Movies, Pancakes and Heels

It's been a busy week! I guess I'll start with last weekend. On Saturday, John and I FINALLY got to go out on a date (thanks for sitting, Grandma Flynn!). We went to see "Iron Man 2." It was good but to tell you the truth, I only saw it a week ago and I don't remember a lot about it. It's not the most memorable movie but you can't go wrong with Robert Downey Jr. Sunday night was huge for John and I because it was the "LOST" finale. Yes, John and I are a couple of crazy "Losties." We stayed up until almost 3 a.m. watching it (we had a bunch of family over at the house so we had to wait until everyone was gone and in bed . . . not to mention we had a 30 minute "intermission" thanks to Charlie waking up)! John had smartly taken off work Monday so we slept in big time. That afternoon, we took Charlie to see "How to Train Your Dragon." Luckily, one theater in town still had it in 2D . . . we were not about to pay an extra $6 for 3D glasses when we knew Charlie wouldn't wear them anyway. It turns out we were the only ones in the theater! Score! Charlie was super good and only got out of his chair a few times. This is the first movie he's seen in the theater since "Up" one year ago. It was so nice to not have to worry about him throwing stuff at other people or talking, etc. I know this sounds insane, but I liked "How to Train Your Dragon" better than "Iron Man 2"! Maybe it was because I had low expectations but it seriously is a good movie!

On Tuesday, I finally got to see an endocrinologist. My appointment wasn't supposed to be until June 8th, but they had a cancellation and so they let me take that appointment. Dr. McLean is my dad's endo so that's why I went to see him. What I thought was going to be a 45 minute appointment took four hours. He asked me all sorts of weird questions and I got a full physical (again!). He is thorough to be sure but I am grateful for that, even if it's really annoying at times! He dictated with me in the room which I thought was weird. It was nice in a way because it made me understand why he asked the questions he did and so on. Then, as he's talking to his little recorder he says, "Patient is extremely pale which could be an indication of (some long latin sounding word which I had never heard of!)." WHAT?! He didn't say a word about my skin color in the appointment. I about died. So now I guess my skin is so white it's clinical. It's a symptom! LOL. Way to raise my self-esteem! ;) Then, I had to go to the lab for more testing. Can I just say that phlebotonists are the cockiest professionals ever? And I come from a family of lawyers, so I should know. JK, JK. Anyway, my veins are really small and I ALWAYS have a hard time giving blood. It usually takes nurses a few tries to get a vein. Every time I go in to have a blood test I warn the nurse that my veins are small and that it'll take a few tries. Without fail, the nurse nods and smirks as if to say, "Yeah, whatever. It won't be a problem." Well, 6 pokes and 3 nurses later, I finally was able to give up 7 more vials of blood. Add that with my weekly allergy shot and I can tell you I'm SO sick of needles! I'm lucky I don't have a fear of needles, shots or blood. Nevertheless, I'm so done with being poked. Anyway, I don't know when I'll get the test results back but I go back to see the endo in 2 weeks. Hopefully we'll get somewhere soon . . .

My Etsy shop is doing great! No sales yet, but that's okay. I've only been up for a week! I've gotten lots of great feedback and hearts. Even if I don't sell anything, the experience is totally worth it. I've gotten to "meet" lots of really talented people. It truly is an awesome site and if you like handmaking things, I would definitely recommend starting a shop. It's so fun to meet people just as quirky (or even more so) and passionate as I am. It's a very community-based thing so it's very cool.

Some Charlie stuff:


We had a first last week! For the first time, Charlie cleaned his plate at dinner! When to take into account the entire dinner was doused with sugar (pancakes and strawberries), it's not that much of an accomplishment. :)




Charlie having fun in a pair of my heels. In his defense, I think he just liked the loud noises they made . . .

Charlie has also learned how to put shoes and clothes on by himself. They don't always go on the right way but he's becoming such a big boy nonetheless.

New Blog!

In my whirlwind of self-promotion (hah) for BiblioBags (see previous post for what the heck I'm talking about), I've started a brand spanking new blog. I've decided to start posting all my art/craft projects on my new blog:

bibliobags.blogspot.com (it's public by the way, no sign-in required)

So, my new blog will be all my creative stuff (it's not just a big commercial for my bags, I promise! It's all my artsy projects, good and bad) and this blog will be family updates, etc. Make sense? I can't believe I'm just now doing that. I really didn't want to keep up two blogs but it's common sense. I always felt guilty any time I did a post about my projects on here rather than Charlie. So now, family stuff = "Charlie in Charge" and artsy stuff = "bibliobags." I hope I can keep it straight!

Also, if you're on facebook and I haven't nagged you yet, check out my business page. It's called (you guessed it) "BiblioBags."

Thanks to all of you who've been so supportive and helpful in getting the word out. I love you!

My Etsy Shop

It's finally here! My Etsy shop, BiblioBags, is finally up and running. I'm selling book purses and handmade cards. (The address is bibliobags.etsy.com just in case the link isn't working . . . I've been having trouble with that lately)

I set it up last night and I was so excited to find out that someone had already chosen one of my bags to appear in their Treasury! A Treasury is just a roundup of different items someone likes. It can be organized by theme or color. It's really nice because then your item gets more views. Here's the link to the treasury (the "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" book purse is mine).

Even though it was really stressful to get together with everything going on, I'm already having fun . . . and I haven't even made any money yet! I'm definitely glad I did it. Be sure to check it out and spread the word. ; )

"Yeah, but I'm taller."

I always feel like I have to have pictures on my posts. Here's a project that I can show you (meaning it wasn't for etsy). Just a cute graduation card. (By the way, the pics are posted out of order . . . ) I made a few of these for girls at church who just graduated high school (they haven't gotten them yet so, shhhh!). I still have to glue some yellow paper in and write the message, but you get the idea. I can't take credit for the design . . . I got it from a book. Cheap, I know!

I've been super busy lately with doctor's appointments, dealing with Charlie and trying to get my etsy shop together.

So, as far as the health thing goes, things are moving along. I'm starting weekly allergy shots this week. The nurse said I wouldn't feel any results for 6-9 months, but at least I'm doing something that will help in the long run. Plus, my doc's office is minutes away from Hobby Lobby . . . I think these shots will be more expensive than we thought. :) I also scheduled an appointment with my dad's endocrinologist for June 8th. I'm happy I was able to get one that early . . . that's very early for this doctor. Again, I have to say, WHY does it take so long to get in to see a specialist? If you're doing bad enough to have to see a SPECIAList, why do they make you wait so long?

Charlie. Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. He's growing into his two-year-old-dom. This past week, John was on business trip for 5 days. It was honestly the hardest 5 days I've had in a long time. This 5 day trip was harder than the month long trip he took when Charlie was just a baby. A lot of the difficulty was just fighting all the aches, pains, exhaustion and mood swings that come with this thyroid junk. Plus, Charlie was quite the turd. Sorry, no other word for it. For example, he's picked up a lot of "not nice" words from the "Toy Story" movies. His favorite line to use is, "Shut-up, you idiot!" We've used a variety of punishments and every now and then he pulls this one out just to test us. Being as tired as I was this week, I heard the "I" word a lot. I warned him to not use the word. Twice this week, he declared in a sing-song voice, "I love idiot!" Whoo boy. I told him he couldn't watch the "Toy Story" movies until he stopped using those bad words. I thought that would make him upset but he doesn't seem to mind. Quite the attitude, that one. A few days ago, I was blowing bubbles for him to pop and I made one the size of a soccer ball (I've gotten pretty good at this!).

Me: Whoa, Charlie! That bubble is bigger than your head!

Charlie: Yeah. But I'm taller.

Now, on to my etsy stuff. All my "products" are finished. I thought that was the hard part. Eh, no. It is soooo much work to put an etsy shop together! It's really overwhelming and stressful. I'm so not good at running numbers, picking prices, figuring out the cheapest way to ship things, etc. But, hopefully, once I get the shop set up, it won't be as hard to add things. I'm selling book purses and handmade cards. Hopefully I'll have it set up within the next 2 weeks. I'm also setting up a blog, too. I don't know how I'm going to keep up with 2 blogs, but we'll see! This is really just a part-time gig. I feel guilty I'm not writing as much. It's really hard for me to concentrate when I'm so tired and writing is nothing but concentration. The book purses have been good for me. They don't require much thought to make and it's fun. Plus, I have a photographer for a husband so I would be crazy to not capitalize on that. I think I would always regret it if I never tried to sell the things I make. It's something I've always wanted to do. But, if it starts to take over my life I'll have to shut her down. Don't you love how I'm already assuming I'm going to sell things? :)

"Hokey"

It has a name.

The day after I posted the story about Charlie and his headband, he was playing basketball. He called for me.

"Mom, you see my hokey?"

Me: "Your what?"

Charlie: "You find my hokey?"

My first thought was, "What in the . . .?" Then it hit me. Could his "hokey" be that girl's headband he wears to play basketball? I looked around and finally found the brown stretchy headband and handed it to him.

"Thanks, Mom."

He immediately strapped it on and was ready for action.

We have yet to figure out where he got the term "hokey." My mom thinks he got it from watching March Madness (that is around the time he started wearing the headband). Virginia Tech's team are the "Hokies." John balked at that theory. "I don't watch Virginia Tech."

Although, I remembered a really weird instance that could prove my mom right. About a month ago, we were in Bi-Lo picking out a movie from the Red Box machine. A guy in his 60s walked up and started playing with the skill crane. I thought it was really weird this guy was by himself fishing for stuffed animals. He wrangled a stuffed "#1" hand with Virginia Tech's logo on the front and gave it to Charlie. I didn't know whether to be grateful or creeped out (okay, I admit I was more creeped out . . . I'm cynical, I can't help it). Charlie said, "Thank you," and John said, "Virginia Tech? Are you kidding?" John claims it was a joke but I must point out that there was a Georgia Bulldog on the top of the toy pile. So, "Mr. Friendly" popped another quarter in the machine to try for another toy! I didn't know whether to feel bad that he spent another quarter or creeped out at his persistence (I was creeped out again). Mr. Friendly didn't get anything that time and it seemed he was out of quarters. He told Charlie to have fun and be good and walked away . . . with only a box of cookies in hand (to lure some more children away I can only guess). John said he was probably just one of those ministers who goes out of his way to do nice things so they feel obligated to go to his church. I didn't smell preacher on him . . . I smelled pedophile. But then again, my nose is a part of me and it's a very cynical nose.

Anyway, I would have posted a picture of the stuffed hand but I think I gave it to Goodwill. It was just too creepy. But, the other side of the hand does read, "HOKIES." Maybe he heard John and I talk about "Hokies" and that's where he got it. Either way, I think it's really funny and cute to see him take his "hoops" so seriously. I could be a basketball mom. It's the only sport I can somewhat follow and it's INDOORS. I could handle that.

Mothers' Day(s) 2010

 

It's always a good post when it starts with a picture of feet.

Just kidding. Yesterday I got a pedicure for the first time in probably 5 years. Usually the Saturday before Mothers' Day, I go marathon shopping. Last year I think I was gone for 7 hours! I force myself to make the most of a day to do what I want and I go nuts. This year more than any, I didn't feel up to it. I was sorely tempted to go shopping but I knew it would only make me miserable and tired. So, I got a pedicure! I was so nice to sit in a massage chair, read a book and have someone literally waiting on you hand and foot. Well, just foot. I'm not a fan of manicures . . . I use my hands too much and the polish is chipped 2 hours after I've had it done! I got a french pedicure because that's what I always used to get and I figure if I'm paying someone to paint my toenails, I'll have them do something I can't to by myself. I'm very out of the pedicure loop. Just tell me the truth, are french pedis "out"?

Today I went to church while John stayed home with a sick Charlie. When I got home and went to my room to change, I found this card on my dresser:

 

The inside:

 

Under the pillow:

 

Block printing stuff! Basically, these are the tools to carve your own stamp. I've been wanting to try this for months and months. I'm really excited and I hope I'm good at it! I love carving pumpkins and so I hope I can pull this off. I'm really excited to get going. Stay tuned for the results (well, if they're any good). By the way, John cut that "Happy Mother's Day" stamp freehand this morning . . . pretty good, huh?

What a hub! John never fails to surprise me with the perfect gift. He really is the best gift giver/picker-outer, even though I probably don't deserve it. Sigh. He learned early on, "Happy Wife, Happy Life." I love you, Hub!

Happy Mother's Day!

"Normal"

Just to let you know, these pictures have absolutely nothing to do with this post. They're just a few cute pictures of Charlie from Paul and Linda's reception. Ron Turner (the photographer/family friend) took these.Here's Charlie with his cousin Lyric. They get along so well. I've been trying to get a picture of them together for over 2 years now, then this schmuck waltzes in and snaps a perfect shot the first time. Not that I'm ungrateful . . .
He also put Charlie up to sneaking some chocolate from the cake.
So on to the lame stuff. I hate doing these health updates but it's easier than explaining it a million times.

Last week I went to my ENT for a checkup. He said that I was super allergic (I reminded him that I did improve from my last test . . . as if it was for a grade or something. I don't know why I took it personally . . . I'm just a weirdo sometimes) and was definitely a candidate for allergy shots. But, he gave me some Singulair to try for a few weeks and if that works, I won't have to get shots. If I decide to get shots and those don't work, it's surgery time. Although I cringe every time I think about surgery on my nose, maybe there's an upside. Maybe I'll have a magical deviated septum surgery where I walk out of the operating room with a miraculously smaller nose . . . don't laugh. It happened to Ashley Tisdale and Jennifer Aniston.

I've been taking the Singulair for a week and I can already tell a huge difference. I'm hoping the medicine will work but I have a feeling I might wind up doing the shots. I can't survive another spring like this one with pollen counts in the thousands.

I had a blood test at the ENT's to check my thyroid levels. My ENT had me on synthroid for a month prior to this. For the first 2 weeks I started to improve. Then, out of nowhere, the bottom dropped out and I felt even worse than I had before. I was feeling so bad that I called the doc a few days before my scheduled appointment. I left a message saying I was very worried about how bad I was feeling and what to do. I got a voicemail back from the nurse saying, "He says it can't be thyroid since you've been on Synthroid for a month." That upset me. Was this all in my head?

Come to find out, the nurse didn't talk to the doctor at all because when I went to my appointment he immediately expressed concern about my symptoms. He said "something was wrong." Duh. That just annoys me when nurses blow you off without even consulting the doctor. I should've known he didn't say what she said he did since he is the only doctor I've ever had to call me personally and ask how I was doing. He's done that TWICE. Too bad his nurses can't do the same!

So I got my blood tested again. I was certain it would show my thryroid levels had dropped (or risen, I can't remember which) and I would require I higher dosage . . . meaning, I would feel better.

I got a call Monday from a perky nurse saying my levels were "normal" and I should just keep taking the same tiny dose of synthroid.

I was so shocked I just said thanks and hung up. I was devastated. It's not that I wanted to have hypothyroidism . . . I was in denial about it for a week when I first found out. I was upset because I felt like this wasn't the reason I was feeling bad and I was back at square one. Hypothyroidism just made sense. It explained all the crazy symptoms and problems I've had for almost 3 years (yes, Charlie is almost 3 and yes, I'm convinced his birth triggered my "sucky thyroid" gene . . . seriously, that's very common to happen to women with bad thyroid genes). To find out that I may not have thyroid problems after all was just frustrating. I felt guilty, like I must have done something wrong. I felt scared about what could be wrong with me . . . if it was serious or if this illness was all in my head. After talking with John and trying to gather my thoughts, I decided my only choice was to go back to my primary care doc to ask his opinion of what to do next.

That night, I emailed a friend who's had hypothyroidism for years and she gave me some awesome advice and direction. She said the med I was on was not super effective. She said she had been on it for years and felt miserable, even though her levels were "normal." She also said that just a few years ago, doctors changed the way they measure levels and that my ENT office could be lowballing because they have yet to use the new system.

So today was my appointment with Dr. Cranwell, my primary doc. He took me very seriously and gave me a full physical. He asked me all kinds of crazy questions that I was grateful to be asked. It meant he was taking it just as seriously as I was. I was grateful I thought to have my ENT's office send my lab results to Dr. Cranwell because he said that (wait for it) the lab was measuring my levels on the OLD system. Come to find out, not only is it an old system, it's an old technique of measuring thyroid levels. Dum, dum, DUM! He asked me if I minded if he tested me on the new system. YES! PLEASE! THANK YOU! So, the nurse took 4 vials of my blood to test me for everything from hepatitis to a Vitamin D deficiency (my mom got really excited about the vitamin D thing. "Ooh! Both me and your dad have that!" We're talking hepatitis and she's bouncing around about Vitamin D. So that's where the weirdness comes from . . . ) In addition, he verified what my friend had said about feeling bad with normal levels. Dr. Cranwell said that it's common to have "normal" thyroid levels and still have severe symptoms. He says it can take 4-6 months to start to actually FEEL as good as the tests reflect. He also asked if was taking brand name synthroid. I told him no, that it was a generic (our lame insurance usually will only pay for generic). He told me that the FDA doesn't have very strict guidelines on thyroid medication and that the dosage of actual hormone can be as low as one third of what the brand name is in a generic pill. He gave me a new prescription for a similar name brand drug that was the same price as generic. (What a great doc, huh?) Our insurance company didn't want to pay for it at first (of course), but eventually caved in. (Dr. Cranwell's scrip where he wrote BRAND in all caps and underlined twice sealed the deal, I think.) It's super cheap, which makes me even happier.

I was sooo relieved and happy leaving the doc's office today. I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. It may take months or even years to feel "normal" again . . . but I'm just happy to have a great doctor and to get steered in the right direction. Phew!

I should get my results early next week. I hope they hold some answers to this crappy puzzle!