Coming back....

I have taken a 3 month hiatus from blogging and have had the urge to start again lately. I am right now getting ready to go out to dinner for my guy's birthday... Of course, go figure...LOL

I will be back =-)

Interview with Alexis

This is my interview with my baby, Alexis. She is 8 years old, almost 9!

Out of the mouth of babes.....

1. What is something mom always says to you?
“Come Here”

2. What makes mom happy?
“Spending time with me.”

3. What makes mom sad?
“A loss in our family.”

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
“Jokes that I make.”

5. What was your mom like as a child?
“You were silly”

6. How old is your mom?
“33”

7. How tall is your mom?
“Ummm, about 4 to 5 feet.”

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
“Sleep”

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
“Sleep with Rafael.”

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
“The best Mom in the world.”

11. What is your mom really good at?
“You’re really good at cooking.”

12. What is your mom not very good at?
“Driving”

13. What does your mom do for her job?
“You sit at the front desk at the hospital, in a lounge chair.”

14. What's your mom's favorite food?
“Corn”

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
“You love me.”

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
“Superwoman”

17. What do you and your mom do together?
“Go to the pool and watch t.v.”

18. How are you and your mom the same?
“We love to eat a lot.”

19. How are you and your mom different?
“You’re 33 and I’m 8.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
“Because you feed me and take care of me…”

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
“Golden Corral or McDonalds”

Writing Assignment: I am praying for...

The prompt:

1.) Somebody I'm praying for....

Thanks MamaKatfor the assignment...And I chose to accept it!!!!

His name is Junior, at least to all of us close to him. He is a brilliant 5 year old little boy. His has an amazing supermom that I am lucky to have as a cousin. He has been ill for almost 3 months on and off and just doesn’t seem to be getting better. The doctors are perplexed with his signs and symptoms and don’t seem to be putting the big picture together until Tuesday his fever spiked and his white blood cells spiked to very high numbers. He was sent to the hospital to be admitted.

This is all the more terrifying because a few years ago my cousin’s daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor that originated from her ear. It ended up (after complete removal this last year being a benign tumor called a Schwannoma). They said that this did not necessarily mean that her other child would have the same thing, but they did testing back then to rule any out. His testing came back negative!

Tuesday, my cousin took her son to the doctor and there they advised her that they wanted to admit him and rule out a tumor (once again) or a blood condition like Leukemia….

His CT scan was done immediately, which came back negative for any tumors which is such a blessing. Also his testing for Leukemia was negative!!!! Yeah, but still Junior was sick.

Today, the doctor told her that they thought he had an autoimmune disease. They are going to refer him to an infectious disease doctor for follow up.

I am praying for his recovery and praying for the doctor’ ability to discover what is attacking his young body.

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Blackie, the wild kitty!!!!!


Is he using the potty?

Maybe he is thristy?

Is he fishing????

NOPE, He is preparing to take a bath in the toilet!!!!

Yes, my cat loves to hop on the toilet after it is flushed...It's too bad that I didn't have a camera or hands that move a lightening speed when my cat misjudged his landing and FELL right into the commode!!! It was priceless...My other cat keep looking at Blackie and then back at the toilet...like he was trying to figure out what the heck was going on!!!! LOL

I love my kitty cats!!!!

Scared Now....

So, I don't know where exactly to start. I am feeling scared...

Well, I wasn't trying to get pregnant and honestly we did not want to have another baby. Rafael was actually going to meet with a doctor regarding a vasectomy this Tuesday. Then this happens and I find out that I am pregnant...

The OB/GYN came in to see me today and explained some stuff a little more. She told me that only 50% of pregnancies make it without miscarriage. I could feel my heart in my throat...I wanted to cry. She said that having a bout of pancreatitis in the beginning of this pregnancy adds a lot of complications and that if I continue to have problems/flare-ups that I may have to consider terminating the pregnancy to get treatment. WHAT????? I just wouldn't do that!!!! I am sick in my stomach now from a new thought. Also, that I am more prone to having a miscarriage...OMG!!! I have never been through anything like that and I can't imagine doing so. I know that I need to stay strong and try not to stress, but it is hard.

They are going to continue testing the pregnancy levels in my blood and also my progesterone levels. She said if my progesterone levels are high and stay that way then it is probably going to be a viable pregnancy. They will also continue with ultrasounds and would like me to follow with them when I am discharged.

She doesn't know how long they will keep me here....UGH!!! She said that the medical doc's like to keep pancreas patients here a while....Dang this teaching hospital!!! LOL

Please continue to pray for me and now our baby needs all your prayers too...

Jello....That's it for you!!!!

Well, here is the update for today....

I waited most of the day to have the ERCP, which would check to see if my Common Bile Duct is functioning properly and to make sure there is not a stone obstructing it. Still nothing to eat or drink....until after the test (as long as the test comes back okay!).

1pm...The transporter (I swear he was my son's age...if it wasn't a school day!!! LOL) came to pick me up and take me to Endoscopy to prep for my test. They got me all hooked up, I.V. fluids running, ready to go! I talked to the anesthesiologist and was soooo happy to find out that I would be going to sleep for my test by IV anesthesia (not conscious sedation). I really didn't want to know about the process!!! I signed my consents and then the doctor finally got there! I got wheeled into the procedure room...got on the table and eventually they were ready to put me under =-)

About 3pm...I woke up and thought gee that was quick and my throat didn't even hurt....WOW!!!! Then the nurse informed that they had to cancel it due to the probability that I WAS pregnant. This whole yes, no, yes thing is crazy!!! Turns out that because the first pregnancy test showed that I would have been very, very early on in a pregnancy and then they did a different type of pregnancy test the second time (one that shows just yes or no). The OB doc explained that the original test should have been repeated to see if the numbers were rising and that it was highly likely that the 2nd test gave a false negative. And then when they looked into the ultrasound I had on admission, it showed a sac in my uterus (which they could not say yes or no that it was a baby cause it was too early). So, add all this up and the GI doc did not feel comfortable going thru with the procedure...UGH! So, I am still not sure what caused the biliary pancreatitis and they stated that they hoped I didn't have another attack while being pregnant.

By the way....My test numbers doubled since yesterday....So, I am pregnant! I don't know a due date yet and from the numbers I haven't been pregnant very long at all.

I still don't know when I will get to go home. Soon, I hope. They started me on a liquid diet....EXACTLY 48 hours after the last time I had anything to eat or drink! I never enjoyed chicken broth, jello and italian ice soooo much ever in my life! It was the best dinner I had in, well, 2 days...LOL!!

Oh yeah, the one doctor said that it is possible that the pregnancy triggered the attack....I just hope another one doesn't happen....

I will update more after I see docs again tomorrow.

Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers!!!!

No Food or Water for You

It started at 5pm on Wednesday.... The pain, The agony!!!!

I ate dinner. It was so yummy going down. Pork Chops and Black Beans and Rice! Washed it all down with Diet Dr. Pepper.

Then, BAM!!!!!!, My stomach started hurting, REALLY BAD!!!!

I sat on the couch, nauseous and in pain! I am really good at NOT throwing up when I am nauseous. This worked last night for a couple of hours... I made it to the bedroom and thought the pain would subside while I laid down and watched t.v. This did work until 7pm. Then out of no where....The vomiting began and the pain was so intense (I am sure the upstairs neighbors could hear my cries!) Well, all I am going to say is that obviously none of my dinner had been digested!

Did I mention that my significant other was not home. He teaches and was at a class. UGH!!!! I must of text messaged him 100 times, trying to plead with him to pack up his stuff and come home.

At 9:30pm, this is after 2 1/2 hours of vomiting and increasing severe abdominal pain...I couldn't take it anymore. Rafael was not going to be home for another hour. My body was completely soaked with sweat from the pain. I called 911. Which I felt like a moron calling them...I thought I should be able to wait for Rafael. The fire rescue got there within a few moments. Besides labor, I have never been in so much pain!

Off to the hospital we go...I didn't realize how many bumps there were in the road!!!! I don't know how long it took to get their. I just remember crying out in pain the whole way there...

I got into a room in the E.R. pretty much right away. I hate to wait for the doctor to receive any pain relief.... The doctor came in talked to me. Rafael had got to ER by this point. The doctor said we would start with taking all sorts of labs and go from there....

Tube after tube they drew my blood!!

What seemed like hours later, the nurse cam in to inform me that my liver enzymes were very, very high, that my white blood cells were also very high. And another kicker was that I had a "kinda" positive pregnancy test. They did a qualitative pregnancy test which came back with a result of 10...which is VERY, VERY LOW.

Okay, I am now freaking out!!!!! They said that I had pancreatitis (inflammation of my pancreas) and that would explain my high lipase level and high WBC's. They still didn't know why I had such a low level of pregnancy hormones in my blood. They ordered a vaginal ultrasound to see if they could tell if I was having an ectopic pregnancy.... The ultrasound got to my room and stated that there was NO WAY to see a fetus with that low of a number (it would have meant that, if pregnant, I was only pregnant for a few days.)

Now they still didn't know why my pancreas was inflamed. The usual reasons are drinking (yes alcohol!) and gallstones. Well, I hated drank anything (since my GNO on Friday...got I hope it isn't from that!!!!) And I had my gallbladder previously removed in 2007. So, we didn't have any good answers at this time...What a horrible way to feel.

They told me that I would be definitely be admitted to the hospital...UGH!!!!! Now I get to wait the long wait until I get assigned a bed!

Well, the doctor explained to me that there was still a possibility for me to have gallstones, even though I did not have a gallbladder. He said, that it could have slipped out of my gallbladder before it was removed and that it took this long for it to obstruct something.... Who knows! All I want is to not be in anymore pain!!!

I made it to a room...I think it was 4 or 4:30 this morning. They gave me something for pain and nausea at 5 or 5:30am. I finally was able to sleep for a little bit. Rafael came back to the hospital (I made him go home and get some sleep before work...once we talked to the doctor) and spent some time with me before he went to work.

I met with my attending at 11:30am and she informed me that they would consult a OB/GYN (to confirm or not the pregnancy), a GI doctor(for the pancreatitis) and a Infectious Disease doctor(to make sure I was put on the proper antibiotics considering that I may be pregnant).

The OB/GYN doc came in first. She was very nice. She said that the level of 10 was sooooo very low that it could be a false positive. Ugh, we finally were okay with the fact that we were gonna have another baby. So, she ordered another blood test...and long story short...It was negative for pregnancy. So, I guess I am not pregnant. I am a little sad, even though that it is not the best possible thing that could have happened to us right now.

Next, the Infectious disease doctor came to see me (at this time we did not have the negative pregnancy test back yet). She was soooo nice. She explained the possibility of my body still producing gallstones, even without a gallbladder. She informed me that I was on the right antibiotics considering a pregnancy.

Then the GI doc came in. He was nice too. Said that they would do an ultrasound of my tummy to see if they saw any gallstones. He also informed me that I may need a ERCP. I can't remember right now what that stands for, but essentially they are going to take a camera down my throat to go look at the area and see what is going on...

So, the ultrasound came back negative, so they want to proceed with the ERCP....Friday morning I will be able to have that done. Until then I have to continue with no food and drink until maybe after the testing....I just want something to drink. I am so thirsty!!!!!

Well, now I am allowed to have stuff for pain..Yippee! I have mixed feelings on that....

Please pray for my recovery....I need all the prayers I can get!!

I will update more tomorrow...Yeah, I have internet here and my guy brought me my laptop!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Okay, I see lots of people posting this type of post on Wednesday's and considering that I have no idea what to write about today....Still not feeling well!!! Here goes....

This is my almost 9 year DD, showing me what she can do....while I am driving!!!

Sorry for the poor quality of my camera phone....UGH!!!! New one coming in April!!!!

LMAO...I love my daughter!!!!!

Testing, Testing, Testing.....

Okay, I am trying to send a blog from my phone. This is just a test...LOL! If it works I can stay in touch when out of town...hehe!

My gratitude list

I came across this great blog and there on it was a gratitude list....I thought what a great thing!!!! If only we can remember all the things we really have to be grateful about...EVERYDAY!!!!!

Now go check out...Dude, Where Am I?

I am grateful for....

1. Finally got a job!

2. Having 2 amazing children!!!!

3. A forgiving God in my life.

4. That my car is in good condition AND has A/C!!!!! (very important in Florida!!!!!!)

5. Having a loving, caring man in my life.

6. Easter candy....Cause I can now buy my FAVORITE Robin Eggs....YUMMY!!!

7. My 2 mostly sweet, loving Kitty Cats.

8. My laptop

9. My mother and all the help she gives me.

10. Publix Sweet Tea....so yum!!!

11. Love Fingers on a sore back!!!!

12. a gym in my complex

13. My best friends....Jennifer and Stormy

14. Sweet kisses and hugs from my Lexi-Lou (my nickname for her)

15. Not having to wear glasses...like my parents!

16. For my bank card attached to my keychain....I love Bank of America!! LOL

17. My dishwasher

18. My Crockpot....Love it!!!

19. My IPOD.

20. My blog readers...Thank you!!!!

What are you grateful for today?????

Gonna have to figure out.....

Okay, I am so going to have figure out how to blog via my blackberry.

I had a busy weekend...Starting on Friday!!!!

Off to Orlando AGAIN!!!!! I think I go back there more than I used to travel here to see my man. So much of my life is still there....good thing I don't mind the drive....all 2 to 2 1/2 hours of it....LOL

Friday night I went to one of my really good friends house and we had a GNO (girls' night out!!!!!) We had dinner at her house and then got ready to go out...just like we used to when we were 21 and would go out ever weekend...(those were the days...LOL) Off to The Vue we go (the ONLY night club in the small town where she lives outside of Orlando)! Oh and boy did we have fun! It was one of her friends birthday's and a bunch of women met there for drinks, more drinks and a lot of dancing!!!!!!



We ended the night with our tradition 2am meal....McDonald's =-) We laughed and giggled like we were kids again...but only our kids were at home sleeping and even though we didn't go to bed till close to 3am....7am was going to start out day no matter what!!!!! Needless to say, GNO does not happen very often AT ALL!!!!!

Saturday, the kids got up at 8am!!!!!! Whew, what a morning! I actually didn't feel too bad!!!!! I bottle of water and 2 Advil before bed....Cured the Hangover definitely!!!!!!!

Off to Pig on the Pond!!!! What's that you ask???? It's this fair (very small due to being in very small town) held in Clermont, FL once a year. It's on the lake (I guess that's why the name!) and I wasn't sure where they got the "Pig" in the title.....UNTIL we got in there and saw the pig races! Yes, You read correctly!!!! Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig races.....Can you say that we were in Po-dunk-ville =-)

It was the funniest thing I have ever seen!!!!!

We had a good day, hot but good day! The kids enjoyed themselves =-)



Yesterday......I visiting with my mom and then off on the road again!!!! I had a BBQ to get to in West Palm by 3pm!!!!! We had a good time...Lots of food, drinks (not by me!!!!) and dancing!!!

Sorry for the babbling.....Thanks for reading!!!!

Now serving 45 monitors for ME!!!!!

Earlier this week, I sat at my computer looking at my bank account! The feelings that were coming over me were NOT GOOD!!!! I wanted to cry, actually I think that a swelled up in my eyes. There was not a lot in there and I have bills that are coming up due AND NO JOB!!!!!!!! Depressed didn't even begin to describe how I was feeling.

I moped around all week...not accomplishing anything around the house. Oh wait, I did take out the garbage ONCE....LOL! After cooking breakfast for Rafael and getting him out the door, I did NOTHING until he got home and it was time to cook dinner. I am not much of a home body...My kids are in school and I now don't have a job....UGH!

Don't get me wrong!! I loved it at first. I got ALL SORTS of stuff done around the house. It was perfect timing with my move to a new city and all! I got everything organized, cleaned and so much more!!!!

Well, even though my week started out so roughly....it finally happened today!!!! I got the call!!!! Yes, I got the call!! I have been waiting for Human Resources to call about this job that I was told that I would get...just trying to work out some kinks!

I got the call at 11:50am today!!!!!! AND to top it all off, They offered me a FULL TIME position instead of the per diem one that I was talked to about! ***HAPPY DANCE, HAPPY DANCE, HAPPY DANCE*** Now imagine me in my PJ's (yes I told you that I have been depressed this week about not having a job!!!) jumping up and down saying "I GOT THE JOB, YEAH I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!" I made some immediate calls.... to spread the word!!!!!!!

I do feel bad that I did not trust more in the Lord. I tend to give things to God and then take them right back just so I can dwell, worry and get depressed over.... It is something that I struggle with and hoped to grow more in my faith!!!! I pray for that EVERYDAY!!!!

So back to the job thing.... For those of you who haven't read the previous posts about the position. I took a position for a Tele Services Tech at a local hospital. I will have dual roles, which I love!!!! I thrive in chaos and can't still when it gets quite!!!! So, I will be a Monitor Tech and then fill in as a Unit Secretary when needed in the schedule. There are 45 beds on the two units and I am hoping that I will be challenged!!!!

I start March 30th...so more on the job details will come after then....

The day that ended my childhood...

This is my first "writing assignment" that was given by Mama Kat....So here goes =-)

"The day that ended my childhood!"

The year was 1987. I was in 7th grade. Nothing could ever happen to us...right?!?!? We lived in a world thinking that nothing could happen to us!

The day started as any other day would. I got up, ate breakfast and went on the bus to school. No one could have ever imagined what we would find out by the end of that day.

I don't remember the time it happened... Our school went on lock down. There were rumors that a man had been spotted leering around our school. We didn't really know what was happening and just carried about our day... The one thing that I knew is that my BESTEST friend in the whole world was not a school that day.

School got out and there were news cameras everywhere...and still we knew nothing!

Home with my parents, the news was on. My parents informed me that someone had been murdered and they were a student at our school. They were talking about how the murderer was seen at our school (or they thought it to be him, hiding). I do remember feeling a pain in my heart that was so deep...I just knew! My parents asked me if I knew of anyone that was not at school that day.... I told them it was Angeli...she wasn't there!!

The feeling overwhelmed us all as if we just knew that it was Angeli that was gone forever.

My parents and her parents were good friends. We always did things together. BBQ's, sleepovers, parties and more...Angeli and I were always together!!!

The next day at school, they did announce who was murdered and there were counseling available to all of us. I remember sitting in the gym with my classmates discussing what had happened. I was there in body, while my mind was far, far away.

More and more things were getting out about what happened. I was in disbelief that I would never see my best friend again. I had never had ANYONE that I remembered die and I didn't know how to deal with it.

Her funeral came and that was the first time that I saw her family. I was incapable to go to the house where the horror occurred. The funeral was beautiful, sad and depressing all in one. My mother was with me and I remember her telling me that it was okay to cry...

After the funeral, we went to her house. It was the last time that I would ever be in her house. It was so strange to be there and she was not. I was uncomfortable. I didn't know how to deal with all the sadness, anger, pain and sorrow that my 12 year old mind had been dealt.

To this day I have never ever fully been told what exactly happened to her. And I am not sure that I really want to. I know that a man broke into her house and her body was found in the woods behind her house. She had been raped and then brutally murdered.

The day that my best friend was taken from me so viciously was the day that my childhood ended. The days of feeling safe and fancy free were ripped out of me.

Space Cadet?!?!

I am sitting here...thinking waaaay to much! I am just short of smoke coming out of my ears....LOL!!! I am trying to think of something to write off of Mama Kat's blog assignment and it's getting the best of me!!!

Now, I am to the point where I am not even thinking of what I need to do today! Well, I know what I need to do, it's just that I am completely wrapped up in blogging and what to blog that I have ignored all responsibility!!!

So, I am getting off the couch, putting down my laptop and going to get to work on my list today....I will return and with that I hope to have something to contribute =-)