another mom update

Mom has been moved to the ICU. Her kidneys are in bad shape. they've been trying to get an IV and an access line since 330pm. they finally took some blood from her foot. They are having to put in a Central Line... a surgically installed IV/Port into the artery in her neck. No one is saying, yes it's leukemia, but they aren't telling us that it could be anything else. Hospital food sucks. Especially on a Sunday.
She is having a bone marrow biopsy in the morning. we should know more then.

Mom update

Mom's platelet count dropped again.
She needs a transfusion of platelets before she can be transported to Iowa City. She'll hopefully be on the move by noon today. Just waiting for the call to leave.

mom...

My mom is very very sick.

She's been sick since before Christmas.

She's gone to the doctors in Clinton every two weeks for antibiotics for an illness that they can't name.

The third week in January she started going to the doctor every week due to constant pain.

The first week on February found my mom in the Clinton ER in so much pain she couldn't talk; she could barely breathe.

Diagnosis: "We don't know. But we know what it's not. So we're going to treat it like Bacterial Pneumonia with Pleurisy."

More high dose antibiotics and Hydrocodone.

She started to feel better after that.

She had a cigarette or 4 over the last two weeks (and visited the smoke filled Casino in Clinton) which infuriated my dad because she seemed to get sick again. Her lungs couldn't take the smoke. On Wednesday and Thursday of last week I begged her to go to the doctor. Her doctors weren't in. I asked her to see the on-call doc. She went Friday.

Still no diagnosis. More antibiotics, more Hydrocodone. But here's something weird on your lab work. Normal Platelet (the red blood cells that bind together to create blood clots, or basically to stop one from bleeding to death from a bruise) counts are between 180,000 and 250,000, depending on the day since platelets only have a 10-day lifespan. My mom's counts were down to 26,000 on Friday. On-call doctor says... let's make an appointment with a Blood oncologist and a surgeon on March 8th and 13th respectively. See what they want to do. Enjoy your antibiotics and the Hydrocodone until then.

I called my mom yesterday around 11:30 am. She sounded tired and had a slight wheeze, but her spirits seemed good. Dad was with her at work. She neglected to tell me that Dad was there because the pain she was in. Dad went home after lunch. Mom walked herself to the ER around 3:30-ish. (Mom is a transcriptionist at Mercy Hospital in Clinton.) The pain was unbearable. Even with the Hydrocodone, she couldn't get ahead of it or manage it. They did more blood work.

Platelet count was down to 12,000.

Potassium was up to 8.0. Normal is 1.8.

(When my mom was pregnant with me, I apparently sucked her dry of potassium, and she has been on pills ever since. So to be high... a huge concern.)

Preliminary Diagnosis: Acute Leukemia.

(As far as leukemia goes... either very bad or treatable. No clue which.)

She is being transported to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in about 3 minutes. She has already been accepted into the Leukemia Ward/Program within the Oncology Wing. She has an appointment with the head of that department as soon as she is settled in.

We're leaving at 9am to be there by 10:30, so we don't interrupt the doctors.

When I was relaying to my sister Shannon yesterday that Mom was once again in the ER, Shannon said, "Well, she can't die, she's not 66 years old yet."

My reply, "That doesn't mean that she can't get a blood illness that can't be picked up by the cat scans and MRIs that she'll have to fight for 3 years."

Oh, My God.

(I really said that.)

(And it happened.)

Sidenote: My grandma died of a blood cancer (Multiple Myoloma) at 66 years old. She fought it for 9 years. Her mother died at the age of 66. And I think her mother before her. (not all cancer.) These women were all first-born daughters like my mom. And like me.

I will try to keep this up to date as best I can. Now I need to get ready to leave.

this week

My boss Ed brought Weston this cookie from the Highland Park Bakery in Des Moines, the #1 Bakery in Des Moines. Now... this is no Sweetheart Bakery (in Clinton), but it was awfully nice of Ed to think of Weston this weekend. And we need all the smiles we can get in this place.

I got what I am calling an "almost" promotion at work. More work, small increase in pay, no title and a smaller work space.

Not sure if this weighs out as a positive or negative experience.

I'll have been here 4 years on April 17th. I've moved my office 4 times, this will be the 5th time. And I am moving back to my original desk from April 17th, 2006.

I am taking over a lot from another employee. I am been consistently taking on portions of his job since June 2006. I am now taking over almost everything that is not Customer Service/order entry.

So... let's tally this up:

I have more responsibilities than ever. Officially more than this employee.

I am only getting a small raise. (this isn't the huge concern it would normally be, not in this economy.)

I am moving to a smaller desk.

I have no change in job title.

He is keeping his Salary.

He may be keeping his Management title.

He's taking my desk.

And I was supposed to get his office, but I stupidly voiced concern over his mental health (reason for the decrease in responsibilities.) And so his office will be the 4th conference room, and the 6th meeting area in this office.

We now have more conference rooms than hourly employees!

Anyone see a problem with my day?

I feel like the small raise is not compensation enough. I almost feel slighted.

I definitely feel stupid for worrying about someone else. He's fine. Actually happy and relieved to have less work. Why did being concerned and nice backfire again?

My Win on My Give Away Today

So a few weeks ago I added a button exclaiming that I Won something from My Give Away Today (.com). And it's true, I did win. I won a ring from Chunky Bling . Everyday or so I visit My Give Away Today and I check to see what they are giving away. If l don't like it, I leave the blog. But if I do like it, I simply enter my name in the comment section. If I love it, I enter 2-4 comments answering various questions. On the Chunky Bling, I entered once thinking that a new watch would be great. I didn't win the watch, or the pearl bracelet, but I did win a Ring. It's not much, but it's fun. Once I replied that I accepted my prize, I was contacted by Chunky Bling to let them know which ring I wanted. Rings are their newest addition so there was only one style to pick from, but I got to pick the color. I picked Green... random I know, since I generally don't like Green. But, I really have very little Green jewelry, and since this isn't super fabulous, just blingy I thought I should try something new. And I did.

The ring first arrived last week, but it was sent general US Mail, and arrive destroyed. It wasn't even in a bubble envelope. all the little fake diamonds had fallen out and were floating around the baggie, and the Swarovski crystals were scratched. So after a quick email followed by me sending the original ring back at $0.44, Laurel at Chunky Bling sent me another ring. This one was double wrapped with bubble wrap and then put into a bubble envelope. It arrived in pristine condition yesterday. And it fits perfectly. And yes, I planned an entire outfit around this ring. It's not much, but it's fun and I won it. And I never, scratch that, I rarely Win anything.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON!!!

Happy 26th Birthday to my SeaStar!!!

We are celebrating Shannon's birthday tonight at our house with a dinner for 7, including Weston.

On the menu:

Sushi Appetizers
(California Rolls, Sashimi, Shrimp Ebi, and Edemame)

Smoked BBQ Baby back Ribs with Baked Sweet Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole

Eclair bar/dessert (90% Sugar Free)
(Shannon has already had 2 other birthday cakes, so she wanted something different.)

Pictures to follow... but for now, here is a simple picture of the Eclair Dessert.

A New Recipe...

So... I am a true lover of Meat. I love beef, chicken, seafood and generally like pork. (Living in Iowa, you have to like, if not love, pork. And all of Iowa loves Bacon.) I will generally choose a meat over a starch, and sometimes even over most vegetables. A perfectly prepared meat is a piece of heaven. Similarly when meat is cooked incorrectly, it generally sucks beyond belief, and little can be done to save it.

So, I am always looking for new recipes. And if you know me well, you know that one of my favorite foods is Ribs. Baby back, St. Louis, Pork or Beef... BBQ, dry rub, wet rub, smoked, grilled - I love all Ribs. So my Uncle Dave makes the best ribs. Normal ribs that I generally wouldn't think to eat (like country or ends) he makes taste fabulous. So... my Aunt Linda decided that if her husband could do it, so could she. She made fork tender boneless ribs. And she gave me the recipe for dinner last night!

You'll need:

Boneless Pork chops about 1-1.5 inches thick, all fat removed. (I cut my chops from a much larger pork loin)

2+ TBPS Olive Oil

Your favorite BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. Cut the pork chops into strips, about 1" wide and 2" long. (I cut my strips too small.)

2. Heat about 1-2 TBSP Olive Oil in a pan at medium heat. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

3. Season with your faves. I used Salt and Pepper and Stubbs BBQ Seasoning.

4. Sear the strips on all sides. A quick hot sear, do not cook through (or they will dry out as some of mine sort of did last night.) Probably need to be done in 2-3 batches, don't crowd the pan.

5. Once all strips are seared, put them all back in the pan. Mix around and turn the heat off. Add your BBQ sauce. Make sure all are covered.

6. Pour the "ribs" onto a foil lined baking sheet. Cover with foil, venting about 1/2 of the pan.

7. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees or until the BBQ sauce gets dark on the edges, the remove from the oven.

8. Let rest for about 3-5 minutes, applying more BBQ sauce to your liking.

Enjoy!

Our dinner last night:

Boneless pork "ribs" with Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Worst thing about having a baby that talks... He cries "Mommy" & "Daddy" when you change him and discover a nasty diaper rash. Sobbing your names as you try to clean him as gently as possible. :(

Me to Weston:
"Are you stinky?"
"yes."
"Do You need changed?"
"yes."
"Do You want Me to change you?"
"no."
"Who then?"
"daddy."
"Ok. Go tell Daddy."

hahahahahahaha :)

background

So far, I am not much of a fan of the St. Patrick's Day blogs on Cutest Blog on the Block. So for now... I'm sticking with the pink glitter. I think this will get us through until Spring/Easter.

Hope you all are well. We're under another snowstorm advisory. yea... Adventureland was on fire yesterday. But it looks repairable, but it was still super sad and scary, we could see the smoke from here.

We put a deposit down on an apartment yesterday... it will be ok we think. But then another little curious thing came along... so we may not end up in that apartment after all. Limbo again.

Time to make Weston some breakfast... Cinnamon rolls and eggs. He'll love it!

fashion statement

How to spend Valentine's Day:
Jared Leto, Chace Crawford, Ryan Phillipe and Kellan Lutz
attend the Calvin Klein Men's Collection Fall 2010 Fashion Show on Feb. 14th.

My-So-Called-90's-Yum.

Worth-all-the-Gossip-YUMMMMY.

Best-Love-Scene-Ever-Yum.

Funny-Vampire-Yum.

I could do without the teeth, but other than that, please send Bachelors 1, 2, and 3 to my seat. Now. Please.

Oh to be at Fashion Week. (And young, uber-thin, rich and single while I am fantasizing!)

What a difference 10 hours make.

On the left, Weston in the morning.
He's all tired and puffy, wants nothing more than to be held by his Daddy.

On the right, Weston after daycare making faces at me.

He's independent, and playful. He's trying to make the fog-horn noise that I make from blowing over a pop bottle... without the bottle.

breaking for the weekend

I will be breaking for the weekend. We're heading to Clinton for the weekend for the celebration of February birthdays (Aunt Linda, Zoey, and Shannon.) Hope you are all safe and have a Happy Valentine's Day. Scott and I are hoping to celebrate on the 19th, our shared Furlough day.

For your viewing pleasure... More Weston!

tah-dah!

So, when I fell on the ice outside of daycare last week, I got pretty banged up.

I somehow landed on my right knee and my left hip at the same time, while still having my left left straight out for Weston to land on the toe of my shoe and bruise his leg. He cried, more from the shock of being thrown against their garage, than actually from being hurt.

I thought I was getting better. I couldn't take the time to go the doctor, and I didn't really have any time to use after being out most of the week before for Weston's issue. So, I worked through the pain. I took Aleve and ibuprofen daily. I took Tylenol PM with my Aleve to sleep. I felt like someone had kicked my back from my left hip up to the 2nd rib from the bottom, same side. My hands were sore, but not too bad. I actually thought I was getting better. I wasn't taking any pain meds. So when I went in for my routine Chiropractor visit, I thought I'd be great after. Um... Wrong. I now have an Ace Bandage on my wrist to stabilize its movement. I have to wear it at night, and should wear it during the day for the next couple days. I think it hurts more now that its fixed. But oh well, I'm a gimp again. :) Kind of reminds me of January 1997 when I fell down my stairs at home and all I broke was this same wrist. Anyone remember that?

last night was a good night

Not a great picture, but still...

Scott ended up not getting home from work until 10pm. His boss uses the weather as an excuse to keep everyone there as late as possible, then she brings them in early the next morning. And the weather barely ever effects their trucks. Abuse of power. But the overtime is nice. Except, because it's a state facility, she will try cutting his time tomorrow and Thursday. It's how she rolls. :)

Anyhoo... So Weston and I were on our own last night. And lately that means temper tantrums randomly in the middle of whatever we are doing. For example, we'll be making fish faces, laughing ourselves silly, and then all of a sudden he's mad, hitting me, and crying. No clue why. It's ridiculous. But he's a baby, what can I do?
So we had dinner. He had leftover chicken nuggets and tater tots with apple sauce. I made a fabulous spaghetti with Vodka cream sauce and shrimp. It turned out really well. Weston even had a few bites. We played with his blocks and read every book at least three times. We cuddled. It was a great night.

Weston wanted ice cream, so I pulled out a Neapolitan Ice Cream sandwich for us to share.

There was no sharing.

I had one bite. He ate the rest! He'd offer me a bite, and then as soon as I'd get close enough, he'd snatch it away and go, "No. Mine." And he had that evil glint in his eye. It was so funny! And messy. But oh well.

Scott called at 9:14 to say he was on his way home. He talked to Weston, and then hung up at 9:16. And Weston was asleep by 9:18. So... we had a great night. Maybe not Scott so much, but Weston and I did.

again in the Land of Erin

Another 4-8 inches today through tomorrow. Then add Gusting winds which equal Whiteout conditions. I am so done with the White Stuff. I can't even find my grill, chairs, or patio table on our deck. Will we have to tell the people who buy our house to please call us when the snow melts, so we can pick up our stuff?

So I noticed something this weekend...

~ 2 months vs. 18 months ~


My baby looks almost exactly the same asleep as he did at 2 months old. His (Angelina Jolie) lips are the same, hands, ears, cheeks. His face has thinned out, become more defined, and he has hair. But overall, he's the same. It's nice to know that I can still see my baby in my active little boy.

*** big difference? Check out the bruised bump on Weston's 18 month forehead! He slipped on his traction footed jammies and landed his head on the wheel of my bed frame. Big ouch! ***

Fabulous with a capital FAB!!!

So, it's no joke that I follow a number of Blogs. I love them. I love reading about my friends, about people I have interest in, about companies, etc. My favorite daily read is CJane Enjoy it by Courtney Kendrick. Her stories and her family are fabulous. So entertaining. But... CJane started another blog called Dear CJane trying to answer the questions posed by her readers. Questions like... "What color are the walls in your living room?" and "where did you get that fabulous Coral dress?" It's a brilliant blog.

Today CJane spilled the beans on a fabulous webstore called eShakti. This company designs clothes in sizes 0-26, then they let you customize those choices! Take this dress right here. I love it. But, as most of you know, I'm not a huge fan on my arms. So, I pick my size, I tell them my bra size and height (so it fits perfectly) and then I can make the changes. Keep the neckline as is or make it smaller/bigger? Hem length... as is or floor length? Sleeve length... there are 7 choices! Not kidding. They'll even customize the entire dress in case their standard sizes don't fit! I'm thinking Mother-daughter dresses? Or say, custom sleeve lengths if you have short arms? Could be very cool.

Anyway, this may be my new favorite store. Haven't bought anything yet, but the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for the fun!

My friend Jess came down from Cherokee Saturday. She brought her husband Andy and her youngest Carson. Carson is my godson and he'll be 3 years old February 10th. He's a whole head taller than Weston, but only 3.5 pounds heavier. And Jess's married name is Jones. So... we all share the same last name now. Which is hilarious when you're in a mall full of people and you call "Little Jones"and two little boys stop and turn around. Kind of makes you smile.

Anyway, we had a great time with a house full of Joneses. And Weston and Carson played together... well sort of. They played in Silence around each other, unless one wanted what the other had. But hey - they're toddlers!

Coming Soon: Weston's 18 months old!!!