Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!!

(Translation: Let the Good Times Roll!)

On Sunday, GM and I will be leavin' on a jet plane and headed to The Big Easy--New Orleans! I am *SO VERY EXCITED*. DQ and SB, while they are thrilled their Grandma is going to be staying with them (read: spoiling them), they are jealous, especially DQ.

Last year, GM's conference took him to Hollywood, CA, and I was stuck at home recovering from bronchitis and mono. So I am ready to live it up! We're staying at the luxurious Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street, in the heart of the French Quarter. And I've been busy making up our itenerary, for us and for myself (while he's in the conference). I plan on giving a very detailed review of our trip with plenty of pictures, so keep checking back after next Thursday!

I can't wait to pack my new duds into my new suitcases ::squee::

Tickets to Ghost Tour and Jazz Club, check.
Reservations to NOLA's and Mulate's, check.
Maps to The Audubon Zoo, Museum of Art, Old Absinthe House, and Coyote Ugly, check. (What, you expect me to act like a MOM on this trip? LOL)
Will The Headache Slayer find a Burlesque club and drink a Hurricane? Stay tuned ;)

Breathing Easier

Superboy is back to school and doing *much* better. He's still worn out but glad to be back with his friends. He finished his antibiotics yesterday (after missing 6 more days, yeesh) and is still doing breathing treatments, but better ::Whew:: He'll go back to the doc for a recheck next week.

Tomorrow (today lol) is the Kindergarten Mother's Day lunch at a local pizza place. SB is SO excited. Me too--this place really is great with his allergies and a few workers remember their special "regular" customer. He wanted so badly to tell me the surprise he made for me LOL.

He also has his first loose tooth ::sniffle:: I told him he couldn't lose it while I'm away in New Orleans (but I had to make sure he knew I was joking...he's quite the literal kid).

We're spending Mother's Day at a friend's house. It's going to be tough this year. Therapy is going well--I really like her--and I'm finding things to jot down for future sessions, things that catch my eye in an article or book. It's like I'm doing a thesis on me ROFL. It's going to take a long time, but already I'm sleeping better, more "normal" hours. And I had a really good day, energy-wise, which was good for piano lessons.

The eyes are closing (thank you Restasis). Thanks for the thoughts and prayers for SB :)

The Germs march out, the Germs march in.....

My appointment with the neuro was anti-climactic. Apparently the degeneration he saw on the MRI is "normal for someone of my age". OMH I have reached "that age". But he still refuses to acknowledge that my neck has anything to do with my headaches. I'm going to get some good info on occipital neurostimulators (oh you Google it for a change lol). As of May 1st, I've had only 4 days this year without headaches.

The germs hit the house with a vengeance, this time, my dear sweet Superboy. What started out as a bad cough became an asthma flareup (which we thought was due to the fieldtrip to the zoo, because it was windy and hey, lots of animal dander). By Thursday night he was running a fever, so he went to the doctor on Friday morning. My baby has pneumonia :*( Thankfully it is just part of one lung and he is in very good spirits. His temp hit 103 last night, but meds and showers are keeping him comfy. He's annoyed by the naps, but he really does need it, he just looks so worn out.

I made GM buy him a slurpee before coming home after the docs. And when I went to pick up the antibiotics, mommy guilt hit, so I bought him a giant bag of dum-dum lollypops (one of the few companies who has a dedicated plant with none of SB's food allergies) and an Ironman action figure, plus some frozen sorbet for his sore throat.

He was bummed because he's missing a friend's bday party and his dad's last concert of the season, but we're watching movies and relaxing together. He doesn't want to miss this week's Mother's Day lunch with me at school (or any more school for that matter, he's been out at least 10 days since January. TG it's only Kindergarten).

But some round-the-clock breathing treatments is starting to help, he's not coughing so much (though when he does, ouch it hurts to watch).

OH and I found something really neat for him....growing up, I loved Fluffernutter sandwiches--peanutbutter/marshmallow fluff sandwiches. Well the only marshmallow fluff we can find in stores has allergens. But yesterday, and DQ and I scoured the clearance shelves in Target (fun!) I found Smucker's Marshmallow topping for ice cream. No allergens!! So he had his first Fluffernutter sandwich (although with Sunbutter) today and adored it :D

Jumping some hurdles

Today, I got over a few hurdles....

(Not me, I wish!!)

First, a visit to my optometrist, Dr. Fantastic. The iritis has passed woohoo!! So now I will taper off the drops for 3 weeks. The downside, I've been having extremely dry eyes lately (I had punctal plugs--silicone plugs in my tearducts--placed years ago to help with this). So he put me on Restasis again. The last time I was on it, I was wayyyy exhausted (it is an ocular form of the drug they give to organ transplant patients, basically an immue suppressant). But he gave me enough samples (and some nifty bags) to try it out before we explore other options. And I got to show off my tat, hee....turns out 2 of the ladies who work there have tats as well, so they loved it.

Then a call from the endocrinologist. I am no longer deficient in Vitamin D (yay for KAL D-3 supplements!! And they taste like peppermint too). Plus my blood calcium levels and parathyroid levels were all NORMAL. WHEW! I was really starting to wonder if I had hyperparathyroidism (which includes a benign tumor) because all the symptoms fit. Still need to stay on the supplements and keep an eye on it, but no more visits to the nice Endocrincologist.

SB's asthma kicked up today, I wonder if it's the weather/zoo trip he took yesterday. It was windy and the pollen counts have been high. Hopefully he'll feel good enough to go back to school tomorrow.

2 more appointments this week, but it feels good to get those two hurdles behind me.

Going thru the big D

Depression, folks, depression. It sucks. I forgot how bad it can make you feel. Makes me wish for the good ol' days of just CFS and Fibro.

On the upside....DQ was confirmed today. There was some sadness that my MIL couldn't be here--she was looking forward to it--but going out to lunch afterwards with my FIL and BIL was really nice. Both of them are doing as well as can be expected, much better than I. OOH and ran into my Blogging/IRL friend Amanda (It's All About the Walls) too, so awesome to see her.

This week is a stellar week for appointments--eye appt on Tuesday (recheck for Iritis, and I have to bring up the extreme dry eye/blurriness I've been having yay); dentist on Wednesday (routine cleaning but even that makes me hurt); Neurologist on Thursday (to discuss the degeneration he spotted in my neck MRI).

At least the week will end well, DQ is participating in another spelling bee through our school's denomination, it's for the region so it's a big deal. She had to miss the county spelling bee due to her trip to the Keys, so she's excited.

I'm bummed, SB has a field trip to the zoo tomorrow, and I'm just not up to chaperoning (stomach bug marches on....). But I'm hoping to make up for it when we go to New Orleans by going to the Audubon Zoo.

And I LURVE my new camera--I pooled my birthday money--it's a Canon S5 IS. Got a good deal on Amazon and even though I need to learn the bazillion buttons all over, it's wicked cool. Like I can film something and take a still shot at the same time. Takes pictures faster too, can't wait to try it out at Judo. I'm familiar with alot of it--our other camera is a Canon Powershot. But I wanted one like this so that eventually I'll be good enough to get a Rebel.

Ok, my eyes feel like the Sahara, that's my cue to get off the 'puter. Night all!

Playlist for a Healing, Hurting Heart

Some tracks make me feel better, others help me cry.

1. Symphony #3 in c minor by Camille Saint-Saens, 4th mvmnt....Heard at Epcot's "France" exhibit and in the movie "Babe". One of my MIL's faves.
2. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, sung by Hawaiian legend Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
3. I vow to Thee My Country, sung by Charlotte Church (theme from "Jupiter" another favorite of my MIL's)
4. Amazing Grace, Charlotte Church
5. With a Little Help from my Friends--Beatles/Across the Universe sndtrk....I am still standing because of my friends :*)
6. Let it Be--ATU....also a huge comfort to DQ
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps--ATU
8. Across the Universe--ATU
9. All you need is Love--ATU
10. Imagine--John Lennon
11. Blackbird--Sarah McLachlan
12. Yesterday--Beatles
13. Hey Jude--Beatles.....also a great comfort to Superboy
14. Beautiful--Christina Aguilera
15. The Voice Within--C. Aguilera
16. Mama--The Spice Girls
17. Stronger--Kanye West..."That which does not kill me, will only make me stronger"
18. La Vie en Rose--Edith Piaf
19. Wishing You were Somehow Here Again--Phantom of the Opera
20. Nearer My God to Thee--Titanic
21. Memory--Cats
22. Always on Your Side--Sheryl Crowe & Sting
23. Saviour of my Heart--Sheila Walsh
24. God is Faithful--S. Walsh...this song has gotten me through many tough times
25. Love's the Only House--Martina McBride
26. Anyway--M. McBride
27. Keep Holding On--Avril Lavigne from "Eragon"
28. Drops of Jupiter--Train...SB would *always* stop fussing as a baby when this came on
29. Calling All Angels--Train
30. Angel--Sarah McLachlan
31. Full of Grace--S. McLachlan
32. Prayer of St. Francis--S. McLachlan
33. I will Remember You--S. McLachlan
34. Hedwig's Theme--Harry Potter....My MIL loved and collected owls. After her death, our Barred owl came one night when I'd been sobbing. I took it as a sign, a "messenger owl" from her. He's come to call on other nights and I feel comforted. I'm planning on getting an owl tattoo in her memory.
35. God Help the Outcasts--Hunchback of Notre Dame
36. You'll be in my Heart--Tarzan
37. When She Loved Me--Sarah McLachlan, "Toy Story 2"
38. Skin (Sarabeth)--Rascal Flatts....this song especially makes me and DQ cry now
39. Stand--Rascal Flatts
40. God's Will--Martina McBride
41. Over the Rainbow--M. McBride...I love both versions so much I had to put both on my playlist
42. Organ Symphony #5 in f minor, 5th movement--Charles-Marie Widor....this was the postlude to my MIL's memorial service, another favorite
43. Clair de Lune--Debussey
44. Climb Every Mountain--Sound of Music
45. Near to You--A Fine Frenzy
46. Cold Day in July--Dixie chicks
47. Make it Go Away (Radiation song)--Sheryl Crowe (who battled breast cancer)
48. Go the Distance--Hercules
49. Feels like Home--Chantal Kreviazuk
50. Bridge Over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel
51. And So it Goes--Billy Joel
52. Lullabye--B. Joel
53. To Where You Are--Josh Groban
54. You Raise Me Up--J. Groban
55. Let Me Fall--J. Groban
56. The Prayer--Charlotte Church/Josh Groban
57. Home--Michael Buble
58. When I get Where I'm going--Brad Paisley/Dolly Parton
59. If You Want me To--Ginny Owens
60. I'll Stand by You--Carrie Underwood
61. On Eagle's Wings--Michael Crawford
62. The Final Fight--Buffy the Vampire Slayer

There will probably be a few more added here and there.....

The Return of the Germs

So now I have Superboy's stomach bug. Joy.

I had a good therapy session yesterday. The counselor they assigned me is very nice and compassionate. I think this is really going to help. I was so very drained afterwards I conked out for most of the day (my energy levels are still practically zero). Had a good talk with my BIL (who is doing well, considering). And then The Bug hit. Ugh.

Today I met with the endocrinologist to discuss my vitamin D deficiency. Adored him. I think he was younger than me. How sad is that? That is always a bit of a shocker to me. Anyway.

He is running a bunch of tests, repeat on my vit. D levels, plus blood calcium levels and my parathyroid (vicious circle--vit D affects the parathyroid which affects vit D. Chicken and egg and all that). I've never been to an endo before, so he's my favorite LOL. More wait and see until the results come back, and we'll know whether to keep up what I'm doing with my supplements, or if I need a stronger dose, or if we need to do anything with my parathyroid.

Came home to a very pleasant surprise......our next door neighbor had mowed our front lawn for us. His adult son who lives at home has edged our sidewalk for about a year. And we bring up each other's trashcans from the curb. His wife was my massage therapist for awhile, until we realized it was causing more pain (and after my recent neck results we know why).

Right after my MIL passed away, our lawn got a bit overgrown, but we were so overwhelmed, it was the last thing on our "to do" list (even though we have a NASTY pervy neighbor on the other side who will report you to code enforcement if you have one weed approaching an inch). Well, our lovely neighbor mowed it then too.

So we had a nice chat with him today and thanked him profusely. Found out he and his wife are both out of work, he has a bad back, and yet, after finding out about my MIL, wanted to know if there was anything they could do for us. ::Thud:: I can't believe how blessed we are. We got him a gatorade (the least we could do) and are planning on getting them a gift card to thank him.

It's things like this that keep me going.