Back from trip

We got back from our trip on Saturday. I have some reviews to post for the hotels we stayed at and a few other odds-n-ends places, but I need to rest a bit first, the trip took a lot out of me.

Update

I don't think I have yet mentioned my 1 year old grand daughter and her health issues. Since she was about a month old she has had breathing difficulties and ear troubles after a bout with RSV. The tried to do a sweat test for Cystic Fibrosis but she did not sweat enough. She went through a test for acid reflux and that was negative. She had tubes put in her ears but they had to be removed about a month later, at which time she had her adnoids removed. She has ear infection after ear infection. Antibiotics clears it up but then she gets a horrible rash that does not respond to the prescribed ointments and the ear infection returns just days after the antibiotics are finished. She is always wheezing and nebulizer treatments and inhalers don't do a thing. So, to the point, I think they should repeat the sweat test but they want to stick a tube up her nose and into her throat for 24 hours, during which time her mom has to keep the poor child from messing with the tube! Absolute torture!!! Also, when the doctor took the ear tubes out, he biopsied some tissue to see if her problem was Immotile Cilia disease. The biopsy was not enough tissue, but they did not some abnormal cilia. So, being the worried Gramma, I called upon the worlds best pediatrician, who is now retired, to ask his opinion. He was my pediatrician when I was a child and he was my children's pediatrician until he retired about 5 years ago. He agreed with me about retesting for cystic fibrosis and about reflux being over hyped as a cause for children's chronic breathing problems. He also suggested a PPD, a test for TB. He also told us we were in good hands with the ENT she has and that we should ask him to speak up to the pulmonologist about not sticking the tube into her nose just yet. I feel very strongly that reflux is NOT this childs problem and so I feel better knowing that I am not just an over protective Gramma!!

On a different note, we are leaving for Chicago tomorrow after my cardiologist appointment. We will spend the night in Ohio, since it is roughly half way. Then to Chicago, where I hope we arrive early enough to visit Lincoln Park Zoo and the Navy Pier. I hope to cram in the Shedd Aquarium also. Then we drop back down to Lafayette Indiana to visit my ex husband and the Wolf Park. I really wanted to go for 2 days in Chicago, but it is so expensive there for hotels.

Spring is really here, I wake up every morning by 3 am and can't get back to sleep. Oh well, I enjoy hearing the chirping birds before the day starts for the rest of the family.

MEN!!!! GRRRRR!!!! I told my boyfriend over a week ago that I think his computer has a virus because I kept getting odd emails from him. He kinda brushed it off, even though I received one of those emails while I was with him so he knew he did not send it himself. Well, yesterday he called me and said "Don't open emails from me! I think my computer has a virus because the guys at work are saying they are getting strange emails from me." DOH!!!! He then goes on to say that it must be MY fault since I am the only other person that uses his computer (not true! His son was here from Georgia just a week ago or so!). He kind of likes to go on the porn sites for girlie pics he also uses lime wire. He is forever searching for sites to give him the winning numbers for lotto. All places one would likely find a computer virus. Oh well.....

On to a new topic: My front lawn was more mud than grass. The dirt was packed so hard that it was almost as hard as concrete. So I loosened the top inch or 2 and planted new seed. I should have added some topsoil because the dirt is really bad, but I rent so don't want to invest a lot to make improvements. I have to fertilize next but it's been raining so I guess it has to wait.

I've been dieting lately because at 5'6" and 210 lbs, I am obese and that extra weight isn't helping my aches and pains. I've been using Slimfast shakes. One in the morning works well since I am not a breakfast person and I hear eating breakfast helps to lose weight by not making your body feel like it needs to store fat because of starvation.Then I may have a snack at some point, then dinner, which I have already been working on making healthier. And, finally another shake or snack before bed. So far I think 've been down to about 190 but I'm not sure how trustworthy my scale is. The exercise part is the hardest because of the pain, but I use the Wii fit and then there is also the yard work I've been doing. Also, whenever possible, I don't ask the kids to carry the laundry for me. It's extra pain, but I think if I can lose the weight, it will be worth it.

And, finally, something so great!!!!! Yesterday morning the 11 year old whom I usually have to really hound to get out of bed and get ready for school, got up BEFORE I even had to say a word!!!! AND she got dressed and ready for school without me having to even tell her one time to get ready!!!!!! It made my day and I told her so!

Well, past time to start the morning thing again. Hope this morning is as good as yesterday.

Relationships

Easter weekend was sort of disappointing, not because of the Holiday itself, it would have been a disappointing weekend no matter what, but because my boyfriend of 9 years and I had a bit of a falling out. He was supposed to go with me to my sisters house and spend time with our now 6 year old. But because of bad feelings between him and my oldest daughter, he opted out. I knew we would be at my sisters past 7pm, so I told him to stay at his place and I would spend the night at his place. That was fine until I mentioned what time I would be there, then he did an about face and told me to stay home, he didn't want company. I told him to call or text me when he got over it, he said he wouldn't get over it. I asked what he meant by it because for awhile in our relationship, that was his way of saying he wanted to end it, I wanted to know if that is what he meant. I didn't get an answer, until this morning, when he texted as usual, like nothing was ever wrong. Though I did notice he didn't call or text as much as usual. On the one hand, I do love him and I am sure he does love me. On the other hand, the baggage he carries from his failed marriage (she cheated on him, got pregnant by the other guy, then kicked him out with nothing but his clothes.) is really wearing on me. He won't commit to living together for fear of it happening again and I really do want for us to live together. I am NOT anything like his ex! But I feel I am too old to start another relationship. I know I am only 43, but I am not into the bars or clubs or chat lines. Even if I was, those aren't really places to find a relationship kind of guy. Church activities seem to only draw the elderly guys, and while I do like older guys, I don't want one who is past 65. I won't consider younger guys because I want a relationship based on something more than sex. I've even considered my ex-husband, but then the reason I divorced him always pops into my head, though I'm getting to the point where I could almost over look those reasons (he's an alcoholic, he expected me to do everything: cook, clean, take care of the kids, draw his bath for him, wash his hair, even when I was working a full time job!! He didn't want just a wife, he wanted a mother!!!) So any way, I feel like I want my boyfriend to get over the past and quit protecting himself as if I was like his ex-wife, or just end the relationship with me (or I will), but I don't want to be alone when my children are all grown and on their own. I am not a very social person, I prefer to stay home most of the time, or to travel. I don't like going out to bars, or hanging out at someone else's house, I don't like large groups of people. I get along well with other people, I just prefer a few close friends rather than many friends, especially as I get older. I don't even like to hang out at my oldest daughter's house.

So, that's my weekend. Oh, I all most forgot to mention the great weather! 84 on Saturday, about 74 today..... OH AND LEAVES APPEARING ON THE TREES!!!!! YAY!!!!!