Just heard . . .

my biopsy showed my thyroid nodule is benign.  They said it is 98% accurate.  I will have yearly checkups to monitor.

Medical Update

Rusty and I met with a Thyroid Surgeon on Tuesday.  I have a long list of symptoms that all seem to point to thyroid issues.  I thought that if we just removed the thyroid and replaced the hormones with medicine, all my ailments could be relieved.  After meeting with the doctor, it seems that the nodules and everything else are not related.  Since they are not related, we decided to do another biopsy to double check the nodule is not cancerous.  I should hear in a few days.  As for my other symptoms, the biggest being sleeping issues and not ever feeling rested, I am starting over.  I am very frustrated and thought my appointment on Tuesday would bring answers.  Instead, I only have more questions.  I'm just hoping I can get answers soon!

100,000 miles

My trusty Hyundai Tucson rolled over to 100,000 miles this morning.  It's been such a good car for me and I love it.  I love even more that it's paid off!!

I've had it over 5 years now so 100,000 miles isn't too bad, especially with driving back and forth from Nashville every day.  I think it should last me at least 2-3 more years.  Then, I think maybe I will get the Hyundai Veracruz.  It seats 7 people.  :)

Birthday

Caitlin is really excited about her birthday party. If anyone needs ideas for her, she has recently requested Pokemon stuff and a new sleeping bag since she apparently is too old for Dora the Explorer now.



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PMP exam

I have been studying nonstop to get my PMP certification (Project Manager Professional). My PMP exam is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30. Any prayers for me will be greatly appreciated!! The test is 4 hours long and full of 200 tricky questions.

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Update

The radiology department did not have any appointments available today.  I am scheduled for next Friday morning.

I HATE waiting!

I STILL have not heard back from my doctor and am very frustrated.  When he called me Tuesday with the results nonresults he said he would talk to the radiologist and call me back.  I heard nothing all Wednesday.  So I called Thursday morning and the operator said they would have the nurse look into it and call me.  I heard nothing all day Thursday.  So this morning I called and explained AGAIN my situation.  I think they could feel my frustration and stress.  They put me through to their triage department and I explained again to the lady on the phone.  I stressed that I needed to know something today.  I am in training all next week for my PMP certification and I need to be able to focus next week.  I can't go to doctor visits or tests next week and I don't want to wait.  (I'm really not good at waiting.  Can you tell?)  So, now I'm waiting again for a callback . . . . .

Thyroid Problems

Just wanted everyone to know, I am having some thyroid issues.  I have some nodules on my thyroid.  One is small - a few millimeters.  The other one is 1.5 cm and has some calcification on it.  Both those things are red flags.  Last week I had a biopsy, not a pleasant experience, and then the waiting started.  Last night, the doctor called me.  There was good news and bad news, he said.  The good news was there was no cancer found.  The bad news was there was not enough tissue from the biopsy for them to feel conclusively that there is no cancer there.  So there are three options:  1. just ignore it for a while and monitor the growth in 6 months.  2.  do another biopsy and try again.  3.  go ahead with the surgery to remove the nodules and/or thyroid.  The doctor does not feel comfortable with the first one.  We are also hesitant to do surgery if it is not necessary, so I will probably be having another biopsy.  The doctor is going to talk to the radiologist and call me again today.  So we'll see what happens.

WW Checkin

I maintained this week - none lost.  I didn't do as well with my eating and it was a busy stressful week.  Sometimes maintaining is as much a win as losing weight is, so I will take it this week.

Surprise

I came home from work one day last week to this . . .

 Caitlin was being helpful and set the table for me.  How cute!!  She really is such a big helper!!

Manis and Pedis

One of my Mother's Day gifts was gift certificates to VIP Nails, my fav nail salon.  I decided to share it with Caitlin and take her for her first spa experience.

She LOVED the bubbly water for her feet and the massage chair.  They were so cute with her and decorated her big toes and thumbs with polka dots.  She LOVED it!!

Popcorn

A few days ago Rusty bravely took both girls to a movie. I thought he was stretching it to think Alaina would sit through a movie. But she did much better than I was expecting. He bought popcorn, which she had never tried before. He said she sat in his lap for 45 minutes watching the movie and eating popcorn. Then she just wanted to walk around. So the other day at Target, he bought popcorn again. It definitely made his shopping trip go smoothly. She loves it!!




And someone please give me ideas of what to do with her hair! She's looking scraggly!!

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This is my life . . . and I LOVE IT

This ball cost us $.99 and provides loads of fun.

And yes, my child is running around in a diaper.  I am THAT mom.

And I was doing so good . . .

My company does monthly celebrations of birthdays with cake. I knew today was cake day and I told myself I wasn’t going unless they had ice cream cake. They always do ice cream cake once in the summertime. So today just happened to be ice cream cake day. I go up to the kitchen, totally expecting the splurge.  I figured I would just use my extra points. I knew it would be a lot, but the pieces normally aren’t that big. I ate it – it was delicious. I asked what kind it was – Dairy Queen. Great, then I can check the points. I get back to my desk and look on the internet to check the points for my one little slice.


21!!!! I only get 29 for the day!!!

I totally want to go throw up right now!!

Weight Watchers

 A few weeks ago, I started working out again.  It's been 6 months since I have done this regularly.  With Rusty's surgery and then his recovery, life was just too busy and something had to give - and it was fitness and nutrition.  Now that Rusty is almost back to normal, I'm committed again.  Last week I started Weight Watchers again so I will be reporting in regularly, good or bad.  For the first week, I worked out ALOT and watched what I ate.  I barely touched my weekly cheat points.  It worked and I am down 3 pounds.  This week is going well.  In two workouts, I've already earned 10 activity points. 

I really like Weight Watchers and how the program works.  You get a certain number of points each day and then some weekly cheat points.  The more activity you do, the more points you get that week.  It allows you to eat all your favorite things, as long as you account for the points.  It works for me.  And I guess alot of people agree - best weight loss diets.

More Spring Fling pictures . . .

Here are the pictures from Spring Fling from my camera before the battery died.  We had a lot of fun!

I LOVE this picture of Caitlin in mid jump!

She was a constant blur - running from one thing to the next!

Mommy and Me

Back in May, I went to a Mommy and Me brunch at Caitlin's school.  The kids made these place settings for the moms and served us our food.  It was so sweet.  And then Mrs Short played these songs and read these books about moms that had the entire class of moms bawling.  I just love Caitlin's teacher.  She was definitely a blessing this school year!!

Little Fish

Caitlin used to be afraid of the water.  Caitlin used to be afraid to go under water. 

Caitlin used to need floaties.

Not anymore.  Caitlin is now a fish.  She thinks floaties are for babies.  She loves going under water.  She now wants to turn flips and do cannonballs. As someone who is afraid of water and can't swim, I am bursting with pride!!

And just because I'm hungry . . .

Here's my favorite pizza . . .

Yummy!!!

The Zoo

I just love our zoo membership. 

I do think the meercats are out favorite.  We visit them EVERY time we go to the zoo.  Even Alaina likes them!

Alaina wasn't sure about these.  She didn't want them anywhere near her.

10 years

I just got an email that today I have completed 10 years at Healthcare Realty.  WOW, that just sounds crazy!  I have been very blessed with a job that is enjoyable, low stress for this industry, and pays well.  I thank the Lord regularly for such a great blessing!!

So yay for 10 years (and for the extra week of vacation I get each year too)!!

Ah summer

We are enjoying the pool already this summer. Two Saturday mornings in a row have been spent there. Alaina is still not too sure about the pool. She did better this Saturday than last Saturday so I'm hoping the more we go, the more she will like it.

Today, Caitlin learned to doggie paddle. She doesn't want to wear floaties anymore so my goal is to have her swimming by the end of the summer.



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Sunglasses and Dolls

Alaina is fascinated by sunglasses.  She has a pair that she loves to wear.  She's not great at putting them on yet (still pokes herself in the eye).  But she wants us to put them on her and they she will look at us and lift them up.  She will do this over and over and love it.

Yesterday, Caitlin bought a Liv doll with some money she earned.  It came with a bathing suit, purse and sunglasses.  Alaina was obsessed with getting the sunglasses on her.

When she finally succeeded, she giggled in triumph!

I know this is a ton of pictures, I just can't believe she sat still for this long!!

And if you enlarge any of these, you will see her right eyebrow is jacked up! 

WHY didn't I notice that??

Mother's Day

I had the best Mother's Day!  Rusty took care of breakfast for everyone and the girls surprised me with not one but TWO gift certificates for pedicures.  I love being pampered!!  Plus for Mother's Day and birthday, I get to buy my Silhouette machine.  I can't wait to do all the craft projects I've been thinking about!!!

I just love my little family.  We laugh and joke and I am so thankful for all of them!  Each one of them is a blessing and I feel they were each sent to me to be in my life.  I love them!!

$1 subs

This was the line and, yes, I waited for 30 minutes to get my $1 sub at Jimmy Johns!!



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Spring Fling

Friday, we went to Caitlin's school Spring Fling.  They do this every year and it's a big fundraiser for the school.  This was probably Caitlin's favorite part of the WHOLE thing.  This girl LOVES horses and wants to be a "cowgirl" when she's bigger.

This is what Alaina did to entertain herself while we waited on Caitlin.

Caitlin on the slide.