Kathy and Kelly make me laugh

Okay, when I was pregnant for two years and 17 months, I LOVED the Rosie O'Donnell show. That was before she went all 9-11-conspiracy-theory-psycho Rosie, and she was still funny-new mom-loves her kids-does-nice-things-for-people Rosie. I credit her with getting me through two first trimesters when I seriously didn't think I could deal one more day with my self-absorbed, anxiety-ridden, occupationally-unstable self. Thankfully that is all in the past, now. (ha ha!)

Then I continued my obsession with Kelly Ripa, which still goes on today. She makes me laugh and makes me want to do sit-ups and run five miles a day so my legs could look like hers. And I just love her....as we all know. 

So, Kathy Griffin is pretty much the funniest thing since Kelly. I first fell in love with her when she was on the show called THE  CELEBRITY MOLE with Anderson Cooper, before anyone knew who AC was. or that he is gay.

Anyway, I know sometimes Kathy gets a little raunchy (how do you spell that, anyway?) and I could do without hearing GD every 5 seconds, but she is so smart and witty and brilliant. Did I mention she WON that Mole show? She flat-out cracks me up. I don't know what I am going to do about missing all my Bravo when I go back to school. Maybe need to just set DVR to EVERY show on Bravo and HGTV. Here's my rundown:

Rachel Zoe - scary skinny, but still intriguing and I love watching her show. Hope she doesn't plan on having a kid, because it's not going to happen. Wait, Nicole Richie had two babies, so maybe there is hope for Venti Starbucks with three Splendas in her over-sized rings and vintage clothes.

Project Runway - Yeah, I know it moved to Lifetime, but it started on Bravo, so I still give Bravo props. It is super-fun, creative and I totally admire the talent. Can't stop watching!! Love it when they freak out and cry. Love me some Tim Gunn.

Houswives - OMG where do I start. Okay - OC housewives just make me sick and they are ridiculous. I used to watch it like a train wreck that I couldn't stop looking at, but then I gave that up. NJ - I like until it gets all ghetto-call-the-police-filing-protective orders-crazy, and then I don't like that so much.
NYC - MY ABSOLUTE FAVE - maybe because I love NYC, maybe because I love all of the shots of Manhattan, but I totally think those women are deliciously despicable. and you can quote me on that!
Atlanta - I tried to watch one season, but having been an Atlanta housewife myself once, I actually KNOW, rather than just suspect, how unrealistic it is......so I had to give it up. Go to Buckhead, Bravo. Check out Dunwoody, Alpharetta, and Roswell, then come talk to me with your show. DC remains to be seen....I do have to do that working thing in a few weeks, so TV may be off for a while (gasp!) (sob!)

Top Chef - stupid because the viewers cannot TASTE the food, we just have to take the judges' words for it. I can make my own opinion about PR, but I can't tell you if I like the nasty crap they make on that show or not.

Also - I love me some ACE of CAKES and I don't like Cake Boss because he's mean and he yells. I love any Challenge show on the Food Network which has anything to do with sugar, cake, chocolate, or anything that you can actually see. If it is lobster stew, save it for the judges and I will switch to ANTM. Cupcake Wars is AWESOME, as is Selling New York (HGTV), other HGTV staples Color Splash with David Bromstad, and Bang for Your Buck, and, of course, the Discovery Channel fave, Cash Cab - all versions: day, night, double-dare, whatever. Give me Ben Bailey straight up any day.

Yesterday while recovering from some horrible stomach virus, I watched a marathon of You're Cut Off!  More despicable people. Not quite as disturbing as the Toddlers and Tiaras show, but definitely not a fine example of people treating others nicely. until the end. the VERY end, which was too little too late for me.

Of course, no television list would be complete without the boys' summer hit: WIPEOUT! They want me to be on it. Last year I actually filled out the online application, but this year I am not doing that because it looks mega-hard. and painful. And since I started running, I am experiencing plenty of self-inflicted pain.

Today's weight is 122, probably due to above-mentioned stomach virus, but I'll take it. Peace out, peeps!

it's hotter than blue blazes in here....

My mom used to say that when I was younger and she was hot. It's my go-to simile for days like today.

It has been almost six weeks since Whitaker's surgery and he is doing super. He has no more headaches (yay!), he has more energy than he did before, but he still can't really do anything.  He cannot get hot, and it is about 101 in the shade right now. He can't ride a bike, run, jump, lift anything, exert himself, etc. Up until this week he has been fairly cooperative with all of that, perhaps because he tired quickly, and his energy levels were still rebuilding. Now he is starting to get a little frustrated. We are so thankful that he feels well, but still not allowing him to go to the baseball tournament tomorrow with a heat advisory. He is 10, and 10-year-old little boys just like to move around a lot! We see the doctor next week to find out what our parameters are for back-to-school and going forward. We remain thankful as ever that he has done so well.

Speaking of school, I am starting to freak out a little bit. Or a lot. There are some things up in the air right now, and I am feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for the year to begin. I am telling myself that since I was able to complete my High/Scope preschool training and earn an "A" in my killer online technology class, all while experiencing the surgery and recovery of my child, I probably can pretty much do anything. I am woman.

The best thing that has happened this summer is that I have actually started RUNNING!!! Of course, about a year ago, I started a blog about "running," but didn't really get the running thing to take off. Since last summer I have registered for and skipped two 5K races, purchased running shoes, Under Armor pants, two pairs of Nike Tempo running shorts, and a subscription to Runner's World magazine, but all that was just getting me prepared to become a rock star runner. (Truthfully, I was stressed-out, over-committed, and lazy; now God has blessed me with some great friends and just enough motivation to put my shoes on and get out the door.)

I am dedicated to doing at least three miles five times a week. I can't run it all yet, but I am getting better. I got my new iPhone 4 (awesome) and a Nike plus sensor for my shoe, so everything is calibrated for me. Everything means calories, distance, time, average pace, etc. I LOVE my friends who go with me. Even if we are not sharing enthusiasm or energy levels, we still encourage each other and we always have fun, and honestly, I would not be doing if it weren't for them. It is much-needed girl time.

Today's weight: 124.5, but that isn't really my focus. I want to eat right and be healthy. I am not saying I don't want that number to go down, but after spending six days in a children's hospital this summer, I realize how trivial that number is. I like to and need to think happy thoughts, and think about all my countless blessings, which would take forever.

So, no races in my near future, just gonna keep on trying at least five nights a week. and praying about school. and staying in the air conditioning!

I think that's it for now - stay cool, cyber-friends!!

Wednesday

Good Morning, World! This is a beautiful day! It is SUMMER! Since I just finished my graduate classwork last night, I feel like today is my first day of summer break! Here are the things I know right now:

• This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!!
• My house is going to get some serious cleaning up today.
• Celebrity gossip is a totally fun distraction and a great way to get some awesome perspective.
• My favorite celebrities are Kelly Ripa, Kelly Ripa, and Kelly Ripa
• I cannot wait until my new iPhone comes!!
• My husband is on the golf course again
• My sweet boys are going to have to help clean the playroom today. It's not going to be pretty
• I want to get rid of so much garbage in my house - I think I will call the Salvation Army.
• Pink will always be my favorite color
• coffee, chocolate and roses are three of my other favorite things.
• HGTV rocks....pretty much everything on HGTV.

Gotta go create the cutest thank you cards in the history of the world....using pictures of my child, of course!

have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!!

Finally - bird video is on youtube

Bird video - check this out!

you are not gonna believe this.....

Okay sorry for taking so long between updates. Major busy week last week. Except I can't tell you much what I was doing other than looking for my lost checkbook, which I still cannot find, taking Whitaker out for daily air-conditioned rides in the car, and working on a massive, annoying, seemingly endless project for my Library Media Technology class I am taking right now. Almost done. Thank God.

Other stuff: We went to see "Grown Ups" and the boys LOVED it. John and I thought it was really funny and not even raunchy at all. (how do you spell "raunchy" anyway?) Whitaker got his stitches out today and he is doing awesome. He only flinched a couple of times and I was so proud of him. I really like the Nurse Practitioner that worked with us today. She is super sweet. The incision looks a little bad today but it is just a step in the healing process. He is very excited about getting to swim tomorrow. Tomorrow is full of fun as the new Harry Potter Lego Wii game is coming out, and we are going to the Tuesday morning free movie at the theater. yee-ha!

I ordered iPhone 4's today for John and me, and they will be here in three weeks. So excited about that and really hoping we can drop our home phone - we are hardly ever here anyway and mostly it just gets messages, so I'm thinking it is on its way out. Plus, despite loving my iPhone, I kind of strongly dislike AT&T so I am all about paying them as little as possible.

John has played golf four times in the last week, so don't let him whine to you about never getting to play golf. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to play, and I know he works really hard all the rest of the time, but he has played OFTEN lately. Today we looked at new irons for him so he could get his old ones cut off for the boys. He won enough gift certificates in his recent scrambles to buy new golf shoes at the pro shop, so I guess it's all good. Right now he is watching a movie that I don't want to watch which will have repercussions for him later.

Whitaker still cannot get hot, get rowdy, run, jump, dive, etc. for four more weeks, but he can throw a ball in the backyard and dribble around as long as he stays hydrated. The risk of developing a CSF leak is almost completely gone, so as long as we keep praying and don't let him stand on his head while watching TV, we should be in the clear. We feel so blessed and so relieved that the surgery was successful and that his recovery has been as smooth as it has. We are so thankful for all of our friends who have brought food, presents, balloons, games, cards, candy, and smiles to us in addition to their prayers. You will all get a thank-you note eventually, but we can never thank you enough.

If possible, I am going to upload a video of what happened at our house yesterday while John was playing golf winning his golf tournament. It is amusing and might serve as more evidence that we should have our own reality show. Not in a crazy-balloon-boy-family sort of way, just a funniest home vidoes sort of way.

O.M.G.

Short update tonight because I can hardly keep my eyes open. Partly because one of them is highly infected.
Here's a timeline of today; happily reporting that it is rather boring other than the getting out part.

7:30 am Substitute neurosurgeon came in and said, if he eats he can go home today.

9:00 - We slowly get up and Whitaker does not want to eat.

9:30 John goes to my parents' house in St. Matthews to get Tretter ready to go to basketball camp at Franklin College.

10:00 My parents bring Tretter to see Whitaker and to tell me goodbye before he leaves. Uncharacteristically sweet and heartfelt exchanges between the boys showed that they will both be happy when things get back to normal.

10:45 My dad takes Tretter back to his house where our good friends are meeting to pick John and him up.

11:00 slightly bitchy nurse from yesterday comes in to ask if we are ready to leave. We tell her that Whitaker has only eaten A GRAPE, and that the doctor said we could go home IF he eats and feels well.

11:15 lunch arrives; Whitaker is not interested in it.

12:00 slightly bitchy nurse comes back to ask if we are ready to leave. We tell her that we are taking it slow and easy and not rushing him, and that he still hasn't eaten much. She says the paperwork is ready when we are.

12:15 Whitaker has eaten almost all of the grapes and eats a couple of bites of his lunch (which was awesome, because I ate the rest when he was done.)

12:30 Mom and I decide we are good to go, he says he feels fine, we pack up stuff and tell nurse we are ready for discharge papers.

12:35 she has finished going over the paperwork and made me sign everything and she was going to call a transport person.

12:36-12:47 I cannot find my car keys in the mess of crap we have frantically packed the last two days in anticipation of getting out. I start to freak a little, but only inside, of course, because I rarely freak out on the outside.

12:50 - find keys, go get car, load up Mom and Whitaker and go successfully (aka: puke-free) to my parents' home (only four miles from Kosair!)

the rest of the day went like this: eat a little sleep a little, eat a little, watch a little golf, John comes back, give father's day cards, load up stuff and go HOME to our house! (all puke-free....yay!)

On the way home, I called my nurse friend MG and asked her if she could come over later to look at my eye as it continues to swell and is painful. She says she will when she finishes eating. Later, I remember that today is her birthday and I feel like a total heel for calling her. I call her cell phone and tell her to forget it, but she came anyway and brought her daughter who is Whitaker's BFF since Kindergarten. She looked at my eye, said it was a stye that became what she believes is peri-orbital cellulitis and I need to see a doctor, but not tonight. This was wonderful news, because we all know what a great procrastinator I am.

So first item up for bid in the morning is a doctor visit to see what the heck is up in my eyelid and then a trip to the vet to get the dog. When the dog comes home, he is coming in the house, because dogs are therapeutic, so there.

I'm really tired, like I-came-home-from-the-hospital-with-a-new-baby tired. So peace to everyone, and thank you all for all your support.

I'll check in tomorrow and tell you about my lovely eye. ;-)

Ready, Set, NO!

Last night, Whitaker had a hard time getting comfortable and did not get very much sleep at all. Therefore, neither did I. When I woke up this morning, my eyelid which has been hurting progressively each day this week, was almost swollen shut. It looks awful and I took a picture of it and put it on facebook to request help from my nurse friends/family on facebook. I cannot understand why no one clicked "like" underneath that picture. It is so lovely. ;-) The responses were varied throughout the day, but the verdict is a stress-induced stye that might need medication to get better. I really appreciated everyone's suggestions, and have tried some warm compresses which may have reduced the swelling a tiny bit. It still hurts like crazy and looks "pretty gross" in Tretter's words.

Our day started like this:

Substitute Neurosurgeon comes in and looks at the back of Whitaker's head, says he looks good, and we can go home. Some student nurse comes in to take his vitals and takes FOREVER doing it. Nurses give him meds again, and he looks really tired and uncomfortable. John and I feverishly start to pack, excited to bust out of this joint.

The nutritional team brings breakfast, and Whitaker has no interest in it; he looks kind of nauseous and requests a bath. Then he says, "Sooner or later, I'm going to throw up." Great.

Nurse: May we help you?
Room 427: Can we get some more emesis bags, please?

Then we had some confusing exchange from a slightly bitchy nurse that was not keen on typing up discharge papers for us and told us to settle down because it would be at least an hour. Then we told her we didn't want to leave if he wasn't eating and doesn't feel well. We requested more zofran, because it is the reason he still has two IV ports in. Blah, blah, blah, we didn't leave today.

Whitaker refused to eat any lunch as well, kind of fell asleep, and John left to go mow yards in Tell City. My dad came and then my mom brought Tretter.

Here is where my day got MUCH more fun. I left the hospital, repeat: left the hospital, and went out to eat at Buckhead with my dad and Tretter. It was hot out there, but I didn't care because I got to see the sun, and the river, and Tretter. After lunch we checked on Whitaker (still asleep) and my dad took me to their house to take a shower and put on clean clothes. After a short discussion, I decided to take Tretter to the movies and dad decided to go back to the hospital to be with my mom and Whitaker, and John's parents.

We initially went to see Toy Story 3 because we have heard great things, but when we got there, Tretter wanted to see Karate Kid, so we did. It was great! The acting was awesome, the scenery was gorgeous, and yes, I liked it more than the original. Jaden Smith is absolutely ADORABLE. Two thumbs way up from us! Tretter let me hold his hand in and out of the theater, which means, he still loves me and he might have even missed me a little. He leaves tomorrow for basketball camp in Franklin, Indiana and it is his second sleep-away experience for more than one night, the first being this whole week he spent with our friends who graciously agreed to keep him and take care of him while we were at Kosair. When he comes home, we are going to have lots of snuggling to do. I feel like he has grown up all of a sudden, in a matter of days. I would likely go to pieces about that, if it weren't for the fact that I already have internalized enough stress.

When we returned to the hospital, some friends were here visiting, and John had returned. My parents were still hanging out and John's had just left. We visited for a little while, and Whitaker was feeling better. Shortly they all left and Whitaker put in a movie, which is just about over and we are going to try very hard for a better night than last night. Hope I find my house in one piece.

Peace out!