Yesterday morning, Hubby took his motorcycle to the gym to get an early, light work out. As he stood up from a crouched position, his back seized up. He hobbled to medical, where they shot him with morphine and gave him some pain pills. When I came to pick him up from medical, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I've never seen him in that much pain... I've never seen anyone in that much pain. He managed to walk, hunched over, to the truck, and I brought him home. He promptly laid on the floor and stayed there all day.
Around dinner, he decided the pain pills he was prescribed were not strong enough because he could no longer move anything. He tried rolling over on his side, and even just moving his legs, and couldn't. We decided that the only way he was moving was on a stretcher, which meant he needed to go to the ER. It was a spectacle when an ambulance and fire truck showed up! Fortunately, our boys were already asleep, but the neighborhood kids were all about it. They loaded him into the ambulance and took him to the naval hospital.
He came home very late that night and has been in bed since. He can barely make it to the bathroom. I've been giving him food, water, and his pills, but there's nothing else I can do for him. Our future in subs is a big question mark. His MRI is scheduled for several weeks from now, but what is he supposed to do in the meantime? It's been five months now that he has had back pain, with each visit to the ER being worse and worse.
Anyway, so that's what's up with us. He's in bed 24/7 and I'm his candy striper.
7/26/12
7/24/12
PIWTPITT
THIS lady.
Apparently, she bought into some gimmicky diet pill that Kirstie Alley was hawking, then sued her because she claims the pills didn't work, and that Kirstie Alley actually lost those 100 lbs by diet and exercise.
Um....
So, let me get this straight... this lady buys the diet pills, knowing that no other diet pill ever has lived up to its claim to lose weight without proper diet and exercise. She also was gullible enough to believe the advertisement that these pills, and these pills alone, would help her lose weight, when (if you look at the Organic Liaison website) the company's program also includes 1 hour of exercise per day. I understand that there was some false advertising- I'm sure the commercials left out that "1 hour of exercise per day" thing. But can you blame a company for trying their best to make money? Aren't all companies hiding something to make sure they turn the most profit possible?
Instead of researching what is in these pills (which are mostly vitamins, minerals, and fiber), she blindly took the advice of a paid celebrity, who is also just trying to make money, and she's now blaming Kirstie Alley because she couldn't do a little research and make an informed decision about a product she is putting into her body??
Wow...
And, um, no offense to Ms. Alley, but is she really the best person to take diet advice from? Really???
Apparently, she bought into some gimmicky diet pill that Kirstie Alley was hawking, then sued her because she claims the pills didn't work, and that Kirstie Alley actually lost those 100 lbs by diet and exercise.
Um....
So, let me get this straight... this lady buys the diet pills, knowing that no other diet pill ever has lived up to its claim to lose weight without proper diet and exercise. She also was gullible enough to believe the advertisement that these pills, and these pills alone, would help her lose weight, when (if you look at the Organic Liaison website) the company's program also includes 1 hour of exercise per day. I understand that there was some false advertising- I'm sure the commercials left out that "1 hour of exercise per day" thing. But can you blame a company for trying their best to make money? Aren't all companies hiding something to make sure they turn the most profit possible?
Instead of researching what is in these pills (which are mostly vitamins, minerals, and fiber), she blindly took the advice of a paid celebrity, who is also just trying to make money, and she's now blaming Kirstie Alley because she couldn't do a little research and make an informed decision about a product she is putting into her body??
Wow...
And, um, no offense to Ms. Alley, but is she really the best person to take diet advice from? Really???
7/21/12
7/18/12
Yes? No? Maybe?
The local symphony is holding auditions for flutists. I've been toying with the idea of going... after all, the worst they can do is kick me out and tell me I suck (which I seriously doubt any respectful person would do). But it's been a long time since I really played. Most of my practicing goes like this:
*Toot toot toot*...
"LB, stop putting your fingers in the printer."
*Toot toot toot toot*...
"JC, really, stop screaming, for the love of God, stop screaming."
*Tooooooot tooooooot toooot*....
"Boys, get out of here and let me PRACTICE!!!"
So the serious playing hasn't happened. I'm rusty on my scales. I'm downright abysmal on my arpeggios. And the level that I attained for my senior recital in college seems completely out of reach. Bach sonatas are riddled with cuss words and self-deprecating words ("Hey stupid, it says F sharp!"). Berbiguier is punctuated with squeaks and wrong octaves.
But at the same time, it's just an audition. If anything, it'll be nice to go in there, by myself (aka, NO KIDS) and see where I'm at. And maybe there will be other auditions, if I suck at this one.
I want to do it. I really do. I just don't know if I can be ready in a month.
*Toot toot toot*...
"LB, stop putting your fingers in the printer."
*Toot toot toot toot*...
"JC, really, stop screaming, for the love of God, stop screaming."
*Tooooooot tooooooot toooot*....
"Boys, get out of here and let me PRACTICE!!!"
So the serious playing hasn't happened. I'm rusty on my scales. I'm downright abysmal on my arpeggios. And the level that I attained for my senior recital in college seems completely out of reach. Bach sonatas are riddled with cuss words and self-deprecating words ("Hey stupid, it says F sharp!"). Berbiguier is punctuated with squeaks and wrong octaves.
But at the same time, it's just an audition. If anything, it'll be nice to go in there, by myself (aka, NO KIDS) and see where I'm at. And maybe there will be other auditions, if I suck at this one.
I want to do it. I really do. I just don't know if I can be ready in a month.
7/15/12
Ten things I betcha didn't know about me...
1. I have a freakish talent for reading captcha phrases really fast.
2. I can roll my tongue.
3. I used to be able to put my legs behind my head when I was in high school... and no, that did not earn me any dates!
4. I bitch about my hair, but secretly love that it hasn't gone gray yet. And yes, those highlights are natural.
5. I bought my first ipod today. It's an 8GB Nano and it's pink. I figure that way no one in my house will borrow it, haha.
6. I'm in Mensa.
7. I majored in music education. Okay, maybe you did know that about me, but I was also accepted to Northeastern University for math.
8. I am disgusted by belly buttons.
9. I'm from an italian family and lived in New Jersey for 12 years. Yes, I've been to the Jersey Shore, though not in the same way that other famous italians have.
10. I was once accidentally kicked in the head by a then-boyfriend and knocked temporarily unconscious. We were lip syncing the Spice Girls "Wannabe" with my bestie. It's all on film and one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
2. I can roll my tongue.
3. I used to be able to put my legs behind my head when I was in high school... and no, that did not earn me any dates!
4. I bitch about my hair, but secretly love that it hasn't gone gray yet. And yes, those highlights are natural.
5. I bought my first ipod today. It's an 8GB Nano and it's pink. I figure that way no one in my house will borrow it, haha.
6. I'm in Mensa.
7. I majored in music education. Okay, maybe you did know that about me, but I was also accepted to Northeastern University for math.
8. I am disgusted by belly buttons.
9. I'm from an italian family and lived in New Jersey for 12 years. Yes, I've been to the Jersey Shore, though not in the same way that other famous italians have.
10. I was once accidentally kicked in the head by a then-boyfriend and knocked temporarily unconscious. We were lip syncing the Spice Girls "Wannabe" with my bestie. It's all on film and one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
7/12/12
Another reason why my dad is one of my heros
Good men are hard to find. Great men are even harder. Maybe I'm biased, but my dad is one of those great men for many reasons, but I'll share just one for now.
For the second year, he donated his time on his boat to help with the Squam Lake Adaptive Program. It's a weekly program of waterskiing geared toward people with all types of disabilities. My dad has terrible knees & a terrible back, plus he can't swim at all, yet he puts all that aside to help other people experience what he has been lucky enough to. I hope he doesn't mind, but here's his two cents...
For the second year, he donated his time on his boat to help with the Squam Lake Adaptive Program. It's a weekly program of waterskiing geared toward people with all types of disabilities. My dad has terrible knees & a terrible back, plus he can't swim at all, yet he puts all that aside to help other people experience what he has been lucky enough to. I hope he doesn't mind, but here's his two cents...
"Last year and yesterday, I’ve seen many challenged individuals have smiles, including
wounded warriors, those missing legs or arms, deformations, paraplegics, blind, mentally retarded,
etc., when pushing their limits, experiencing what life has to offer others."
And just to show you what I'm talking about, here's a video about the program...
My dad is just an amazing person, and I'm so lucky to be his daughter.
No more guilt
With Hubby gone, I feel like I need to fill up our days with lots of cool, interesting things for my boys to do. The zoo, the beach, McD's, playdates, soccer, gymnastics, etc. Every day that passed without something outrageously special felt like a failure.
But I asked myself this morning, why do I feel that way? My boys are perfectly happy watching Mickey Mouse. And even though they love Happy Meals a little too much, they're perfectly happy with a homemade PB&J or grilled cheese sandwich. I've been putting so much pressure on myself to make sure the kids are happy that I didn't realize that they already are.
So today, at 11:30am, we are all still in pjs. I paid the bills, cleaned the kitchen, and did some laundry- boring, mundane, totally-not-special things. And we are surviving. In fact, it's relieving to not be rushing out the door for once. Besides soccer tonight, I think the name of the game today is going to be "The Hell With It, Nothing Can Be Fun, Too!"
But I asked myself this morning, why do I feel that way? My boys are perfectly happy watching Mickey Mouse. And even though they love Happy Meals a little too much, they're perfectly happy with a homemade PB&J or grilled cheese sandwich. I've been putting so much pressure on myself to make sure the kids are happy that I didn't realize that they already are.
So today, at 11:30am, we are all still in pjs. I paid the bills, cleaned the kitchen, and did some laundry- boring, mundane, totally-not-special things. And we are surviving. In fact, it's relieving to not be rushing out the door for once. Besides soccer tonight, I think the name of the game today is going to be "The Hell With It, Nothing Can Be Fun, Too!"
7/11/12
Summer Swap!
Flip Flops & Combat Boots held a summer swap this year! She paired me up with Marine Wife, Mommy & Life. Check her out- she's really cool! She even has a classic car that she's restoring (seriously, if we didn't live so far apart, I'd be over there in a heartbeat to help... restoring a classic car? Badass).
The pic above is what she sent to me- LOVE it! I wear earrings all the time, and the music coin purse is too cute. I can't believe I'd gone so long without pink flip flops! They are so adorable! I can't wait to paint my toes with my pink nail polish and wear my flip flops... can you say "summer"? :)
Thank you, FF&CB for hosting this awesome swap and pairing me with an even-more-awesome lady! Now go check out MW, M&L's blog... she spent the 4th in DC with her fam and posted pics (her baby is adorable)!
7/8/12
Weekend observations
1. The Destruction Derby is the place to go to see a bunch of white people with really bad hair.
2. The Destruction Derby is also the place to take two little boys who love cars.
3. Little boys also love cupcakes.
4. And little boys love the beach.
5. A personal lesson I've learned... sunscreens have expiration dates for a reason. I'm now sporting wicked awesome, splotchy sunburned arms and legs. The splotchiness makes me look like I have sunburn camo. So lame. And yes, I used the same stuff on the boys, but they fared much better, only pink arms. Thank goodness for rashguard shirts and bucket hats!
2. The Destruction Derby is also the place to take two little boys who love cars.
3. Little boys also love cupcakes.
4. And little boys love the beach.
5. A personal lesson I've learned... sunscreens have expiration dates for a reason. I'm now sporting wicked awesome, splotchy sunburned arms and legs. The splotchiness makes me look like I have sunburn camo. So lame. And yes, I used the same stuff on the boys, but they fared much better, only pink arms. Thank goodness for rashguard shirts and bucket hats!
7/6/12
Milspouse Friday Fill-in #73
1. What's one thing in the past month you would have changed?
My attendance at the gym. I've put on a few pounds, ugh. I just feel like a bloated, floppy blob!
2. What was your favorite thing that happened in June?
Accomplishing some of my deployment goals. Based on this post, I've done four of my seven goals. One of them is ongoing (weeding the backyard), so I didn't count that. Looking back at my list, though, I notice that only the ones solely about me (working out more, talking with a plastic surgeon) have been put on the backburner. Hm. I guess I'm not doing too good with the whole care-more-about-myself thing.
3. What did you do to celebrate Independence Day?
Nada. The boys were passed out by 8pm, so no fireworks for us. And if we're not going to go downtown for fireworks, I didn't see the point in dragging them down there by myself. My boys are super sweet, but sometimes very tough to handle alone.
4. When you PCS, what items do you take with you and not let the movers pack (and if you do a DITY, what do you take with you and not box up)?
We learned the hard way to always, always, ALWAYS take bed screws with you. Know why? Because if you are living in a house for less than a year, and plan on keeping some things boxed up, the movers will definitely have put those screws in the precise boxes you hadn't planned on unpacking, therefore making you unpack everything you will not need at 10pm at night just to put your kids' beds together so your three and not-quite-two year olds can get the hell to bed already! ... Seriously, take the bed screws with you.
5. What are you looking forward to in July?
Warmer weather! Sunny days! Finally packing away my spring clothes and busting out the summer stuff!
My attendance at the gym. I've put on a few pounds, ugh. I just feel like a bloated, floppy blob!
2. What was your favorite thing that happened in June?
Accomplishing some of my deployment goals. Based on this post, I've done four of my seven goals. One of them is ongoing (weeding the backyard), so I didn't count that. Looking back at my list, though, I notice that only the ones solely about me (working out more, talking with a plastic surgeon) have been put on the backburner. Hm. I guess I'm not doing too good with the whole care-more-about-myself thing.
3. What did you do to celebrate Independence Day?
Nada. The boys were passed out by 8pm, so no fireworks for us. And if we're not going to go downtown for fireworks, I didn't see the point in dragging them down there by myself. My boys are super sweet, but sometimes very tough to handle alone.
4. When you PCS, what items do you take with you and not let the movers pack (and if you do a DITY, what do you take with you and not box up)?
We learned the hard way to always, always, ALWAYS take bed screws with you. Know why? Because if you are living in a house for less than a year, and plan on keeping some things boxed up, the movers will definitely have put those screws in the precise boxes you hadn't planned on unpacking, therefore making you unpack everything you will not need at 10pm at night just to put your kids' beds together so your three and not-quite-two year olds can get the hell to bed already! ... Seriously, take the bed screws with you.
5. What are you looking forward to in July?
Warmer weather! Sunny days! Finally packing away my spring clothes and busting out the summer stuff!
7/5/12
It takes a village to raise a husband
Have I ever mentioned my neighbors here? They are amazing people. The husband is a chiropractor, who did some miracle to Hubby's back before he deployed. His wife is this friendly, sweet person who frequently offers to watch the kiddos if I ever need a break. They have kids to play with the boys and teenagers to babysit them.
They are awesome.
And they have been so great helping us with Hubby's back issue. I've been hearing horrible, horrible things from Hubby about how much pain he is in, so we decided to be proactive about the situation and ask our neighbor, the chiropractor, for help. He is more than willing to help us out when Hubby gets home, and even made a call to get us a lowered price for the MRI (we will have to pay out of pocket... bummer, but way necessary).
As a practice, they are amazing because they listen to their patients and take the steps necessary to find the root of the problem. But as people, they are beyond amazing by helping us find a good deal on the MRI and taking time out of their afternoon off to talk with me (I was headed to their office, but ran into the wife outside our house and she said they were closed for the afternoon).
I just want my husband fixed. And if he can't be fixed, I want to know why. I feel like Navy medical is putting a band-aid on the issue and only treating the symptoms, not the reason... It's like taking your car to the mechanic and having him (or her... gotta be PC and all, right?) replace the light bulbs, the radio, and the starter before doing a simple multimeter test to determine the battery's dead. The Navy's course of action for Hubby is physical therapy, stretching exercises, and pain management.... I can't, for the life of me, figure out why MRI is not an option when he is clearly in a ridiculous amount of pain. As a doctor, wouldn't you want to find the root of the problem?? I mean, if you don't know exactly what's wrong, how do you know what treatment is best?
And that's why I love my neighbors. They are taking a sensible, obvious approach by finding out why Hubby's laid up when he's not on watch. I can't wait for him to get home so we can finally get to the bottom of this. And I'm so, so, so grateful for our neighbors.
They are awesome.
And they have been so great helping us with Hubby's back issue. I've been hearing horrible, horrible things from Hubby about how much pain he is in, so we decided to be proactive about the situation and ask our neighbor, the chiropractor, for help. He is more than willing to help us out when Hubby gets home, and even made a call to get us a lowered price for the MRI (we will have to pay out of pocket... bummer, but way necessary).
As a practice, they are amazing because they listen to their patients and take the steps necessary to find the root of the problem. But as people, they are beyond amazing by helping us find a good deal on the MRI and taking time out of their afternoon off to talk with me (I was headed to their office, but ran into the wife outside our house and she said they were closed for the afternoon).
I just want my husband fixed. And if he can't be fixed, I want to know why. I feel like Navy medical is putting a band-aid on the issue and only treating the symptoms, not the reason... It's like taking your car to the mechanic and having him (or her... gotta be PC and all, right?) replace the light bulbs, the radio, and the starter before doing a simple multimeter test to determine the battery's dead. The Navy's course of action for Hubby is physical therapy, stretching exercises, and pain management.... I can't, for the life of me, figure out why MRI is not an option when he is clearly in a ridiculous amount of pain. As a doctor, wouldn't you want to find the root of the problem?? I mean, if you don't know exactly what's wrong, how do you know what treatment is best?
And that's why I love my neighbors. They are taking a sensible, obvious approach by finding out why Hubby's laid up when he's not on watch. I can't wait for him to get home so we can finally get to the bottom of this. And I'm so, so, so grateful for our neighbors.
7/2/12
Happy Monday!
And what a happy Monday it is. Not because of the dreary weather we're having, but because the boys and I have had a good day.
Gymnastics this morning went really well. JC walked the balance beam a bunch of times and swung like a monkey from the bars. But LB did a basic mount on the bars (with my help), holding himself up (without my help), and also did a few arabesques and toe dips on the beam (with me spotting). He even crouched down on the beam then stood back up. Of course, he had no idea what he was doing... he just dipped his toes in imaginary ice cream, then picked up an imaginary ice cream ball from the beam to throw, then dipped his toes in the imaginary ice cream mountain behind him. Whatever floats his boat- as long as he tries those skills, I don't care what kinds of stories I have to create!
After we came home, the boys played Lego Indiana Jones on the Xbox, then had some lunch. They were off-the-charts crazy after eating, though, so I sent them both to their beds to lie down. As I type this, they are both napping.... I honestly never thought they'd nap at the same time ever again, but I guess with their early rising and all the cool stuff they did in class, they must have been pooped.
Crossing my fingers that this awesomeness continues! At least, for us. Hubby told me that his back is getting worse, and it looks like his career may be uncertain. That sucks, after doing 16 years, and not knowing what's going to happen because of a stupid back injury (that stupid Navy medical did NOTHING about besides prescribe painkillers.... wait, this was a happy post! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!).
Anyway, just thought I'd let you all know how proud I am of my little guys! :)
Gymnastics this morning went really well. JC walked the balance beam a bunch of times and swung like a monkey from the bars. But LB did a basic mount on the bars (with my help), holding himself up (without my help), and also did a few arabesques and toe dips on the beam (with me spotting). He even crouched down on the beam then stood back up. Of course, he had no idea what he was doing... he just dipped his toes in imaginary ice cream, then picked up an imaginary ice cream ball from the beam to throw, then dipped his toes in the imaginary ice cream mountain behind him. Whatever floats his boat- as long as he tries those skills, I don't care what kinds of stories I have to create!
After we came home, the boys played Lego Indiana Jones on the Xbox, then had some lunch. They were off-the-charts crazy after eating, though, so I sent them both to their beds to lie down. As I type this, they are both napping.... I honestly never thought they'd nap at the same time ever again, but I guess with their early rising and all the cool stuff they did in class, they must have been pooped.
Crossing my fingers that this awesomeness continues! At least, for us. Hubby told me that his back is getting worse, and it looks like his career may be uncertain. That sucks, after doing 16 years, and not knowing what's going to happen because of a stupid back injury (that stupid Navy medical did NOTHING about besides prescribe painkillers.... wait, this was a happy post! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!).
Anyway, just thought I'd let you all know how proud I am of my little guys! :)
7/1/12
Sunday Funday
You know what I'm doing today? Nothing. The glorious, wonderful act of doing absolutely nothing. Well, except typing this.
I actually had plans to go to the rodeo with the kids, but it's drizzly, and I don't want to be outside, sitting on some metal bleachers, trying to entice my kids to have fun while they're wet and cold (yes, readers, the massive heat wave has NOT made its way to PNW).
But I think we're going to pass. The boys are probably going to watch entirely too much tv. BBQ chicken is in the slow cooker for dinner. And besides doing laundry, the chores will be ignored.
I think we all need this. The boys have been busy lately, and I just need to chill out. I did a stupid thing yesterday, which dragged me into a funk and ended up polishing off all the beer and wine in the house (seriously... although there were only 2 beers and half a bottle of wine, but still, it was enough). So I will be hanging out in my sweats, pulling out old love letters, and troll facebook all afternoon, haha.
Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you are beating the heat (if you're in the midst of this national heatwave), and enjoy the day!
I actually had plans to go to the rodeo with the kids, but it's drizzly, and I don't want to be outside, sitting on some metal bleachers, trying to entice my kids to have fun while they're wet and cold (yes, readers, the massive heat wave has NOT made its way to PNW).
But I think we're going to pass. The boys are probably going to watch entirely too much tv. BBQ chicken is in the slow cooker for dinner. And besides doing laundry, the chores will be ignored.
I think we all need this. The boys have been busy lately, and I just need to chill out. I did a stupid thing yesterday, which dragged me into a funk and ended up polishing off all the beer and wine in the house (seriously... although there were only 2 beers and half a bottle of wine, but still, it was enough). So I will be hanging out in my sweats, pulling out old love letters, and troll facebook all afternoon, haha.
Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you are beating the heat (if you're in the midst of this national heatwave), and enjoy the day!
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