Boys like it...

We're chatting with our neighbor this evening. He's working on his car. My Prince leans in through the open car window and says "Wow, that car smells great!" I leaned in and sniffed.

It smelled. Like a greasy, oily, smelly place where cars get fixed and wallets get leaner.

Neighbor boy explained that the car had some leaks.

I explained that my son loves the smell of gas.

Prince pops up: "Mom. I don't love the smell of all gas. Not the kind that comes out of your butt."

If you never want to be embarrassed, don't have kids.

I can't, I'm laughing too hard

I was going to post tonight, but first I had to check out Stacy from Louisville.

She's funny.

She warned me: she said to take a trip to the bathroom, and spit out any food.

I did as I was told...really.

She didn't mention ANYTHING about taking a drink of iced tea right before the end.

Which came first?

So, I'm making Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins this morning, and the Prince asks if I'm going to put chocolate in them. When I'm making a healthy recipe, I usually like to through in just enough of those extra-mini chips so the kids think they're getting a treat.

Me: On, no. I forgot to buy chocolate chips.

Prince: That's okay. If you buy a box of those chocolate chip granola bars, I'll take the chocolate chips out for you to use.

?????

Me: You will take apart store-bought granola bars so I can have an ingredient I need for home-made ones?

Him: Uh-huh.

Me: I think I'll just stop at the store after church and buy a bag...seems easier to me.

Him: Well, how do you think they got them to put them in the bags? They had to get them from somewhere.

Me: Seems to me they just make them.

Him: Oh. Never mind. Are they done yet?

Blessings in disguise

So, I don't want to be a blabbermouth, but my ex-husband lost his job. Victim of the suckonomy.

He always provided the kids' health insurance. Free of charge to him, I will add, so that you don't think he's some altruistic dude. He worked for a rockin' company that paid the ENTIRE premium, not only for employees, but their entire families. Hmmm, maybe that's why they had to have a lay-off?

Thankfully, my kids were deemed "medically needy" at the time we adopted them, and they have the extravagance of having state-provided health insurance for FREE until they turn 18, in absence of other coverage. Since it would cost about $300 per month for me to cover them, which I don't have, this is a blessing in and of itself.

But, because of this change in coverage, we had to change pediatricians. My friend Lynne recommended one.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, God.

Our former pediatrician, who I thought was pretty terrific, turns out wasn't as thorough as he could have been.

The new one, a lovely woman, ran several tests that I'd read were recommended for children "like mine" but were brushed off my the former pedi. They look healthy, right?

This is my jelly bean princess, looking happy as we had fun setting up for the EKG that we really didn't need, did we?



Thanks to MckMama and her son Stellan, I actually was familiar with the term "Right Bundle Branch Block." Or maybe it's "Right Branch Bundle Block." Whatever.

It sucks.

Hopefully, the test was wrong. And the re-test.

And the pediatric cardiologist we'll see soon will pat my hand and say, "There, there now...that was nothing."

BBB is quite common, and occurs in a variety of medical conditions. RBBB occurs in medical conditions that affect the right side of the heart or the lungs, so a finding of RBBB on the ECG ought to trigger a screening exam for such conditions. These include blood clots to the lung (pulmonary embolus), chronic lung disease, cardiomyopathy, and atrial and ventricular septal defects. However, RBBB also commonly occurs in normal, healthy individuals, and the screening exam therefore often turns up no medical problems. In these cases, the RBBB has no apparent medical significance, and can be written off as a “normal variant,” and safely ignored.

There's a change in the air

It's warm and lovely. Still, unfortunately filled with pollen, which wreaks havoc on my respiratory tract. It's been a nasty few weeks, and those of you who may have heard me talk can attest.

My bum hurts! Steroid shots HURT. LIKE. MAD. They burn. They keep me awake at night, and when I finally ease into slumber, they invade my dreams with pictures of the things I fear most.

Nebulizers freak me out. They make me think of sick old people, or frighteningly sick babies.

Trying to keep track of eight medications of my own (in addition to the ones my kids take daily) makes me feel as though I'm running a pharmacy.

And now my kids have lost their health insurance. Yup, my ex-husband lost his job, a casualty of the lack of building going on. (Lost his girlfriend, too..all within a couple days. Bummer for my kids ... they really liked this one).

I thank God that they are eligible for Medi-Cal, and they were deemed medically needy at the time of their adoption, but this necessitates a change in doctors for them. And probably a change in medications, since the ones they take aren't covered, and run about $250 a month for us now, WITH insurance. Oh, well. I'm thankful they have the coverage, as it would cost $300 to add them on at my work - which I just can't afford.

I'm not whining. I'm thankful, really.

And today the sun is out, and my kids are happy and healthy....we're off to the library, and the River Trail.

And yes, I'll have my rescue inhaler with me!

Back??

Haven't been posting much...didn't want to whine. I've been super sick.

8 (yes, that's an eight) prescriptions, Kenalog injections, breathing treatments, and I think I'm starting to feel better.

But maybe I'm just wired from the steroids.

When I got divorced, I made the attorney put in a 100 mile clause - neither me or my ex could move more than 100 miles from the other. I believe with all my heart that kids shouldn't have to fly across state lines or spend an entire day in the car just to see a parent. I wasn't thinking about me - I was worried my ex would move away.

But Redding really isn't a healthy place for me. I LOVE IT! But over a dozen bouts of bronchitis, 3 rounds of pneumonia, and innumerable sinus infections in 15 years is pushing it. No, I don't keep track - my doctor figured it out.

Oh, well. I'm here for the duration. And how can you leave a place with a view like the one above only 5 minutes from my house?