Famliy Update June 2009

I haven't really felt like blogging lately. Facebook kinda takes the place of it.
I have been in pain a lot these past few years and more so this past year. I hate to be a whiner but it gets to be too much sometimes. My job is physically demanding and I work long hours. Now I am scheduled for 2 8-9 hour shifts and 3 11 hour shifts! Yuck. I went to a rheumatologist this week and he said my osteoarthritis is as bad as a person twice my age! Yikes! He said we have to get it under control if I want to have any quality of life. He also says I likely have Fibromyalgia but we can't address that until we get the arthritis under control. He started me on Doxycycline because often arthritis in young people is associated with a bacterial infection that ends up in your joints. He also put me on Mobic which is an NSAID. He then gave me muscle relaxers to help me sleep. I haven't found a sleep medicine I like but since I knew the relaxer worked he agreed. I will see him again next month and see how I am doing.
I need to cut back my hours at work to allow my body time to heal. I also have to take time off because my Mom is having surgery for an ovarian tumor; we will find out Monday if it is cancer. Her surgery is July 8, so please keep her in your prayers! Morgan and I are going next week and she is staying and I will return the next week for the surgery.
Amber is working part-time at Bryan's office. Today was her first day and it seemed to go OK. She will be going to community college in the fall. Morgan has two weeks of summer school in July and then she will start high school. Ken is still in S Korea. He extended his stay there another year. He recently found out he fathered a child at the end of high school. The girl never said anything until the ran into each other when he was home on leave. The did a DNA test to confirm, he has a daughter named Rebecca who is 2 1/2 years old. So far, we haven't met her. I am not sure if the hesitance is on his part or the mother's part. I just know I can't wait to spoil the kid! I am over being appalled that I was a grandmother at 39! How redneck!
Bryan and I have made some improvements in out relationship and things are smoother for now. He is working harder now that summer is here but has managed to take some time for golf and a fishing trip with clients. Since I am suppose to eat vegetarian to decrease the swelling in my joints, the fish he caught is appreciated. As long as I blacken fish, I don't taste the fishiness as much.

Letter to Amber

At Klein Oak, the seniors do a scrapbook of their life as a major semester project. Amber had the option of including a letter from a parent. Amber graduates tomorrow. Here is what I wrote:

Amber,It is so hard to believe that you are 18 and graduating from high school! It is special to me that you are graduating from Klein Oak since I graduated from there in 1985 and your brother graduated from KO in 2006. Looking at the old pictures, it seems like just a few years ago; you were smiling and hanging on to that darn pacifier. For several years I swore you would still have it at graduation so it is a relief that I was wrong about that! You smiled so much as a child. You had the curliest hair and looked so sweet and angelic. People were very surprised when you would turn to the bossy, tomboy who was determined to get her own way. The attitude definitely didn’t fit the look! That is still true today.You were our second child but first girl. You loved to follow your brother, Ken and Andy and Kelly everywhere. You were so determined to grow up as quick as you could. You have always been clever and good at figuring things out. Your pediatrician, Dr. Leass told me that your personality would ensure you would be a strong and assertive young lady as long as I didn’t kill you before you reached adulthood. Yes, you could be a difficult and obnoxious child! It was hard to be upset for long because I really did see the strength in you. Now, I am waiting to see where that strength and determination will take you in life. Do not let anything or anyone stand in your way. Remember how you were raised; remember God and make a place for him in your life. Be true to yourself and always remember that you are a unique and special person. You can do anything you set your mind to. Do not sell yourself short. Remember that life will not always be easy. It is how you handle the adversity that defines you as a person.

update

We went out to eat Korean food last week. It was yummy. I liked kimchee and bulgogi -beef that has been marinated and then we grilled it at our table. We also tried Soju, a korean alcohol.
We are very staffed challenged at work so I am working hard. I have moved over to Skilled Nursing. We only have three residents so it is calm right now. I am enjoying working with everyone there but they really need me 14 hours a day and so a compromise it I am working 9 hours a day.

Life is going good. Ken comes homes for several weeks to visit. Then he will return for six more months in S. Korea.

New position

The doctor released to full duty on Thursday. It is a long story, but I have a new position at work. I am an expediter: I "expedite" the food through the kitchen, and am a link between the cooks and the waitstaff. I help dress the plates, take finished orders from the cooks for the waitstaff and garnish them, and generally make sure that everything in the kitchen is running smoothly, to give the waitstaff more time with the diners. I also plate and garnish the desserts.
I am OK with this. I will no longer supervise the waitstaff and I am grateful for that. I can go to work and do my job and go home, no worries.
Now, I have to build up my stamina and get focused. It is not a job where you even have time to go to the bathroom when things get going.

Life part 20089

Morgan made it to school Mon, Tues & Wed. She will be doing half days again next week. Her blood count is improving. They were able to rearrange her classes so she can get to all her core classes in between 9:50 a and 2:07 p.
I went back to the doctor about my wrist. He gave me a steroid injection, again. He encountered some inflammation thing and seems to think the shot may have solved it. If not, he needs to operate again and figure out what is wrong. I am not a fan of that idea!
My foot is much better. I went and got a pedicure Thursday. I was afraid it would hurt but it felt great. No shoe feels great but I am slowly starting to walk normal.
Bryan and I had a nice anniversary Friday. We went to the mall and to lunch. He bought some new socks and I bought a lipstick; we also got the girls some clothes. Such excitement for the 23rd anniversary. Maybe we will make an effort for the 25th like we did for the 20th.
Amber has finally decided she will go to prom. Now she is desperately dress hunting.
Life is never dull!

This week

Morgan does have Mono but she is feeling better. She is going to try going to school half days this week. We had a busy day yesterday, haircuts for the girls, hair color for Morgan and I ran to the library, Target and Grocery store- in between I got a 90 minute massage. As a result, my foot which is now in a regular shoe was throbbing today. Morgan and I ended up spending the day in bed instead of going to church.
Friday, Bryan and I celebrate our 23rd anniversary. We plan to take the day off and I have a doctor's appointment to check on my wrist and Morgan has to go in for blood work. After that, I want crawfish. That is my only request for the day. Yummy!