Getting Ready for Vacation

Why is it that getting ready for a vacation is so stressful? Shouldn't we be anticipating the break from the norm. Instead I find myself going into compulsion mode. I try to get the house clean, everyone packed, the car loaded and the animals taken care of the night before. Though I always find myself running around the house the next day packing more things "we need" and taking up more space than we should. This is usually because I have spent the day cleaning the house and all I want to do is relax in the evening. I realize that I will have all day tomorrow but since we are going to be driving at night I would like to get a nap in so that it is a safe trip. I don't want to spend the afternoon packing instead. Matt will be working tomorrow so he is of no help then. And he gets even more stressed than I do. He gets very antsy about leaving home and leaving the cats. If he had it his way he would travel very little, but since family is in Tennessee what else can we do? I wish we could be less stressed and not feed off of each other so much. It will get better once we are off, but it is the get ready that is so bad.

See you soon.

Gabriel has started talking Smack!!!

Gabriel and his daddy were sitting on the couch. Matt wanted to watch a movie that had too many violent parts in it. I told him all he had to do was put Gabriel to bed. Matt said,"I'm not doing it. We're hanging." Gabriel looks at me and says, as he slides even closer to his dad," Yeah, We're hanging. You're one and we're two." Matt and I look at each other and start laughing. Then Matt tells Gabriel, "You're to young to start talking smack."

It looks like Gabriel will be up for a while.

Well, I called the doctor today to find out the results of my CT scan. She said their was a small hernia but it was below the belly button. (Probably in the area of my C-section scar.) She said the scan did not show anything in the area that caused me to go to the doctor in the first place. She did say that in that area there was a thicker looking muscle tissue. I guess I will have to wait to find out what is going on when I have my appointment (july 12th). There is definetly something there. The doctor even said so when I saw him. The nurse I spoke to did not have any answers for me and said the doctor had not seen the results yet. I'd really like to know what it is so I can relax a little. I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer.

We had an enjoyable visit with some friends on their way to Knoxville, TN from South Bend, IN. They have been married for just over a year and seem very happy despite all the misfortunes they have encountered along the way. I am very happy to say that Steve will be having his last chemo treatment next Thursday and he looks clear. They found out he had cancer shortly after their beautiful baby girl was born. I am glad that things are looking up for them.

After they left we enjoyed swimming in the pool for a couple of hours before lunch and naptime. We have had a very enjoyable weekend so far. In a few minutes my son and I will be making homemade ice cream. I have not done this in years and I am looking forward to it. I have very fond memories of my mother making homemade ice cream and just the anticipation of it was, I think, the most rewarding.

Does anyone have any good homemade ice cream recipes they would like to share?

I hope eveyone has a wonderful weekend!!!!

Today is my niece's 12th Birthday. It's hard to imagine how much she has grown from the little girl of 2 I met when visiting with my husband's family for the first time. She is growing into such a beautiful young lady with a kind and loving heart. She is at camp for her birthday this year. I hope it is a good one. Happy Birthday!!!

Why is it that a house can never stay clean. No matter how hard you try there is always something that needs to be picked up or put away. I'm not talking about all the nitty gritty stuff just keeping it presentable for people who drop by. I only have two kids who come behind me creating disaster. I can't imagine what families larger have to do to keep it picked up. When ever I complain about this to my husband he looks at me and says, "And you want to have more kids?" My answer is,"Duh, Why do you think I keep mentioning it to you. I'll wear you down at some point."

That's just my gripe for the week. Anyone else have the same problem?

CAT scans are no fun.

I had my CAT scan today, with a barium contrast. For those of you who have had this done you already know it's awful stuff. I wasn't bad at first, what is really the problem is the amount you have to consume (900mL). What the doctor's office didn't tell me was that I would have a iodine IV as well. I hate needles. And why is it that they never listen to you about your veins. Ever since giving blood in high school the same veins have been used. I realized she was going for a vein on my forearm and mentioned that everyone always use a different one. She said, "This one looks better." The needle did not fit so this meant she had to stick me a second time. If she had only listened I would not have a huge bruise my three year old keeps point at and saying, "Mommy has a hurt." In the end she ended up using the vein I'd shown her in the first place.

It's my turn now.

First my husband has surgery and now it may be my turn. Tomorrow I have an appointment for a CAT scan. I picked up my Barium that I have to drink. I will have to consume 900 mL within 2 hours. That's a lot. We will find out if I have a hernia or something else causing the buldge in my belly. Hopefully with this we will be a healthy family for a while without any surgeries.