Looking out my window… sunny. It’s in the 80’s and I’m in my dark room with the shades drawn to cool things down.
I am thinking… about Daniel’s G-tube surgery on Wednesday morning.
I am thankful… for my favorite vet happening to be at the clinic today for a staff meeting and crashing Minion’s appointment with my other favorite vet. It was wonderful watching Dr. Fischer feeding Greenies to my little demon one by one out of her hand while Dr. Matt examined him and did the shots. (I cannot say enough positive things about Chuckanut Valley Veterinary Clinic. They caught Jethro’s thyroid tumors in time to treat them, gave Homer another week of life, and love my little black monster so much that he has groupies when he comes in for vet visits.)
One of my favorite things… my black beast. I’ll miss him while I’m down at Seattle Children’s with Daniel.
I am wearing… jammies. Clothes today were a charcoal shirt from Old Navy (I have three) and jeans capris from Kohl’s. I have such a short inseam that my capris are more like clam diggers on me. #shortpeopleproblems
I am creating… a packing list for the hospital.
I am reading…Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans
I am hoping… all goes well with Daniel’s surgery on Wednesday.
I am learning… all about G-tubes.
In my kitchen… I had a turkey florentine meatball from Haggen for dinner tonight.
In the school room… one month until school starts. Daniel can’t wait.
Post Script… the page for a US agent for International Pen Friends is here. I’ve been a member for close to 30 years and I cannot recommend them highly enough for anyone who wants to find their kids a pen pal or who wants to find one for themselves.
Shared Quote… “The Psalms are, in a sense, God’s way of holding space for us. They invite us to rejoice, wrestle, cry, complain, offer thanks, and shout obscenities before our Maker without self-consciousness and without fear.” ? Rachel Held Evans, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again
A moment from my day… One of my favorite choirs doing one of my favorite Bach pieces.
G-tube take #1. We saw Daniel’s nutritionist on Monday. He had lost about 1 lb in the last two weeks, but that could also be as a result of clearing out some constipation. (Pleasant topic of conversation, I know.) It was a smaller drop than the last time so no immediate hospitalization, but it created more of an impetus to get moving on the G-tube. R will be doing his inpatient nutrition care, so at least I know part of my team already.
G-tube take #2. We met the anesthesiologist (love her!) and surgeon (really love her!) on Tuesday. We like both of them. The only problem: the surgeon wants him to be inpatient for a week prior to up his nutrition to give his incision a better chance of healing. That throws a wrench in my life, but not a huge one. I’m not taking any in-person classes this summer and I’ve lived on hospital units with this little monster before, so it’s doable. The only downside is missing Minion a whole lot because I obviously can’t take him with me.
G-tube take #3. Daniel’s gastroenterologist (Dr. No) called yesterday and wanted to admit him THAT AFTERNOON. My response: “No.” When I was questioned as to why I would question her ruling, I explained that I had a doctor’s appointment today (Thursday) that I had been waiting for 6 months and that would impact my ability to function if I didn’t keep it. Dr. No also explained that they would be starting out with him doing nutrition by N-G tube, which is just about the stupidest idea on the planet… which has been pointed out by me, the physician assistant working with Dr. No, Daniel’s nutritionist R, Daniel’s surgeon, Daniel’s regular pediatrician, and just about anybody who has spent more than 15 minutes with him on a meh day.
I may or may not have excavated a new rear sphincter opening for her during our final conversation yesterday (yes, there were several — I don’t think she likes me right now and I couldn’t care less), at which point I **FINALLY** found out that he’ll be admitted on Saturday afternoon and where I get to go for this. (Seattle Children’s is YUGE… bigly even!) She also told me that they *sigh* will have a back-up plan (a PICC line) and enumerated the risks of said plan. (While she was pontificating, I was rolling my eyes so hard at the phone that they fell into the floor of my car because I am familiar with PICC lines… especially since my kid HAD ONE FOR TWO MONTHS in the NICU and my former father-in-law had one for several years.)
I should point out that Dr. No is not incompetent — she’s quite brilliant — but she doesn’t quite get autism well and doesn’t understand that my child is more of a cranky 3-4 year old than a 9 year old, so he isn’t going to be cooperative and leave his N-G tube alone.
MY appointment. I finally got my neurology consult today and it was… intense. My neurologist is lovely (though very high energy and intense) and gave me credit for having a mind (yay!). She’s doubling my migraine preventative, sending me to sleep medicine (I very likely have sleep apnea), putting me on magnesium, and a few other things. My only criticism is that she told me that my stress level would improve if I meditated… which makes me stabby because my stress level would improve if I wasn’t largely managing my medically interesting kiddo with special needs on my own while also trying to finish my degree and be a functional adult.
I am thinking… about various things going on in my parish.
I am thankful… that my Kohl’s order has arrived. I was getting low on pants that actually fit me that are cool enough for the summer.
One of my favorite things… quiet.
I am wearing… an olive green shirt and navy capris, which are actually pants-length on me. #shortpeopleproblems
I am creating… cover letters.
I am listening to… Daniel playing tablet.
I am hoping… Minion calms down a bit. He’s currently attacking Jethro playfully and I think he might get brought to my room for time-out.
I am learning… how to write a good cover letter.
In my kitchen… family dinner tonight so I’m about to go out with Daniel to get some pie from my favorite farm store.
In the school room… Daniel is enjoying ESY.
Post Script… a friend asked for safe websites to find pen pals. I’ve been a member of IPF for years and I also found this listing.
Shared Quote… “Dignified or not, believable or not, ours is a God perpetually on bended knee, doing everything it takes to convince stubborn and petulant children that they are seen and loved. It is no more beneath God to speak to us using poetry, proverb, letters, and legend than it is for a mother to read storybooks to her daughter at bedtime. This is who God is. This is what God does.” — Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans
Minion update #1. My little black beastling got his first taste of catnip on Tuesday night and it had an entertaining effect on him. It’s amazing how much noise a little black kitten can make having zoomies around the house and up and down the stairs! I think every cat toy in the house got killed 3-4 times over before he finally crashed off of his catnip high.
My little critter is also claiming he had no knowledge of the “no kittens on the table” rule despite being removed from the table multiple times. (He also claims not to understand that it applies to the kitchen table as well as the dining room table.)
Duolingo. While reading this article on the Klingon language, I saw that they even have a course for it on Duolingo and decided to teach myself Spanish this summer because my only academic class is a 1-credit class that is a requirement for everyone graduating with an ATA from my school. (It’s called “Job Search” and it helps us build a resume, write cover letters, interview well, and write lovely thank-you notes for any interviews we receive.) The website has a surprisingly large number of languages people can learn and people who are bilingual can contribute to the development of courses for different languages they speak.
Minion update #2. The little miscreant is having turbo insane zoomies and is trying to beat up our 14-year-old tiger cat Jethro… who is at least three times Minion’s size. Jet is being a gentleman and just smacking him every so often, but Mom and I are laughing because Jethro did this to Trail Kitty, my parents’ deceased Maine Coon Cat when Jet was a kitten. What goes around comes around, Jethro!
Prerequisite take on hating various sports teams. LeBron James is headed to the LA Lakers. I can still rag on him because I hate on southern California teams just as much as I hate on Cleveland teams… because southern California is too hot, ugly, and overpopulated. Also… IT’S NOT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WE WISH THE SOUTH WOULD FREAKING SECEDE ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Minion update #3. I just went downstairs and collected my little black bear cat. He has calmed down a little bit… by which I mean that he is no longer thundering up and down the stairs and beating up my leg. Such a silly little monster!
What the actual [expletive]?!?!?!?!? Please tell me how separating kids from their mothers and keeping kids in kennel enclosures is appropriate, especially by politicians who happen to be pro-life. I freaking dare you!
Don’t believe me? Here are two articles from the Seattle Times on the subject:
Done! I turned my last final in this afternoon and I am DONE!!! I have three 1-credit classes left in my program and they are spread out over this summer and fall. While it is definitely bittersweet to be saying good-bye to some of my classmates and two of my instructors (one is retiring and one is on sabbatical during Fall Quarter), I’ve gained a bunch of Facebook friends and I’ve proven through my Capstone Case Studies for Integrated Projects that I do know my stuff backwards and forwards.
Right now, I’m just waiting for final grades in two classes.
New books.Rachel Held Evans‘ book Inspired just came out and I picked up a copy of my friend Imani’s book True Identity yesterday. Along with Jen Fulwiler’s new book and the new one from Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., I should have a lovely summer of reading.
Wedding bells. My youngest cousin is getting married on Sunday. Please pray for Sarah and Evan as they begin their life together. Pray also for me because it’s at an herb farm on the grass… and I am **VERY** allergic to grass.
Shared Quote… “Imagine if every church became a place where everyone is safe, but no one is comfortable. Imagine if every church became a place where we told one another the truth. We might just create sanctuary.” — Rachel Held Evans
