Celebrate The Small Things -- Dec 9

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

Today I'm celebrating...

• I started using a new medicine last week, in hopes of controlling the nerve pain from my occipital neuralgia (click here for more information on what this is and why I have it). I'm happy to say, so far, so good! I still have pain, but the medicine puts a good dent in it.

• I made my first body butter in two years! My aging skin (boo...hiss...) had started to really dry out a few years ago, so I started making my own soaps, in hopes of healing and moisturizing my skin (click here to see some cool soaps I made). I also started on the path of lotions and body butters. As soon as I started getting into the swing of things, I had a very bad arthritis flare up in my thumb (click here to see my very helpful thumb brace) and had to stop my new diy adventures for a while. I lost momentum and here we are two years later. But I am happy to report that my comeback body butter is great! I've been slathering it on after I get out of the shower, and periodically on my hands during the day. It's good! 

• my awesome brother. It seems like I mention how great my brother is every few months, but he really is! This is what he sent me in the mail last week:

• my children's humor. My son got glasses a couple of weeks ago, and here is what he did the other day to Emmie...

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit her wonderful co-hosts:   LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker @Kidbits Blog

I got an instagram! If anyone is looking for more pictures of Emmie, head on over there and give me a follow @thecyborgmom

Celebrate The Small Things -- August 19

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

Today I'm celebrating...

• my baby girl turned Sweet Sixteen! I can't believe how grown up she is already...seems like just yesterday that she was so itty bitty and fit perfectly in my arms.

• my husband and kids! Having the party last weekend took a lot out of me, even thought I purposely tried to take it easy! I guess I did more than my body could handle, and I ended up pretty achy on Sunday and Monday. If it wasn't for my hubby and kids, things wouldn't have gotten done. They all helped with set up, clean up, food prep, taking care of Emmie (our dog and my bestie), and more stuff that I'm sure I just can't remember. That's one nice thing about having older kiddos...they can help!

• acupuncture... Having an acupuncture treatment on Tuesday really helped my body recover from the weekend. I really love acupuncture...a lot. I've blogged about it many, many times. For anyone interested in reading more about my acupuncture adventures, just type 'acupuncture' in the search bar on the right.

• Jim Gaffigan...When I'm not feeling well, I like to watch funny stuff on tv to help myself feel better. Gaffigan is, by far, my favorite comedian, and Netflix now has another two specials of his available to watch. If you are in need of a good laugh, check him out! For anyone who doesn't have Netflix, I will link his website here.

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit her wonderful co-hosts:   LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker @Kidbits Blog

I got an instagram! If anyone is looking for more pictures of Emmie, head on over there and give me a follow @thecyborgmom

Sharing #AtoZChallenge

...sharing :)  I miss them being this little! If only sharing was this exciting all the time :)

Do you have any special memories where someone shared something with you?

Kids Art #AtoZChallenge

...kids art.  Since my kids were little, I've always hung their masterpieces on our walls and kept their other art pieces scattered around the house.  Looking at their creations brings a smile to my face, and makes the house feel more like a home.

*Tip: use blue painter's tape to hang stuff...it won't damage your walls when you need to take it down or change things up.  I learned this from a friend!

*Please do not use, copy, post, or pin any of these photos in any way.  These are personal photos and are my own property.  Thank you in advance.

*Please do not use, copy, post, or pin any of these photos in any way.  These are personal photos and are my own property.  Thank you in advance.

Do you have any special handmade items that you treasure?

Celebrate The Small Things -- Dec 18

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating...

• Finished basements.  I could really write an entire blog post on the joys of finished basements, but I'll give you the highlights...

1. I'm so happy that my children have a 'kid cave' that they can go to when their friends come over. Out of sight, out of mind I say...that's in the Best Parenting 101 handbook, right?
2. My husband and I can shut the door to the basement and it dampens the noise. This is especially helpful when there is a room full of teenage girls. 
3. I rarely have to go down there and witness the horrorshow that it is. Of course, when I do have to venture down there (like yesterday) I want to just burn it down...but all the rest of the time it's awesome! Hey, guess who's cleaning the basement this weekend?

• After feeling sick all week, I think I'm finally on the upswing (I'm not saying this too loudly, as I don't want to jinx it).  I will spare you all the details...believe me, you don't want to know!

• I won a book! LG Keltner from Writing Off the Edge had a giveway of her new book and I won. Thanks LG for making me feel special! I shall now go buy a lottery ticket while my luck is still hot.

• Today is the last day of school before Christmas break for my kids! I'm looking forward to spending some time with my babies!

What are you celebrating?

Emmie is a selfie hater

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit her wonderful co-hosts:   LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker @Kidbits Blog

Celebrate The Small Things -- Sept 25

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating:

• A brief return of health to the house! At least for the moment. My kids have already missed a handful of school days because they've been sick...and school only started three weeks ago. Let's hope they've gotten all the cooties out of the way for a while!
  
  
• My new laptop. Our old laptop has been dropped one too many times and you can see some of its guts if you hold it just the right way...not good. Currently, I'm working on saving and moving files to the new computer.

That's pretty much it...my foot has been pretty crappy over the last few months...hoping my new orthotics will help, but I don't get them for another week so I'm making due until they come in. Say a little prayer that it doesn't rain too much in the meantime!

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit her wonderful co-hosts:   LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker @Kidbits Blog

Celebrate The Small Things -- August 14

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating:

• My daughter's birthday!  She turns 15 this week...my baby!
• My daughter "graduated" from allergy shots this week!   To read my expanded post, click here.
• Emmie wanted me to tell all of you that she is celebrating her new backpack! She was so worn out from the excitement of it all that she needed to take a nap :)
 

 

• My new Kindle Fire!  The battery on my old Kindle was dieing...mostly because I keep it plugged in a lot and apparently that is bad.  Ooopsies!  But I loved my first Kindle so much, that I decided to get another one.  The transition was super easy...I just turned it on and hit some sync button and everything that was on my old Kindle was magically on my new one...weeeee!!!!  I'm super excited for now...you know, until Skynet becomes self aware and truly takes over the world :0
• Also celebrating that our smart devices haven't become self aware... yet.

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit her wonderful co-hosts:   LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker @Kidbits Blog

How Allergy Shots Have Changed My Daughter’s Life

Mary has had horrible allergies since she was about three.  I remember being in a Walmart, with Mary as a toddler in the back of a cart, trying to find children’s Benedryl because her eyes were so red and swollen it looked like she had been punched in the face.  Seriously, if you would have taken a snapshot of the two of us, I could have gotten anti-Mother-of-the-year...that’s how bad she looked.  

By putting her on Claritin, and using the occasional Benedryl, we were able to keep her allergies (mostly) under control until she reached elementary school.  After having pneumonia twice in one year, her pediatrician suggested we see a pediatric pulmonologist because she suspected Mary had asthma.  The pulmonologist diagnosed Mary with asthma when she was six, and put her on a buttload of prescription steroids and various allergy medicines.   

Although the asthma medicines helped, she was still sick way too often.  

Summer 2010 allergy test--she was allergic to ALL the trees!

Many times a regular cold would progress into bronchitis and a few times pneumonia.  Her pulmonologist suggested that we see an allergist and get her allergy tested since it seemed that her asthma seemed to get worse in the Spring and Fall.  Mary was allergy tested for the most common trees, weeds, grasses, and household allergens in the summer of 2010.  Her back was one big welt!  We were finally able to convince her that it would in her best interest to start allergy shots, and we began with those in December 2010.  

In the beginning we went for shots every week, but after a few months (I can’t remember if it was 3 or 6 months), we went every three weeks.  Yes, every three weeks for the past four+ years we’ve gone for shots.  It has definitely been a commitment, but has been one of the best decisions we have ever made.

Almost immediately after starting the shots we noticed that her colds didn’t last as long, and she hasn’t had bronchitis or pneumonia since starting them (knock on wood).  Mary went from being on five different prescription allergy and asthma medicines, to taking the occasional benedryl if she feels it necessary.  A friggen miracle!

Summer 2015--Compare the"A" column to #1-10 in the pic above...big difference!

The great thing about allergy shots is that they are "all natural"...since they are basically dosing you little by little with all of the things you are allergic too.  Over time, your body is supposed to build up an immunity to what you were originally allergic too.  Mary was retested in the summer of 2012 and then again this week.  Since her past two allergy tests came back negative, she is now considered to be in the clear for now.  Her allergist said that the shots will “last” for the average person, about 10-15 years.  Some people can go the rest of their lives without having to worry about allergies again.  Either way, I will take it!  Let’s cross our fingers that this lasts a good long time!

If there is anyone out there in a similar situation as Mary was, please see an allergist that you trust and get either yourself, or your loved one, evaluated. Allergy shots have truly changed her life!

Have you had a similar experience with Asthma or Allergies?

**All of the medicines that Mary was taking on a regular basis, if not daily, when she began her shots:  Flovent (asthma med), Singulair (asthma/allergy med), Nasonex (allergy med), Allegra (allergy med), Benedryl (allergy med), Elestat eye drops (allergy med), Xopenex (asthma med), Albuterol (asthma med).

Celebrate The Small Things -- July 24

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating:

• I finally made it to one of my daughter's softball games!  My body hated me for it, but I was happy to see her play...it's been a while. 
• I had a wonderful visit from my parents last week. My mom just couldn't wait around any longer for me to be well enough to travel to her (a three hour drive), so they came here for a visit :)  My kids had a nice time seeing their grandparents, and Emmie barked at them a bunch LOL  
• I "graduated" physical therapy a couple of weeks ago (be on the lookout for my 6 month sub-talar fusion update), but I still need to strengthen my leg muscles and all those little muscles in my feet.  So, I joined the medical gym...which basically means that I do all the excersices that I was doing in therapy, but unsupervised.  Things are going well...slow, but well.
• I met a couple of women this week that are friends of a friend.  They were so nice and friendly, and I found our conversation to be easy.  Love meeting good people!
• Got a couple of good deals for Amazon's 'Prime Day'...one of which was a new rope for Emmie.  Can you tell she loves it?

Emmie and her new rope

Emmie and her new rope--a better look :)

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit her wonderful co-hosts:   LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge and Tonja Drecker @Kidbits Blog

Celebrate The Small Things -- March 6

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  The brainchild of Viklit, Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.  I am thrilled to co-host this wonderful bloghop!

This week I'm celebrating:

• having my kids home again for some more snow days!
• having my hubby home for a snow day too!
• getting out to DC to my doctor's to have a window cut into my cast and get my bone stimulator machine.  The whole thing seems a bit weird, but if it helps my bone grow faster then I'm all for it!

What are you celebrating? 

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, Lexa @ Lexa Cain for more information.  And don't forget to visit my wonderful co-host:  LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge

 

To celebrate with us, sign up with the linky below: 

Celebrate The Small Things -- Jan 2

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

I'm celebrating the most wonderful "small" things in my life...my kiddos!  They both had two whole weeks off for Christmas vacation, along with my husband, so we've all enjoyed spending time as a family.  It's not all peaches and cream, living with a teen and a pre-teen, but they are the loves of my life and I love having these moments with them. 

What are you celebrating? 

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, VikLit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for more information.  And don't forget to check out her co-hosts:  Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Katie @ TheCyborgMom, and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

 

Celebrate The Small Things -- Dec 12

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating this wacky looking brace on my hand, because it seems to be helping!  So weird.  It's made of a rigid plastic, and I find that wearing it around the clock was causing a bit of heat bump/hives to happen on my hand.  So I stopped wearing it while I slept, and that seems to have done the trick.  I can type easier, fold laundry, eat, and brush my teeth again!  And I can even take care of bathroom duties (doodies LOL I stepped right into that one...ohhhhhh!  I couldn't resist) again...with it off.  It's the little things my friends!

Also, we went to my daughter's orthopedist this week for the results of her MRI.  Her right (throwing) shoulder has been hurting since September and she hasn't progressed with her physical therapy the way she should have by now.  The findings came back that she has NO tears or rips, and her shoulder looks like a healthy shoulder...so no surgery needed!  This, of course, doesn't account for the pain that she's been struggling with, so we are seeing a shoulder specialist next week for a second opinion.  Please keep her in your prayers!

Happy Weekend!  

What are you celebrating? 

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, VikLit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for more information.  And don't forget to check out her co-hosts:  Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Katie @ TheCyborgMom, and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

 

Celebrate The Small Things -- Sept 5

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating:

• the kids going back to school...giving me more free time to myself
• my boy turned 11 this week! 

Ever wonder what the perfect gift for an 11 year old boy is?  Well, wonder no more...

Happy Weekend!

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, VikLit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for more information.  And don't forget to check out her co-hosts:  Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Katie @ TheCyborgMom, and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

 

Six Word Saturday -- August 16

It's Six Word Saturday time...

Used advent candles on birthday cake.

Yup, yesterday was my daughter's birthday and when the time came for doing the cake, we couldn't find any birthday candles.  So we improvised and used advent candles.  The benefits of being Catholic :)

Six Word Saturday is hosted by Call Me Kate at Show My Face.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, then describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words and comment down below!

Celebrate The Small Things -- August 1

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating our local library.  Just a few years ago our library was renovated and among the new improvements was a teen center.  They have video games, board games, and books of course!  My daughter has been biking (or sometimes I'll just drive her) to the library to meet her friends and "hang out", making use of all the cool stuff the library has to offer.  It's great for her, and I think my son appreciates having the house mostly to himself :)  

I'm also celebrating my new Doctor Who themed ring tone for my new cell phone!  I was very excited when I got my first phone call the other day and heard my Doctor music :)  I wish I could make my house phone do the same thing!

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, VikLit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for more information.  And don't forget to check out her co-hosts:  Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Katie @ TheCyborgMom, and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

 

Celebrate The Small Things 7/18 and Kids Update

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

This week I'm celebrating that both my kiddos are on the mend!  My daughter's sprained shoulder is almost completely healed since hurting it a few weeks ago.  Her acupuncture treatment last week allowed her to play in her softball tournament last weekend...and according to the other softball moms (I couldn't make the games), she played well and didn't seem at all injured.  Thank God!

And my son, while he still has a bit of a sore throat today (it's Thursday afternoon as I write this), he is currently at his friend's house playing.  His spirits are much improved and he has had no fever for two days now.  I'll continue to have him take the Chinese herbs until his throat is completely healed.

I'm also celebrating rainbow cookies.  These are my favorite cookies and I finally found a recipe that is very close to the Italian pastry shop in Brooklyn that my grandparents used to get them from. When I was in high school, my grandparents would visit us every Monday because my grandpa's doctor was close to where we lived.  And every week they'd bring Italian pastry cookies for us, with a load of rainbow cookies for me.  I love you grandma and grandpa!  I hope they have cookies in heaven that are just as delicious as in Brooklyn!

 

For the rainbow cookie recipe, click here.  Changes I made to the original recipe:  I omitted the raspberry jam and substituted almond pie filling for almond paste.  Then I made a ganache out of the chocolate so it wouldn't crack when I cut the cookies.

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, VikLit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for more information.  And don't forget to check out her co-hosts:  Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Katie @ TheCyborgMom, and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

 

The Sore Throat Bug Has Gotten My Son

My son is on day three of a sore throat and yesterday he was running a low grade fever in the afternoon.  This morning I was able to convince him to come to acupuncture with me for a treatment, and we were given some very specific instructions by my acupuncturist:

• Make him lemonade...the homemade kind with real lemons.  Add a little raw sugar or honey to sweeten it, but keep it on the sour side.  Of everything that he drinks today, this should constitute 80% of his intake.  The lemondade should help his throat and help get his gut moving things along.

• He needs to take three of the Yin Chiao herbs, three times a day until he is all better.  Both my son and I have taken these herbs in the past and have had good results with them. 

• No ice cold drinks or cold foods until he is all better.  Supposedly, cold foods affect the immune system.  As a little side note...my son only had a low grade fever for a few hours yesterday afternoon...about two hours after I let him have a milkshake.  Coincidence?  You decide.

Well, I had him take his first dose of herbs before we left the office, and after eating lunch, he is already complaining that he is bored...which is a good sign!

Do your kids do that?  Start complaining of boredom once they start to feel better?  I guess it's because they can't have friends over, and can't go out and play just yet...so they are stuck in the house for the rest of the day while mom makes sure that whatever bug they caught is really gone and not just faking us all out.

So, we wait today.  And tomorrow, if he is still complaining of boredom more than he is of his sore throat then I'll know to let him out into the wild again :)

Celebrate The Small Things -- July 11

It's Friday and I'm Celebrating The Small Things!  Celebrate The Small Things is a weekly celebration where some bloggers have decided to post about something worth celebrating...no matter how big or small it is.

So remember how last week I thought I had some fraudulent charges to my checking account?  Yeah, turns out that I was in the wrong.  When I sat down to reconcile my checkbook at the end of June, I saw two charges that were charged from Paypal.  So I went to my Paypal account and checked there, and no charges were to be found...which is why I originally thought that I had been hacked.  Well, anyone who has a Paypal account can clearly see that they have been upgrading their website over the past few weeks, and I guess there were some glitches...like not showing charges that had been made!  When I look at my account this week, the charges are there.

Sooo...long story short (too late!)...I'm celebrating that I wasn't hacked!  I've just lost my mind and not remembered stuff.  And Paypal needs to get their shit together with this website upgrade!  Oy....

I'd also like to celebrate my children this week...for being open minded little people.  I brought my daughter in for acupuncture to help heal her sprained shoulder (for pictures and video click here).  My son let me take him in a few months ago for a treatment as well.  I'm glad that they are open minded about alternative forms of medicine.  Hey, let's attribute it to great parenting ;) :)

What are you celebrating?

If you'd like to Celebrate The Small Things, visit our wonderful host, VikLit @ Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for more information.  And don't forget to check out her co-hosts:  Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Katie @ TheCyborgMom, and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse