I'm so, so sorry

A few months ago, September 1st to be exact, we closed on schedule for the house I was so panicky about. The last few months have been spent moving in and painting and planning and painting and yard work and painting. And did I mention painting? We have painted almost every room in the house, and we love it!

Part of the fun has been planning all the things we want to do to make the house ours. This is something we have never been able to do since we have always lived either in base housing or rentals near the base where we lived. Now that we have our own home we have had a blast doing whatever we want to our home.

There are many things we would like to do, and nothing we have to do because the man who built this house did a great job. We want to do things like finish the basement, put up and backsplash and turn the second kitchen into a den/study. Yes, you read that right. We have 2 kitchens. Right next to each other. The other weird thing is that off of that second kitchen there is a bathroom/laundry room that has two doors… one into the kitchen, and one—Into the master bathroom. So, side by side are 2 kitchens and 2 bathrooms.

Today, while contemplating my lack of a broom closet it occurred to me that the space behind the door connecting the 2 bathrooms in the master bathroom would make a great broom closet. Right off of the laundry. We would need to turn the regular door into a pocket door, and half a wall built, but I think it would be perfect. My son, however, not so much. Guess why. No really. Guess why my 18 year old son does not think I should have a broom closet built…Money. He thinks it would be a waste of money. This is my son who all through high school when talking about what kind of car he wants did not talk about some fast sports car or a powerful, cool truck. All he cared about was that the car had good gas mileage. Really. I think my son has been possessed by a 45 year old CPA.

I write all of this to apologize. I sincerely apologize to the future Mrs. Brendan. If you want to do something that is beyond what is actually needed, really needed, not just a convenience or nice looking, you are going to have your work cut out for you. On the bright side, he will probably be a millionaire.

Don'cha Hate it When...

You get an idea in your head, run to the store to get what you need, and then when you get home realize you don't really have everything you need?!

This would probably happen a lot less if I would stick to one idea at a time, but one idea usually gives birth to another, and then another. I tell you ideas are like rabbits. You start with 1 or 2 and end up with enough to feed an army.

Like today. I went shopping with 2 ideas in mind. 1. I want to refinish the old, wooden accordion style sewing box I scored at Goodwill yesterday for only 4 bucks, and 2. I wanted to try to find a way to hide the border that is in my dining room. Not that the border isn't fabulous...or at least I'm sure it was when it was new...in the 80's!!

But I ended up looking for more ideas: 1. Paint for the sewing box. 2. "Something" for the border. 3.End tables for my living room. 4. Something to contain the keys, notes, and pocket debris that is growing on my bookshelf like mold. and 5. My continuing search for something to use as a game table in my living room.

I ended up with 1. Paint for the sewing box. 2. A big, fat nothing on the border. 3.Nothing I was willing to spend the money on for end tables. 4. More ideas for what to do with the moldy debris on my bookshelf. (Which reminds me, I want to repaint that too.) 5. 3 possibilities for the game table, so, of course, that meant nothing on the game table.

So after 2 hours of shopping and 5 different ideas boiling in my brain, I have a can of Kilz and some spray paint for the sewing box. I'm very happy that I can get started on one of my projects.

We get home, Michael starts the grill for dinner, and I......pull 2 silvery metal "art" pieces off of my wall and prime them. Not the sewing box, but things that were already on my wall. Then after dinner I go to paint them with acrylic paint. I'm not sure exactly what color I want to go with, but I choose one and start to paint discover I. HAVE. NO. PAINTBRUSHES! Not even one. Now I have to wait until tomorrow after Brendan's PT appointment to paint.

In the infamous words of Stephanie Tanner, "HOW RUUUUDE". (Said with major ATTITUDE!)

Now, I will just have to study.

Trying to be...

Everything.

Employee:

Sometimes it feels as if I have so many hats I can never wear them all, and not just at work. I do my best to jump in and do whatever needs to be done at work. This can lead to an exhausting day, to say the least.

Home Maker:

Today, is my day off. I have so much to do and next to no ambition. I managed to get all of the housework done that I planned on, but I still need to plan dinner for tonight and tomorrow night, make said dinners, and get lunch together for tomorrow.

Student:

I also need to get to work on my next college class. I received my book a couple of days ago, and it is time to get started. I am a bit nervous about this one. I meant to take a class that was more of an introduction than this one, and now I am nervous. I also tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to get A's, and all that does is cause more stress.

Mom:

Last week we learned that Brendan broke his scaphoid bone waaay back in August. He had xrays on August 31st where we were first told the xray was negative, but given a referral to orthopedics and a brace. The next day we were called back in because the radiologist saw something on the xray that was questionable. We went back in, had more xrays and were again told the xrays were negative. At this time th referral was cancelled and the brace was taken away. In December we went back to the doctor because Brendan was still in pain. More xrays, another referral, negative results. This week we finally had the referral appointment and more xrays. Now we finally have answers. Answers that raise questions, but answers none the less. Brendan does, indeed, have a break. The orthopedist showed us what he called "A Tour of Brendan's Wrist."

Starting with the Aug 31st xray. There was a line right throught the center of the scaphoid bone. I don't really see how this could be a question, but the orthopedist who has seen many more xrays than I have says it could have been questionable.

2nd xrays on September 1st. Same line, maybe a bit lighter. Brendan's symptoms have changed a bit, and he is not showing classic scaphoid bone break symptoms. The result? We are basically told it must be a sprain it will hurt for a while.

3rd xrays Dec 17th. Here is where I start to really question the ability of the radiologist. I understand, to a point, why it was missed on the first two, but on this one? Not so much. On this one the line is still there, AND a halo shows around the top of the scaphoid bone. This is because the bone has started to tilt upwards, so we are starting to see the top of the bone.

4th xrays: There is now a large gap where the original line was, the bone is butted up against the radius bone, the bottom portion of the bone is white meaning inadequate blood flow to the bone, a bone spur, and he has scaphoid collapse.

Now, instead of a cast or perhaps even a simple surgery, we are looking at having a screw put in, and a bone graft because of the lack of blood flow. All this while Brendan is taking a course in firefighting and trying to get his certification.

Wife:

Right now this includes wearing a "dad" hat since Michael is deployed.

Daugher and Friend:

I feel these often get pushed to the side in an effort to fulfill my other roles.

Christian:

I know I often push my spiritual life to a back burner. The sad part is it is the most important, and everything would go so much more smoothly if I were more faithful in spending time with God everyday. Thankfully, God is always there even when I am not.