7 Quick Takes — Rapid Fire Answers on Thankfulness

7 Quick Takes

It’s been a crazy week and I have a pretty massive sleep debt. (How massive, you ask? Massive enough that I had to say “no” to a last minute appointment with a doctor for Daniel’s clot when it takes 4 weeks to get in with him normally. I had to say no because I couldn’t drive safely due to exhaustion.) So… here are a couple quick things for which I’m thankful:

01.) Daniel’s SSI *FINALLY* getting approved. I had to rip into my worker’s supervisor but it got fixed.

02.) Daniel’s SSI meaning that he’s eligible for straight Medi-Cal. In other words, Medi-Cal will cover whatever insurance doesn’t. As our insurance is craptastic at best, this is a GOOD THING.

03.) My newly-transplanted garden surviving. I’ve been having to be careful with watering and shading plants but we’ve gotten through a week of triple digits.

04.) Daniel going down without a fight tonight. Those with toddlers understand.

05.) Jon’s day off tomorrow. It means a sleep-in day for me… in theory.

06.) Sara, Daniel’s awesome PT from Easter Seals. I can’t begin to describe her insane awesomeness. Daniel is doing so well with her.

07. Seasons of The Big Bang Theory from my dad. They’re keeping me relatively sane.

(Jen of Conversiondiary.Com has a new baby [Pamela Scholastica, born Wednesday] so Hallie Lord of Betty Beguiles is hosting us this week.)

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 20, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 20, 2011

Outside my window… dark right now but it was in the high 90’s today. Hell Summer has begun — it’s supposed to be up in the 100’s tomorrow.

I am thinking… that the incompetence of the person working on Daniel’s case for the SSA is unprecedented. Seriously, it defies reason.

I am thankful for… the life of Pastor Karen Greschel (colleague of Jon’s) who passed away on Friday morning. Also thankful for the DVD’s of The Big Bang Theory that my dad gave me — they’re keeping me sane at the moment.

From the kitchen… a Caprese baguette from Savemart which was good in idea but crappy and inedible in reality.

I am wearing… my preeclampsia survivor shirt and blue plaid boxer shorts.

I am creating… a viable garden and this entry.

I am going… to Sacramento for appointments over the next two days.

I am reading… Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Katherine Joyce.

I am hoping… I can get straight answers at Daniel’s neuro appointment on Wednesday and that we can get the SSI mess sorted out.

I am hearing… music from iTunes.

Around the house… cleaned for my parents’ visit on Saturday.

One of my favorite things… Daniel coming and cuddling with me today to watch Martha Speaks and Arthur with him falling asleep during Arthur.

A few plans for the rest of the week: appointments and assorted errands. Also PT for Daniel on Wednesday. (I’m definitely also thankful for his PT who is awesome and explained the sensory issues to me.)

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… no picture this week as I’m timecrunched.

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7 Quick Takes — Thankfulness

7 Quick Takes

I’ve had a crappy week with severe back pain, Daniel’s MRI coming back abnormal, and a host of other things. To try and orient myself to a less pissy perspective, I’m doing a list of things for which I am thankful.

–1–

Daniel’s PT eval this morning. The physical therapist from Easter Seals was really positive and complimented Daniel on the things that he *could* do well. She said there’s definitely things to improve but they’ll come in time. She also explained Daniel’s sensory issues to me in a way that I could understand it. We’re scheduled to start with her on Wednesday.

–2–

The helpfulness of the pharmacist at CVS. Wednesday was by FAR the worst for the back pain and after Jon got home, I dragged myself over to CVS and begged for help. The (young) pharmacist was chipper and asked what I had tried. I told her that it wasn’t responding to Tylenol and she politely informed me that Tylenol isn’t for inflammation and that some ibuprofen would help as well as some ice. She was right. She also saved me $$$ by not making me go to the doctor to be told this.

–3–

Cuddles and “Cheerios time” with Daniel in the mornings. We’ve run out of yogurt snacks a few times (they’re like baby crack) and I’ve had a little boy putting the empty bag in my lap and shake it expectantly. I just reach over to the bookcase and grab the Cheerios. Daniel will then climb into my lap and we’ll cuddle, eat Cheerios, and watch “The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That” on PBS.

–4–

Purry gingerbread tabbies. Cullen is a sissy tabby with very bold orange markings. When I put Daniel down for a nap, he’ll come on the bed and displace my hips. He’s helpful that way. 🙂

–5–

Silly black kitties. Edda is a longsuffering panther and a good one. She’ll put up with Daniel climbing on my lap while she’s having “Mommy time” and she’ll tolerate him “petting” her to a point. She’s wonderful when I’m still groggy in the mornings and trying to reconcile the double images into one.

–6–

KLOVE radio when I’m driving. I listen to a lot of “Scott and Kelli” because I’m usually on the road during their show. I like KLOVE because they don’t get into politics (unlike the big Christian music station in Montana) and it’s encouraging music without obnoxious Focus on the Family shows. Even when I was a newbie Christian, I liked them because they were mellow about promoting faith (not a “turn-or-burn” thing at all unlike other radio station) and they talk about secular news.

–7–

Daniel “surfing” on the wall tonight. (“Surfing” is taking steps holding onto something while learning to walk.) He braced himself against a wall and managed to walk sideways from the hallway to the kitchen. This is a COOL NEW SKILL and puts him closer to learning to walk.

(For more of this, head to Conversion Diary.)

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 13, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 13, 2011

Outside my window… sunny and 90ish. It went from March to June in the period of a week.

I am thinking… about the sheer incompetence shown by both Medi-Cal (they lost paperwork for the SECOND TIME IN A MONTH that was labeled with case number and hand-delivered) and the Lodi office of the Social Security Administration. (My worker is so lazy that it’s taken almost two months to do something that should take two WEEKS [if that] in other offices.)

I am thankful for… purry orange kitties and the possibility that Daniel may be done with shots this week.

From the kitchen… four cheese ravioli and pasta sauce with mushrooms.

I am wearing… a hunter green v-neck shirt and khaki capris.

I am creating… this entry. 🙂 No chance for crocheting these days.

I am going… to a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday and possibly bloodwork for Daniel on Thursday.

I am reading… God’s Harvard by Hanna Rosin

I am hoping… Daniel is done with shots soon and that we can get the Medi-Cal/SSI messes worked out soon.

I am hearing… Smurfs on in the living room. (My parents gave us 7 hours of episodes from the 80’s on DVD including some of the commercials.)

Around the house… cleaning to do before family comes on Saturday and the PT eval on Thursday.

One of my favorite things… my Facebook games.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s clot appointment, possible bloodwork, and PT eval. Also my parents/brother/sister-in-law coming on Saturday to help with the garden.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… My long-suffering panther Edda who has to put up with Daniel chasing her.

Edda the puss

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7 Quick Takes Friday — Randomness

7 Quick Takes

–1–

The family remembrance for Erik was wonderful. We had a liturgy from the Jewish Book of Prayer and my brother and I read “The Road Less Traveled” by Robert Frost. While Erik had spent some of his time being hyper-Calvinist, he would not have wanted a formal funeral and I think he was fairly anti-religious toward the end. It was meaningful for all of us and I learned a bit about Erik that I hadn’t known.

–2–

Erik’s ashes will be interred at the family plot (or what is rapidly becoming the family plot) at the pioneer cemetery in Pedee, OR later this year. I’m acquiring a small stuffed lion to be buried with him because he was a Leo and loved lions. If I can’t make it, I’ll give it to my mom to take it to the interment.

–3–

Medi-Cal LOST the paperwork that I hand-delivered to them. There are few words that can describe my angst and rage. Social Security is saying the same thing about the stuff I hand-delivered there. It’s maddening.

–4–

We’ve made some food discoveries with Daniel this week. I was having some Kraft Deluxe Mac n’ Cheese (the stuff with the Velveeta-like cheese sauce) and Daniel was mugging me for it. I finally started doing the “one-bite-for-me-and-one-for-you” thing with him. Yesterday, he was mugging my mom for some of her quiche. (Apparently, he doesn’t have the allergy issues with eggs that I do.) Today at the church picnic, I kept him busy while I ate by passing him pieces of Trader Joe’s Gnocchi alla Gorganzola. It’s definitely progress.

–5–

I keep having a craving for Hawaiian pizza (pineapple and Canadian bacon) from Round Table. I grew up on it so it shouldn’t be surprising that I’m craving it. It’s still the best pizza I’ve found locally. (Pizza My Heart in Santa Cruz will always have a special place in my heart with their pesto pizza.) I just wish I could do the ordering online.

–6–

I’m reading God’s Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America By Hanna Rosin and it’s pretty interesting. It’s about Patrick Henry College and how it was founded to raise up a generation of young people to enter government and take it back from the liberals… or something along those lines. If you’ve read The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose (which I also *HIGHLY* recommend), you’ll like this one.

–7–

I’m reading God’s Harvard on my NOOK. It was a gift from a family friend while Daniel was in the hospital that was designed to keep me occupied during the large amount of downtime I had. With a generous gift certificate to Barnes & Noble from my mother-in-law for a birthday present, I’ve been able to put some books on there that I’ve always wanted to read and figured that it would be good on long car rides where I wasn’t driving — certainly easier than taking a whole tote bag of books.

(For more of this, head to Conversion Diary.)

Tetelestai

I was a bit vague yesterday in my post but…

My cousin Erik passed away tonight. He was only 40 years old and had really struggled in life. I’m glad he finally has the peace he couldn’t find in life but I’m mourning the fact that I’ve lost any chance to have a relationship with him in this life.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Erik. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Please pray for me and for my family.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 6, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 6, 2011

Outside my window… cloudy with sprinkles. It should hopefully clear up by tomorrow.

I am thinking… about my extended family — some difficult decisions had to be made today by some of them.

I am thankful for… being able to be in San Jose yesterday and today as those decisions were being made. (I know I’m being vague but it’s kind of a touchy family issue.)

From the kitchen… pita and hummus.

I am wearing… grey maternity shirt and blue plaid boxer shorts that I sleep in during the summer.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… hopefully nowhere big this week other than maybe San Jose for a funeral.

I am reading… In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming.

I am hoping… I get decent sleep tonight.

I am hearing… Daniel’s musical toys.

Around the house… dishes and laundry to be done.

One of my favorite things… purry ginger tabbies and licorice cats.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I’m enjoying not having any day planned out except for Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… I’ll have new pictures next week, OK?

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