My Day Yesterday

Megan's Lyrical Dance

Megan is in Dance class at school. Her group had to make up a lyrical dance and then perform it at the High School Dance team competition last night. They did a great job, although some of the girls were really nervous. They had a great time and it was fun to watch. Here they are walking off the dance floor after it was all over. They were so happy it was done.

Megan and another girl are doing great. I am not sure what happened to the two girls in the back. I think they got confused on the choreography at this point.

I had to put in one back shot just for fun. The shirts represent fire. Yellow, orange, and red.

Some are dancing and some are not. Some are just looking around. I was not sure if this was part of the lyrical dance, but they managed to pull it off and look good.

This is the beginning. I know I am out of order, but hey, at least I managed to get the pictures in the blog today. Megan loves to dance and is so proud of her abilities. She shows us daily all of her routines and choreography. We have a lot of fun with her. She hurt her foot last night and swears her toe is broken, but it looks the same to me. I guess tomorrow we will go and have it x-rayed just to make sure. I told her that is the life of a dancer. Broken toes and ugly feet.

I'm Finally Breathing Again!

I went to the doctor today and he removed the splints in my nose. I did very well until he pulled out the second one. Then the room started to spin and I became faint, nauseated, and had 'stuff ' running down the back of my throat. It was horrible (and painful) all at the same time. The doctor kept saying it was normal and if I was lucky I wouldn't faint or throw-up. I wasn't so sure, but in the end I was lucky. It just took about a half hour for me to stop feeling puky. But...the end result is that I can breathe today!! I had my doubts all week, but not after today. It feels amazing (as well as a little painful), although that should go away after everything heals. Even though I can breathe remarkably well, I still do not recommend sinus surgery unless you are dying.

Tiger

My dog Tiger loves when the boys come to visit. Yesterday, he just seemed a little too relaxed and calm when the boys showed up. I questioned this, but then we had other things to do (and I did not feel that well) so I never metioned it again. I did notice he did not wrestle when the boys did, and he just layed around most of the day. This is very unusual for my dog. The point I am making is this: Today...

Tiger went outside and aimlessly rolled around in dog poop, again!??! What???? Have you ever known a dog to do that? He hates water and yet he held perfectly still for his bath. What??? Then he pukes all over my kitchen floor. What??? Then he won't eat his dinner with his favorite human food. What???

I am about to call the vet because I think the dog is either senile and sick, or something is wrong and then all of a sudden he perks up and now he is acting like himself again. What???

I guess my 11 yr old dog is having a mid-life crisis mixed with a touch of the flu?

Friends

We love our friends! Brad, Jeff, and Cynda came to visit today. They came up from Dallas to spend the day with us. The girls thought they had died and gone to heaven. We went to lunch, the movies, and just enjoyed one another's company. When it was time to go home, they did not want to part one another's company. I love the fact they have grown up together, they look so cute, and they have so much fun when they are together. There was a lot of laughter today! My girls think I look like a train wreck, but the boys were more polite about it. I could not put any make-up on because of my nose and I just could not hide the black and blue and swollen face with out make-up. I also had a hard time laughing today. It hurt terribly. Try laughing and not move your nose. It is tough, but worth it today. We had fun and we are glad our friends came to visit. Brad and Michala are already planning our next visit. Next month will be your house Brad.

Scavenger Hunt

Yesterday, I was going to take the girls shopping. Just before we left the house the phone rang and it was their friends asking if they could spend the day with them. Of course I said "Yes" and off they went for a delightful day of fun with the girls. The luck of the Irish was on my side! I stayed home and soaked up the sun in the backyard with my book and bottle of Tylenol. (No more heavy drugs for me)
Today, I was not let off of the hook, and I took the girls to the mall. We enjoyed a couple of hours of shopping before I pooped out with a major headache and nose drips (which embarassed the girls). We came home and Michala put Megan to work on the scavenger hunt she had made up a couple of days ago. It took her forever to find the answers to all of the clues. Go Michala on making out the hard clues.

Michala started getting bored so she serenaded us while Megan tried to figure out more clues.

Finally! Megan found the last clue and Michala was thrilled. It only took several hours and many laughs. You gotta love sisters!! I am grateful that these two are best friends!

Michala's Room

We finished Michala's room awhile ago and I never posted the finished product. She did a fantastic job painting. She loves the new look. I only took a picture of half the room. You can't see the beautiful mirror and armoire on the other side of the room. She now feels like a teenager instead of a little girl. It is still hard for me to believe my baby is 12! She informed this morning (I already knew and rewarded her appropriately) that today marks the one month anniversary of her making her bed every single day for one month straight. I hope she continues the trend now that it has become a habit!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We love to celebrate everything green today. My girls have had fun since they were little on this day. They think it is almost like April Fool's Day. They will be so surprised when they finally get out of bed this morning and I am ready to take them to the mall! They will think this is the best day ever! I love those little things in life that make you happy.

Spring Break

I am usually thrilled for time off of school to spend it with my girls shopping, swimming, playing, and generally having fun together. This spring break I can barely breathe, I am in pain, grumpy, and have a three inch plastic splint up my nose that I have to irrigate 20 times a day. Do you see my dilemma? I am trying to see my girls point of view and I get it! So....today, I am getting dressed, showered, and putting on my happy face (I wonder if I can find it) and I am taking the girls shopping. They both need some new clothes desperately. Maybe if it makes me feel better, and I do alright I may take them to the movies tomorrow. Then, the rest of the week we are going to the backyard to soak up some rays of sunshine that have come to Texas. Maybe Spring Break won't be such a bust after all....

Fistfight

Yesterday I got into my first fistfight ever.......with myself....Can you believe it?!? I must have had one too many painkillers, because I somehow reached up and punched myself in the nose. It hurt like crazy!! I had a headache for hours and I am still feeling the effects of the punch this morning. My nose has not fully recovered yet and I feel like a complete idiot. Rich and the girls have been laughing and trying to figure out exactly what happened. I was incoherent, drugged, and in a lot of pain. That's what happened! (Maybe) Now I may have a black eye and I am sitting on my hands for the rest of the day! What a week this has been.....Please tell me someone else has had something this crazy happen to them.

A Little Bit of Heaven

These flowers arrived yesterday from Rich's dad. They are beautiful. When the doorbell rang and the woman brought these beautiful flowers inside, it was a nice surprise. It was a tough day yesterday, as far as recovery, and they were a bright spot in my day. Thank you Jay for thinking of me.

Surgery Update

Thank you for all your prayers and support. My surgery went well. The doctor said everything went according to plan, except I had more blockage in my sinuses than the MRI showed and he cleared out my 'turbinates' in the back of my sinuses. This has been a painful recovery and next week the doctor will remove the splints he left in my nose. So, for now I still cannot breathe, but I look forward to it next week. They were able to do the entire surgery with tiny instruments so I feel blessed there are no incisions on my face at all. I also have no black eyes or bruising. I have been very lucky. The girls took pictures in the hospital because they thought I looked hilarious and I was funny after they gave me morphine, but I cannot post them because I look dead. They are still laughing at me. Such funny girls I have. : )

Breathing is overrated

Here is recent picture of my nose. It seems to be working just fine from outward appearances. What you don't see from the picture is that I really can't breathe out of my nose at all. The airways are completely blocked thanks to a deviated septum gone awry. I have become the dreaded mouth breather and snorer! I have even gone so far as to hold the side of my face at night up so that I can get a better airway at night to breathe. This has a downside, of course. It has caused a permanent wrinkle on the side of my face. My kids tease me everday about holding up my face and causing premature wrinkles. This has forced me to the dreaded septiplasty, PRIT, surgery tomorrow. I have been putting it off forever because of what they do to you. Just for those who have a sensitive stomach, stop reading now. I have given the Wikipedia version of the surgery with the picture of the splints they sew into your nose to hold it together after they fix the deviated septum part. I am anxious and nervous, but it will be nice to breathe again. It has been a real problem lately, and I will be glad to have the painful part over. I am also thankful for anesthesia! Here are the splints they put in the nose. (I am glad I am not a doctor)

Septoplasty
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Septoplasty is a corrective surgical procedure done to straighten the nasal septum, the partition between the two nasal cavities. Ideally, the septum should run down the center of the nose. When it deviates into one of the cavities, it narrows that cavity and impedes airflow. Often the inferior turbinate on the opposite side enlarges, which is termed compensatory hypertrophy. Nasal obstructions caused by serious deviations frequently lead to chronic sinus problems. Turbinate reduction may also be advised to further enlarge the nasal cavities. If turbinate resection is indicated special care should be taken to avoid over-resection leading to Empty nose syndrome. Most surgeries are completed in 90 minutes or less, not including recovery time.

Typical flexible splints that may be used in septoplasty. They are held in place in the nose with a stitch through the hole, and are typically removed seven to 10 days after surgery.

[edit] Procedure
Because the deviation is a result of a cartilage and/or bone surplus, the procedure usually involves an excision of a portion of those tissues. Under general or local anesthesia, the surgeon works through the nostrils, making an incision in the lining of the septum to reach the cartilage targeted in the operation. Often an "L" strut of cartilage in the dorsal and caudal areas (1cm width or more) is preserved for structural support. After excess cartilage and bone have been taken out, the septum may then be stabilized with small plastic tubes, splints, or sutures.

Are You A Bucket Filler?

This is a great book for both kids and adults. It talks about filling peoples buckets with kindness. Are you being kind or mean? Do you say things to people that bring them happiness or sadness? If you bring that person happiness you are a bucket filler. If you bring them sadness then you are a 'bucket dipper'. Is your personal bucket empty or full? Are you a bucket filler, or a bucket dipper? It stops and makes you think about how you treat people everyday. This is great book for all ages. I recommend everyone have a copy of this book and we all become bucket fillers!

"Bucket fillers" are those who help without being asked, give hugs and compliments, and generally spread their love and good feelings to others. "Bucket dippers" rob us of happy feelings by refusing to help with a task or by saying or doing cruel things.
Here is the website: http://www.bucketfillers101.com/

TAKS Mania

Today was TAKS day in Texas. I administered my first TAKS writing test today. Megan had her writing TAKS today and Michala had her TAKS benchmark today. It was exhausting! I took the girls to get Bahama Bucks (shaved ice) after school to relieve some stress. They are in bed now, by choice. I am headed there now. What a long day!

Moxie Melon Bagolita

Here is my newest purse. My lovely Bagolita. I love it! It fits my needs, my personality, and best of all it is fun!

My Greatest Gift

On Friday at work, a woman was going around, and asking everyone what was the greatest gift their husband or wife had ever given them. (apparently, she had been given a gift she did not like and was taking a survey to get a list of great gift ideas to take to her husband) Without hesitation, I said the greatest gift Rich has ever given me are my children. She just stared at me for a moment. There was a long akward pause, and then she started to cry. She wanted to know why it was my greatest gift and why I had answered so quickly. Everyone else had to think it over and most answers were of a material nature. Rich has given me many wonderful gifts over the years. Don't get me wrong. I am a succor for diamond rings, weekend trips alone with him, and love notes. This woman asked me what was the greatest gift, and I immediately thought the greatest gift he has ever given me are my children. We talked for awhile and then she left with a whole new perspective on gifts. I am grateful for my three gifts and I love them.