10 Easter Traditions

1.    Sheep cake on coconut grass (green dyed coconut).

2.    Chocolate rabbits.  Mine usually including some kind of peanut butter.

3.    Easter egg hunts which include finding and re-hiding the eggs multiple times until either the children or the parents collapse in exhaustion.

4.    Church.

5.    Plastic eggs.

6.    Big family dinners.

7.    Being teased by my family members with the story of the time I insisted I had seen a 6 foot tall Easter Bunny wearing a straw hat with his ears sticking through and a purple vest and carrying a big Easter basket.  (If you must know, I was NINE at the time and of course, if asked now, I would still insist that I saw the Easter Bunny.)

8.    New Easter duds for church, or just whatever.

9.    Buying the first pair of flop-flops for the season.

10.  Driving to the beach. 

Dear Doctor, Please stop PRACTICING medicine and fix my daughter

We learned in January that the shoulder pain Princess Ivi was having under her right shoulder blade was actually a non-healing broken first rib.  (For those of you not familiar, the first rib is under the shoulder blade.)  It is an uncommon bone to break but does happen in athletes, usually with fatigue. 

I can pinpoint exactly when the original injury occurred, April 2008. 

Princess Ivi was playing soccer and during a throw in, she overexerted herself in an effort to throw the ball as far down field as she could.  Within seconds, she was grasping her shoulder and left the game.

Her primary care physician diagnosed her with a pulled muscle under her shoulder blade and referred us to the Sports Medicine doctor in 4 weeks.  During those four weeks, my stubborn child refused to rest and take it easy, instead carrying her baby cousin and the baby next door and running and playing like any kid would do.  After a few weeks and increased pain, I took her and made the doctor put her in a sling. 

The trip to the Sports Medicine doctor was frustrating since they just checked her range of motion and said she was fine. 

She has had tenseness in her shoulder since this incident but we chalked it up to the muscle being different since the injury and also to stress since most of us get tense in the shoulders when we are stressed. 

However, in January, the pain in her shoulder got so bad she could barely move her arm, with radiating pain down her arm and across her back. 

I took her to her primary care doctor who did an x-ray and MRI.  The MRI showed nothing but the x-ray showed, to our surprise, a non-healing broken first rib under her shoulder blade. 

The doctor’s suggestion at that time was to wait 2 to 3 months and then redo the x-rays and if it still wasn’t healing, she would do the referral to an orthopedist. 

I contacted the doctor on March 10 advising that we couldn’t wait for the referral, the pain was getting worse and it was harder for Princess Ivi to breath.  I requested the referral be done as soon as possible.

After many phone calls and raised voices (well, my voice anyway), we finally have the referral to the right  doctor which would be the surgery department.  The primary kept arguing that the INTERNET said for a non-healing first rib an orthopedist would need to be seen but the orthopedist in Gainesville said a pulmonologist would need to be seen. 

After a call to the primary doctor to explain and her nurse assuring me that she would speak directly to the office she was referring us to, they once again sent the referral to an orthopedist, this time in Jacksonville.  This new office advised that they never have treated and never will treat a broken rib and that needs to go to the surgery department.   This was, of course, very frustrating since the nurse assured me she would do it right and she didn’t. 

During the final call, when I raised my voice, the nurse said that the doctor was still worried about the shoulder.  WTF??? 

Now, if someone was suspected of having a torn muscle under the right shoulder blade, had pain in the shoulder blade area and then it was discovered that there was a broken rib UNDER the shoulder blade, wouldn’t common sense lead you to believe that the problem was the rib, not the shoulder blade?  Maybe it is just me but that seems really obvious.  

It took her primary care physician 16 days to do the referral.  The referral is now in place and Princess Ivi sees the surgery department on Friday.  Of course, she is in so much pain and is miserable that it cannot come fast enough for either of us. 

I don’t know how they will fix the rib.  I suspect surgery but we won’t know for sure until Friday and even then, they may want additional testing done.  I just hope that they don’t take too long, they can get it fixed and there is no long term nerve or arterial damage done (both of which are possible due to a non-healing broken first rib).

The questions I keep asking are was the break noticeable on the first x-ray done back in 2008 and should a referral for a child who is known to have asthma and an atrial septal defect really take 16 days when that child has complaints of difficulty breathing.   

I am trying to keep my cool but depending on what the doctors say on Friday, if we can make it that far without a trip to the ER, about whether the initial treatment was wrong, I may have to consider talking to a lawyer and/or filing complaints with the licensing boards for doctors in Massachusetts and in Florida. 

My poor baby is hurt and I want it fixed yesterday!!!

New Blogging Tool

I am testing out Windows Live Writer to see if it works to help me blog more and more regularly.  We’ll see.

If you want to find me, just follow the skin trail

Alright, I know that sounds really gross but it is a little joke we have around my house. The reason for that joke-psoriasis. I have it. Have had it since I was a teenager. It gets really bad or it is okay but it has never been just “gone” (except for a short period of time right after my daughter was born). Anyway, I flake a lot. I never have to worry about being kidnapped and them not be able to find a DNA sample because there will always be some of me lying around.

Obviously, having psoriasis is not something to joke about. It itches, it bleeds and cracks, and it is incredibly painful. It makes my hair fall out and makes it difficult to shave my legs or wear makeup.

I have been fighting the battle of the flakes for a long time and some stuff works and some stuff doesn’t. Believe me, I have tried creams, gels, sprays, lotions, home remedies, special shampoos and soaps, expensive prescriptions and cheap therapies. Nothing works or it doesn’t work for the long haul which I think is to be expected when dealing with a genetic condition like psoriasis.

This morning on the news there was a feature about Fit in Your Skin. It is a program, approved by the National Psoriasis Foundation, to incorporate healthy eating and exercise into your life in an effort to reduce the effects of psoriasis. Now I am not a believer that diet causes psoriasis because I have tried all sorts of “eating plans”, either adding stuff or eliminating stuff, and my psoriasis doesn’t go away.

With that said, I do recognize that in some cases, the better you take care of yourself, the better you will feel. And I was attracted to the idea that these exercises were made for people who suffer from inflammation due to psoriasis.

So I signed up for. In a few weeks, I will get a free exercise DVD and I will try it and see how it goes. There are some neat tools on the website too.

Fore more info on Fit in Your Skin check out there website: www.fitinyourskin.com

Fore more info on psoriasis go here: www.psoriasis.org

10 Signs of Spring

10 signs of spring
1. Pollen starts to cover my car everyday.
2. My allergies kick in full force.
3. The redbud trees turn purplish-red.
4. The dogwoods and magnolias start to have little white buds appearing.
5. Our landscapers start coming back to the office park where I work.
6. Walmart, Target and other retailers start putting their summer clothes out. (Which I never understood. I mean, who wants to buy a bathing suit in March?)
7. Purple shrouded crosses start appearing at all the churches.
8. Controlled burns start popping up all over the place as the Forestry Department tries to lessen the risk of forest fires before the dry season.
9. The heat gets turned off at work.
10. I have to start sleeping with my ceiling fan because it gets a little bit too stuffy without any a/c running.

I wonder why I never...

I wonder why I never could forget you.
I wonder why I never kissed you.
I wonder why I never took the chance on us.
I wonder why I never meant as much to you as you mean to me.
I wonder why I never stopped wishing for you.

20 Questions instead of 10 on Tuesday

Since this week's 10 on Tuesday is 10 ways to celebrate St. Patty's Day and I only celebrate one way (with corned beef and cabbage, of course), I thought I would skip it and instead participate in Carole's 20 question meme. So here goes...

20 Questions (typed on Monday)

1. Explain what ended your last relationship?

My estranged husband is addicted to prescription pain medicine. I got tired of him being wasted all the time and not working so he could get more medicine. And being willing to spend money on filling his prescriptions instead of paying bills.

2. When was the last time you shaved?

My legs, probably about a week ago. Underarms was last night.

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.

I was driving to work and of course, I was running late since I woke up 45 minutes late this a.m. I hate daylight savings.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?

Umm...putting together a package for work to send to the state attorney's office.

5. Some things you are excited about?

Being able to move out of my mother's house. My daughter's 8th grade graduation. Spending the summer doing fun stuff with my daughter.

6. What is your favorite flavor of JELL-O?

None. I don't like jell-o gelatin but I love jell-o pudding, vanilla.

7. Your prom night, what do you remember about it?

Nothing. Didn't go.

8. Do you have any famous ancestors?

Well, my dad's family was one of the first settlers in Quebec. And I have a female ancestor that got flogged at all the crossroads in Quebec because she dressed up like a man.

9. Last thing received in the mail?

Bills. A package from a swap partner.

10. How many different beverages have you had today?

Coffee, water, Sprite.

11. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?

Yes, of course.

12. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?

No. When I go to the beach, I usually walk, collect shells, or take pictures of my daughter.

13. Any plans for Friday night?

Not that I know of but I am the mom of a teenager so that could change.

14. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?

IDK. I rarely go to the beach and I DEFINITELY do not swim in the water.

15. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?

Yes. My daughter sold some for a fundraiser once. I think they are pretty nasty. When I eat popcorn, I want it to be fresh.

16. Do you re-use towels after you shower?

Yes.

17. Describe your keychain(s)?

Umm, Black tab that matched a purse that I don't use anymore.

18. Where do you keep your change?

In a canning jar on my dresser until it gets full, then I roll it and put it in the bank.

19. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?

Last year, they were threatening to close our local middle school and I went to the rally to stop it.

20. What kind of winter coat do you own?

I live in Florida so I don't really have a "winter" coat. If it gets really cold, I will wear a sweater, hooded sweatshirt or a leather jacket.

Mission for March: Finish It or Get Rid of It

My mission for March (should I choose to accept it) is to finish all those lingering UFOs. By finishing, I mean either finishing them (completely weaving in ends and everything) or frog them and put the yarn and needles away. What really prompted me to do this is the fact that the majority of my needles are currently in projects that are just piling up. And also the fact that those piles are nearly in danger of toppling over. My one rule is that I was not allowed to cast on for a new project at all this month (unless it was to change an existing project).

Here are my UFOs which need addressing:

1. Prayer Shawl started in 2005 (maybe even late 2004): This project is 3/4 of the way finished but is so boring to work on.
2. Isaac's 2nd Sweater started August 1, 2007: After a disastrous 1st sweater, I chose to make another. Unfortunately, it is a size 2 and my nephew is now a size 4. I was going to frog this but decided I will finish it and maybe donate it. The back is complete. Need to knit sleeves and front.
3. Simple Stockinette Socks started June 17, 2008: One sock is complete and the second sock has been cast on and knit for about two inches.
4. Stocking started October 20, 2008: This stocking is knit. It just needs to be seamed, the ends woven in and decorated, if necessary.
   Special Olympic Scarf 2009 started November 28, 2008: I thought this project was done but found it in a bag this weekend. It is knit but the ends need to be woven in.
5. Spiral Tube Socks started December 30, 2008: These were supposed to be a gift for my sister. One sock is about 3/4 of the way finished.
6. Ilene Market Bag started March 14, 2009: Frogged
7. Easiest Baby Blanket started March 23, 2009: This was made for my friend's baby who will be a year old in August. It was turning out so well but then I knit until the end of the yarn supply and realized I forgot to do the border. I unknit it to do the border and somehow got started on the wrong row of the pattern. Need to sit down and carefully frog it until I can pick up the stitches and reknit it correctly.
8. Red Scarf started in 2009: Frogged.
9. Corrugator started December 22, 2009: This scarf was made for my coworker who supplied the yarn. I didn't like the way it was knitting up so I frogged it and reknit it as a simple ribbed scarf which is 25% of the way complete. MUST FINISH IN MARCH or my conscience will get the better of me.
10. Zozo started January 14, 2010: He needs feet and to be assembled.
11. Princess Needle Case started January 21, 2010: A pro made for me to hold pens in my purse. 3/4 of the way complete.
12. Test Knitting Cowl started January 25, 2010. After several false starts, I have knit up about four inches of this in the round and realized that I don't like the pattern, I think it is knitting up rather ugly, it is a useless project for me as I have no one that would wear it and if I continue to work on it, it will be a waste of time. Frogged.
13. Special Olympic Scarf 2010 started February 13, 2010. This is knit and half the ends are woven in.

It is sad to see that I have an unfinished project from over five years ago. Hopefully, I can get some more of these finished this month. If not, I am thinking I may make May a UFO month as well. Maybe that is what I need to do to get these projects done. Set aside an entire month and discipline myself to finish them and not start anything else.

Wish me luck for my mission.

I am still learning how to...

I am still learning how to love myself.
I am still learning how to accept myself
I am still learning how to feed my relationships.
I am still learning how to clean my house.
I am still learning how to be a mom of a teenager.

Alice in Wonderland Review

Princess Ivi and I saw Alice in Wonderland on Saturday. I know that some people aren't liking it and I can't understand why. We both loved it.

Johnny Depp played a great Hatter. He plays those wacky, zany characters so well. This character reminded me in some places of his character in Edward Scissorhands, especially when the Hatter looks sad and lost.

The hare was funny and I keep finding myself saying "You're late for tea" at odd moments.

Helena Bonham Carter played a hilarious red queen with her big head.

Alan Rickman as Absolem the hooka smoking caterpillar is great. He has an amazing voice and he was just creepy enough to pull it off.

My only complaints were these:

• The girl who played Alice took some getting used to. I think she was supposed to be as zany as the Hatter, in her own way, but I don't think it worked 100%.
• The jabberwocky was not as scary as he is in Lewis Carroll's original work.
• In some places, the dialogue was too quiet and difficult to work through accents and such.

My other complaint had to do with the fact that the two rows of teenagers (well over the age of 16) who were sitting at the back of the theatre were horrendously behaved. They were rude and they talked throughout the movie. It was pretty bad that the little four year old in front of us was better behaved than the teenagers in the back.

All in all, Princess Ivi and I felt that Tim Burton did a great job with Alice and it is on our "must buy on DVD" list to add to our collection.

10 Movie Stars I'd Like to Meet

Here's my list of the 10 Movie Stars I'd Like to Meet. Interestingly, 80% are male and 40% are English....

1. Alan Rickman

2. Hugh Grant

3. Colin Firth

4. Nicholas Cage

5. John Cusack - I actually saw him and he was less than four feet from me when I was an extra in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil but I would like to be able to shake his hand (and then never wash my hand again).

6. Sandra Bullock

7. Jamie Foxx

8. Josh Lucas

9. Josh Duhamel

10. Dame Judi Dench

Super Cute Contest

I just entered a contest over at Craft Rookie. She is giving away this super cute Little Tykes Bumblebee. Go check it out!!!

10 Things I Want to Knit RIGHT NOW

Here are my 10 Things I Want to Knit RIGHT NOW:

1. Daria Bracelet
2. Oz
3. Ivy
4. Tomato
5. Oblique
6. Bubby
7. Clapotis
8. Giselle
9. Fuzzy Mitten Lamb
10. Bijouterie

Swaps, swaps and more swaps

I participate in a lot of swaps on Ravelry. Here are my packages I have received since February:

The Swap Box Valentine's Day Package


Books & More Swap

Envelope Swap Round 7


My Bloody Vampire Valentine's Day Swap


I love participating in swaps because I get to meet such great people. I can't wait to post more swaps for 2010.