Monday, January 26, 2009

A Couple of Favorite Songs

I love Bon Jovi, I never get tired of hearing their songs. And no matter how old they get, they just get keep getting better looking (in my opinion). So here's a few of my more recent faves......






Had to add this one, because Jon looks HOT!!!! And Amanda likes this song - she really has no idea how great and awesome this song is, does she? She had to be there, to sit in front of the tv and wait for it to come on MTV and then when it finally came on all you could do was sit there watching it drooling because the guys were so hot. Yeah, she really has no idea, huh?

Sunday, January 25, 2009

My Health

Just wanted to put this all out there for those that have asked me about it. I have HYPERthyroidism. I've had it for years. I was taking pills for it (3 pills, 3x day), but I hated taking them so I stopped. So in effect, I caused this to get as bad as it has. I was chalking my symptons up to other causes:

My eyes bug me all the time, I have blurry, double vision - I thought it was because I'm allergic to our cat - but it is my thyroid

Anxiety, irritabilty (me being a crab), I thought it was anxiety from being depressed - nope it's my thyroid

Non existant menstrual cycles, I thought it was because I had a tubal, but it was my thyroid.

Muscle weakness in my arms and legs (causing me to fall down stairs or having my legs give out from under me), I thought I was clumsy, but my muscles are weak and tired from my thyroid.

My hair falling out in clumps, my nervousness, and hand tremors, my heart palpitations, can't stand being too hot, me craving calcium rich foods (cheese, millk etc) the way my eyes always hurt, and feel irritated, my itchy skin (rash on my arms and legs) and unexplained bruises---- it's all from my thyroid. Who would have thought that something so small could control and screw up so many things.

If you are close enough to me, you can see how my neck looks swollen, it's actually my thyroid that's enlarged (a goiter). And sometimes my eyes will look weird too

Since seeing the endocrinologist, I will to have to schedule some new blood work and scans, since my other tests were old and then he will make a decision about what treatment to go with. So far, he thinks radioiodine therapy will work the best. Basically, instead of having my thyroid surgically removed or take another type of pill, they will do the therapy to "shrink" my thyroid. I have never done this before. The doctor said everything is done by outpatient (which works out great with the kids). He did say I won't be able to hold the kids or kiss them or work and have anyone too close to my neck a few days afterwards. There is also the risk of me becoming hypo (thyroid). So, say a prayer and think good thoughts that everything will all turn out okay........

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Brothers

I posted some snow pictures on my photography blog, but I wanted to post a few here as well. I thought it was really cool to see the boys working together for a common cause. If you don't have any sons, then you might not understand the dynamic of how brothers work.



Anthony being the oldest is idolized. All the younger boys follow him around everywhere he goes. Anthony usually lets his younger brothers pester him until he can't stand it anymore and needs some time to himself, usually when he's doing his homework. Anthony lets the younger boys wrestle and play with him. In this sense he has sort of taken over his dad's rough housing, since Rich can't do it anymore. Anthony is a wonderful big brother and an awesome son.




Zachary is sensitive and usually the most quiet out of the bunch. He is a great helper and he is often doing every one's chores as well as his own. He is the clown, constantly cracking silly jokes and his laugh is so infectious. If you heard him laughing, you couldn't help but laugh right along. He is also the task master, he will make sure everyone gets up and out the door for school every morning. He makes every one's lunch as well. He is a wonderful boy filled with much joy.



Nicholas is the typical boy who was used to the spotlight when another little boy came along. It is very hard for him, even still, to see his little brother getting more attention than him. He is the most bull headed person. No child of mine has ever been as stubborn as him. It takes forever to get him up in the morning and ready for school. We give him alot of slack though, because he was our sick baby. We love our little man with all our hearts, he has endured more than any child should.



Nathan is the most adored child in our house. Everyone loves him, everyone plays with him, everyone dotes him with affection. He is adorable. The most beautiful little spirit resides in him. He is very curious about the world around him, wanting to explore everything. He is also the clingiest little one I've ever had (even compared to Sarah). He cries everytime I leave for work and breaks my heart with his tears and sad goodbyes. He is the miracle our family needed to be complete.





There are lots of fights and wrestling and sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference between the two. There is also alot of love and the knowledge that if you really need your brother, you can bet your life on the fact that he will be there with you. That's the kind of love that makes my heart happy to be the mother of four brothers.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

I hate snow!

Ok, so I don't hate it per say, I do like looking at it (from the inside of a toasty house). I hate driving in snow, it freaks me out. No, I'm not one of those drivers who go ten miles an hour, but it does scare me when I don't know if there is ice under all that snow.

This morning when I got up, I realized that I have to go to the store to buy our normal daily things (bread, milk, etc.). I looked out the window and my car's buried, the driveway needs shoveled and now I'm worried about not only having to get to the store, but getting to work this afternoon too. Maybe I'll ask Rich to drive me to work and home. He doesn't mind when I ask him. I think it might have something to do with the male species wanting to protect and take care of their own, you know?

But, here I sit waiting for Anthony and Zachary to wake up, so they can go shovel out my car. I can't do it myself, because my asthma is always worse in the winter and I'm not taking the chance of getting bronchitis, if I don't have to. If the trip to the store doesn't scare the crap out of me, then I'll probably risk it and drive to work. Man, I hate driving in the snow! Did I mention that I hate snow?!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

New Link!!!

I finally decided to make my weight loss blog public. Check it out if you have time! It's basically pictures, stories and food journals, but if my struggle helps anyone who is trying to lose weight, then I'll suck it up and let people read it. The link is on the side bar.

Muah!

Earlier today I stubbed my toe on the vacuum cleaner that was in the middle of the floor. As I stood there holding my foot complaining, Nathan said "I'm not kissing that!".

I said "Fine, next time you get hurt, mommy's not kissing your boo boo."

About five minutes later he was jumping off the couch and hurt his nose and came running up to me rubbing his nose. And said "I'll kiss your foot now." :D

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

I just have to, that's why!

On the way home from the store this morning, Nathan declared that he was going to go to sleep. when I told him that we would be home in five minutes he said that he was still going to fall asleep. When I asked him why, he said I just have to, that's why!

Hmmm, now I know how annoying the answer "why" is, when you want a real answer.

Rude Attitude

So, I had to run to the grocery store this morning after the big kids went to school. I decided just to run to the closest one. We have two grocery stores in our little town, a Giant Eagle which is where I prefer to shop and a Shop and Save. I only go to the Shop and Save when I don't feel like driving the extra five minutes to get to Giant Eagle. This last year I have been very disappointed with Shop and Save. They have food that's out of date and sometimes there are rude cashiers.

Maybe I'm spoiled, but I like to have the cashier, not only check out my groceries, but place the bag in the cart. I mean afterall, I did just shop through your store, and load everything onto the conveyer belt myself, is it really too much to ask that they take the bag they are already holding and put it in the cart. Apparently it is at Shop and Save. And not only that a little "thank you, have a nice day" wouldn't hurt anyone either. Why doesn't anyone say that anymore?

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

SICK Sick sick

Yep, that's been me. Toasting in the new year with cough syrup.

I'm pretty sure I had the flu, but the good news is. I'm feeling better. I'm really hoping the rest of the fam doesn't get it. Nathan had the sniffles and a little cough, but that seems to have subsided. And Anthony got sick at school, so I had to pick him up at 9:45 in the morning yesterday. Apparently, he threw up and almost passed out. So I took him to the doctor, who said he just had the stomach flu. Anthony seems totally fine today. He goes back to school tomorrow.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Here's to 2009!!