Thyroglossal Cyst

This is what my baby has. My mother noticed a nodule in Indy's throat last Sunday and believe it to be a goiter. Both my mother and her mother had them, so she assumed Indy had inherited this issue as well. Today was Indy's "Well Kid Four-Year Old" visit, so I made sure to ask the doctor about it. He called it a cyst and said that her lymph node to the right was a bit swollen as well (he allowed me to feel both). We are being referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist and the children's hospital. They didn't get the referral, last I checked, so I'll try to make the appointment on Monday.

It was weird to hear and a bit scary, but my doctor believes that it is not cancerous and that she seems fine. I certainly hope so. I am anxious, however, to get into that specialist and hear what's going on with my baby. Where did this come from? When I wiki'd the topic, it stated that this issue usually appears in adults. What's the deal? I'll be saying my prayers (as always) for little Indy.

Other than that, she looks really good and she's (as I already knew) tall for her age. She's 42 pounds and 3 feet, five inches. What a kid. She was so well behaved, I treated her to a happy meal (which thrilled her to pieces).

The Babe went on a walking field trip today to the local high school. They were doing a presentation on days gone by (particularly the 80s'). She said that the best part was when the girls did their "valley speak". She and her friends mimicked them the rest of the day. I guess the teacher was loving that...

Rereading Bachman

As a junior high and high schooler, I read a lot of Dean Koont.z and Stephen Kin.g. They adorned my nightstand for those years and even into college. Eventually, I grew bored of Stephen and Dean became a very predictable formula writer. College offered many, classical reading assignments so leisure reading was almost non-existent anyway. Every so often, I wonder what it would be like to read some of their newer offerings, then something comes up or some author craze surfaces and I forget to dig into my old favorites.

About a week ago, hubby and I were talking about how suggestion changed our opinions on certain foods. Because someone or something effected a food item, we no longer want or have the desire to eat whatever it is. I told him that I loved cherry pie as a child...until I read Thinner. Well, that's all it took. I have not eaten one, solitary slice since that novel. What was it, specifically, that made it so hard for me to even look at a slice anymore? I jumped on the library's online catalog and put a hold on the book. I had to know. (of course, we'll also rewatch the movie too...you know us). ;)

Once I got it, I realized I was holding a Richard Bachm.an book in my hand rather than a Ste.phen King (yes, I know. It's the same person). I'd forgotten he used a psuedo-name for a bit. Why would someone as talented and popular as he is use a false name? Of course, it wasn't long before people figured out who it was but, still. I think if I wrote as a profession and had that kind of celebrity, I'd never hide my writing. It's not like people are mobbing him at grocery stores. He can still have a pretty regular life.

Whatever his reason for it, the proof is certainly in the pudding. His writing style is like no other and I am quickly remembering why I was such a big fan in the first place. Perhaps the latest novel will adorn my nightstand after this one.

A Little Bit on My Work Situation

My boss has been moved to a different department. He found out over the weekend, but we didn't hear about it until yesterday's "emergency meeting." Effective immediately, he will report to a completely different department and only "transition" items with us on a limited basis. He's very gracious and will, of course, make himself available to us with any questions we have but, wow. Nine years and now he gets the rug pulled out from under him. Guess he knows what I felt like, earlier last week.

I had meeting after meeting today. After all this time in the job force, I still think meetings are a complete waste of time.

"I can't get the things done you want me to get done because I'm sitting here meeting with you about them. My god, can't you send me an email or something? Let me know via smoke signals, and I'll get back to you."

The Freight Train Through February finally seems to be slowing down. I hope to have a grip on my life again my mid-March (yes, there's still stuff I'm not sharing...don't wanna jinx anything). My coworkers are stressed; one so much that I think she might leave, after only being here a few months. She's just not getting the support she should be getting from a separate, new employee. It's really too bad and, unfortunately, out of my control.

I'm sipping on my Alice White Lexia, reading blogs, writing in my own and contemplating my life. If this is the life of a real writer, I'll take it!

Can We Just Be Done with February, Please?

Sort of getting my wish, since this is the last week of the month. Wow! I can't believe it, but I'm glad. It's been nuts and looks to get even crazier. Last week, we had our biannual faculty meeting. Over 700 people now working for my company. I remember when there were only 40 of us. Crazy! During my tenure at the meetings, I came down with what I thought was a cold. Thursday, I croaked my hellos to out-of-towners I haven't seen in months. I even gave and received big, bear hugs (I love bear hugs).

By Thursday night, I was feeling wiped out and not good. Friday morning, I put on my game face (and enough make-up to hide the truth) and went back to the hotel to prepare for my trainings. I was to host three training sessions in a row...each forty-five minutes long. I apologized to each group for the frog taking up residence in my throat. I croaked out details of our department and was glad to have my boss and co-worker there to translate all my croaking. I stayed till 3:00pm,. then left for the doctor's. I just couldn't hang anymore.

Diagnosis? Bronchitis....again. Dang it! I don't ever get colds anymore, just this blasted bronchitis. So, I'm on the Z-pack (which is oddly making me nauseated, this time), codeine for the cough, an inhaler to clear my lungs and an oral. I worked part of the day, then took cough syrup and a nap for the second half. I'm supposed to go into the office tomorrow and Wednesday. I hope I'll feel well enough to make it in. Big things are happening this week (I think).

I've also been preparing myself for my new plan. I think I'll start on Wednesday (I've been detoxing and tomorrow is the last day of detox). Best to start with a clean slate, right? I wonder if the detox and antibiotics are at odds? I hadn't thought about it, till just now. Hubby has been so supportive and I'll need to do some "healthy shopping" this week to get going. I will be eating "clean" again and, as of right now, there ain't a whole lot of "clean" foods in my house. The process will take about 6 weeks.

February Still Flying like a Jet-Plane

I had the rug pulled out from under me, last week. I hope to go into more details in a couple of weeks about the entire situation; however, I will say that it will change everything about my work-life. The only consistency in life is change, right? All I can do is pray and put it into God's hands...otherwise, I'll loose my mind with stress and anxiety.

Aside from work, hubby and I had a lovely Valentine's weekend. We spent Friday as a family and bowled, bowled, bowled. Indy was tired even before the first game finished. Lesson learned- only one game if we're going as a family.

My sister kept my kids over night from Saturday into Sunday. Hubby and I went to see Wolf.man (wait for the red box if you must see it, although I wouldn't recommend it), then off to dinner at Lone St.ar. I had the sweet bourbon grilled Salmon (yum) and he had the steak. After which, we picked up a bottle of spirits to take back to our hotel room, along with a cheesecake from the bakery (double-yum). Next, we went by a club in the Hilton, but the vibe was a little strange. Then, we headed to another club. Me and hubby at the club. Wow. It's been years.

The crowd was twenty somethings and thirty somethings. The theme? Mardi gras. Boas, beads, face painting. It was a veritable circus with a disco ball, in there! Hubby and I danced, but people watched mostly. It was hilarious! I hope we never acted like that (something tells me we didn't). One lady walked up to me and said, "Hey, sexy," hugged me and then pounded. Huh? Who are you? I asked my hubby if it was someone he knew. He said no. Oh, man. Perhaps I looked like someone she knew? Oh, well.

Round midnight, we headed back to the hotel for drinks and cheesecake. It was a wonderful evening. We ate breakfast Sunday morning and watched Couples R.etreat at home. It was pretty cute, but I was more excited to just have time with hubby. Sis brought the girls home around 1:00pm and they were most pleased with their day, too.

It's been great having my sister watch the kids these past few weekends. Hubby thinks we're going to go into "dating" withdrawal. I think he's right.

Whoa, Nelly. Whoa!

February is running hard and fast - straight forward at break-neck speeds with no brakes. I'm hanging on as tight as I can! Ever since the babe told me that a girl in her class had pneumonia last week, I've been holding my breath. Last night at the doctor's (where she informed me her saturation level was at 86 before the nebulizer), I was afraid we would be headed to the children's hospital. "By ambulance," she added. Thanks, doc. Thanks so much. Of course, she did tell me this after the albuterol treatment. The babe's saturation levels shot up to 97 which is above normal. Thank goodness!

Before this, I worked all day, picked up the babe from school, drove 20 miles to another town to get my oil changed at the dealership (coupon, you know...). On the way was when the babe announced that, not only had she coughed all day, but her chest was hurting. I called the doctor and they said they could get me in at 6:30pm that evening (did I mention the doctor's office is in Salt Lake)?

Oil change over sooner than expected, I called the doctor back and asked if I could get in earlier. No dice. Drove the 20 miles back home, fed the dogs and tried to get the babe to eat something. Meanwhile, Indy was bouncing off the walls (that's what happens when you don't have a nap) and was trying to get into everything. Forty minutes later, we're back in the car and headed into Salt Lake. Darkness falls. The skyline is so beautiful at night. I'd forgotten.

Head to the office and wait for only five minutes in the waiting room (but thirty minutes in the exam room). After the visit (it's now 8:00pm), I head home only to drop off the kids and head to the pharmacy for meds. There's a cop-car in the parking lot which has pulled over a sedan. The man is being talked to outside of his car. Not a good sign.

Walgreens 24-hour pharmacy was like the club Monday night. What the hell?! "Your prescription will be ready in 45 minutes to an hour." Thanks! Off to Barnes and Noble to browse and buy books (always fun). The cop-car now has a friend with "Paramedic" stamped on the side of this car. Uh, oh.

Barnes and Nobl.e offers a good "cure" book and a nice book for a 4th grader. The discount rack has a Michael Jackson tribute book with lots of pictures. I still can't believe he's gone. I just knew he'd be old, gray and wearing Kleenex boxes on his feet. Oh, well.

Back to Walgreens and now, three cop-cars. Sweet! Thirty more minutes to wait and the line is huge. A chatty guy tells me he just came from the emergency room and it's packed there, too. He waited two hours for the emergency doctor to tell him he had a double sinus infection. Yuck! What was up with illness and Monday?! I finally get the scrips and some candy (for stress). The suspect in the parking lot's car is being hella searched and there's crap all over the street, his car and the cop's car. Yeesh!

Home at last (about 10:30pm). I've called in and told the boss-man that I gotta play home-nurse tomorrow (today). So, that's what I've done. The Babe is world's better and is going to try school tomorrow. She's even going to try dance. We'll see...

So, what else is happening in only the first nine days of February? Life-changing stuff. Hubby and I have talked and I'm getting ready to "do something." Can't say what it is, yet. The Enchantress site is going to go through some changes to reflect what's coming, once I have time this week to get it ready. The stall on my weight loss is about to end (fingers, toes, eyes all crossed). Hubby will be helping and supporting, but not training me (not quite ready for him to do that again). I'll need to prepare myself mentally for that.

Oh, and the Babe's speech went marvelously! So many compliments! One gentleman said that she was more poised and well-spoken than some of our teenagers who are asked to speak. For real?! My mom even raved, and she's picky about everything! The services are recorded each Sunday, so mom picked up an extra DVD for me to keep. I can't wait to see my girl working the podium again.

Black History Month

The Babe is slated to speak on a "prominent" figure this upcoming Sunday. Whom did she choose? Why, Ms. Judith Jamison (fabulous dancer extraordinaire and honorary Delta...OO-oop!). The babe has been enchanted with her, ever since I suggested Ms. Jamison as a possibility (she considered Diana Ross, among others, to begin with). A bit of reading and a few you.tubes later and she was hooked! She's actually viewing her as a role-model, which I love.

We still spend a lot of our church energy on Black History month, but I don't feel it anywhere else. Oh, the occasional mention on the news or a bit of artistry on some of the web sites but that's about it. It seemed to be much more important in my younger years or perhaps more emphasis was placed on the month. It could be that it's just because of where I live now. Well, yeah. That could definitely be it.

My girls are well aware of who they are and where they came from. They are exposed to as much diversity and culture as their parents can supply, but is that enough? I came from a world that was colorless, then was thrown into the "backwards" south. The divide was palpable and I never really felt like I fit in anywhere. By college, things were better but the frustration never really went away. Moving west helped tremendously. I don't think I'll ever live in the south again, but my roots are there and that is a part of me that will never go away.

I can't protect my girls from everything. One day, there differences from the general population here will be thrown at them and I want them to be strong enough in themselves to deal with it as well as feel pride in who they are. So far, there differences have been fairly positive. It probably doesn't hurt that they're cute.