Nothing is More Discouraging than Unappreciated Sarcasm: joann

Saturday, January 19, 2008

2007...I'm kind of glad it's over

2007 was not the greatest year for us. I can say that we got a beautiful daughter at the start of it and that was a great way to begin. I can also say that we lost a wonderful friend, person, musician, poet, writer, and comedian at the end of it. If I had to compare it to something I think I would say we started at the top of a hill and rolled down until we crashed into a very large brick wall at the bottom.
Here we go...

Feb. 7th, 2007 - Mom got the call from her Dr. confirming the fact that she had breast cancer. Not long after, I called her to let her know she had a third granddaughter.
Macie was born on Feb. 7th, 2007 at 8:30pm. An hour and a half after arriving at the hospital. All's I can say is thank God for constipation!
Feb. 18th, 2007 - My family, all except Chris (Sarah's husband), are over for dinner and Mom and Dad tell us that she was diagnosed with cancer.
After having some more MRI's and talks with Dad and her doctors, Mom decided to have a mastectomy
Mid-March Mom had her surgery and had a wonderful recovery.
April - Brian and I got a 4 day weekend in San Diego thanks to Brian's work. We also started framing the basement for a bedroom and bathroom.
May - We found out Beth was pregnant! YEAH! GOOD NEWS!
June 28th, 2007 - I got PRK laser surgery on my eyes. I love technology.
Beginning of July, Ida, Brian's Grandma, was in the hospital to have surgery. She had been in the hospital for most of the summer already.
July 19th, after struggling to recover, Ida passed away.
August started with an ear infection for Natalie. I thought for sure that we would be doing tubes by Nov. If I only knew what was to come...
At a recheck for Natalie in the beginning of Sept. we were sent to the Children's ER for pneumonia. Her x-ray looked clean, but she still had areas of wheezing in her lungs. So, two shots of antibiotic in her thighs, and an oral antibiotic to take home, she was suppose to get better.
Oct. 6th, 2007 - Brian takes the girls to the zoo and to his parents so that I can clean the house for Beth's shower on Sunday morning at 11:00. Brian had not been feeling all that great for a week or two and after coming home that night and looking at his throat, I convince him to go to urgent care. What we thought might have been strep throat turned out to be Mono. Did I mention that I was having family over to my house the NEXT DAY!
Oct. 7th, 2007 - 2:30 in the morning I hear Casey messing around with something in our bedroom. After doing some investigating, his butt was bleeding. Ew. Blood streaks on the carpet and Casey in pain. Did I mention that I was having family over to my house TODAY with a dog that has an exploding butt and an infectious husband. Brian took Casey to an emergency vet early the next morning, which is not cheap, and spent the afternoon there.
Later in October Natalie still has wheezing and we get personal with a nebulizer.
At Natalie's recheck a week later, Natalie sounds great but Macie is checked and we now must also use the nebulizer on her.
Oct. 31st, 2007 - Macie develops a ver dry rash behind her ears.
Throughout Nov. Macie's rash moves to her face, down her body and onto her arms. We go for bloodwork to see if she is allergic to anything. We also make an appointment with a Dermatologist.
Dec. 1st, 2007 - we go to a dermatologist and find out Macie has eczema. We are told how to treat it and are also asked to participate in a study for infants with eczema. We would be compensated for the uncomfortable blood draws and the 5 weeks of check up visits, and we do not have to pay for the visits or medication.
Dec. 3rd, 2007 - we sign Macie up for the study. She gets her blood drawn from her head. Yeah, you read that right. I really hate being a parent sometimes.
Dec. 9th, 2007 - Rory comes over to hang out and I don't remember anything we talked about. I really wish I did.
Dec. 15th, 2007 - Spambandits party and the last time I saw and hugged Rory.
Dec. 19th, 2007 - 4:30 pm Brian walked into my classroom with a look and I new Rory was gone before he could even say it. Even with my mom having cancer this year, I can safely say that this day was the worst day of my life so far. I still have a lot of anger for some reason and want to write about that, but I don't quite know how to yet.
Dec. 20th, 2007 - Brian and I go over to Paul and Karen's and continue on to Rory's appartment to do what we can to pick it up.
Dec. 22nd, 2007 - Rory's funeral.
Dec. 22nd, 2007 - Natalie vomits some time after dinner. This was the first time it happened and it will continue to this day, off and on, Jan. 19th, 2008.
We made it though Christmas alright, but Natalie continued to get sick and Macie had some explosive diahrea.
The week leading up to New Year's was the same. I wish I could say that 2008 started off better, but I can't.

One of my favorite things that someone told me once, and I can't even remember who it was: You have to hit bottom so that you have something to push off of. I am hoping that this is what 2008 is going to be like for me. We are still at the bottom and I am gasping for air from day to day. Hopefully soon we will be able to push off and have a year filled with healthy family, friends and nothing but good news.

I can say that I have learned an awful lot about myself...more of that to come.

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

10 Interesting Things About Me

So I thought this was going to take a lot longer, but once I got rolling, it wasn't so bad.
Thank you Jon. Here we go...

I can curl my tongue into three loops. I can also twist it around both ways and if you ask Shane, I can also clean my forehead if need be after meals; just like Scooby-Doo.

Scooby-doo
Since fourth grade I have known that I wanted to be a teacher. Since I made that decision, I have never strayed from it or doubted that teaching was what I wanted to do with my life.
My dad nicknamed me Gypsy Woman when I was little and it stuck. (Hence the address of the blog). Both of my sisters have nicknames as well, and still get called them from time to time, but mine is the only one that gets consistantly used by my dad and other members of the extended family. I don't know how he came up with it though. I do know that he used to change the words to "Pretty Woman" to "Gypsy Woman" and would make me cry because for some reason I hated it.

Roy Orbison
I love the smell of fresh cut grass, rain, and Brian's face after he shaves. I hate the smell of the Koch Refinery and the wormy smell after it rains.
Brian picked me up for our first date at 6:30 pm on Aug. 21, 2001 in a beautiful black convertible. I knew by the end of the date at 3:30 am on Aug. 22, 2001 that I was going to marry him.

Beegees2
I am the sterotypical "guy" in my marrage, excluding emotional breakdowns and dealing with the girls.
I have a grey comforter that I used in college that I would rather cuddle with some nights instead of Brian. I call him Grey and Brian hates him.
I have been blessed with my father's metabolism, pin-head and wit, my Grandpa Snyder's stubborness, and none of my Grandma Luskey's talent for sewing and painting. I have my mother's opionions and belief that everything happens for a reason. Also, after an arguement we had when I was a teenager, she wished me three beautiful daughters. I'm two-thirds of the way there. Thanks Mom.

Nattie and Macie
My hair has never been longer than my chin.
I will drink Diet Coke warm, cold or anywhere in between. I affectionately call it "The sweet nector of life."

Diet coke

Molly this is the second time you have been tagged for this topic. You better do it.
I also want to tag Sarah. Good Luck!