Monday, December 29, 2008
Quick update
For those of you wondering, my mom goes into surgery on January 14th. She is doing so much better mentally than I ever expected, and I am so proud of her. She is even going on vacation this week with my dad, and I pray she can sit back and enjoy it a little. She is still in a lot of pain most of the time, so the cancer never seems to let her forget, but I am hoping some time away from the routine of life lets her have some fun!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Santa is fun!
So, amidst all the health fun in my family, I have been trying to enjoy Christmas time with Munchi as much as possible. He is at the age where he does not understand everything, but a lot of things are really exciting. One of those things being Santa. He loves him! We talk about him all the time, and love looking at pictures of him. We read books about him and about baby Jesus. He has a baby doll whose name goes between Santa and Baby Jesus on a regular basis. Though the love is true, he has never wanted to go see Santa up close by himself. After Thanksgiving we saw him once and he would only go near him if Daddy came to (see post below about boredom = family time). Anyway, I have taken him to the mall with me several times this holiday season, and all he is willing to do is admire his Santa from afar, then talk about him the whole way home.
So last week during the torrential rain, Munchi was going stir crazy, so I packed him up early one morning and took him to the mall just as it was opening. We finished our shopping, and as we were leaving I noticed Santa had arrived. As usual, I took him to admire him from afar. But the mall was deserted, and Santa was bored. So he started talking to Munchi, offering him a candy cane, a stuffed penguin, anything to get him to come over to say hi. Eventually, the were engaged in a game of catch with the penguin, but we could still not convince him to sit in his lap, or even come close enough to hand him back the penguin. So, we left to get a pretzel at a near by stand. We were sitting at the table having our snack, when who came and sat at the table next to us? SANTA! Munchi almost jumped out of his skin with excitement. Within the next ten minutes, Munchi was sitting in Santa's lap at the table, sharing his pretzel with him! And no, I have no pictures to prove it, because he was a professional Santa and they did not allow any personal pictures to be taken :( Anyway, Santa had to go, because other kids had showed up for pictures. When the line subsided again, I took Munchi back over to visit. And this time he JUMPED into Santa's lap! Santa read him the Night Before Christmas and they played with the penguin some more, which Munchi got to bring home with him.
Here is the only picture taken of the whole event, showing Munchi having the time of his life. I really will never forget it!
So last week during the torrential rain, Munchi was going stir crazy, so I packed him up early one morning and took him to the mall just as it was opening. We finished our shopping, and as we were leaving I noticed Santa had arrived. As usual, I took him to admire him from afar. But the mall was deserted, and Santa was bored. So he started talking to Munchi, offering him a candy cane, a stuffed penguin, anything to get him to come over to say hi. Eventually, the were engaged in a game of catch with the penguin, but we could still not convince him to sit in his lap, or even come close enough to hand him back the penguin. So, we left to get a pretzel at a near by stand. We were sitting at the table having our snack, when who came and sat at the table next to us? SANTA! Munchi almost jumped out of his skin with excitement. Within the next ten minutes, Munchi was sitting in Santa's lap at the table, sharing his pretzel with him! And no, I have no pictures to prove it, because he was a professional Santa and they did not allow any personal pictures to be taken :( Anyway, Santa had to go, because other kids had showed up for pictures. When the line subsided again, I took Munchi back over to visit. And this time he JUMPED into Santa's lap! Santa read him the Night Before Christmas and they played with the penguin some more, which Munchi got to bring home with him.
Here is the only picture taken of the whole event, showing Munchi having the time of his life. I really will never forget it!
My health
After finding out my mom had cancer (see blog below), my health issues slipped from my mind, but some have been asking for an update, so here you go. After getting all my tests results back, we have confirmed that I have acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome, most likely brought on by my eating habits, stress and my weight. All my test results came back clean (no diabetes, no high cholesterol, no cancer), so my doctor and I agreed that I just need to loose weight (no big revelation there, but having your doctor lecture you on it makes it a little more real.) So, here is the plan. Stay on meds for a very long time for my stomach, until I can get all my weight off, exercise 6 days a week, eventually leading up to sweating heavily for an hour each of those days, and following the South Beach Diet. Oh, and cutting out all caffeine. So, I have already cut down on my caffeine to one cup a day. I plan to phase it out completely at the first of the year. I am also walking 6 times a week for about 45 minutes. While I am not sweating yet, I am working on the habit of doing something all the time. Unfortunately, my only exercise plan has been walking, so rain has been putting a big damper on that plan, so I need to find something else I can do in the house on the days it rains, that is low impact to start. At the first of the year, I am going to gradually add in high impact cardio and two days of weight lifting. I think it will take me until about the end of April before I am officially doing one hour a day of full blown sweating, 6 days a week. As of January 2nd, I will be starting the South Beach Diet. I feel fully committed, and for some reason think my will power is back. I am currently reading the South Beach Diet book and plan to purge the entire kitchen the week after Christmas, and stock up on all the needed food for success. I am also going to be buying a food journal, walking shoes and a weight training video. So, wish me luck in the year to come. My doctor is helping me stay realistic, and is hoping for 40 pounds off over the next year. Obviously, I hope for more, but I am going to be satisfied with whatever comes. My focus now is on overall health, and not just my weight. I want to have energy again. And I want to be able to really PLAY with Munchi this summer, you know?
For those of you interested in my inspiration (besides my doctor), I am reading the South Beach Diet, and Younger Next Year. While Younger Next Year is geared towards those over 50, it talks about the benefits of regular exercise on your health overall, and how to feel young, fit and energized your entire life. It is quite inspiring.
Here is to a healthy New Year!
For those of you interested in my inspiration (besides my doctor), I am reading the South Beach Diet, and Younger Next Year. While Younger Next Year is geared towards those over 50, it talks about the benefits of regular exercise on your health overall, and how to feel young, fit and energized your entire life. It is quite inspiring.
Here is to a healthy New Year!
Cancer Scare
We found out on Thursday that my mom has uterus cancer. All we know as of now is that they believe it is stage 1, and that she will need a hysterectomy. She is meeting with the surgeon tomorrow to discuss the procedure, to determine what she thinks the outcome might be, and to decide on a surgery date. For my mom's mental health, we are hoping for the surgery to be very soon.
Seriously, this has taken me by surprise. Not necessarily the cancer, but how scared I am. I have had many issues with my mom over the years, and always assumed once I had kids we would only grow further apart, as I did not want my kids around the toxins I grew up with. But she is an amazing grandmother, and has been working hard to learn how to respect me as a parent, and understand my boundaries. Munchi thinks the world of her, and so the last two years have really brought us together. And I have come to realize with all her emotional baggage, she is still the glue that holds our family together. She makes the holiday feasts, happily hosts MANY playdates throughout the year where the cousins can come together, and the parents can get a little bit of a break and not have to cook for one night! She is generous to a fault with her time and with her money. She is the only reason my dad knows anything going on with us or the grandkids. I really do not know how I would function as a parent without her now. She gives me help and support I never expected and I would miss her so much if she was not here. I know that the outlook is extremely optimistic, and that after the surgery this whole thing should be behind us. But it has made me only appreciate my mom even more, and to realize how much I need to tell her that more often. And it has finally allowed to to forgive everything in the past and to love her just as she is. Because the alternative of just not having her is just too devastating.
For those of you out there who pray, please keep her and our family in your prayers.
I LOVE YOU MOM!
Seriously, this has taken me by surprise. Not necessarily the cancer, but how scared I am. I have had many issues with my mom over the years, and always assumed once I had kids we would only grow further apart, as I did not want my kids around the toxins I grew up with. But she is an amazing grandmother, and has been working hard to learn how to respect me as a parent, and understand my boundaries. Munchi thinks the world of her, and so the last two years have really brought us together. And I have come to realize with all her emotional baggage, she is still the glue that holds our family together. She makes the holiday feasts, happily hosts MANY playdates throughout the year where the cousins can come together, and the parents can get a little bit of a break and not have to cook for one night! She is generous to a fault with her time and with her money. She is the only reason my dad knows anything going on with us or the grandkids. I really do not know how I would function as a parent without her now. She gives me help and support I never expected and I would miss her so much if she was not here. I know that the outlook is extremely optimistic, and that after the surgery this whole thing should be behind us. But it has made me only appreciate my mom even more, and to realize how much I need to tell her that more often. And it has finally allowed to to forgive everything in the past and to love her just as she is. Because the alternative of just not having her is just too devastating.
For those of you out there who pray, please keep her and our family in your prayers.
I LOVE YOU MOM!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Health Issues
So, I finally went to the doctor yesterday for a physical, due to CHRONIC health issues I have been having over the last two years, many that have gotten worse in the last month. No surprise to find out my heart palpitations and disgusting stomach issues are caused by stress and caffeine intake. Because I can do nothing to ward off the stress (no job in sight for husband, no relief in site for marriage), I have cut my caffeine down to once a day already. Today was okay, but we will see what I am like by the end of the week. WARNING ALL FAMILY MEMBERS READING: Saturday will be 5 days on no or low caffeine intake. Do not take my attitude problem too personally. I had an EKG, breath test, and hand x-ray yesterday and will be doing the 2 hour fasting diabetes test and other blood work next Tuesday, then returning to the doctor in about two weeks for results.
The reason for this health update (besides the need for a lot of prayer): about two months ago, my friend Carebear and I were laughing about this random blog we read where the lady (who happens to be much older than us) was describing a time when she was in Target and felt a sudden BM of the worrisome type come on. The feeling was so strong that she was afraid to move, as something might release itself, so she was screaming for her husband to come help her to the restroom. Carebear and I thought this story was hilarious and hoped we never had to grow old. Flash forward to today..... I am at Henry's shopping with Munchi. We are about half way done when the sharp pains in my stomach start, a familiar feeling lately that never leads to anywhere good. All I can think is I have to finish shopping, and that Henry's is about 15 minutes away from my house. Can I survive another 30 minutes without literally sh***ing myself? I decide to go for it. Now, I get through Henry's okay, without it being too noticable I am in digestive distress, I think. But the ride hope starts getting really iffy. I keep telling myself I have leather seats, so if anything does happen, it is an easy clean up. And wouldn't you know that we started home right when school got out? And there are 5 (count them 5) schools on our way home. Which means stopping for cross walks and going 25 mph the ENTIRE way home. It took my a half an hour to get to the house. I don't think I have ever gotten Munchi out of his car seat so fast in my life. I literally threw him in the living room amongst his cars and hit the bathroom. While NONE of this was funny at the time, it makes me laugh thinking of the conversation with Carebear, and realizing old age has already hit me, at 33.....
The reason for this health update (besides the need for a lot of prayer): about two months ago, my friend Carebear and I were laughing about this random blog we read where the lady (who happens to be much older than us) was describing a time when she was in Target and felt a sudden BM of the worrisome type come on. The feeling was so strong that she was afraid to move, as something might release itself, so she was screaming for her husband to come help her to the restroom. Carebear and I thought this story was hilarious and hoped we never had to grow old. Flash forward to today..... I am at Henry's shopping with Munchi. We are about half way done when the sharp pains in my stomach start, a familiar feeling lately that never leads to anywhere good. All I can think is I have to finish shopping, and that Henry's is about 15 minutes away from my house. Can I survive another 30 minutes without literally sh***ing myself? I decide to go for it. Now, I get through Henry's okay, without it being too noticable I am in digestive distress, I think. But the ride hope starts getting really iffy. I keep telling myself I have leather seats, so if anything does happen, it is an easy clean up. And wouldn't you know that we started home right when school got out? And there are 5 (count them 5) schools on our way home. Which means stopping for cross walks and going 25 mph the ENTIRE way home. It took my a half an hour to get to the house. I don't think I have ever gotten Munchi out of his car seat so fast in my life. I literally threw him in the living room amongst his cars and hit the bathroom. While NONE of this was funny at the time, it makes me laugh thinking of the conversation with Carebear, and realizing old age has already hit me, at 33.....
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