Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

Tracey: When it comes to families and trying to figure it all out, I give up! I think all families have their issues and there always seems to be at least one or two who have money problems and consistently put a pricetag on family relationships. Not fun!

Tracy: Thanks so much, this poor family has buried their dad/husband and now their sister/daughter in just four months time. When I talked with Leslie last night I was just amazed as always at how her faith and attitude shine thorugh even in the darkest times. Thanks for always caring!

I did well with food today. I worked out really hard at the rec center. I was dripping with sweat from my workout. Dd went with me, she had an ortho appt and then we headed straight to the rec center from there. She swam, I busted butt!

I can't believe we leave for Chicago in six days. It will be a fun trip, I haven't seen my nieces in a year (or their parents ) and I can't wait to get my hands on them. We have to drive it straight back coming home (all 1050 miles) since ds has to register for school and attend orientation the day after we get back. I may really regret not flying for this trip!

Hope everyone had a great day, thanks for stopping by.

 

[toystoryduo]

Sounds like you did a great job yesterday, Amy! Keep up the good work!

I hope you'll do a mini trip report about Chicago. Will you be doing any sightseeing while there?

The drive home is always the hardest. Since we don't fly, we know this all too well. Maybe you can have a Disney trivia book with you and have a contest on the way home. Whoever answers the most questions gets Disney Dollars for your DL trip. A portable DVD player helps too!

Have a wonderful day, my friend!

 

[eyor44]

HI Amy You have been doing great! I am so sorry to hear about Lisa and your Aunt. These things seem to come in waves don't they.
Sounds like your DS is having a good trip and you and DD are gettin to do things together. Have fun. Can't wait to hear about Chicago. That is one of the places that DH is considering visiting next spring when we head that way for his neice's graduation.

and you go girl! work that butt off!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy: We plan to go to a museum (Science and Industry) and the Shedd Aquarium and the beach. And of course eat the gourmet food my brohter and sil cook!

Lisa: Things to come in waves for sure. Chicago is a beautiful city, in any season but winter! There's lots to do and Lake Michigan is almost like being at the ocean.

Yesterday I did well with food but didn't work out. I think maybe I overdid it a bit on Wednesday. I was so sore, I could hardly move. Its also really damp here (we've had rain all week long, very unusual) and sometimes when that happens, my old foot injury flairs up. Today I am feeling much better but not sure I have time to work out, its a busy day!

Today is my last day with just dd before ds gets home (can't wait to see that kid, I have really missed him). I told her we'd do lunch and shopping. She picked Olive Garden. Uh Oh, not an easy place to do well at with those bread sticks! Then tonight she is spending the night at a friend's and dh and I have night alone. I was hoping for a romantic dinner on our deck, but alas dh wants to go see Star Trek for the third time (it will only be my second). Its at some theater way across town but oh well. He owes me a chick flick big time!

This weekend I plan to get ready for Chicago, clean the house, work in the yard and count the minutes until ds gets home! I am going to make him his favorite pie (buttermilk) but given that he generally eats four pieces at once, I shouldn't have too many leftovers! Then on Sunday we have friends coming over for a bbq in the afternoon, I can control that menu pretty well. I am hoping the weather will be nice and not like its been all week. The sun i out today for the first time since last Saturday!

Lisa's funeral is on Monday, I am happy its then, I would have hated to have missed it. I missed their dad's funeral in March as dd was sick that day and would have felt just awful. Dan said if it was Tuesday (the day we are set to leave) we'd just work around that and drive all night to catch up if necessary. Thankfully it worked out.

I also need to make my mammogram appt. I am not overdue but for sure don't want to be given poor Lisa's fate.

On another note (yes it does come in droves) Dan's dad is having heart problems again. He's actually had problmes all his life (congenital heart defect he was born with) and he's scheduled for an angiogram (sp?) on the 10th and then they'll like do a valve replacement later in August. He's 72 and not in good health, he has diabetes along with his heart problems so its a worry. But he has a great attitude and the man has lived at this point over 30 years longer than they had ever hoped. This is the first open heart surgery he's had since he was 15. In those days, they put you on ice until you were almost clinically dead, I think this experience will be a bit more state of the art! But any prayers you can say would be appreciated. He's the only parent Dan and I have left between us which is just hard to believe.

 

[toystoryduo]

How was Olive Garden? That is one of my favorite restaurants! I've noticed that their portions seem to be getting smaller and smaller though. Maybe it's just me.

It sounds like you have a busy weekend ahead...Before you know it, you'll be in Chicago!

Sending prayers for Dan's dad and for Lisa's family and friends.....

I hope your weekend is a good one!

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
How was your weekend? Very busy it sounds like. Did you and Dan have a nice evening? Even though you were at Star Trek? Did DS have a good trip? Full of stories I'm sure. Will be praying for Dan's dad, Lisa's family and your drive on Tuesday. Y'all be careful. I just know you are going to have a fabulous trip.

 

[traceycooper]

sending lots of & prayers for Dans dad & lots of for you & Dan

Have a great trip to Chicago & hopefully the drive home wont be too draining!

 

[toystoryduo]

Have a great time in Chicago!!!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi ladies.

Ds came home sick from his trip, apparently he was sick (along with a lot of other kids) during the trip but managed to work each day at his site. He was tired and worn out and I wasn't unduly concerned at first but last night he got worse and was violently ill and I got really worried. So I took him to the doctor this morning, he tested postive for Influenza A and since Swine is the only form of A active right now, the doctor is 99% sure he has Swine Flu. Maria also woke up this mornign with a sore throat so it looks like she may be starting too. Dan and I thus far are fine. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu for all four of us, its probably too late for Matthew to get much good out of it but it should help the rest of us.

And now come to find out, I learn that a bunch of kids on that mission trip and one leader got very ill, seeing as how they were all staying together in one large room and using the same bathrooms, its not surprising. I just wish someone would have called me to let me know Matthew was sick so I could have picked him up or called my doctor to get her opinion on what to do. The camp leaders on Saturday night said it was food poisoning because only a few kids that ate at one particular place got sick. Now I find out a bunch of people got sick but somehow this whole thing was not communicated.

So I am going to call Maria's pediatrician and get her tested, we started Tamiflu. And Matthew's best friend is also sick now and this poor family has lousy insurance and is out of work. What a nightmare for them. And our trip to Chicago needless to say is off indefinitely. Frankly, I am in shock that this has happened.

So keep Matthew in your prayers, I am sure he'll be fine but I am still really concerned.

 

[goldcupmom]

Horrid about the Flu & DS. I will be praying!!! Hopefully none of the rest of you catch it!

Just beginning to catch up, but glad to be back & see all still here & keeping on keeping on.....

More later.....

 

[toystoryduo]

Oh Amy,

I'm so sorry to hear about your DS. I definitely think that one of the leaders should have given you a call to let you know how Matthew was doing. Sending a and lots of prayers for Matthew and for your entire family. Please update us when you can, WISH sis.

 

[eyor44]

Poor Matthew. I hope he starts to feel better soon and that Maria doesn't get it. Plus you and Dan to stay healthy also. So sorry about your trip, I know how much you were looking forward to it. Keep us posted and I have added your family to my prayers this evening.

 

[eyor44]

Amy
How is Matthew today?

 

[toystoryduo]

Sending prayers your way today...How's Matthew doing?

 

[traceycooper]

hope DS & the rest of your family are ok Amy
They do say its better to get it now than in the winter.
so sorry your trip has been put off too

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa, Tracy, and Tracey.

Matthew is a bit better, he slept well last night and no more vomitting so that's good. Maria is more miserable today than her brother which makes sense since he's further along in the process.

Four kids total from the trip (from our church) have tested positive with many others feeling sick.

I am a bit blue today, worrying about the kids, I missed Lisa's funeral yesterday (I missed her dad's because we were sick with the flu back in February), and we are supposed to be on the road right now to see my brother and his family. Mostly I am just tired I think and needing to just get through this. At this point I am definitely more worried about Maria, stuff like this generally hits her harder and she had such a long winter of illnesses (seasonal flu, colds, stomach bug). But she's on the Tamiflu and not running a fever (not all swine cases do run fevers) and keeping down liquids so I think in all, they both have mild cases. Dan and I are symptom free thus far.

I may take a walk outside today. Its hot and I would love to go to the rec center but don't want to possibly infect anyone so I may just go out and sweat a bit more than usual! Its supposed to rain tonight or I'd go then.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for the good thoughts and prayers, I think the kids will recover quickly and as long as Dan and I stay healthy, we'll just hopefully go to Chicago next week.

 

[eyor44]

I hope you get some rest tonight Amy. Can't have you getting sick also. I do hope you went for that walk. Walking is good for releaving stress and making you feel better in general. and here is bit of that you will get to go to Chicago next week.

 

[toystoryduo]

Sending prayers and your way. I hope Matthew and Maria are both feeling much better soon and that you and Dan stay healthy.

How did your walk go yesterday? I walked at my DD7's soccer practice and my legs are screaming today! Usually, when I walk with my family at night, it's a leisurely, let's talk about our day kind of walk. Not yesterday. Yesterday, I was zooming around the soccer fields and sweating like crazy. Felt good....till I got out of bed this morning!

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy. So far so good, the kids are really improving and Dan and I are symptom free. Compared to the seasonal flu we got in late February, this has been so much easier. Hopefully it will stay that way!

I do have to say I am bored stiff. I can't go anywhere and the kids sleep most of the time and Dan works so here I sit! I have not been good with food but Dan and I did walk last night and we plan to go tonight as well. I checked with the doctor and she said being outdoors is fine, even though there are other people on the track with us. We have to stay this way through the weekend then as long as we are all healthy, we can come out of hibernation.

Tomorrow I plan to make some healthy food. Yesterday we had Chick Fil A and today we had Taco Bell. I know, not good choices but honest to goodness I just let my boredom and depression get the best of me.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Omg, after I posted I checked my email. A good friend and I took our respective kids to a waterpark a few weeks ago. For some unknown reason she always has to take pictures God love her and she sent them to me today. All I can say is that both pictures of me would make great "before" pictures for Nutri System, Weight Watchers or Alli. I look so God awful I can't even begin to describe it. Of course one of them is me in the background, no idea that she's taking a picture and my eyes are half closed. The other is a close up and bear in mind we are heading to a waterpark so I don't exactly look my best. But still. That Taco Bell is heavy on my mind right now is all I can say. I am just so disgusted and ashamed of myself.

Time to get back on track. I need to tell my brother to please tone down the food when we go next week. Is that rude? I guess its only a few days but since I have no will power its not like I can resist that stuff.

Tomorrow I have a healthy day planned. And I intend to get my butt in gear and clean out my one closet and organize family photos. All I have done for two days is lay around. I watched three movies yeterday with dd, she was so miserable she couldn't do a thing. Today she has mostly slept and read but did I get in gear and accomplish anything? Um, no.

I can't decide if I want to print out those pictures or burn them.