My Crazy World

1. Got an MP3 player this week. Sewed a crappy little case for it, sans tutorial. Plan to make a new one, though. This time, I know what I'm doing, so score! I have been using it a lot. I also discovered I love that stupid song Tik Tok by Kesha (I refuse to acknowledge the $ she slapped in her name).

2. Just occasionally, being a parent really sucks. Like when you get not 1, not 2, but 3 phone calls home from school in a single week because middle child is doing dumb things in school that resulted in 1 detention, 1 half day suspension, and 1 day and a half suspension. Said kid is up in his room right now, "Thinking about his actions."

3. 3 doctors appointments next week. 1 for Little Bit, 1 for Middle Child, 1 for Self. Middle Child needs his meds adjusted, seriously. This is the 3rd time the office has rescheduled his appointment. Let's hope this one 'sticks', because at this rate, I'm ready to take him to our old doctor (you know, the one that's over an hour away) just to get him seen. But, this new place is supposed to be A.MAZE.ING with kids who have ADHD.

4. Went photo scouting today. I have a senior picture appointment on Sunday at a park I've never been to, so I wanted to see it first. I've heard great things, but at first, I was like BA-LAH! Then, I found the cool parts. There are natural limestone cliffs and ledges along a river side path. Gorgeous, fun, and the colors? To die for! Which leads me to...

5. I did something really dumb. I wasn't doing any climbing unless there was a defined path, because while there were a lot of easily reachable 'ledges', there were also some steep areas. I found a nice one on my way back to the car, though. Nice big shelf, only about 4 feet up, with stepping stones for climbing. Well, not REALLY for climbing, but they worked. Then as I went to climb down, I misstepped. Then, to save myself from falling head first, I jumped. In ballet flats. With no padding. Now? Can't put any weight on my right heel at all. It doesn't hurt much at all normal, but weight? Agony.

6. But I got some wicked cool Macro's today, and did a lot of walking through the park, and got to listen to my MP3 player with comfy head phones (cause ear buds SUCK, and HURT!).

Some Thoughts

Top in my mind right now-

1. My head is killing me. I had PT this morning. I am seeing them for neck and headache issues. The neck issues have been helped greatly just by stretching my muscles. The headaches have not abated, though, so today, they decided to do some new stuff that included extremly tender pressure points at the base of my skull, and very hard finger-pokey pressure for extended periods of time. I don't know what it was supposed to do, but a 7 hour headache, untouchable by Excederin? I don't think that was it.
2. I need to call my doctor's office and check if they have my MRI results from last week. I don't like the idea of waiting until May 13th to find out if they saw anything. On one hand- I hope they do. On the other hand, I really dread the results. They are looking for a malformation that my mom has, and I think my aunt also has. I can't recall if that's what she had surgery for. It's called a Type 1 Arnold Chiari Malformation. It's a nasty little piece of work that is typically adult onset, and presents with headaches, neck and back pain, insomnia, and more.
3. I have had a tough week with insomnia, which started off when I had to take Sudafed on Monday, and subsequently slept for several hours during the day. I didn't sleep over night Monday or Tuesday, and have made up for it by sleeping during the day. Which, of course, only exacerberates the problem. Vicious cycle.
4. I have slacked off craft wise this week. Who am I kidding, this month. I have a blanket to finish before Saturday, as well as a Taggy Crinkle Square (that one is almost done, and the blanket is 1/3rd done). I also have a small wall hanging to finish and mail out by Friday. Maybe instead of laying in bed sleepless tonight, watching Bones, I'll craft.
5. My birthday is coming up. With it, I'm doing a week long give away celebration. I asked here on the blog for people to sponsor the giveaways, in exchange for free advertising here on the blog. I wasn't sure I'd get any nibbles, let alone the 7 I wanted for the week. To my shock, surprise, and happiness, I got 8. I feel very blessed to have such a great group of bloggers here, who are so very generous. I can't wait to show off what these creative ladies have come up with!
6. Sometimes, laying in bed at 6:30 at night, eating cheese puffs with your 8 year old daughter instead of dinner, while watching a movie together is better than any other kinds of medicine. Even if your head still hurts.
7. I want to start an Etsy shop, and try my hand at resale on eBay. I hesitate, though- I love the items I make- but are they things other people will want to buy? And shipping. I'm not the most organized person- having to get out to the post office weekly is a bit intimidating. But, I would like to try and earn some money so I can do some fun things with the kids this summer, which we otherwise might not be able to afford.
8. I made some super cute, super easy, pretty cheap bib clips last night for the baby shower this weekend. I really want to make more and try selling them, because they are cute, and I really wish that I'd heard of or seen them when my kids were little. They seem like they would be extremely handy little items.

That's a lot of thoughts. My head is still hurting. I'm just... I'm not sure. I feel tired, emotionally, I suppose.

I feel blessed, though.

Hurting My Heart

This morning, I logged in and did what I always do in the morning. I checked my email, my blog, my Gather page, and the local news. The world is getting ready for Christmas, but sometimes, that whole "Goodwill towards mankind" is missing.

Last week, a woman sold her 5 year old daughter to cover a debt. The child was delivered to a hotel, then found dead. The mother was arrested on several counts, including child abuse involving prostitution. This beautiful 5 year old angel was ripped from this world, because her 25 year old mother was a selfish, horrible woman.

Earlier this week, closer to home here in Michigan, a 37 year old man got into an argument with his 15 year old son. It ended with the 15 year old being marched naked out to a field, and shot in the head while the mother and son both pleaded with the father not to shoot him.

I have never been a person to sit and watch the news. I can't stomach most of what I hear on the news. Death, pain, suffering... it's too painful.

These two angels will be close in my thoughts as I prepare for Thanksgiving next week, and I ask for everyone else to keep them close at heart as well.

16 years ago, my life changed over the course of 2 days. 16 years ago today, a friend in high school died after anesthesia complications after a surgery to repair a defect she had in her inner ear. She came out of the surgery fine, but when she was walking from her hospital bed to the bathroom, she collapsed, and died.

The very next day, my oldest niece was born. Two events, across the state from each other, coming together to change my life. Gretchen and I weren't close, but we were friends. She was nice, she was beautiful. She ran track, and did the long jump. She had the whole world waiting for her. Her parents would have probably given anything to have her back.

Keeping these events in mind makes the first two events seem even more senseless. Cherish your family, because somewhere else out there tonight, someone isn't cherishing what they have, and it might be gone before they know it.