Happiness Is...

Those Super Bowl Commercials

I thought that the majority of this year's commercials during the Super Bowl were rather un-entertaining.  There were a couple that actually made me laugh, but this one was my absolute favorite:

 

"Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it"

-Ferris Bueller

Huge Sigh of Relief

Earlier today I was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.  I've been waiting almost 2 weeks for it, and I'm very blessed that I was able to do it. 

Over Christmas break I had 4 very important doctor appointments.  Three of which were due to family history, and the other is just good practice for anybody - especially somebody that grew up going to the beach all the time.  Those appointments were a colonoscopy, CT angiogram of my brain, a mammogram, and a skin cancer check.  I kind of had to fight for the colonoscopy, and the reasons I fought for it were a combination of family history and personally knowing 2 people not much older than me who have (are battling) battled it.  

When I scheduled these procedures I really didn't think much of any of it.  I thought I would have the procedures, the doctors would say the results are clear, and then they'd tell me when to come back.  The one I was most afraid of was the CT angiogram.  I spend over half my life trying to function with a headache of one kind or another, so it was a little scary knowing that I was about to see if, in fact, there was a little something extra in my brain causing it.  And it made sense to me that there certainly could have been.  The one test I was worried about is the one test that came back perfectly clear.  I wasn't worried about the colonoscopy - I had 2 polyps.  I wasn't worried about the skin cancer check - my doctor removed a mole from my back that turned out to be "abnormal."  I wasn't worried about the mammogram - I had to make a return visit for more scans.  

In the midst of receiving all of these results I was starting to feel like cancer was a shark circling around me just waiting to attack at its most opportune time.  Thankfully that didn't happen, but instead of getting "all clear/nothing to worry about" and getting these results that were just a little too close for comfort left me feeling a bit nervous.  I am so very thankful that I have a doctor that does such a good job of tracking family history and is a big believer in preventive medicine.  And just to clarify, it's my gynecologist that ordered the colonoscopy and the mammogram.  I also see a P.A. (mainly for migraines) but he wasn't terribly concerned about my family history of colon cancer.  His mistake. 

So back to my huge sigh of relief - I breathed it this morning around 10:00.  I had my return visit for the mammogram and I had been told they had seen something (nodular asymmetry) on the original scans, and for this visit there would be a radiologist on hand to look at the scans immediately, and I might have to have an ultrasound.  I found this out about 2 weeks ago and I've been so busy I really haven't had time to let my neurotic personality get the best of me, but last night was really hard and at one point I had myself convinced that they were going to find a big lump and that shark would have, finally, attacked.  But I got lucky, was blessed, whatever you want to call it.  On the second set of scans they used a different angle and it turns out there is nothing suspicious present at all.  So I got my all clear!

There is a lot more I could say about all of this, but my point of writing this blog post was not simply to inform everybody of all the fun I had over Christmas break.  There are a few things I'd like to emphasize about my experience.  

1.  Know your family history - I can't stress this enough.

2.  Be your own advocate.

3.  Don't think you're too young or "it can't happen to me."  That shark can get anyone at anytime.

4.  Know when it's time to get those preventive tests done...and do them! 

My life has returned to normal.  I have avoided the shark for now.     

Late Christmas Greetings

Those who know me are well aware of how much I love to send Christmas cards.  I can think of one year in the past 16 that I did not send Christmas cards.  That year I sent new year's cards instead.  This year when I realized I was not going to get Christmas cards done I briefly considered sending new year's cards again, but then I decided I would do a nice Christmas blog post instead.  Christmas came and went and that didn't happen.  So here I am, on January 1, doing a "Christmas" blog post.  

Along with my Christmas card is always my Christmas letter, that gives a brief account of what our family did during the previous year.  I love remembering the events of the year and reliving the memories.  I missed taking that trip down memory lane this year.  

So if I had written a Christmas letter it would have said that 2011 was, overall, a good year.  One of the most exciting things that happened this year was in June when my parents moved 5 minutes away from us.  This has been a wonderful situation for them and us for many reasons.  It's nice to be able to drive around the corner and be at their house, and their help with the kids has been necessary countless times.  I don't know how we ever made it without them!

Cole is still working for Velcro USA and still enjoys it.  His clients that he has to visit are in places like southern California, Chicago, and New Mexico.  Who wouldn't love a job that involves regular travel to those places?  He coached Collin's baseball team in the spring and fall, and stays plenty busy helping me deliver children to various activities pretty much every day of the week.  

As for me, I had quite the year.  Not only did I turn 40 in September, but I also started my first teaching job, which has proven to be both challenging and rewarding, and I believe 100% that I am right where God intended for me to be.  It took long enough for me to get here, but I love the people I work with and I love my students and that's really all one can ask for.  I celebrated my 40th birthday for an entire month with activities that included Keith Urban and David Crowder*Band concerts, as well as a fabulous birthday party and a performance by Brendan's band, The Broken Clocks, and the big event, finally meeting Jack Blades and enjoying a Night Ranger concert with 4 of my oldest friends.  I used the phrase "...because it's my birthday month" for any reason I could possibly think of during September and it was truly the most enjoyable birthday month I've ever experienced.  

Brendan just turned 14 and is in 8th grade.  He has developed his talent and quite a passion for playing guitar, and he just upgraded from his Fender Squier beginner model to an Epiphone Limited Edition 1966 G-400 reissue, paid for entiredly by him.  No small feat for a 13 year old to save $400 and I'm really proud of how hard he worked to earn the money.  He loves his guitar and has already had the opportunity to play it at the youth New Year's Eve lock-in at our church, where he has just become lead guitarist for the youth band.  He gave up his last season of baseball so he could be in the band and he's very excited about it.  He competed in the UIL one-act play competition in early December.  His character was an angry brother and he was quite good at it since he gets a lot of practice being an angry brother at home!  He is looking forward to trying out for a part in the spring musical, Bye Bye Birdie.  

Kaelin's first love is still dancing, although we discovered during summer choir camp that she has a pretty singing voice.  She continues to be a part of a dance team, and takes dance classes 3 days a week.  She was asked to take part in the Christmas Eve service at church and she was able to sing and dance.  The service was incredible and Kaelin did a beautiful job with her part of it.  She's hoping to add voice lessons to her schedule, but we haven't really pursued that yet.  It's hard to believe she's in 5th grade (okay, not really hard to believe she's in 5th grade, but hard to believe she'll be in middle school next year), but she loves her teachers and she's got a really good group of friends that she hangs out with.  Her new interest is Justin Bieber.  He's not my favorite, but my mom wasn't a huge fan of Andy Gibb and I adored him for several years when I was in elementary school.  She could make worse choices than Justin Bieber!

Collin is as cute as ever and provides an excess amount of comic relief at our house.  His sweet little heart was evident before Christmas when he went to work making gifts - and wrapping them - for every member of the family.  He played baseball in the spring and then Cole and I lost our minds and agreed to let him play baseball AND flag football during the fall.  He loved it, but there were some crazy days this fall!  He scored his first touchdown when he caught a pass and ran the ball into the end zone.  Currently he's beginning his first season of basketball.  He's playing on a team that consists mostly of boys that he already knows and he's very excited.  They are the Lakers and I'm very excited about the purple uniforms!  Collin is in 3rd grade, likes school, hates homework, loves video games, Pokemon,  and Beyblades, and particularly enjoys PACE math and recess.  

We still have our sweet cat, Cookie, and she is dearly loved by all of us - even Cole although he denies it.  She lives a life of luxury for a cat, and her favorite places to sleep are in Collin's bed (top bunk...she climbs the ladder to get to the bed), my super cool accent chair that came from Pier 1, the chaise lounge that is my favorite place to sit when I read, and most recently, my Bevo pillow pet that I got for Christmas.  She is spoiled rotten, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  

If I had sent a Christmas letter I would have wished you a very merry Christmas and would have asked you to keep in touch.  And I really would have meant it.  I love hearing from people  - especially those that we don't see all that often.  

And if I had sent a Christmas letter I would have mentioned that my family and I are incredibly blessed to be surrounded by the people that we live our lives with.  We have friends and family that continuously make themselves available to us and keep us smiling.  We are living proof that life is much better when it's shared with people that love you just the way you are.  

Since I didn't send a Christmas letter, and I'm not going to send new year's cards, I will just say that I hope you all had a merry Christmas and you have a wonderful 2012.  And I hope we get to see you some time in the new year!

My Least Favorite Christmas Song

I've always found "The Christmas Song" to be dull and boring, and, anytime it was played on the radio I automatically changed the station.  It's my least favorite Christmas song.  Until now.  

 

Yes, folks, that's Keith Urban singing "The Christmas Song."  And I have to say it's the first time in all 40 years of my life I've enjoyed hearing that particular song.  The fact that it's a video doesn't hurt anything...Keith Urban in a suit!  Nice touch.  

Okay, I still don't really like the song, but I have to admit Keith Urban makes it sound *really* good!

 

 

 

The Muppets - Must See

We just returned home from a family outing to see "The Muppets."    If you haven't seen this movie, you MUST see it.  Especially if you were a Muppet fan back in the day.  To convince you that I'm right and you should see it, I've compiled a list of 9 reasons why its worth your time.  

1.  Kermit the Frog is the eternal, good-hearted, optimist.  He has always been the brains of the operation as well as the voice of reason.  No matter how hard the situation is, he always accepts the challenge and gives it his best.  Even in moments of defeat he maintains his dignity and vows to move on and do better if there is a next time.  Kermit has a good heart.  He shows concern for the people (muppets) around him.  He's a good role model for our very self-centered world.

2.  The Muppets are a great example of how effective team work can be if people cooperate and give their all to accomplish their goal.  There are some disagreements, but they are always talked out and a compromise is reached in the end.  Another good life lesson to show our kids that it's okay to disagree, but you need to be respectful and work it out.

3.  Fozzie's fart shoes.  This is self-explanatory.  My kids are still laughing at them.  

4.  This is the only time you'll ever hear "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sung by a barbershop quartet.  Take a moment to form a mental picture of a muppet barber shop quartet singing that song.  Yes, it's that funny.  

5.  It's good, clean family fun.  There are no bad words, half naked women, or innapropriate "love" scenes in this movie.  Of course you wouldn't expect those things in a Muppet movie, but you never know how depraved filmmakers can be these days.  I was thrilled to sit through a movie with my kids and not have to worry about those things.  

6.  The songs.  I do love those Muppet songs.  It made my heart happy to see Kermit the Frog in his boat with his banjo singing "The Rainbow Connection."  So what if I cry every single time I hear it.  Don't judge me.

7.  Jim Henson was a genius.  It's hard to believe one man is responsible for the greatness that is The Muppets. 

8.  The underdog becomes the hero.  I always love a good underdog story.  Walter is a boy/man struggling to find his identity throughout the whole movie, and, in the end, conquers his fear and appears to be the reason the Muppets save their studio.  I've never seen anybody whistle quite like Walter can.  

9.  The 9th and final reason that I can think of for you to see "The Muppets" is simply being taken back in time.  It felt so good to see those Muppets on the screen in front of me again.  I loved them when I was a kid (thanks to my aunt Bonnie) and seeing them again brought back a lot of great memories of my childhood.  It made me a little sad to think of how the quality of children's entertainment has deteriorated over the years.  This world could use more Kermits, Fozzies, Walters, and all the rest of those loveable Muppets.  

This is good entertainment.  Go see "The Muppets."  You'll thank me.  

Meet UT's Newest Superfan

On Monday night, Collin became UT"s newest (and cutest) superfan.  He was so excited about all the Longhorn merchandise at the Co-op!  He chose a baseball cap that he wore at the hex rally, and has pretty much worn it ever since.  He even asked me to wash the clothes he was wearing so he can wear them again on Thanksgiving.  I bought myself a longhorn puppet that plays the Texas fight song, and he's decided he must have it, so I guess I'll have to buy myself another one!  Proud mom moment!  Hook 'em!

For the Last Time...Maybe

On Monday night Cole, Brendan, Collin, and I went to what will probably be the last hex rally at UT.  I've read conflicting reports about whether or not Texas and Texas A&M will continue to play, and I didn't want to miss it just in case it's the last one.  And I wanted the kids to experience it with us.  Kaelin was at a birthday party so she missed it.  I really wanted her to go because she's decided (with a little brainwashing from our assistant principal) she's going to TCU.  I have nothing against TCU, but it would be nice to raise 3 Longhorns.  We'll see how that turns out.  

Just for grins, this picture is from the hex rally in 1992:

That's Karen, me, and Jennifer.  I hadn't yet met Cole when this picture was taken.

 

This picture was taken Monday night:

What a difference 20 years makes!!

To start the night we ate at Texadelphia on the Drag.  One of the first places Cole and I went when we first started dating was that very Texadelphia.  The day we went it was so crowded that we had to stand up to eat.  Cole has no memory of this, but I remember it.  It wasn't quite so crowded Monday night. 

After we ate we did some shopping on the Drag.  We went to Tyler's so I could get some Toms, which are very comfortable, by the way.  And then, of course, we went to the Co-op.  Collin found a UT baseball cap that fit him just right and he had to have it.  Then it was off the hex rally.  We arrived an hour early - with the other old people - so we were able to stand against the barrier.  We were off to the side, but we had a good view of the speakers, the band, the dancers, and the football players.  

It was really good to see all the players who have taken the field week after week and given their all, even though it's been kind of a tough season.  I was especially happy to see Fozzy Whittaker up there.  When he got hurt it was kind of like the national championship all over again - hopes for a great season were certainly in jeopardy.  His absence has definitely had an impact.  It was fun to see Tray Allen - he's the one we met at the baseball fields last spring when he was working as an umpire.  

Here's proof that we're raising them right:

So that was our night at what might be the last-ever hex rally.  I'm so glad we went.  It brought back so many good memories of my college years.  And I felt that Longhorn pride all over again.  There's nothing like being on campus with hundreds of other people in burnt orange...cheering for the Horns and letting them know we'll be cheering for them again on Thursday.  I loved looking to the side of me and behind me and seeing nothing but rows and rows of people with their horns up.  No matter what happens on Thursday, it's good to be a Longhorn.  Hook 'em!  

This Cracks Me Up

 

Attention Fellow Migraine Sufferers...Your Thoughts, Please

Today I went to my doctor (P.A., really, but it's easier to say doctor) about the migraine I had yesterday morning that left me without 25% of my field of vision for about 3 hours.  One second I could see fine, and the next second I had this big blind spot...it was freaky.  And it's the third time it's happened.  If you've never experienced anything like it, I don't think I can make you understand just how unsettling that feeling is. 

Because I've been getting migraines for so long, and because I have such a genetic history of them (lots of the girls on Mom's side of the family get them), I was hoping the referral to a neurologist would come up, and it did.  So I have an appointment in December to see a neurologist about these migraines.  This is where I need to here from my fellow migraine sufferers.  I'm aware that every chronic migraine sufferer eventually goes to a neurologist...it just seems to be the progression of things.  But what I don't know is what the neurologist does.  

Does the neurologist run tests?

Does the neurologist rule out other, possibly more serious causes?

Does the neurologist push preventive medicine?

Does the neurologist presecribe additional medicine for treatment?

Does a neurologist typically frown on alternative forms of therapy for migraines?

Does being treated by a neurologist help migraines at all?

Basically, I know the reasoning behind going to neurologist, I just don't know if it will make much of a difference.  Thoughts, comments, opinions, experiences are welcome!   

Tis the Season...

I had one tonight, and it was delicious, but somehow it just didn't taste as good as the peanut butter eggs.  I know it's the exact same candy, but the eggs taste better than the pumpkins and the Christmas trees.  Not that I'm complaining...the pumpkins are still yummy!  I guess it's just one of those unsolved mysteries...