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Friday, June 25, 2010
Testing...1,2,3,. Testing......
This week was my scheduled yearly Doctor's exam. Now it looks like the next few weeks I am going to be busy. Thought I might as well post here so nobody "hears" anything that isn't correct.
First off, I have a little colon problem, I know...gross to even talk about it, but I have been having some blood for quite some time (I was actually bleeding in April '09 when I went to the hospital but we thought it was because of too much aleve and motrin), it takes spurts of being a lot of it, I honestly didn't think I was bleeding this week but when my doctor checked, I tested positive for blood in my stools. Sooo.....I am waiting for the call from another doctor's office to have a colonoscopy. This is really my only symptom that anything is wrong. Once in a while, when I am really stressed out, I have pain in my lower stomach, but it is honestly not a lot. Anyway, for those of you that will ask, it is red blood, not black, it hasn't traveled far and my doctor's best guess, off the cuff, is ulcerative colitis, something that can be managed with medication.
Next, because of my family history, I am getting a series of tests done on my heart. I am planning on them finding that NOTHING IS WRONG. My dad had his first heart attack when he was my age, he died a year later. It adds to my stress level that I worry anytime my heart gets to beating a little funny or I get short of breath, which I honestly believe is normal but we are going to find out.
I had an EEG Wednesday, along with my beloved Pap smear. Today I go have blood tests, Monday I do a treadmill stress test, Monday afternoon I get a mammogram, Tuesday I have a resting stress test and July 8th I have a sonogram of my heart.
If you are one of my praying friends, I ask that you pray we find everything healthy in my heart and that my colon is an easy fix and of course that the pap and mammo are fine, although I have never had just one mammogram, I always have two with the second one "pressing out" what the first one found.
Geesh, I guess I could think of this as a royal spa treatment, just for the inside instead of the outside....or, as I was putting it in terms Robert could understand, I am having my transmission and engine checked out.
I will keep everyone posted, but please, I know how things get around here, if you hear anybody thinking I am "sick", direct them to my post....I am just as high on life as ever!
First off, I have a little colon problem, I know...gross to even talk about it, but I have been having some blood for quite some time (I was actually bleeding in April '09 when I went to the hospital but we thought it was because of too much aleve and motrin), it takes spurts of being a lot of it, I honestly didn't think I was bleeding this week but when my doctor checked, I tested positive for blood in my stools. Sooo.....I am waiting for the call from another doctor's office to have a colonoscopy. This is really my only symptom that anything is wrong. Once in a while, when I am really stressed out, I have pain in my lower stomach, but it is honestly not a lot. Anyway, for those of you that will ask, it is red blood, not black, it hasn't traveled far and my doctor's best guess, off the cuff, is ulcerative colitis, something that can be managed with medication.
Next, because of my family history, I am getting a series of tests done on my heart. I am planning on them finding that NOTHING IS WRONG. My dad had his first heart attack when he was my age, he died a year later. It adds to my stress level that I worry anytime my heart gets to beating a little funny or I get short of breath, which I honestly believe is normal but we are going to find out.
I had an EEG Wednesday, along with my beloved Pap smear. Today I go have blood tests, Monday I do a treadmill stress test, Monday afternoon I get a mammogram, Tuesday I have a resting stress test and July 8th I have a sonogram of my heart.
If you are one of my praying friends, I ask that you pray we find everything healthy in my heart and that my colon is an easy fix and of course that the pap and mammo are fine, although I have never had just one mammogram, I always have two with the second one "pressing out" what the first one found.
Geesh, I guess I could think of this as a royal spa treatment, just for the inside instead of the outside....or, as I was putting it in terms Robert could understand, I am having my transmission and engine checked out.
I will keep everyone posted, but please, I know how things get around here, if you hear anybody thinking I am "sick", direct them to my post....I am just as high on life as ever!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Nila came last weekend to start Robert's Senior Pictures, I am extremely excited about how they are starting to turn out, of course, out of about 125 pictures, she has only let me see two. I LOVE this one! Mom thinks it's sad, but my perspective is we are watching him start to make his own way in the world.
He had some taken with his friend Trygve too. This one is just cool. Yes, she did take lots of him by himself, some I am really anxious to see, like one of him standing in the creek and one of him leaning back on the jeep.
I am hating the fact that my baby is old enough for this, but I am LOVING the pictures!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Ready
Between vacation and the conference I just attended, I am really EXCITED to get back to work. I have so many new ideas from the conference and finally feel revived and recharged enough to confront them.
I will post the rest of my pictures from San Antonio on FB probably early next week. We have a policy about facebook and company computers so I only use my phone for FB while I am gone and it is just so much easier to upload the photos from the computer.
The rest of the month of June looks to be just as busy as it started, Nila and Richard are coming tonight for the weekend, Nila is starting Robert's senior pictures. Can't wait to start seeing them!
Next week is VBS and on Saturday, some friends of mine, Robert and I are going to see Wicked!! I didn't think I would get to see it this time! Found out while I was in San Antonio that it is making a two month show at Chicago around Christmas, we may have to try to trek up there. One of the girls who sat with me at the conference has seen in 12 times. She is from Ft. Smith Arkansas and is planning on making the trip. She couldn't get to St. Louis because of too many other plans.
Also found out on my way home yesterday that there will be a trip to Springfield the last week of the month--Also fair week, then the Cantata and Ice Cream Social on Sunday afternoon of the 4th.
Of course, the bathroom project will be underway the 1st. Our cooling program runs the 19th through the 30th and I am hoping to go see Andrew's grandmother the weekend of the 30th. The next week will be our Annual School Shopping day and night at the Muny--to see Footloose. Then less than two weeks until school starts.
Then BAND!!! Let me tell you something....watch, everybody, watch close. The band is going to be AWESOME this year! I can see it, feel it, and know it. The best thing is the kids know it. I have never seen them so pumped and attitude is half the battle.
Okay, so I have just laid down the next 4 months in a matter of paragraphs. Just excited about life right now.....BRING IT ON!!!!
I will post the rest of my pictures from San Antonio on FB probably early next week. We have a policy about facebook and company computers so I only use my phone for FB while I am gone and it is just so much easier to upload the photos from the computer.
The rest of the month of June looks to be just as busy as it started, Nila and Richard are coming tonight for the weekend, Nila is starting Robert's senior pictures. Can't wait to start seeing them!
Next week is VBS and on Saturday, some friends of mine, Robert and I are going to see Wicked!! I didn't think I would get to see it this time! Found out while I was in San Antonio that it is making a two month show at Chicago around Christmas, we may have to try to trek up there. One of the girls who sat with me at the conference has seen in 12 times. She is from Ft. Smith Arkansas and is planning on making the trip. She couldn't get to St. Louis because of too many other plans.
Also found out on my way home yesterday that there will be a trip to Springfield the last week of the month--Also fair week, then the Cantata and Ice Cream Social on Sunday afternoon of the 4th.
Of course, the bathroom project will be underway the 1st. Our cooling program runs the 19th through the 30th and I am hoping to go see Andrew's grandmother the weekend of the 30th. The next week will be our Annual School Shopping day and night at the Muny--to see Footloose. Then less than two weeks until school starts.
Then BAND!!! Let me tell you something....watch, everybody, watch close. The band is going to be AWESOME this year! I can see it, feel it, and know it. The best thing is the kids know it. I have never seen them so pumped and attitude is half the battle.
Okay, so I have just laid down the next 4 months in a matter of paragraphs. Just excited about life right now.....BRING IT ON!!!!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Still here....
Good Morning again from San Antonio. It has been a great week and I have learned so much. Two things of great interest. We have one propane company that gives us fits, they are in 35-40 states and are the second largest propane company in the nation. We have had problems with them for years, apparently the Attorney General of four other states have them under investigation for deceptive practice. YES!!! Another BIG thing we are learning about is the Smart Grid, along with Smart Meters. You want to talk about something up for debate--this is it. To my friends who worry about the government knowing too much of your business, just wait until these come to town. So far, I'm not honestly seeing the benefits. What I have seen will not conserve any energy, just change it and make more money for the utility companies. Basically, part of the program will be to charge a high rate for electricity during the day and a lower one at night, some are even talking about a graded scale, so if you really want to save money, you will get up at 2AM and do your dishes and laundry.
On a lighter note, we went to Tower of the Americas last night. Very nice.
The big rectangle in the center of the picture is our hotel. The Hyatt, it is built looking over the Alamo, the funny thing is, when they went to start building it, San Antonio realized that if they built it too big, it would cast a shadow on the Alamo. They informed them that if there was even one shadow on the Alamo, they would have the building destroyed. So, the building ended up not being near as big as they planned.
They went around the corner of the Riverwalk and built this one. So there are two Hyatt's within a half a mile of each other, smartly, this one is on the North side of the Alamo, and two more blocks away!
Tomorrow at this time, I will be more than half way back to St. Louis. Our plane leaves at 6:10, scheduled to arrive at 9:38. Plan on being back in Newton around noon. I have had a wonderful trip, still look forward to a good day of workshops today and then hopefully take in the Japanese Gardens this evening. I am starting to get homesick for my guys and my mom though.
On a lighter note, we went to Tower of the Americas last night. Very nice.
The big rectangle in the center of the picture is our hotel. The Hyatt, it is built looking over the Alamo, the funny thing is, when they went to start building it, San Antonio realized that if they built it too big, it would cast a shadow on the Alamo. They informed them that if there was even one shadow on the Alamo, they would have the building destroyed. So, the building ended up not being near as big as they planned.
They went around the corner of the Riverwalk and built this one. So there are two Hyatt's within a half a mile of each other, smartly, this one is on the North side of the Alamo, and two more blocks away!
Tomorrow at this time, I will be more than half way back to St. Louis. Our plane leaves at 6:10, scheduled to arrive at 9:38. Plan on being back in Newton around noon. I have had a wonderful trip, still look forward to a good day of workshops today and then hopefully take in the Japanese Gardens this evening. I am starting to get homesick for my guys and my mom though.Happy Wednesday!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Hello from San Antonio!
It is beautiful where we are! A little on the hot and humid side but I am so glad we got to come yesterday so we could see a little before we get to work.
The Alamo, across the street from our Hotel.
Casa Rio, supper
Brenda in front of our hotel
The plaza between our hotel and the Alamo
The Alamo, across the street from our Hotel.
Casa Rio, supper
Brenda in front of our hotel
The plaza between our hotel and the Alamo
I am sure some of you are wondering what we are actually "doing" here. Well, today's workshops that I am going to are: Consumer Protection and Delivered Fuels--believe me, we need all the help we can get on this one, as much Propane that is used in our area. We have some propane vendors that are owned by out of state companies, it basically means they don't have to abide by Illinois laws. They charge our clients more, it isn't right, especially when our clients are already having a hard time.
Another workshop I am going to is a Dialogue with Federal Officials. We get to see thier point of view in why they make some of the decisions they do because quite frankly, sometimes they don't make sense to us.
Then there is the workshops I am still up in the air over. There are two I want to go to and they are at the same time. If Brenda has decided to go to one, I will go to the other one. The first one is Educating Low Income Consumers to Manage Their Energy Use and Costs. The second is Serving the Newly Vulnerable. They are both very important. I am leaning toward the Newly Vulnerable though because we have people who have been laid off from long time, good paying jobs that either don't know about us or won't ask for help even though this is what it is for.
I may have to flip a coin.
Better get ready, Happy Monday!
Another workshop I am going to is a Dialogue with Federal Officials. We get to see thier point of view in why they make some of the decisions they do because quite frankly, sometimes they don't make sense to us.
Then there is the workshops I am still up in the air over. There are two I want to go to and they are at the same time. If Brenda has decided to go to one, I will go to the other one. The first one is Educating Low Income Consumers to Manage Their Energy Use and Costs. The second is Serving the Newly Vulnerable. They are both very important. I am leaning toward the Newly Vulnerable though because we have people who have been laid off from long time, good paying jobs that either don't know about us or won't ask for help even though this is what it is for.
I may have to flip a coin.
Better get ready, Happy Monday!
All in a Day's Work
I tried to post this Saturday night but Blogger was not letting me upload my pictures.
Our project that had to be done before we started the bathroom remodel is finished! Yes, my guys are officially Superman and Superman Jr. in my eyes.
I have wanted a shower in the front bath since we moved in, now that we are getting ready to tear out the shower in the back bath, it was a total necessity. The guys did it, start to finish in about 4 hours.
I LOVE IT!!!!
Before- Andrew honestly got the basket off the wall before I got the picture taken!
After!!Saturday, June 5, 2010
Rest of vacation in a nutshell
Okay, so I got busy having a good time and didn't keep up with the blogging on vacation. I put a more complete photo album on facebook but here is the "condensed" version.
Day two, US Air Force Museum, Dayton OH
Tuesday night at the Hancock Tower Observation deck
Wednesday at Museum of Science and Industry, they were doing a submarine simulation training. Most people failed because you have to be able to work together.
They obviously work very well together (watch them work on a car and you would know this).
Shedd Aquarium on Thursday
Lunch at Adler Planetarium Thursday
Medieval Times- what a hoot!
Friday morning we made our trek to IKEA, I made a healthy deposit and we headed toward home. We arrived around 5 p.m. Friday evening to two very happy pups. Eventhough we had a great time, it was good to be home. Andrew has stated that it is great that we actually took some time to just lay back and relax, that made it nice. We had several evenings that we stayed at the hotel, sat in a hot tub and just chilled out. We went almost all week without the tv on, that was probably the greatest (and of course, the guys pointed out that they are very thankful for the DVR when we got back--oh well, it was good while it lasted!)
Day two, US Air Force Museum, Dayton OH
Somehow I didn't get pictures on here of Day three. We went to the US Victory musuem, it was Memorial Day so we also attended the Memorial Day Program. How cool it was to be there, among all the history.
Day four: Studebaker Museum at South Bend, the guys also visited the National Automobile and Truck Museum that morning, while I went antique shopping.
Tuesday night at the Hancock Tower Observation deck
Wednesday at Museum of Science and Industry, they were doing a submarine simulation training. Most people failed because you have to be able to work together.
They obviously work very well together (watch them work on a car and you would know this).
Shedd Aquarium on Thursday
Lunch at Adler Planetarium Thursday
Medieval Times- what a hoot!
Friday morning we made our trek to IKEA, I made a healthy deposit and we headed toward home. We arrived around 5 p.m. Friday evening to two very happy pups. Eventhough we had a great time, it was good to be home. Andrew has stated that it is great that we actually took some time to just lay back and relax, that made it nice. We had several evenings that we stayed at the hotel, sat in a hot tub and just chilled out. We went almost all week without the tv on, that was probably the greatest (and of course, the guys pointed out that they are very thankful for the DVR when we got back--oh well, it was good while it lasted!)
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