Home From The Hospital ~ Done

Well I apparently didn't get enough blogging stories the first time so I went back into the hospital on Saturday night. It seems I only get sick after 9:00 p.m.

They kept me 4 nights for pancreatitis and I'm home finally. I'm fine and just have to follow some rules to remain fine. For all of you who know how well I follow rules, prayers will be accepted!

I'm glad to be back to my computer & will be coming to visit all of you as I can.

Give Me Your Underpants! NOW!

So I'm hanging out on Thursday night when suddenly it felt like my guts were actually on fire. I tried ignoring it, I took a warm bath, I put a heating pad on it, I had another sip of wine, but none of my home remedies worked, so I made hubby drive me to the hospital.

Except for a slight language barrier with the intake nurse (english, I spoke it, she didn't), I was content to lay in the triage area whining about my pain. Once my name was called, a nurse wisely suggested that I get in a wheel chair to go to my room. Now I've been to this hospital way more than I care to remember, why would I need a chair? Well the moved the emergency room. No problems but they ran out of money before they could move the intake area for the ER, so it was about half a mile from one to the other! I held my head high as I allowed petite, pregnant nurse push my huge ass self all that way, from one end of the hospital to the other.

I was getting settled in my bed and the nurse gave me the dreaded gown to wear. I was to take everything off except my underwear. Oops! Little problem, I wasn't wearing underwear! I had taken a quick bath and thrown some pajama pants on thinking I was going to bed next, not the ER. Chris said not to worry, because I would probably have to remove the underwear for the Dr. anyway, but somehow that did not fly for me.

Chris had underwear on & he was just sitting there! Decisions, decisions, did I want to be a no-underpants-wearing-to-the-ER kind of freak, or the Ralph-Lauren-too-small-for-me-boxer-brief kind of freak. I demanded that Chris hand over his underwear. Because he loves me & because he knows I can get bat-sh!t crazy when I'm in pain, he promptly handed them over.

Now with a clearer head I can see that wearing his too tight Ralph Lauren man pants just so the Dr. could tell me to take them off was a little out there, but hey, who's thinking clearly before they get the pain meds into you?

To be continued...

Wordless Wednesday

*perfect for Wordless Wednesday, because I have no words to adequately describe this.

Mimi's Got A Brand New Desk!!

I spend most of my day at my computer desk. I go to school online, keep up my blogs and have a few chat forums that I keep up on. My old desk was way too small and had an ackward side table next to it for added room.



Chris & I finally decided it was time for me to get a new desk and I found one I loved on the Office Max website. After driving to three different stores a week ago, we found out that it was only available online. I wasn't sure what to do, I wanted to be able to check out the desk first, but Chris said "go for it".

The UPS man dropped it off in 2 huge boxes yesterday & I tried to assemble all 297,396 pieces. (Slight exaggeration, but not much) Even though I'm good at this type of thing, this desk had me beat. I was convinced that it was delivered straight from hell! I managed to assemble one drawer (this desk has drawers!) before I threw in the towel and said bad words.

After working all day, Chris came home and spent the next four hours making sure my desk was perfect. Putting together the other drawer.



Hey, it's starting to look like a desk!



Now he's getting overwhelmed, but he never complained!



Chris, showing how hard the glass top was to put on. (A glass top, what was I thinking?)



Outside cutting the board that the chair sits on so the desk would fit. My chair rolls and since we have carpet we have to have a board, those mats don't work.



New & old side by side.



Cutting for about the fourth time to get it just perfect.



Finally relaxing around 11:30.



MY NEW DESK!



It's so nice, I don't feel like I deserve it. Do you ever feel that way?



Now I get to organize everything the way I want it, with drawers & tons more space! Now I need to get new hanging file folders, a desk set to keep my things on top in & I'm pretty sure this calls for new pens. My name is Pam & I'm an office supply junky!

Kitty Litter Cake

The awesome ladies at OuR KrAzy kItChEn are having a fall season and Halloween Recipe Roundup. This kitty litter cake is perfect. It's delicious and kids love it!

Ingredients:
1 spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 white cake mix
2 large packages vanilla instant pudding mix, prepared
1 large package vanilla sandwich cookies
green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Roll candies

1 new kitty litter pan
1 new kitty litter pan liner
1 new pooper scooper

Instructions:
Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans).

Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble.

Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often.

Set aside all but about 1/4 cup.

To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix until completely colored.

When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl.

Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding.
*Important: mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don't want it too soggy. Combine gently.

Line a new, clean kitty litter box.

Put the cake/pudding/cookie mixture into the litter box.

Put 3 unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable.
Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly.

Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls bury them in the mixture.

Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top.

Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly on top of everything -- this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.

Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs.

Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top.

For the coup de gras take one Tootsie Roll and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around for a truly disgusting effect!

Wordless Wednesday

A Really Nice Award

I have to admit that I'm very bad at remembering to post the awards that I am lucky enough to receive. This award was actually awarded to me on June 1st, so you can see what I mean. I really wanted to post this one once I found it, because it has such a nice sentiment.

This is from Michelle at Lollypops and Lizards. It's one of those blogs that I was following, but then Blogger lost my follow list & I missed getting back to following her. I will be following her again, because I love her blog. She's got a great mix of fun and real life.

This award states:

Neno's Award - Rules & Regulations:

1.As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

2.To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

3.Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.

4.Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

5.Answer the award's question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

6.Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

7.Don't forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

Obviously I did a terrible job with rule #3, but I will carry on anyway.

I love blogging for the ability to write and share my life, but also as someone who suffers from some mental illness that prevents me from having a lot of friends in my life, this is really a great way for me to connect with people and make great friends. I have received more support and laughs from my blog friends than I can ever repay.

Now some friends who encourage friendships through blogging:

Diane at Good Mourning Glory

Mimi at He & Me + 3

Denise at Sunflower, Chocolate and Little Boys

Jeannie at Jeannie's Happy World

Emily at Marvelous Recipes

Joy at Joy To The Blog

Blue Violet at A Nut In A Nutshell

JD & Max's mom at Schnauzer & Schnauzer

Jenn at {delightfully. cliche.}

And because I'm having a bad hair day, Carolina at Brinkbeest In English

I have had a met a ton of great friends through my blogging, I could make the list even longer, but these are the folks who have really been there when I was struggling in one way or the other, always give good advice and regularly make me laugh with their comments and posts.

Christmas Ornament Swap

I found a great ornament exchange over at Lisa's Chaos. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE decorating my tree every year, so I joined up right away. Hop on over to Lisa's Chaos and join the swapping fun!

Teenage Boys...

Does anyone really understand the creatures known as teenage boys? As an only child, I certainly don't.

Jack thought it would be fun to get into this bin. Notice he has his cell phone with him, I believe he even showers with it.



Oskar is unsure what to do with this development.



John David has no question what do do when one's younger brother is trapped.



Luckily with some intervention from mom, Jack made it out before his air supply ran out!



*Yes, that is a trashy looking sheet hanging from my window. There isa blind, but allows light through which is apparantly unacceptable for television viewing if it is sunny. No, it's not sunny in these photos. Again, I don't understand these people who used to be my babies!

Tag, I'm It!

My friend Jeannie from Jeannie's Happy World got this fun tag & I thought I'd play along.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? used-to-be-blonde
3. Your mother? loving
4. Your father? grumpy
5. Your favorite food? steak
6. Your dream last night? ??
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? $$
9. What room are you in? sunporch
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? failing
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Metamora
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something you aren’t? stable
15. Muffin flavor? lemon poppy seed
16. Wish list item? car
17. Where did you grow up? Michigan
18. Last thing you did? blog
19. What are you wearing? sweats
20. Your TV? NCIS
21. Your pets? sassy
22. Your friends? loving
23. Your life? happy
24. Your mood? bi-polar!
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? mom van
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra
28. Your favorite store? Target
29. Your favorite color? yellow
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? Chris
33 .One place that I go over and over? camping
34. One person who emails me regularly? Kim
35. Favorite place to eat? coney restaurants

The rules, should you choose to follow them: answer these questions with only 1 word. Kindly link back to me, and then pick six blogs who you think are Over the Top!

I'm not gonna pick six blogs, I tag all of you to do it. In face I double-dog dare ya! Just please leave me a comment is you're going to play so I can see what you all have to say.

Homecoming

Here are some pics of John David & his girlfriend Leighanne on their way to the homecoming dance tonight. John wasn't into my taking pics, so he has kind of a crummy smile in many of them, but I told him if I pay $50 for a dance that I don't get to go to, I at least get pictures!









They had a great time at the dance & a fancy dinner at Arby's (!) afterwards, lol!

Blog Friends Rock

First I want to thank all of you who left comments about the time my son is going thru. Things are looking a little better right now.

Instead of the co-op plan that we did have where he would only be taking one class & not getting a diploma, they have made some other arrangements. John will continue in 2 classes at the school and 2 or 3 classes online from home. He will take his credits and finish up in adult education and get an actual diploma. His counselor says he sould be done by August which is a much better plan.

He'll be done at school by 10:30 every day allowing him to find a part time job. He feels comfortable with the 2 classes that he will be taking at the school, so hopefully he won't continue to have panic attacks.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and words of kindness, it's amazing how much it helps.

*Sigh*

Well I've been sitting here for the past 2 days, eating until I can't eat anymore. Today I realize that maybe this isn't the best way to deal with stress, duh!

So my smart, talented, handsome, 17 year old son has decided to basically drop out of high school. At least I wasn't gorging myself for no reason, right?

He suffers from depression and has been having panic attacks in school. Most of his friends were older and graduated over the past two years. His mentor, a drama teacher at the school died of brain cancer last year. His dad, Asshat, has had nothing to do with John for over 6 months despite court ordered counseling. John has gone and continues to go. Asshat is convinced that that only one with a problem is our son, so he doesn't need to go. He has willingly given up all contact with his oldest child. I don't get it, I'd be fighting every day to get back into his life, but I'm not him.

All of those things along with the suicide of a close friend at 14 got him way behind in school. We knew he would not graduate with his class, but the plan was for him to keep going for a 5th year and finish sometime that year. Well the rules have changed. They no longer allow 5th year seniors. The plan we have been been counting on for almost 2 years! Now he's welcome to complete all of his classes that he hates this year, but it won't count towards him getting a diploma, cause he can't come back to finish. The school is basically telling him there is no point in continuing, he won't graduate no matter what he does!

He's going to drop all but one class and hopefully find a job. This will count as a co-op situation and allow him to be involved with the goings on of his senior year, without wasting his time. We'll start working towards a GED after his class graduates (he can't do it until then).

This post may not even make sense, I'm just trying to get it all out there, spewing it out in chunks.

My son is very happy & relieved. I am mad, frustrated, dissapointed and sad. Plus this frickin' flu is still not gone! I'll get back to the real world soon, hopefully. I just have to deal with this & get my head back in order.