Aches...Sniffles...Cough Cough

If you saw a picture of me on Monday morning that right there is what I would have looked like. I woke up in tears at 2 AM with a throat so raw I did not want to swallow! We were at my parents house so I crawled into my brother's bed (he doesn't live at home...no I did not crawl into bed with him...just used his bed) and tried to drift back to sleep. MAJOR FAIL! Finally at 6:15 AM I woke up Nic and could barely talk. I was drugged all day and my aches felt better as long as I was poppin pills every 4 hours. I asked Nic if that was what it felt like to be 80 yrs old! When we went to bed Monday night, Nic said if I had white spots on my throat in the morning I was going to the doctor. When my dad looked at my throat on Monday, there were no white spots. Well, that was not the case Tuesday morning. Side note: I don't have a job that gives sick days nor do I have a job that provides paid vacation. When I don't go in.. I don't get paid. Hence, why I am going back to school. This was also finals week so missing school wasn't really an option either! Okay, back to the story. I haven't been to the doctor since I had strep and mono back in college. And I was 19 so I still went to the pediatric Dr. I had... she was nice and I didn't want to go to the big people Dr. So, I have insurance through Nic and we called Peace Health our preferred provider. After being on hold for 40 min, I finally tried calling again and got through to someone. I said that I was a new patient and that I thought I had strep. This is what the wonderful (sarcasm) lady said to me... "Oh you are a new patient...pause...well we don't have an appointment open for you today we have openings for new patients mid June." Oh geeze, you did not really tell this girl who is in pain that you have an opening in 2 weeks!!! I said well now that doesn't really help does it? I told her Nic has a Dr. there and that didn't change anything!!! Seriously, what if I said was giving birth and was a new patient? Would I still get, oh we have an opening mid June for you just hold off! I told her thank you for not helping and hung up. Nic found another Dr. for me and I went in. side note: Thank goodness for my husband he has been amazing!!! 

Here is the story of the Dr's visit:

I haven't gone to a male Dr. but this was the only person that would take a new patient and get me in! The nurse was really nice. She asked all the lovely health questions and put them into my chart. Of course the Dr. comes in and asked about 50 of the same questions. I told him why I was there and he goes over the questions of are you on any medications? Are you allergic to any meds? Etc. I told him I am not allergic and nor am I on any meds. He then turns and looks at me and says... "Birth Control?" I say NOPE! And then he goes into this 15 min ordeal about how you have to use foam with condoms because that is 98% effective and you can't just use condoms alone. HOLD UP MISTER!!! I felt like I was 16 in sex ed class! I came here for my throat not to talk about my sex life!!! The Dr. knew I was married... knew I was 25....so what is the deal! We aren't trying to have kids at the moment but what if we were and that was why I wasn't on birth control. Or what if it was for a religious reason.. it isn't.. but what if! What if I just don't think we should be able to control our bodies!! And then try telling this to a MALE Dr.   

Turns out, I don't have strep. On Wednesday morning, I woke up still with aches, throat pain, and severely congested head and chest! Oh and I had the sweats since Monday! Today, Thursday, right ear pain has joined the other symptoms. Last night, I slept in our spare bedroom for half the night because I couldn't sleep. I went to school on Wednesday and today for finals. Today was my first day back to work... even though the Dr. told me not to until tomorrow...oops! I hope that when I wake up tomorrow all of this is gone! I have drank more tea than I ever have in my life and popped so many pills I've lost track! Here is to hoping tomorrow is better and that Dr's can get some common sense!

until next time...

Simply amazed

I am from Chester, New York. It's a small town. The people behind us had goats, up the street had horses, and down a little ways were the corn fields. Now you know, I wasn't always a city girl! We ran around in the corn fields and I cannot tell you how many times I came home with a tick on me...oops! We had bunnies as pets and acres to run around on. We thought playing with gartner snakes was tons of fun! And we always went to Red Grammer concerts! He is the best kids songs musician out there! One day my kids will listen to Red as well!

About a year ago, I received a friend request on facebook from Andy Grammer.... hmm wow blast from the past.. he's Red's son who was a year older than me. I saw he had moved to Cali and just like his dad was trying to make a living from making music. I am so ecstatic to say that Andy is really doing it! A kid from Chester, New York with an amazing voice is really doing it. His first single hit the radio a few weeks ago. He just finished shooting the video to his second single and he will be at the show box opening for Natasha Bedingfield in June!! His single was number 18 on VH1's top 20 this week! I am so excited for him and LOVE his music!! CONGRATS ANDY!!!

Enjoy!

until next time...

Ironic

During the first morning of boot camp, we were told to head to the back room for pull ups. Hmm, pull ups? Did I hear that right? I have NEVER been able to do a pull up. I can arm hang for hours but pull up... nope! Every class since, we have had to do pull ups. Here is the ironic twist! This morning we were cooling down and ready to stretch. I looked at Nic and said "hey no pull ups today?" Which he replied to with, "thank goodness!" I on the other hand was disappointed! So, this morning I decided my goal is to do one pull up by the end of summer! No promises! My husband is a pro he can do a number of them... no fair! I am impressed with anyone who can do multiple pull ups!

Off to school for test number two this week!


until next time...

Livin' The Dream

I always find it funny when you ask someone how things are going or how they are doing and they reply with, "livin' the dream!" Makes me think about my own life and if it is as magical as I dream it to be!

Two weeks ago I was at gravity class* and one of the women said that it was "ladies night out" downtown. My friend Courtenay and I decided we would go see what it was all about. The proceeds went to the women's shelter. A bunch of different stores were selling items at discounted prices and had nibbles and champagne. There was a fashion show as well and a fun photo booth! The photo booth was the highlight of our evening! We had lots of fun dressing up and being goofy! Here's the proof!

No we did not plan the matching outfits! Court showed up and we didn't even notice it until everyone we passed that night said "oh look you guys match!"

It was fun to go out and do something I wouldn't normally do. I am such a home body but am trying to branch out and do more things!

*I do gravity class every Friday morning at 7 AM. It is a glideboard and tower pulley system that works you out by pulling your own weight! Last week Courtenay asked if anyone had a body part they wanted to work on.... no one said anything... so I replied happily with ARMS! The other two women could have killed me! It's a lot of fun!  

until next time...

Nic's Ingredient

 A couple weeks ago Nic was out Turkey hunting and well... Tom was in the wrong place and the wrong time! This made Nic a very happy man! What does this all mean? I was told it was time to make some turkey soup!

I decided to wing it and add what I felt were the "perfect ingredients!" In the pot went garlic, Italian seasoning, chili powder (one of my new favorites), salt, pepper, rosemary, and onion powder (Nic doesn't do onions so if we want the flavor it has to be the powder). Next was... hmm goodness... I have no idea how many boxes of veggie stock. I like stock better because it is not diluted like broth is. Then good ol' Tom went in the pot. He took FOREVER to get tender enough to shred. Literally the pot was on the stove for 2 days!!! (my crock pot was not big enough for all of this or it would have been done in there) After I could shred, I put in carrots, red potatoes, celery, corn, and egg noodles. I wouldn't recommend the egg noodles... they got soggy in the left overs. We enjoyed it and Nic had fun out in the wilderness!

A friend of mine gave me this next recipe. They are suppose to be blueberry muffins but my friend Tami doesn't like to waste time. Therefore, she calls these blueberry bars and puts them in a 9x13 pan. My mother-in law gave me a muffin top pan..it's amazing cause the tops are the best part and next time I make these I will use that pan! When I made it in the 9x13 it seemed to come out more of a blueberry cake...oh well still tasted great! 

Here's how to make them:

1/2 c butter (I used less)

2 eggs (I did just the whites)

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp b. powder (I didn't use this cause I use self rising flour)

1/4 tsp salt (I omitted this)

1 1/4 c sugar ( I used 3/4 c and 1/4 c of agave)

1 c sour cream (I substituted plain greek yogurt you can't taste any difference)

2 c flour ( I did half self rising half wheat)

2 c of blueberries (you can use less but I say the more berries the better! You can also do any kind of berry you want)

Mix-

Softened butter and sugar

add eggs

mix in sour cream and vanilla

add in the dry

fold in berries

bake @ 400 for 20-25 min!

I decided that even though I don't have a yard to plant a garden I wouldn't be stopped by that! Here are my cute little mint and basil plants getting their dose of photosynthesis! MOJITOS HERE I COME!!!! Who knew that basil doesn't like a ton of sun... the leaves started to wilt so they are happy inside now!

That's what's new in the kitchen more to come on life soon!

until nex time...

Life isn’t about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself

This morning at 5:15 AM the alarm went off... funny thing is I woke up at 5 AM on my own....and it wasn't even because I had to go pee! Today was my second "morning" workout. I have decided that as hard as it is to wake up that early it beats working out after school or work! I really enjoy Susan's classes...she kicks my butt and makes my whole body hurt! What is even better, is that Nic and I go together! I find it a lot of fun to work out with my husband. We went on a 4 mile run together on Saturday morning (oh by the way can I have Saturday's weather back...67 and sunny... yes please!). If I had been by myself I would have only gone 2 miles but he pushes me to go farther, do better, prove to myself that I can! He does this all day every day with anything I am going after. He's simply amazing!

Last night, we got back to Bham around 7:40pm. I unpacked and went into instant clean mode. We have been so busy the past few weeks that I haven't caught up completely on the household chores. The dust was driving me nuts on our dresser and I like to see vacuum lines in the carpet the kitchen counters needed a good wipe down laundry bins were getting full......and on and on that's the list that was in my head. My husband thinks I'm nuts to attack these things on a Sunday night at 8pm. But, I just don't have time! With school, work, workouts, being social, holidays, hair shows, etc when can you do laundry and put it away let alone dust the place and mop floors and buy groceries! He has a very hard time just sitting and watching me run all over that he willingly jumps into my crazy cleaning frenzy. I told him he doesn't have to but he insists that he wants to put in his part. However, if there are dishes in the sink in the morning Nic washes them all. He makes the coffee and brings me a cup while I'm getting ready upstairs....EVERY MORNING! He goes to work Mon-Fri, a few weekends, and travels for field work to support us. He never complains! He folds laundry and puts it away. He likes to make breakfast on the weekends for us. What I'm saying is, that he does do his part! He helps me out all the time! If I forgot to get something at the grocery store he will always stop and get it for me! I want him to know that I recognize all his hard work and if I decide to go cleaning crazy on Sunday at 8PM or Saturday morning at 7AM you do not have to join in with me!


until next time....

A little behind....

Every day I think.... "Hey I should blog about this!" And then I get home and somehow never make it to blogging. Maybe it's because of work, school, laundry, cleaning, being a wife, homework, bible study, working out, staying sane did I mention that one yet? I love my life it is truly fantastic but unusually busy!

I have always liked to be on the go. I don't like down time...lately that is all I have wanted! I want to do my arts and crafts! I have some fun canvas ideas floating around in my head that I just need a day to execute! Why is it so hard to find ONE free day? I also cannot believe it is April! When did that happen? Yes, it happened 5 days ago but I think I missed February and March!

This coming weekend CJ turns ONE! I was thinking about getting him some trucks or cars! I'll make sure he knows the noises that go with them! Any better ideas for a 1 year old boy? Sunday is the annual Tulip festival with my favorite ladies...Sara and Mal! The boys will most likely be fishing if the weather would stop being so CRUDDY! (I know of a timeshare that can take us to Mexico who's in?) The following weekend is the Annual Hair Show in Seattle Bellevue this year! Last year, I lost my keys in the convention center let's not make this year so memorable and save Mom a few trips back and forth from Seattle to Bham! OOPS! Unfortunately, Cash's 2nd Bday is also Sunday and I am bummed to have already made hair show plans! Nic and Keaton (Dee's bf) will be off finding Tom the turkey...yes it's that time of year already! Oh joy! Please just bring home the meat and leave his feathers behind.... thank you, your loving wife! Following weekend is EASTER! Oh, I love me some cadbury eggs! Who doesn't?

Easter always reminds me of my Great Aunt Barbara who has passed away. She would always send my brother and I each a solid chocolate bunny from Harry and David's! I think my dad ate more of the bunnies than we did but I miss her and those bunnies but her a lot more!

Needless to say April is jam packed of fun social events! I am excited to take lots of pictures to post on here for all of you to enjoy! I promise to blog more and facebook less... honestly, I haven't had time to facebook either!

Time for dinner...if I didn't have a cold I would be very excited...however I can't taste much at the moment! So, I will live through Nic tonight and see how much he enjoys the yummy manicotti. Did some batch cooking yesterday 18 meals in 5 hours and 15 min! More on that to come!


p.s. sorry for my jumbled random thoughts this evening! 

until next time...