7 Quick Takes: Coming Off the Steroids Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Prayer request. The ER doc put me on a 5-day course of Decadron to help heal my lungs from my virus after I ended up in the ER last week with asthma exacerbation. It *did* help heal the inflammation in my lungs and has helped with my throat… but it’s also making me feel really manic and wired even though I finished the last dose 48 hours ago. Monday and Tuesday were hard days for functioning because the Decadron was taking me out of my head and I had to function as an adult. Yesterday, I slept most of the time Daniel was in school because of the weird dreams and insomnia from the steroids. Last night, I ended up using the mania to get through a huge pile of paperwork and then hunkered down in my room in as calm an environment as I could make to try and deal with my body having the shakes.

I’m still dealing with the shakes and feeling really wired so if y’all could please pray that my body could regulate again, I’d appreciate it greatly. Thanks!

— 2 —

Yearly explanation of WHY Daniel is in his program. Every year, I have at least one person ask if I’ve considered homeschooling Daniel. The answer has not changed in four years: OH. HELL. NO. Homeschooling has never and will never be something I ever want to do with Daniel and I honestly can’t understand why anyone would suggest it. I have the personality of a drill seargeant, no training in elementary or early childhood education or special education, and I hate being a housewife and stay-at-home-mom. (I stay home with Daniel because I have no choice, not because I want to.) We’ve always had options for public school for Daniel that have included an autism program and I’d much rather have him in a classroom with a teacher trained to work with him, kids his own age, and therapists who can help get him caught up on developmental things.

There are families for whom homeschooling works but we’re not one of them.

— 3 —

Regarding Colin Kaepernick… Rachel has a point.

Rachel Held Evans on Colin Kaepernick.

— 4 —

Facebook. So does anyone else hate the way Facebook has changed the trending topics so that there’s really no context? Just wondering.

— 5 —

Happy Jen. Last night, we had some real WEATHER going over us so I decided to just shut off the TV news, open the windows, and listen to the rain pounding on the roof outside my window as well as the thunder and lightning. It was glorious and it helped to keep me calm as I was dealing with the steroid shakes.

— 6 —

Prerequisite politics take. #NeverTrump was in my state on Tuesday night and I am so thankful that he’s gone. My mom managed to find a way back up from Seattle that avoided I-5 — a good thing because I have a feeling traffic would have been worse than usual going through Everett because of his presence. I’m still hoping for a meteor to hit the earth before the election so that I don’t have to deal with the possibility of someone as horrible as Trump winning.

— 7 —

Wow… I realized today that for the first time in years, I’m not dreading the fact that Daniel has a four day weekend. We’ll find things to do outside the house if we have to, but I’m not having to worry about finding ways to get out of the house or keep Daniel quiet like I did when I was living with my former in-laws.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXXII)

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#5Faves

One

First day of school. I have a second grader now! We’re still trying to get his transportation fixed (the school buses are screwed up beyond all belief!) but we made it out the door, across the river, and into his classroom this morning without a problem.

Daniel and I before leaving for school.

Two

My grey buddy. My parents’ grey cat Homer has been hanging out with me this morning. My alarm didn’t go off so he came and woke me up and has been either on my desk looking out the window or on my lap any time I’ve been lying on my bed. Granted, he’s an equal opportunity attention hog but he’s also probably making up for the fact that my mom isn’t in her normal spot today.

In any case, I’m enjoying the cuddles.

Three

Grey days. After having humid weather in the 80’s on and off for the last few weeks, I’m *LOVING* the temps today in the 60’s and the overcast skies.

Four

These confessions from step-parents. Actor George Takei frequently posts stuff like this to his Twitter. This one just happens to have won my heart.

Five

Happy kids returning from school. The kiddo had a wonderful day and his teacher/aides are smitten with him. (Not surprising — he *IS* pretty cute and a sweetheart at school.)

Go love up Bonnie, babystylista, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 28, 2016

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For Today… August 28, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was lovely and in the 60’s with a minor rainstorm in the afternoon. It’s so wonderful after a week of humidity and temps in the 80’s.

I am thinking… about all the calls I have to make tomorrow to structure my week around Daniel’s school schedule as his bus transportation seems to be messed up.

I am thankful… for my church and the Spanish ministry to whom a bunch of school supplies were donated and for the people who offered to buy backpacks for the kids who need them. It was also wonderful watching Rev. Helen kneeling in front of the non-Communing kids at the altar rail and giving them the best blessing she could in Spanish. She is an asset to us in many ways.

One of my favorite things… being able to breathe normally. I miss it with this stupid asthma exacerbation.

I am wearing… jammies. Church was my indigo shirt from Fred Meyer, black capris from Kohl’s, and black flats from the Naturalizer website.. I exchanged the shirt and the flats for my blue-green shirt and black flip-flops from Old Navy.

I am creating… a prayer shawl on one of my hooks.

I am reading… Just Desserts by G.A. McKevvett.

I am hoping… I don’t have too much of a problem getting a follow-up appointment this week after my ER visit on Thursday. I’m still having asthma issues and I need to talk about my med list.

I am learning… the ropes of getting Daniel’s services up here.

In my kitchen… we had Sunday dinner here with my uncle and my grandma so we had pork chops, chopped salad, mixed veggies, corn on the cob, and apple pie for dessert.

In the school room… Daniel starts back on Tuesday and I’m trying to get his transportation sitch resolved.

Post Script… I wanted to share this for my musically-inclined friends.

Shared Quote… “I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality…asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says ‘Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology…’ But excusing says ‘I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.’ …And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied about ourselves.” — C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

A moment from my day… From one of our hymns this morning which I was bummed not to be able to sing because of my voice and lungs.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: The Asthma Exacerbation Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

About the title. I’ve been fighting something respiratory for more than 3 weeks now and it has exacerbated my asthma to the point where I am having a really hard time keeping food and liquids down because I’m coughing to the point of vomiting. It was bad enough last night that my mom was mobilizing to take me to the ER if I didn’t stop vomiting. Could y’all pray for my asthma to calm the heck down? I have asthma issues so rarely that this is scaring me.

**UPDATE** Sitting in the ER getting breathing treatments because I can’t catch my breath and the cough is making me vomit. Fun fun fun. The doctor just asked if I wanted hairball meds on my paws. I may or may not have glared at him.

— 2 —

What the fur?!?!?!? There was a thing on Facebook trends about Rush Limbaugh saying that the Obama administration is paying lesbians to go farm in red states. (I’m not linking to the story because I’d rather swallow ground glass than give a moron like him any page views.) Snopes.Com had this to say about it.

— 3 —

Anglicans and the rosary. There is such a thing as the Anglican rosary and this is what is. (I have two in my purse.)

— 4 —

Ryan Lochte. The guy is a 32 year old frat boy. Are you really so surprised that he pulled that stunt in Rio?

— 5 —

The toothpaste story. I really some of the parents of my classmates in middle school had given this talk to their kids. I still have scars.

— 6 —

Spot on. Most of you reading this are also Kelly’s readers so you’ve seen this but… her blog post last Thursday/Friday was amazing and oh so true. It resonates with me as Daniel’s mom because I know his diagnoses have probably caused me more grief than they have caused him. He is a really happy kid and seems oblivious to the fact that he is not at the level that his neurotypical cousins and classmates are.

— 7 —

Ew! I was seeing pieces of this during commercials for the Olympics and finally remembered to look it up on Youtube.

I also love this one:

And this one:

And given that I’m choking from laughing so hard, maybe I shouldn’t be watching these…

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 22, 2016

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For Today…

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… the sun should be setting soon. It was in the 70’s today. That’s totally better than the 90F temperatures we were having in Seattle on Saturday!

I am thinking… about various things that have to get done this week.

I am thankful… Jon brought his hotspot up with him because we still don’t have Internet at home.

One of my favorite things… a quiet evening.

I am wearing… jammies. It was my “We Will Not Be Silent” shirt and jeans earlier.

I am creating… bags to shred, to take to Best Buy for electronics recycling, and to take to Goodwill.

I am reading… Just Desserts by G.A. McKevvett.

I am hoping… they get internet turned on tomorrow.

I am learning… to just take the Ativan if I can’t sleep.

In my kitchen… we got pizza because Jon is visiting.

In the school room… Daniel starts back in a week. I need to find out what his school supply list is.

Post Script… this is my friend Gina’s new Etsy shop.

Shared Quote… “Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?” — from one of the hymns last Sunday

A moment from my day… the actual hymn from which the quote comes.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: The No Internet Edition

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7 Quick Takes

This blog post is being written on Saturday night and will be posted on Sunday when I can get to $tarbux for some Internet time. Our ISP shut off our service because we were supposed to be switching to satellite but they screwed up on a pretty large scale and we’ve been without Internet until Wednesday — something very hard for my family of geeks. So… here is a list of things I’ve done that don’t require Internet.

— 1 —

Play lots of solitare. My laptop came up with Microsoft Solitare Collection and I’ve played every type in the last few days except for Freecell. I’m finding that the ordering aspect of Spider Solitare is helpful when I’m pondering things.

— 2 —

Hang out with family. My evil twin and his long-suffering wife came up on Friday and stayed until mid-afternoon when the six of us headed south for the 30th anniversary party for one of my mom’s college friend who is like an adopted aunt to us. Other than Daniel being a pill and having a couple meltdowns, it was fun.

— 3 —

Visit farm stands for produce and local food. If I drive a couple miles west and cross the Skagit River, I’m in farmland and there are some really cool produce places around here. My goal: find some plain cheese curds and a good Italian soda. (Schuh Farms is fabulous for this.) It’s berry season here and people are picking lots of them.

— 4 —

Deep clean the house. We’re having a lot of company these days between the twin and the girl coming up as well as Jon’s visit up here next week. Mom has commented as well that she’s getting a lot more done because she can’t really spend time on the computer.

— 5 —

Watch the Olympics. The events I care about are largely over but I always like rooting for the underdog. It was also fabulous to see Simone Biles WIN ALL THE MEDALS!!!

— 6 —

Read. I had to put down Fear Babe because it stopped keeping my attention and I’m reading a Savannah Reid murder mystery right now.

— 7 —

Organize my room. I’ve got piles of papers to file, hole-punch, and/or shred. Not being able to be online means that I’m getting a lot done.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 14, 2016

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For Today… August 14, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was dusky when I started writing this but I got caught up in watching the Olympics.

I am thinking… about my week and what it holds.

I am thankful… for Daniel going back to sleeping well. We had 4 nights of him not sleeping well and me ending up in tears at 2 a.m. because he was bouncing off the walls and I needed to go to sleep because I’ve been so sick. The pediatrician put him on antibiotics for the infection that Mom and I both have and we’re thinking that his inability to sleep might have been due to him feeling as crappy as the two of us are.

One of my favorite things… rooting for the underdog. I was so jazzed to see Max Whitlock get two gold medals tonight, Brazil get their first ever Olympics gymnastics medals, and Giulia Steingruber get the first ever Olympic gymnastics medal for Switzerland.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a dress with a camisole under it and black flats. The rest of the day, it was a charcoal tee from Old Navy and khaki shorts from Kohl’s.

I am creating… this blog entry. 🙂

I am watching… Olympic gymnastics.

I am hoping… Laurie Hernandez gets a gold or at least a medal of her own on beam. She was so fun to watch on floor even though she didn’t make it to the floor final.

I am learning… patience.

In my kitchen… no big Sunday dinner tonight which was fine — I’m nauseated from this stupid respiratory infection and the antibiotics for it.

In the school room… Daniel has another two weeks until school starts.

Post Script… I thought this was a fabulous piece on our need for each other.

Shared Quote…

Amos 5:8

A moment from my day… some Audrey Assad for y’all.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.