Shower Highlights

I am pleased to report that not only did everyone, myself included, survive the shower on Sunday, but I daresay everyone also had a good time.

The afternoon started with each guest choosing a baby related name to be called instead of their own name during the shower.  They were then given name tags with their “new names” and a safety pin to be surrendered if they called someone by their “real name” instead of their new name.  Some of the names used were projectile vomit, spit up, nipples, and I choose Diarrhea for my tendency to have diarrhea of the mouth.

Once everyone arrived, each guest was asked to introduce themselves with both their real name and their new name, and a story about how they met or knew Thing One or her husband.  In hindsight, I think the introduction was the “best part” of this game though.  I lost my pin almost immediately and was Diarrhea so many times I had almost forgotten my own name.  The kids really had a blast with this part….. smh

Once everyone had been introduced, we started the first game in which Thing One and her husband had to change a baby using only one hand each.  While they did do a good job of teamwork, I am glad to see that they may “need” a little help from Grandma.

If you would like to see the video, it is posted on my youtube channel here.

As predicted, there were many comments about how they should be changing two babies since Thing one is having twins, which prompted the next game in which each participant was given two babies, one to change and one to hold while changing the other.  KR won this contest in terms of the speed at which she was able to change twin a while holding twin b (46 seconds), but I think Z’s brother J took the cake for his creativity while changing the babies.  (he placed one in his lap and laid the other on the floor, speaking to both dolls the entire time as if they were real)

The next game played was trying to see how many safety pins each guest could find in a bowl of rice while blindfolded.  They each had one minute, and I believe the winner found 11.  The winning video for this game is here.

I think the most popular game played was guessing of the size of Thing One’s baby bump.  Each guest was asked to cut a piece of yarn that would be closest to the size required to wrap around her tummy.  While most people we not even close, the most notable were…

Brandon’s 6 inch guess

The winner was dead on

some a little bit exagerated

(left) Brandon’s guess of 6 inches….there is a reason he has held status of her best friend for so long

(center)  The winner with an exact measurement

(right)  A SLIGHT exaggeration on my friend Jessica’s part.

While people were eating and socializing, we asked guests to feel free to decorate a bib or a onesie.  In hindsight, I should have included stencils for the table, or advance notice that we would be doing this.  While again, the kids had a blast, most of the adults were “shy” to participate fearing their decorating abilities were not up to par.

The shower ended with the opening of gifts.  I have over 300 pictures to go through from the day, but to share a few more before I go.

I won’t claim I’m a professional, but the appetizers and deserts we made turned out ok, and it was a blast making them.

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Twilight Zone Morning

Ok not quite twilight zone, more a I need more coffee morning, but I’m rambling anyway.

I woke up this morning and had peed the bed. While I can’t say this hasn’t happened before, it’s not supposed to happen.  I just had bladder surgery  a month ago, and PTNS this week.  I am supposed to be “pee free” for a few more months at least :(.

Ok whatever, I opened my bedroom door and found my Mom sleeping on my couch.  Hmmm that’s not where I left her last night.  I went to the bathroom , cleaned myself up, and proceeded to let the dogs outside.

While going through the kitchen, I was met by thing 2’s boyfriend looking super chipper, telling me all the animals had been fed except for D.O.G. (who sleeps with me).  I let the dogs outside, and came back in to find a cup of coffee waiting for me on the counter. ?!?!?!?!?

I stood at the counter trying “figure out where I was”, and I glanced down at the letter for a driving class beginning at 8:30….oh fuck did I get Another speeding ticket and forget about it?  Crap crap crap

Then my phone went off, it was the 4th “Are you awake text” from one of thing 1’s best friends.  ( They had been coming in since 5:30).

D, picked up the letter and headed toward the door.  Ah yes…it was his ticket, he had class.  (I’m very surprised I was able to put that together, and even more so that I told him the answer to number 15 on the test is 12-15 inches.)

Four cups of coffee later

I have finally been able to put most of the pieces together.  Let’s go back to the beginning.

The peeing thing.  Ok, this one still makes no sense, and will require a call to the doctor, but at least I was wearing depends last night and had slept on a waterproof pad, so clean up was not terrible.  I am a bit nervous that I am having an MS flare, or that I will have to start looking for yet another treatment, but I will not allow myself to dwell on that til next week.  (I’ve got more important things to do)

My confusion about seeing thing 2’s boyfriend looking all chipper at 8 o’clock in the morning.  As I mentioned before, apparently HE had to attend the driving class.  Let me elaborate on my confusion more.  First of all, D works overnights.  The NORMAL interaction between us in the morning is ME heading out the door telling him the animals have been fed.  I normally tell him the coffee maker has been set up for him.  And I am usually the one who has to attend the driving class.

When you receive a speeding ticket in Illinois, you have the option of attending a 4 or 8 hour defensive driving class.  If you pay extra to attend the class, pass the test, and stay ticket free for 6 months this will keep the ticket from appearing on your record so that your insurance doesn’t increase.  I have attended the class enough that I can teach it.  The question to the answer I gave him as he walked out the door was, ” How far from your chest should your steering wheel be positioned?”  The answer on the test is 12-15 inches, although I still maintain it SHOULD be, however far you need it to be….smh

The multiple texts from KR

The last time I had a morning interaction with KR and Thing One, it was to fight to wake them both up at 10 in the morning after a sleepover.  After answering her, “are you awake” text, I am happy to report that it was for  an exciting reason.  KR is pregnant.  Both girls have been texting back and forth for hours planning how their children will also grow up being best friends etc……  I have to smile here.  For many reasons.  I am glad that KR feels I am important enough to receive one of the first, I peed on a stick calls.  I am excited that both girls are in a much better place than I was when I found out I was pregnant.  I am excited that they have both matured into beautiful intelligent hardworking woman.

Why is my mom on the couch?

I’m still not sure about this one.  I’m also not sure why I am letting her sleep.  (payback’s a bitch) 😛  I do know why she is here though.  She came to stay the weekend with me while we get things ready for my daughter’s baby shower tomorrow.  I am so lucky that I was raised in a family that is so tight nit.  My heart is so full this morning.

I hope you all have an incredible weekend.  Lots to be done here, and more coffee to drink.

 

 

 

Shower Time

Sunday I am throwing a baby shower for Thing 1 and I’m pretty sure I will be MIA until then.  (ok and probably the following Monday)

Gone are the days that I could single-handedly whip up a party for 30 people with less than a days notice.  I have been slowly “setting up” for the last couple of weeks, and I have enlisted the help of a few of my friends and her best friend.

I found great ideas for baby themed food, games, and decorations on pinterest that I could do myself without breaking the bank.  Thank Goodness for dollar tree, dollar general, and facebook marketplace for cheap finds as well.

The picture above is my first ever attempt at making a diaper cake.  We’re going to call it a tricycle cake.

Some of the ideas I found for baby shower themed food are :

I can’t promise my creations will turn out as well, but I am going to attempt them.

For games/activities we are planning:

Mommy and Daddy Teamwork-

Thing 1 and her husband have to undress, clean, and redress a baby doll  using only one hand each.  I don’t really think they are going to have any problem with this, since they are a good team.

Changing Multiples

Because Thing One is having twins, we are asking each guest to change one baby doll while somehow holding the other.  (the only baby that can be laid down is the being changed.)  I hope some will let me record this, since I think it will be hilarious watching what people come up with.

Name Tag Game

After everyone has been introduced with their real name, I will be handing out name tags and asking them to come up with a baby related name to put on their tag.  Ie..diapers, formula etc.  Each time someone is caught calling someone by their Real name, they must give up a safety pin.  The winner is the person who has the most at the end.

Onesie /Bib decorating

Thing 1’s best friend is buying plain one-sies and bibs for each guest to decorate.

We have other games to add in also if time allows.  We shall see.

I’m looking forward to the shower, and hope to have lots of pictures and maybe video to post next week.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Healthy resources for chronic illnesses

Last week I shared, my list of Not your Typical Blogger Awards recommendations.  I mentioned in the post that I also had recommendations for chronic illness bloggers that were inspirational and motivating that I would share if requested.

As I continued to reread posts from February of last year, I realized that I had completely forgotten that not only did I actually write a little about MS in February, but I also made a video about being newly diagnosed> I was also fortunate enough to have some of those very same inspirational and motivational bloggers do guest posts on my blog.  Their names and links to their blogs can be found here.

I would like to add a few of the chronic illness bloggers that I have also begun following since that post was written that I also find very motivating and helpful.

First is Terri, from Reclaiming Hope.   Terri lives with Fibromyalgia, and offers great tips on total wellness, sharing advice on complete wellness encompassing emotional, social, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, financial, and physical aspects.  Whether or not, you suffer from a chronic illiness, I think you may find a lot to gain by visiting her site.

Next up is Heather and Dizzy from Dinosaurs, Donkeys, and MS.  Heather was diagnosed with MS a only a couple of years ago, but you would think she had been living with MS for a long time, based on the amount of information she shares.  Heather shares information about the OMS program, many exercising techniques, and relaxation techniques through her stories with her Donkey Dizzy.  She has also begun a podcast featuring two herself and two other MS bloggers from the UK.  If you have a minute, potter over  to her page, again you will not be disappointed!

Also from the UK is Caz, the author of Invisibly Me.  For a quick glimpse at her personality, check out her post, This and That.  As with most invisible illnesses, you wouldn’t know that anything is “wrong” with Caz, by looking at her, but she takes this one step further by sharing tips on how she continues to fight and rise above the trials she faces.  I especially like her post, What my invisible illness(es) have taught me. If you have another moment, (while you are in the UK :P) take a few steps over to her page.  About once a month she will share frugal finds for things she has found that help beat the heat and work on relaxation.

While I’m taking you around the world (well yah the internet is) I’d like to take a moment to visit Vancouver and talk about Amanda from Walk a Myelin* My shoes.  Not only does Amanda talk about the realities of living with Chronic Illness on her blog, but she is in the process of writing a book, and often talks about the other side ( caregivers and support people for those of us living with an invisible or chronic illness). To keep in line with the subject I wrote about earlier with being newly diagnosed, I would like to share this post written by Amanda as a place to start.

It is so easy to fall in with “the bad crowd” of people living with chronic illness.  By “bad crowd”, I don’t mean bad people, I mean people that spend more time succumbing to  their diagnosis and limitations than they do focusing on the positives in their life or are resigned to let the disease consume them.  (I think we may all go there from time to time.) Personally, I find it so much more helpful to spend time with people that while maybe struggling, continue to fight each day.

I hope you can take some time to visit the above mentioned websites, and that you find them as helpful as I do!

I have showed you mine, will you show me yours?

Do you have any websites or bloggers that you follow that share tips for dealing with chronic illness?  I would love to hear your thoughts

Maybe you can share some recommendations that you have?

 

I’m in a Hurry (and don’t know why)

I was talking with a friend the other day, and commented that I didn’t know how I had “made it” to 45.  She responded saying, “no shit, I don’t know how YOU did it either”.  (note she didn’t say WE, she said ME) That’s kind of sad don’t you think?  I mean, I have never fought in a war, saved someone from a burning building, or performed any other heroic act.  Yet, for most of my life I have lived in a constant state of fight or flight.  I have always raced to the next bullet point.  There was always something else that NEEDED to be done.

Have you ever heard the song, I’m in a Hurry by Alabama?  I swear they wrote it for me.

I’m tired.  I really am tired.

The thing is, I’m not done.  Far from it.  But I am learning that if I continue at the speed I have been going my whole life, I am going to burn out….quickly.

I have pretty much lived my life by this quote,

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

― Hunter S. Thompson,

While I do still believe this, maybe I don’t have to be in such a hurry to get there?

Being pretty immobile for the last month, while waiting for my foot to heal, has been a blessing in disguise. As I said before, Patience has never been my strong suit, but for my foot to heal successfully I needed to practice some.  I have spent my “downtime” looking for OTHER ways I could heal and become stronger as well.

On the physical side I am going to start with physical therapy.  That’s it.  No big get out there and  walk a mile a day again.  Baby steps.

I have also been reading and researching various diet or lifestyle changes.  Although I do hope to lose weight, my goal is more to reduce the inflammation in my body to see if I can reduce the number of medications I take.

On the Mental Side, not only did I reread all my posts from this last year but, I also took the time to relive the excitement of my daughter’s wedding.  I allowed myself time to dream about all the things I want to do with my future grandchildren.  Most importantly, though I finally allowed myself to grieve all of the tragedies of last year.  This isn’t to say I am done grieving, more that I have slowed down enough to let myself feel the pain, I had been running from.

It’s kind of cool that even though I thought recovery time from surgery was going to be unbearable and a bunch of lost time I would have to make up for, instead it forced me to pace myself, and I was still very productive.

I’m a work in progress! 🙂

S L O W L Y

but getting stronger every day!