Curtain 4

Yesterday started off like any other day. I went to work in the morning. At lunch, Jenn and I met and ate together. Then at about 2:00, I started get a pain/ache in my shoulder. I was conscious of it but it wasn't TERRIBLY uncomfortable. I finished my day at work and headed to my mom's house. I was in DESPERATE need of a hair colouring…

So I drove to Mom's house. The pain was a bit more intense, but still 'handleable'. Mom got my hair coloured (and it looks wonderful if I do say so myself) and then we were sitting outside while the BBQ cooked our dinner. The tears were just streaming down my face. I was in AGONY. The pain was indescribable. Since the pain was INSIDE my shoulder, there was nothing I could do to make it feel better. Rubbing the shoulder didn't help. Ibuprofen didn't help. Crying didn't help. Not having a clue as to what it was didn't help either. We all initially thought it might be muscle related. However, I soon discovered that moving my arm around, up and down or whatever way I was moving it, didn't affect the pain at all - in a good way OR a bad way.

I couldn’t take the pain any longer. It was just HORRIBLE. Mark insisted on taking me to the hospital. I didn't want to go. It seemed silly…

We went.

I was in the waiting room for about 10 minutes before they took me in. They tested my blood pressure and it was THROUGH THE ROOF. Apparently that happens when you are in pain. They were thinking that I MIGHT have a blood clot in my lung. I don't know how to spell the words that they actually used. They kept asking me if I had had recent surgery, if I had been on a plane, if I had recently been on a long car ride or if I had had a history of blood clots.

I was in a bed quickly - Curtain 4. SEVEN vials of blood were quickly extracted, an ECG (I think - I get them mixed up with an EKG) was done. Chest x-rays and a visit from the doctor.

Then the waiting…

I must say that the time goes faster when you are in a bed in the ER rather then in the waiting room. Mark, luckily, has his Harry Potter book in the car so he got lots of reading done. I dosed in and out. They had given me something for the pain.

4 1/2 hours later, the tests came back and everything was fine. My blood pressure was back to normal and the pain, although not gone, had subsided significantly. I felt stupid...

The ER explained that they are just there to 'rule out the big things' and NOT to diagnose me. Since it wasn't any of the 'big things' they sent me home. I am going to have to follow up with my doctor to try and discover WHAT is wrong.

Today the pain is there, a dullish ache or so. Unless I inhale deeply, bend over, hiccup, burp, yawn, laugh or sneeze it is not too bad - I am aware of it, but it is 'dealable'.

I am starting to feel like I am falling apart...

Today when I went to pick up my prescription - an anti-inflammatory - just in case - this is what the 'package insert' read on the FIRST LINE: This drug may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines...

I am glad it is only RARELY FATAL!

So how was your Wednesday?

Catching up!

On Saturday Mark and I attended a family BBQ. What a beautiful day and an excellent time! It is always a good time when we all have the opportunity to spend time together. We played horseshoes as a family and had a riot! What made it even better was that Brad - my partner - and I WON THE TOURNAMENT!!! How exciting was that!! Last year we were the runners up, but this year we took home the trophy!

WE ROCK!!

The troublemakers!

Measuring out the point

My Mom!

Watching the match

Family shot!

Action shot by Mom!

Sunday was a beautiful day spent in Niagara on the Lake. Every time I go there, I forget how pretty it is! Mark and I participated in a potluck picnic lunch with Dolores & Shawn, Nic & Tim, and our organizers Rhonda and Josh.

We were a bit worried at the start of the day. Mark and I found everyone and went to park our car. We unloaded and we walking towards the picnic site. Well there was an ADULT and his kid (say about 18) horsing around - perfectly acceptable in a park. However, they were not paying attention and as Mark and I were walking one of us on each side of the cooler and a bag in our other hand, they basically ran into Mark. I should say that we were also on a 'hill' at the time. Well down went Mark, over went the cooler and mud was a pile we made.

What a MESS! All our ice and the water from the melted ice went everywhere. Since he went down in the dirt, we had INSTANT MUD!! EVERYTHING was covered in mud. Our potato salad container broke and I was ready to scream and turn around and go home. I was so pissed at these guys.

HOWEVER - the day only went up from there! After a GREAT picnic, we took a wander around the town and then down to the lake. The weather could not have been more perfect!

To top off the already wonderful day - there were presents. I was shocked. I was not expecting this! Do you all remember when Rhonda was talking on her blog about how she ordered something from New Zealand but she wasn't revealing what she had purchased...Well she had purchased something for PUMPKIN! Check out this picture. It is ADORABLE!! This wonderful little 'pumpkin' toque - I LOVE IT!!! Thank you so much Rhonda for this EXCELLENT gift!

And then as if that wasn't enough, Nicole MADE us this wonderful print. It is stunning! The picture doesn't do it justice. It is a representation of our blog with the pumpkin in the lap of the lady. I just don't have the words...
Thank you so much Nicole. You have a wonderful talent and I thank you for sharing it with us. I can't wait to put it up on the wall.

You will have to check out Dolores' and Rhonda's blogs too as they were also lucky enough to receive this great gift!

Another EXCELLENT weekend!

The Tournament

Last night, Mark and I went to Jenn (Mark's Jenn) and Paul's for dinner and a Wii. Tournament that is!! Also in attendance was Leslie. You might remember that Leslie was the one who sent me the CUTEST quilt square!

We also got to make our own 'players'. That was cool - I made myself as SKINNY HOT CHICK IN A BLUE DRESS!! What a FUN night we had. We bowled, we played tennis, we did cow racing and shooting! What a riot!

I forgot my camera, but I took some pictures with Jenn's camera - I will post them later. I have to wait for her to send them to me.

So much laughing and jumping around we did!

It was WONDERFUL to meet Leslie and thanks the Jenn & Paul for the great night!

Bloglines?

What's up with Bloglines?? I got home from work today and it said that I have 511 UNREAD posts!!

Now I am PRETTY SURE that Jill didn't make 25 posts today. I am also pretty sure that Dawn didn't post 24 entries and Dolores 23...

Odd I tell you, just odd...

For Waiting Parents

For those Waiting Parents out there…

Do you ever get the impression that:

You don't have a brain.

That your opinions don't count.

That you can't POSSIBLY know how to handle a situation involving kids.

Do you get the 'you won't say that when you have your own'.

Or the 'Just you wait'.

And just the general overall feeling that you have nothing to offer when there is a situation involving kids…

There was one time that I was with a group of people and we were talking about kids and this one woman turned to me and asked how old my kids were. I said I didn't have kids. She literally turned her back to me and didn't address me or acknowledge me for the rest of the event.

This is just one example but there are MANY situations - both from friends and family alike…

I just don't even know how to put into words how that all makes me feel. It is a horrible feeling and I am sure (I hope) that the people making me feel this way don't even realize what they are doing or saying.

I'd just like to point out that I am QUEEN of biting my tongue when other people's kids are involved. I don't say anything UNLESS they are asking me about it, the kids are going to hurt themselves or the kids are in my home.

I want to scream at all these people and say - don't you think I wish I had my kids too.

Then there is the group of people who say things like:

Enjoy your freedom now - you won't have any when you have kids

Travel now - you won't be able to when you have kids

Get your socializing in now - you won't be able to do it when you have kids

Do you want my kids for a night - that will curb your desire of wanting to have kids

I want to scream to these people: Do you not think that I want to experience these things for myself and decide home much we are going to do with our kids. Where we are going to travel as a family and perhaps, don't you think that I am MORE THEN READY to EXCHANGE my 'freedom' (I hate when people say that because it implies that your children are a 'chore' - I like spontaneity) for parenthood.

AAGGGHH!!!

Venting on this topic completed...for now!

BTW - I am good now with the meds - all is well!!

A Visit to the Clinic

For those who regularly read this blog, you will remember last weekends post when I told about how 'something' had bitten my elbow and it all puffed up and was red hot to the touch and there was some kind of infection or something in the elbow.

I was also lucky enough to have a doctor there with us and she called in a prescription for me to the local drug store and I had some antibiotics to help in the healing process of my elbow.

The elbow is doing MUCH better. Not to where is was, but HUGE improvement from last week - that is for sure.

For the ladies out there, you know what happens when you take antibiotics...I personally have NOT taken antibiotics in YEARS and YEARS so I guess it slipped my mind about what 'could' happen when you take them.

Well let me tell you - there was NO forgetting today!! I thought I was going to die - the infection is driving me crazy!! I was beside myself wondering how I will survive. The last time I had this infection was about 20 years ago - didn't like it then either.

Today I was e-mailing Doris and I told her about my dilemma and she asked if I could get a prescription for Difluk*n a one shot deal - I was not aware of such a thing, I needed to check it out. THANKS DORIS!! I didn't think I was going to have enough time to do anything about it, but then it comes to a point that you don't care HOW late you are going to be for the evenings events, you MUST take care of this before ALL else.

So off I went to the Walk-In Clinic. The first one I went to, they said at least an hour wait - crap - too long. Off to the next one - it was closed - today only...great. Then to the third - I was starting to feel like Goldilocks as this was just right - approximately a 20 minute wait. So down I sit...

There was a lady there with her son - he was about 2 1/2 I would say. There was another lady there with her daughter again, about 2 1/2 and 2 other people other then myself.

Well the boy was bored - and I can see how waiting is not fun. The mom sat in her chair, read her magazine and BARKED orders to her son. J - stop doing that. J - Come here. J - Stop touching the people. J - Don't drop that on the ladies foot. J - I SAID come here. J - Sit down please. J - That's not nice. J - Come back here - DON"T go thorough there. Well it wasn't until the final one that she actually got off her butt and retrieved her son who had disappeared into the back where the exam rooms are. You wonder how I rmemeber all these...I actually wrote them all down. Yes I am an addicted blogger when I am writing stuff down to report on later!! Back to the lady, when I say she barked - she did. At one point, this kid started smacking my leg. I was SHOCKED - the mom said - J - that's not nice. AND THAT WAS IT. He kept doing it! I think I was stunned and didn't quite know how to react. The kid did stop, but the mom just kept barking. It was odd...

To even make the wait better, the other mom with her daughter kept singing to her daughter to keep her calm. AHHHHH that's nice...NOT SO MUCH - the song of choice was Barbie Girl...yes you know it: I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world - Life in plastic, it's fantastic! Well she sang it over and over and over and over again...

Someone get me and my itch OUT OF HERE!!!

Finally - Prescription received, taken and fingers crossed that I feel better in the morning!

Nickname Tag!

I have been tagged by Crazy Lady to reveal our nicknames...

Wow - this could prove embarrassing! That said, this is my place to chose my openness and we will see how many names I reveal here!!

I guess over the years, my nicknames have changes and evolved (I suppose the evolving part is a matter of opinion).

I do remember when I was younger I WANTED a nick name sooooo bad. It seemed EVERYONE had one and I did not. I was sad :( However, as time went on and I became cooler and cooler, I did develop some nicknames. They were not particularly 'cool' names, well not as cool as me, but they were nicknames all the same. LOL!

Speaking of nicknames, it is nicknames or nick names? One word or two? But I digress...

Having the name of Michelle - there were many ways to shorten it or change it. I have been (and am still) called: Shell, Shelley, Mitch & Mickey.

Other nicknames (this is the version of nicknames that I chose for the rest of this post) that I have had over the years are: Mitchymoo & BooBoo (from my sister!). There has also been PomPom (this comes from my last name).

The name that Mark calls me I will NOT reveal here! Some of you MAY have heard him call me by the name, but we really try and avoid using those names in public!

As for Mark, many call him by his last name - again, not saying that here. I have been known to call him Cupcake - don't really know where it came from or why, but it used to stick. Now I have another name for him, but again, it is not being said here! Just not ready to open that up to the WHOLE world!

Now I MUST tag 4 people and I chose: Dolores, Rhonda cause I wanna see if she will 'print' Josh's nickname, Doris and K1

Friday & Sunday

The above photo is: Back Row: Tammy, Karen, Suzanne, Kelly, Chris, Andrea and Paula.
Middle Row: Nicole, Cari, Tracey, Leslie, Karen, Dolores and Julia.
Front Row: Catherine, Liz & Ava and Me.

Friday night I attended our 5th Waiting Mommies Dinner!! Can you believe it? We have been doing the dinners since last November, every other month, and this was our 5th. It was great to see everyone again and to meet some new people! It is a wonderful way to get together with others who are also adopting. There are mommies there who already have their kids home all the way to paperchasing.

Sunday afternoon Dolores invited some adoptive mom's to her house for 'Scrapfest'. I am NOT a scrap booker. I have NEVER done it. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't have any 'tools'. I didn't even know there were 'tools'. I had only MINIMAL supplies (what we bought the other day at Michael's).

Well boy did I ever learn a lot. First off, I can't believe how FAST the time passed. It just FLEW by!! Nicole and Cari are seasoned scrappers and I certainly learned from both of them. Nicole is incredibly creative and can organize a page in her head and produce it on paper in about 15 minutes. Quite amazing to watch. Nicole and Cari also had lots of 'tools' which make scrapping MUCH easier. They both also brought some books that they had already completed. It was amazing to look at them all!

I managed to create a couple of pages and I am quite proud of my first attempts so I thought I would share. I had to take a picture of the pages as I didn't know another way to get them on the computer.

Here they are:





More pages to come as I am trying to complete some pages of our wedding/honeymoon in Cuba.

7 Month LID Anniversary!!

Today is our 7 month LID anniversary!

If you can believe it, it had slipped my mind until Doris sent me some anniversary congratulations!! Thanks Doris!

I don’t know if forgetting is a good thing or a bad thing…

Either way – today is the day!!

Congrats also to Dolores and Shawn on 7 months – our friends and travel mates!!

Speaking of Dolores, last evening Dolores and I dropped by the BRAND NEW Michael’s store that opened yesterday…how disappointing! We were psyched up and hoping for some really good deals but there were NONE to be found…Apparently the grand opening isn’t until Saturday and THAT is when the deals are. They actually announced that we should come back on Saturday ‘cause they will have the specials then…

Thank You Secret Buddy!!

I would like to thank our Secret Buddy for our June gift!

Once again she did a PERFECT job!! Our SB ROCKS!!

Thank you so much for the adorable outfit, the Rainbow Book and the Nemo bath toys!! Once again you outdid yourself.

Our October DTC Yahoo group is going through a change and there have been many problems with people not receiving gifts and others not posting a thank you on the DTC group board and others not happy with what they have received. Our moderator is trying to keep it going and re-shuffle everything so that the people that have been following the rules and want to continue can do so - but perhaps with a new match.

Note to my SB: Just in case you are no longer my SB after the big shuffle, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that you have been AWESOME!! If someone else gets you as their SB, they are going to be VERY lucky!!

If you want to see the other fantastic items we have received from our SB, click on the SECRET BUDDY label at the end of this post and all the great presents will be there for you to see!!

Thanks again Secret Buddy!! You have been GREAT and I hope you are still there next month!!

The Weekend...

Early Friday morning, Mark and I escaped the city for a long weekend at a friends cottage. Mark and I had a great time and were very relaxed! I wish the weather could have been warmer and the wind less, but just getting away to such a pretty place, was rejuvenating!

We had a great time with our friends. There was no swimming due to the weather, but there was LOTS of card playing, reading and gabbing!

Apparently on Sunday, 'something' decided to take a taste of my elbow. It must have left something behind because it is VERY swollen, hot, red and super tender. I can't actually move my left arm out of a 90 degree angle. Makes getting dressed, cooking, driving etc a little more difficult, but I survived. Luckily for me, one of the cottage guests was a doctor and after observing the 'spot' for a day, she called me in a prescription and I picked it up in town today. I am hoping that soon I will have mobility back in my arm and I am keeping an eye on the swelling as to ensure it doesn't get any larger. I tried to take a picture of it, but it just doesn't translate.

Thanks to L for having us and here are a few pictures of the wonderful view that we had all weekend.







Purse meme - coming up soon!!