Chasing, hissing, chasing . . .

I'm not sure if Chirper doesn't halfway enjoy the chase.

The girls finished eating a quick breakfast so they can go with their dad.  I still haven't eaten. 

I need to hop in the shower, eat breakfast, and take little Chirpy to the vet.  When I get home I'll try to follow my "suggested" list of chores!  And those "taxes" . . . receipts are still looming over my head!!!

I sure enjoyed dinner last night.  I ate spaghetti (last week the tomato base would have set my throat on fire) and I had wonderful CRISPY garlic toast - too rough for last week's throat.  I'm sure appreciating good health again!

Today's To Do List:
*  Finish helping girls with hair so they can leave
*  Shower
*  Dinner????
*  Take Chirper to vet
*  Reorganize school lessons
*  Teach! 
*  ???

Be Blessed  ~

No, not the kind of adult chicken pox that plague a person's body; but, ROOF shingles.  All new.  All done.

The man that did some painting for us inside, the end of last year, is willing to be come back and paint our ceilings.  Almost all of the rooms need to be repainted because of the roof leaking and leaving water spots on the ceilings.  We're happy to give him the work.  AND, Jesse said the painter told us he believes Behr paint has a sale on their paint products, ending today.  We will definitely want to take advantage of that!  I think he said $20 off a 5 gallon bucket.

Valentine's Day was spent with me and the four little girlies.  JanaLyn made a Valentine card/drawing for her dad and made me promise to put it in my Monday blog.

                                       True to my word - here is JanaLyn with her masterpiece!
                        

The roofers are outside, this morning, cleaning up around the house and having their huge dumpster removed from our driveway.  Things are quiet and it's a new week. 

I feel so much better than I did last week.  I still have traces of a mild sore throat, but I'm eating whatever I want, again.  Jesse took us out for lunch yesterday (to escape the pounding hammers on our roof) and when we came back I read in my book a while and tried to ignore the housework for one more day.  Lunch was good.  I haven't tried anything spicy, but I doubt it will be a problem.  It was a horrible week and I'm glad it is behind me.  I have so much catching up to do around the house.  The girls were sick the prior week and that makes a total of 2 weeks of letting things slide.  Since I'm sure the strep bacteria has finished its dirty work, I need to wash our sheets, spray with Lysol, and will air out the house tomorrow when the high temperature should be near 70° for the day.  Of course, the rest of the week plummets down to the 40's and 50's - but tomorrow should be very nice.

Luci has been "decorating" herself lately.  Last week it was the velvet dress with black boots & gloves.  This weekend, she took to decorating her hair.  I think she truly thought she was beautiful and was quite willing to pose for the camera.  She had a green bow and a white bow stuck over her ears, making her look like a plane with propellers!  Of course, I didn't tell her she looked like a prop plane, I just smiled and snapped away!

And, of course, we can't forget those 3 missing front teeth!

I took the time to snap a few pictures of the other two girls playing in the sun so they wouldn't feel left out.

Annamarie
  

Rissy
  

This will be a busy week.  Today is catch up day in school and with the housework.  Tomorrow, I'm taking Chirper in for a nail trim, Wednesday the girls have routine dental appointments, Thursday the painter is supposed to come to give us an estimate, and Friday is the usual therapy appointment day for the girls.  Jesse is off Thursday and Saturday.  He has a recheck on his blood pressure Thursday and Thursday evening is my class.  It will be nice to have him around a little bit extra before he starts the busy lawn season again.  From here on out, he will only work at his friend's pawn shop 4 days a week.  Yay!  Us girls kinda like him!

I really need to do two things this week.  Finish our taxes (still gathering receipts and adding them up) and shop for Rissy's birthday.  Her birthday is the 27th.  I NEVER wait this long to buy gifts.  It makes me nervous because I have no idea of what to buy her.  It's getting harder because she's growing up.  I'm considering a gift certificate or a loaded VISA gift card.  I'm just not sure how neat that will be to "unwrap" on her 8th birthday!

 
Today's To Do List:

. . . let me see, I have my choice of 92 million tasks! . . .
 
*  Laundry (hang up Jesse's and do mine)
*  Change sheets on our bed and launder them
*  School catch up (it's been 2 weeks)
*  Work on receipts for taxes
*  Internet shop for gifts for Rissy
*  VACUUM!!!!!!
*  Dinner: spaghetti (I browned the meat last night)

That's probably enough to keep me busy today and all I SHOULD be doing.  I'm getting ready to start another new book.  "Amish Grace, How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy" by Kraybill, Nolt, & Weaver-Zercher.  The Amazon link isn't working today, so I just added the info here.  I read a book over the weekend.  If I can keep my nose in a book for another week, it will force me to rest a bit longer.  I feel good enough to do "whatever" but don't want to over do and end up catching the next bug making its rounds!

Be blessed  ~

One day, I found little Chirper in kitty cat jail.  Sick or not, I HAD to get his picture!
  

P.S.  The roofers are making so much noise, all the neighbor's car alarms are going off.  How embarrassing!

Be Blessed  ~

Life is good! 

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Last night, I swabbed (generously) my throat, tonsils, and anything else in the back of my mouth with Viscous Xylocaine.  After 30 seconds, 30 SECONDS (!!!!!)   , I was pain free and sat down to "real" food.    I had chicken breasts with pesto sauce, cauliflower, macaroni & cheese, and cranberry sauce.  A colorful plate of delicious things, the macaroni & cheese being ALL I could eat prior to obtaining Viscous Xylocaine!  AND, I finished my meal with that chocolate, chocolate cake I've been eying in the refrigerator! 

I cleaned up the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher.  Jesse came in late and helped himself to leftovers in the frig.  I went to bed to read and fell asleep quickly and slept like a log.  Yesterday was a lot of running around for me, when I should have been resting and I WAS tired. 

I woke up this morning with no pain thinking I was healed,    but after chatting with Jesse a bit, the pain has returned to my throat and ears.     I think the ear pain is just a sympathetic reaction to the nerves in my throat.  I was getting hungry (now my stomach is spoiled by receiving food again!) and, not quite so carefully as last night, swabbed my throat with Viscous Xylocaine again.  I didn't get all of the sores, but most of them.  With 2/3s of my throat numb, I am enjoying the last two small pieces of chocolate, chocolate cake for breakfast, as I type.  Cake for breakfast?     Yes!  Absolutely!  You heard right! 

I love you, Viscous Xylocaine.  I give you a place of high regard in my life today.   

Thank you Viscous Xylocaine for being invented by someone!   

Thank you Viscous Xylocaine for allowing me to eat something other than Ramen Noodles with an egg cracked in it or macaroni & cheese!  

Thank you Viscous Xylocaine that, when spread on my gums, I don't feel the needle at the dentist's office!

Thank you Viscous Xylocaine for allowing me to talk without pain and my ears not to hurt when I swallow. 

I truly do love you, Viscous Xylocaine. 

Viscous Xylocaine, will you be my Valentine? 

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Jesse just left with Rissy and Annamarie to grocery shop at Wal-Mart.  He's off today, but working tomorrow.  He said he'd take Annamarie to her follow up appointment for *her* strep throat, this afternoon.  Luci is home with me.  She is still having problems digesting foods and is complaining of body aches and pains.  I've sent her to bed with the DVD player as a babysitter.  I rarely use my TV as a babysitter, but I *have to* today.  I need to be resting, too. 

Sushi is a terror, herding Chirper, Stormy, and even poor Sampson.  She so desperately wants to play with someone and drags anything from the rooms she can find to play with.  Besides the usual shoe, slipper, or stuff animal, I've found her with a brush, cardboard box, remote control, and the metal plug from the bath tub drain!!!!!     She just wants to play!  Sampson is too old.  Chirper doesn't like the rough play.  And, Stormy hates her.  Jesse said, maybe we need to get another dog for her to play with, and I think his idea may be the answer.  She is a dog breed containing lots of energy and mixing that with her young puppy age makes her VERY active.  The girls and I keep telling her "easy, easy, Sushi!" and I'm sure it's hard for her to control her desire to run and jump.  We must be very boring and way too sedentary for her!  Jesse has so little time to play with her.  She loves it when he comes home, because they play wrestle until she is worn out.  I'm a girl.  I don't wrestle.  The girls are girls.  They don't wrestle, either.  Sorry, Shushi Abigail (or, as we've nicknamed her, "Sushi-Abi-girl").  So, it's entirely possible we will have another new dog soon.  I'm not a dog fan, as much as I am a cat fan, but a playmate for Sushi may be a perfect solution. 

I guess I'll let JanaLyn come spend the night.  I probably am NOT contagious anymore, even though I have a very low fever.  I've been so careful not to contaminate anything.  One more child around here won't make any difference.  My girls can make a sandwich for themselves and they can help JanaLyn tomorrow if I still feel out of kilter.  Also, I bought JanaLyn a little Valentine heart of candy, so I'd like to give it to her. 

Jesse's mother and his sister both got out of the hospital yesterday.  His sister will have some more visits to various doctors to check on her.  I think he said his mother will also be having some sort of out patient surgery in the near future.  But, they are both back in their homes today. 

I have been taking pictures with my camera (here and there), but haven't felt good enough to load them onto the computer.  Maybe next week, I'll catch everyone up with pictures.  I don't even remember what I have to show. (???) 

Guess that's all the news.  Hard to have anything exciting to say when you go nowhere and talk to no one!

Be Blessed  ~

I got to my appointment today at 11am to fill out paperwork for my 11:30am appointment.  The filling out took about 15 - 20 minutes, then I saw someone we used to attend church with who has just started volunteering at the clinic as a nurse.  We chatted and caught up with our news.  That made the time go by quicker - for me . . . but it crawled for the girls.  They said the "playroom" in the reception area was geared for younger children - so they sat with me the WHOLE TIME.

I say "whole time" because I was not called in until 12:25pm!  They (my friend, the nurse) took my vital signs, asked more questions, and then we were made to wait until an exam room was available.  As the time inched closer to 1pm, we finally got an exam room.  The P.A. came in immediately and spent an unbelievable amount of time with me.  I had a bunch of useful information, like my recent doctor visit & lab work results, prescription info, etc.   They will try to help me get my asthma inhaler for free ($200/month if paying cash!).  The P.A. said if I wasn't better Monday, she would call in a different antibiotic.  All I have to do is call the clinic.  I asked for some lidocaine to numb my throat because I've lost 3 or 4 pound since Monday.  No wonder!  I can't eat!  I'm becoming dehydrated but I should be able to drink and eat with no problem after my throat is numbed.

Oh!  And, that raw flesh I felt and thought I saw . . . it was.  I had five white spots in my throat on Monday and those are gone.  They said I had craters or holes in my throat where those spots had probably once been.  My guess that I had coughed so hard when choking on my saliva was accurate.  She thought I had blown off the protective covering leaving these holes (or maybe she called them "craters") on my tonsil area.  She said, "No wonder your throat is so sore!"

I left there at 2:00pm - a long time for an appointment that should have started at 11:30 and didn't until 12:30!  But I was satisfied that they really cared about me and my needs.  PLUS, a man brought the girls a bowl of fruit - some orange and apple wedges as we were almost ready to leave.  Just an ALL AROUND nice place!

We came home and I picked up Burger King burgers & milk shakes for Rissy and Annamarie and Burger King chicken nuggets for Luci.  They split fries.  I had my usual - Ramen noodles with an egg cracked in it  (rolling my eyes)  which was VERY hard to swallow.

After lunch, I had to find a pharmacy that carried the xylocaine viscous mixture.  We just got back from the pharmacy at 4pm.  I'm exhausted and WILL go lie down and read.  Don't know about dinner.  I'm hoping I'll be able to eat.  A real meal sounds WONDERFUL!

So, another medical person has classified me as a strep carrier.  I will always test negative, but definite carry and spread the strep bacterium from one person to another.  Weird, I know.  I guess it's one of those things I can claim as part of my uniqueness!

Oh!  The breast exam went well.  The big rope-like mass I've had since Labor Day is probably all fibrous, just as I suspected; but, it qualifies me for a free mammogram.  Aren't I just the luckiest?!!!

Gotta go hit the bed.

Be Blessed  ~

OH MY WORD!!!!! 

To those of you who inquired, we are fine, and came through the tornadoes unscathed.  Everyone of them except the last set, in the southern part of our state, formed directly over our city.  Our *HOUSE* to be exact.  They kept naming a building near us as a familiar point to show where the circular clouds were rotating and gaining intensity.  1/2 mile from my house!  I can attest to the fact they formed directly OVER our house. 

My "plan" was to sit up yesterday and read, but *sit* instead of be in bed.  I spent most of the afternoon sitting, but not on the sofa or in a chair.  I spent the major part of the afternoon sitting on our small hallway floor ("Sampson's Hallway"), which isn't even 36" wide and is (maybe) 5 feet long.  Pillows, 3 girls, me, and scared Sushi. 

One round of tornadoes would leave and we'd get up.  I had the TV's sound cranked up and a window (the porch window) cracked so we could hear the sirens going on and off.  When it appeared the worst of the storm was east of us, I'd disentangle my legs from my daughters' legs, get up (no easy task at my weight and age!!!) and check the TV's storm tracker (they have the streets laid out on TV so you can see exactly where the storm is moving), and then I'd look outside to see for myself.  If it appeared okay, I 'd let the girls get up, too. 

The animals were crazy.  ALL of them.     When one round of rotation left and we were up moving around again, the animals would start to act weird.  The cats fought, the dogs fought, and even our cockatiel would begin to screech over and over again.     I finally covered her cage because I couldn't hear the TV's weather reports.  Sure enough, right after the animals acted up, the sirens would go off again.     I finally took heed of my pets "warning behavior" and would call the girls back to the front of the house in anticipation of the sirens going off.  And they would, like clockwork.  In retrospect, I find God's internal radar, or sensitivity to weather changes, He placed in animals to be a brilliant idea on His part!    Thank you, Lord!

The shingles for our new roof (to be) were delivered yesterday in the late morning and were sitting under a garage door eave, slightly shielded from the weather.  I wasn't expecting a delivery or to talk with anyone and I looked wretched in my over 10 year old bathrobe and dirty, stringy hair.  A lovely sight!  Nothing like "unexpected company" when you look like the walking dead!  I'm so glad we hadn't had a new roof already installed, because we had hail and high wind, and then some.  It would have meant another claim on an already replaced roof.  The hail hitting the windows sounded like a riotous crowd throwing rocks at our house!  All blinds had to be securely closed to keep us from being harmed by glass breakage or flying glass.  The winds were awful when the rain and hail would come - the back side of the tornadic activity.  I went outside after the first tornado to collect a bowl of hail - huge hail - but the sirens went off a second time and I rushed back inside.  We were huddled in the hallway four or five times - I lost count. 

When things cleared, weather-wise, it was a little after 5pm.  The doctor's office that saw me on Monday is open late on Tuesday's, so I called the P.A.'s nurse back because my throat was becoming more sore, than better.  I had tried to eat some baby food (Hawaiian Delight) for lunch and felt like acid had been poured onto my throat's open wounds.  In essence, it had.  After two bites and my coming unglued, I realized that "Hawaiian Delight" has pineapple in it - an acidic fruit.  C'mon, Cherylyn!!!!     The bloody, raw meat looking throat tissue was still blood red on the one side, the side that had been the most sore all along, and not improving as I had hoped it would by early evening.  The P.A. was sweet enough to get on the phone, rather than me speak with a nurse, and said she figured my throat had stretched so far, while swollen, that it tore the tissue and, as it shrank back down to regular size (due to the steroid shot), ulcers had formed on that one side.  NOTHING but time can cure those.  (rolling eyes) 

Jesse closed the store early (due to the weather) and brought home fried chicken (all dark meat).  After pulling the crusty batter off, it slide down my throat easily.  Rissy made macaroni and cheese and it also went down easily.  The first meal I've eaten since Saturday night.  I plan on making chicken and noodles for tonight's dinner and, although it's made with white meat, I'm hoping it will feel good on my throat.  It was a relaxing meal and then Jesse told me his mother was back in the hospital again.     It was 3 different bacteria causing infections in her bladder, again.  She called during dinner and he took down her direct phone number to her room and asked to call her back.  The hospital?  Again? 

So, with all of the excitement of the day (shingles delivered, children upset and excited, pets going crazy, a bird shrieking, tornado sirens blowing, TV blasting ominous reports, quick text messages to assure me that my granddaughter was with one parent and not stuck at school, and Jesse's mom back in the hospital), I loaded the dishwasher and told Jesse I was going to lay down in bed and read.  He took over the children's care.  At 9:30pm, I decided I might feel better (definitely cleaner) if I took a bath before bed.   I did and it did help to relax me.    Remember, I'd been up since 3am! 

See why, "No rest for the weary" is appropriate???  All I want to do is get well and not hurt.  There's this big ol' chocolate cake in the refrigerator and there is no possible way I can swallow one bite.  NOT FAIR!!!!! 

I have a breast exam scheduled for tomorrow by ANOTHER P.A. and they called to remind me of the appointment, this morning.  I explained about my sore throat and all, and asked that my throat also be checked.  She said that would be fine.  Yay!  This place is free, the cheapest of all our medical options!!! 

Not a thing on my agenda for today.  I don't dare try to make plans!!!  I will have to wash my hair at some point, I only took a bath last night.   

If things go as I hope, my children will become my indentured servants and my animals imprisoned in seperate quarters, today, so peace shall reign throughout my kingdom! 

"Here!  Here!"  cried the beaten down soul of the sad queen, as she sat slumped at her computer desk in her chair.  

(and, my version of the ending)

And so it came to pass.  Peace reigned, once more, throughout the royal land.

Be Blessed  ~

Some of you wrote about your strep experiences.  I told the P.A., yesterday, I likened my throat pain to mono - when I couldn't swallow my own saliva.  I dehydrated and was admitted to the hospital with secondary hepatitis, due to dehydration.  The P.A. said my neck, tongue, throat cavity, AND tonsils were swollen and my throat cavity was almost completely shut, making it hard for me to breathe, too.  My hands looked like I was 80years old, so I know I was dehydrated, despite my valiant attempts to drink small bathroom Dixie cups of water.  Last  night, I was able to eat Ramen noodles for dinner.  I tried a piece of chocolate chocolate cake and it was a little painful to swallow.  And here, I thought chocolate could fix ANYTHING!!!!!  Nothing is as swollen today - just very sore. 

I've been awake since 3am.  I fell asleep last night reading, and woke up at 3am realizing I hadn't brushed my teeth or taken my antibiotic.  I got up to take some pain pills and the antibiotic.  Jesse was sleeping somewhere else, so I didn't think my teeth took precedence!  It was the pain from my throat and more body aches, combined with more sweating, that woke me up.  I took 4 Ibuprofen.  She said I could alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen every three hours.  The maximum Ibuprofen that's safe to take is 4, or 800mg.  (to Lori K.:  Tylenol is much easier to become addicted to and Ibuprofen is less often seen as something causing rebound headaches.  Believe me, I asked!!!)  How can someone so sick forget their antibiotic?  Loosing my mind?  Kinda.

I laid there forever, with Chirper snuggling right smack against my body.  I moved to Jesse's side since I was sweating and Chirper scooted over next to me.  I felt like a mother cat!  Suddenly, around 5:20am our house's burglar alarm went off.  It took Jesse forever to wake up.  I thought he was in the room next to me and I called his name . . . then grabbed my sore throat.  He mumbled and fumbled around.  Ends up, he was sleeping in the den - closer to the alarm in the garage!  Within seconds (literally) the alarm service called.  I told them we were checking the house and gave my ID information and "secret code."  I figured the chance of someone breaking in at almost 5:30am were slim to nothing.  She said she'd stay on the line with me and then our home phone went dead.  I yelled to Jesse to check the alarm connectors on all windows.  He said nothing, so I came out of the bedroom (against our "if the burglar alarm should ever goes off" rule) and found him walking in circles.  He wakes up more slowly than me.  I told him the home phone was dead and sent him to check the other 3 phones instead, while I did the connector search.  The gal called back on my cell phone, which I had in my hand as I checked, and I told her I was checking the windows.  Jesse yelled that all phones were dead - the only thing about the alarm going off that spooked me.  I guess I've watched too many scary movies before I made the decision to no longer watch them.  I finally found a connector in the kitchen that appeared okay, but when I touched it, I found it was hanging by a thread.  I had already told the lady to not call the police because no burglar was in the house and all of our lights were on - unlikely that a burglar would continue the break-in.  I'll get the super glue and glue the connector back today.  Losing my mind?  Kinda.

I say all of that to say, I was wide awake.  *I'm* the one who has sleep issues.  Jesse can go back to sleep easily.  After being awake almost 2 1/2 hours, I knew it would be impossible.  He laid in bed with me and said he doubted he'd go back to sleep.  I was prepared to read and then realized he probably COULD go back to sleep, if I didn't have the lamp on.  I went out to the den and finished my book and he DID fall back asleep.

The girls are encouraging me to stay in bed today (I'm trying to sit up so I don't get weak) and telling me they can handle everything.  The did a few "no-no's" yesterday and Jesse chewed them out for not obeying what he had said to (and not to) do.  I figured *no problems today* - and they ARE concerned about me.  Now they are arguing over breakfast and what to and not to eat.  I found myself trying to offer choices and talk with "razor blades cutting my throat" pain, and then the light went on.  I told them they were capable of fixing their own breakfasts and they should each make what they wanted and leave the other sister alone.  Losing my mind?  Kinda.

Since my throat cavity is less swollen, I grabbed a flashlight to check it out.  The left side of my throat felt like *OPEN* cuts when I tried to swallow warm coffee and another thing of baby food fruit this morning.  Lo and behold!  The left side of my throat is bleeding.  The other side has the white scabs, or blister-looking, sores.  I guess I coughed so hard last night (I think I was sleeping with my mouth open and choked myself), that I knocked off those protective blister things.  My throat *IS* bleeding on the left side from two *OPEN SORES*!!!!  No wonder my throat hurts!

Since I feel disoriented, and will probably be able to take a nap this afternoon, I will keep myself quiet - reading more books.  Jesse told me to stay out of the kitchen today and he'd take care of dinner again.  Rissy is doing her own laundry.  Makes me think she and Luci can start doing their own ALL the time, as long as they are home all day.  There is a bit of house work needing to be done, but nothing the girls can't do.  They tend to argue when they have nothing to do and I'm not up to teaching school.  Chores will, hopefully, keep them occupied and I won't have to listen to them in another room arguing over a movie, or a snack, or what dress they should wear . . . . Losing my mind?  Kinda.

This is another lesson in lessening my need to be a control freak.  I'm on the blink today!

The man from Child Welfare just called and said he needed a secondary caregiver.  I told him I already said it was Stephanie.  He said I might have told someone, but not him.  I told him I had, but didn't really want to get in a verbal battle.  He repeated he needed to do a walk through of Stephanie's apartment.  I explained, AGAIN, that the children would never stay at Stephanie's apartment, there's no room, and the children would stay with us.  He said, "Well I need someone who has enough room for your children."  I told him I knew of no one who could house my three children plus two or three foster children - that's SIX extra people!!!  The only one I knew with a big enough house was my friend, Tangi, who has six children of her own!  I told him Stephanie had said he was welcome to come out and see her apartment if that would satisfy the requirement.  (trying so hard not to roll my eyes, here!)  He has to make sure it's child safe AND do a background check on her. Then, he wanted to know when he could come out to have us sign some papers.  I explained I was sick and didn't feel he should come to our house this week.  Jesse called in on the other line, so I put the caseworker on hold and asked Jesse when he was planning to take off next week.  Jesse said, what *I* felt like saying, "Tell him 'We'll get back with him.'"  So, I did.  Losing my mind?  Kinda!

Be blessed  ~

I am always an upbeat, friendly person with lots of energy.  When I walked through the doors today a nurse saw me at the reception desk and must have thought I looked like death warmed over.  We got there 20 minutes early because I had nothing else to do.  We sat for 5 minutes, or less, and they called me to the back.    That would be a record for the shortest wait I've ever had at this clinic!!!  It's the one where the girls go to therapy every Friday and with other ailments when the pediatrician is booked  Anyway, the staff KNEW I was in a bad way.  Probably cradling my head in my hands and the soft moaning was a confirmation of my shot-down condition!!!   They said they were going to draw blood for a CBC (complete blood count) and I asked them to swab my throat for strep, since Annamarie was treated for strep 2 weeks ago.  As always, the strep was negative.  I've never in my life tested positive, but I'm a carrier.  If Annamarie has strep, I get sick and test negative for strep; but, I can still pass strep onto the next person.

Jesse told me to not go into the kitchen - he'd take over when he got home.  He also threatened the girls within an inch of their lives to be good and stay out of trouble today, and they have been.

Except for when the phone rang while I was sleeping and Rissy got *my* phone off of *my* nightstand and whispered, "Hello."  Then she was out my door with the phone.  She came back to say that was Pastor C.J.  He had seen that there was a call from our house and wondered if it was me.  Rissy said, "I told him it was from me and asked him to pray for you."     Awwwww!  Luci has come in my room about 3 times and laid her hand on my arm and prayed out loud for God to make me well.  Annamarie has done the same privately.  How can I lose with my family and all of my blog friends praying?  I think I'd better get back in bed.

Thank you so much for all of your sweet prayers!  

Anyway, I'm pretty miserable, and crying from the pain, and Jesse HAD to go to work.  The girls are trying to help me, but when they saw me crying, Rissy picked up my cell phone and started looking for people to call to help me.  Lori K - look out, Rissy might just call you while I'm resting!

Thanks!

Be Blessed  ~