Thank you to everyone who comment on my blog post yesterday. I wasn't sure if I was going to post it or not... didn't want it to feel like a "hey, look at me!" kind of thing.
In answer to a few of your comments...
Karen - the Gigi's cupcake was awesome! I didn't eat it all by myself, though! I brought it home and shared it with the kids.
Jenni - I discovered Hyster Sisters before my surgery, but I've spent a lot more time on there since. Some great information, and some funny stuff, too! Right now I am suffering from "swellibellicus" and can't wait to feel like my regular clothes fit me right again!
I've decided that having cable cut off the week of my surgery was not the best timing in the world. I was in such a hurry to get my kids out from in front of cartoon network every time I turned around, that I forgot I would be without food network while I recover. Network day-time tv really STINKS!
My sweet hubby hooked up the wii to the tv in our room so I could watch movies through netflix. It was so sweet of him, but intant-view through netflix kind of stinks, too. Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of good choices. So, if any of you could recommend something that I could watch instantly through netflix that I have not stumbled upon yet, I would appreciate it greatly!
I've seen a lot of commercials lately for this new show coming out on ABC this summer called Expedition Impossible. Don't know that I will watch it, but I can't help thinking that I want the blind guy to win it all, and it just might be funny to see a bunch of Brooklyn girls in the sand, yo!
I've been reading President Monson's biography. He was a real prankster as a kid! Kind of gives me hope for my boys!
Online shopping isn't nearly as fun as real shopping. And speaking of shopping, I should have bought myself those cute pj pants I wanted before my surgery.
Well... I guess I've bored everyone long enough!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Glad that's over.
I've been hesitant to talk a lot about my health issues of late. I seem to have been spending way too much time at the doctor's office since February. There is actually a funny story behind all the madness, and since I've pretty much got nothing better to do right now, I'm going to tell it; sorry you have to sit through it, though!
I've had hypothyroidism for years. That means that my thyroid does not produce enough hormone, and I have to take a pill every morning. I knew that I hadn't been feeling just right, and I knew that it had been a while since I had it checked, so I called my doctor's office and made an appointment to get some labs done. I've done that before... just labs to get the thing checked... no sit-down time with the doc. Well, when I got there, low and behold, the doc decides she wants to have a sit-down with me, since it's been a while. CRAP! I didn't want that, but oh, well - not a lot I can do about it at that point. So, when she comes in, I start telling her some of the things that are going on with me - all things that I feel can be traced back to my thyroid (you would really be amazed at how much that simple little organ and its hormones control!). She thinks it might be something more, and adds more tests to be done on the blood sample that is about to be taken. Then, she asks me what I dreaded hearing... "Are you getting your regular paps done?" And, I am ashamed to say, I flat out lied to her! I won't tell you how long it has been since I actually did have one done, but let's just say it's been a L.O.N.G. time. This is also the point where she asks me about my mamograms, and since I've already posted about that saga, I won't go into it again here.
Anyway, I leave her office feeling GUILTY as sin for lying, and so a few days later I decide to actually make an appointment with a gyno. I get in a week later, and have the deed done. The results came back just fine, but I did have an enlarged uterus, and we needed to find out why. The same day that I had the second mamogram done, I had an ultrasound done to see what was up with the uterus. The answer came back fibroids, and the decision was made to have to have a hysterectomy. The things were only going to get bigger and cause more problems until I went through menopause, and since I am only in my early 40's, who knows how long that would be.
Meanwhile, I hear back on some of the other bloodwork that was done at my original doc appt. My thyroid was off so we had to do some playing around with the meds. Also, one of my sugar levels was high... not too high, but inching up there, indicating a risk for diabetes. Double CRAP! I have family members with diabetes, and it is not a pretty disease. The good news was that I did not have full blown diabetic, and there was something I could still do to change it.
Starting in February, I completely changed the way I eat. I started trying to educate myself some on the disease, and what I could do to prevent it. I have tried to cut out as much sugar as I can from my diet, but it's not just about sugar. It's also about lower carbs, and higher fiber, and eating more whole grains. I have a sweet-tooth a mile long, and this has not been an easy thing to do. Do you know how many times a cupcake, brownie, cookie or candy came across my desk in that first week? It was insane, but I resisted. After a while it became easier to do. I also love potatoes, but I've cut way back on eating those as well. I no longer eat white rice or pasta, either - only brown rice and wheat pasta for me. I also gave up sodas. I only drink water and occassionally milk. Whole wheat breads and whole grains, fruits, more fresh veggies, leaner meats - those are the things I try to eat more of now. And I added excersice - wii fit and walking. One tip I came across that I loved was to park in the back of the parking lot when you go shopping... that way you are forced to walk more.
So, last week I had my hysterectomy done. As I weighed in before they took me back for surgery, I had lost a total of 23 pounds. I'll be honest, I am afraid to get on a scale this week. With all the yummy food that has been brought over, and no walking for me, I do not want to see what the scales say. I still have more weight that I would like to lose, but honestly, it has become more about being healthy than it has about being skinny.
I feel like I can finally say I am really back on the road to good health. I'm looking forward to getting back out and walking, or getting on the wii and playing. I am trying to be good and let my body heal from the surgery. I am bored to tears just sitting around "healing"! ha!!
I want to set a better example for my kids, and I think I am on the road to doing that. It feels good to be on this side of issues, rather than facing them all like I was a few months ago. I go back to the doc for more bloodwork in a few weeks, and I am confident that they will tell me my sugar levels are back to within normal ranges. Isn't it funny how wonderful "normal" can be?
Sorry to have posted such a novel... but like I said, I have nothing much to do right now other than sit and type. This whole thing started with my only wanting one simple blood test to check my thyroid! I didn't know it was going to turn into such a saga, but I guess I am glad it did. Isn't there a scripture about small and simple things...
:)
I've had hypothyroidism for years. That means that my thyroid does not produce enough hormone, and I have to take a pill every morning. I knew that I hadn't been feeling just right, and I knew that it had been a while since I had it checked, so I called my doctor's office and made an appointment to get some labs done. I've done that before... just labs to get the thing checked... no sit-down time with the doc. Well, when I got there, low and behold, the doc decides she wants to have a sit-down with me, since it's been a while. CRAP! I didn't want that, but oh, well - not a lot I can do about it at that point. So, when she comes in, I start telling her some of the things that are going on with me - all things that I feel can be traced back to my thyroid (you would really be amazed at how much that simple little organ and its hormones control!). She thinks it might be something more, and adds more tests to be done on the blood sample that is about to be taken. Then, she asks me what I dreaded hearing... "Are you getting your regular paps done?" And, I am ashamed to say, I flat out lied to her! I won't tell you how long it has been since I actually did have one done, but let's just say it's been a L.O.N.G. time. This is also the point where she asks me about my mamograms, and since I've already posted about that saga, I won't go into it again here.
Anyway, I leave her office feeling GUILTY as sin for lying, and so a few days later I decide to actually make an appointment with a gyno. I get in a week later, and have the deed done. The results came back just fine, but I did have an enlarged uterus, and we needed to find out why. The same day that I had the second mamogram done, I had an ultrasound done to see what was up with the uterus. The answer came back fibroids, and the decision was made to have to have a hysterectomy. The things were only going to get bigger and cause more problems until I went through menopause, and since I am only in my early 40's, who knows how long that would be.
Meanwhile, I hear back on some of the other bloodwork that was done at my original doc appt. My thyroid was off so we had to do some playing around with the meds. Also, one of my sugar levels was high... not too high, but inching up there, indicating a risk for diabetes. Double CRAP! I have family members with diabetes, and it is not a pretty disease. The good news was that I did not have full blown diabetic, and there was something I could still do to change it.
Starting in February, I completely changed the way I eat. I started trying to educate myself some on the disease, and what I could do to prevent it. I have tried to cut out as much sugar as I can from my diet, but it's not just about sugar. It's also about lower carbs, and higher fiber, and eating more whole grains. I have a sweet-tooth a mile long, and this has not been an easy thing to do. Do you know how many times a cupcake, brownie, cookie or candy came across my desk in that first week? It was insane, but I resisted. After a while it became easier to do. I also love potatoes, but I've cut way back on eating those as well. I no longer eat white rice or pasta, either - only brown rice and wheat pasta for me. I also gave up sodas. I only drink water and occassionally milk. Whole wheat breads and whole grains, fruits, more fresh veggies, leaner meats - those are the things I try to eat more of now. And I added excersice - wii fit and walking. One tip I came across that I loved was to park in the back of the parking lot when you go shopping... that way you are forced to walk more.
So, last week I had my hysterectomy done. As I weighed in before they took me back for surgery, I had lost a total of 23 pounds. I'll be honest, I am afraid to get on a scale this week. With all the yummy food that has been brought over, and no walking for me, I do not want to see what the scales say. I still have more weight that I would like to lose, but honestly, it has become more about being healthy than it has about being skinny.
I feel like I can finally say I am really back on the road to good health. I'm looking forward to getting back out and walking, or getting on the wii and playing. I am trying to be good and let my body heal from the surgery. I am bored to tears just sitting around "healing"! ha!!
I want to set a better example for my kids, and I think I am on the road to doing that. It feels good to be on this side of issues, rather than facing them all like I was a few months ago. I go back to the doc for more bloodwork in a few weeks, and I am confident that they will tell me my sugar levels are back to within normal ranges. Isn't it funny how wonderful "normal" can be?
Sorry to have posted such a novel... but like I said, I have nothing much to do right now other than sit and type. This whole thing started with my only wanting one simple blood test to check my thyroid! I didn't know it was going to turn into such a saga, but I guess I am glad it did. Isn't there a scripture about small and simple things...
:)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Happy Birthday, Barry!
Today is my wonderful hubby's birthday!! I won't tell you how old he is, but it's older than me! ;)
These are a couple of my favorite pictures of him from our family pictures last month. I love that he laughes with his eyes.
He has a great sense of humor, and he makes me laugh all the time. Sometimes he does it when I am really mad at him, which kind of ticks me off to be honest. But I love that he can make me laugh no matter what.
He is a hard worker and he does his best to provide for our family. He really does not like his job, but he goes everyday so we can have the things we need.
He loves to explore and see new places. I loved seeing his wonder and amazement when I took him to Idaho a few years ago. He had been to Utah plenty of times, but I think mainly he stayed in the city. To get him out into the wide open spaces of Idaho was an adventure.
He is inquisative. He loves to ask questions and learn more about things.
He is loyal and protective.
He loves simple things - chili dogs, sitting on the porch reading, blue jeans, spending time with his family.
He is a sports enthusiast... football and soccer are his favorites. Although, if hockey were on tv more he would watch a lot more if it.
He is very opinionated... I think that is standard issue for a Mayfield! :) And he can get very passionate about some of those opinions!
He is a wonderful father and husband. This month we also celebrate our 20th anniversary, and I am very thankful to have been his wife for these past 20 years. We haven't always had the most smooth waters to sail, but we have navigated them together, and grown a lot from the process.
I love you, Barry, and I'm grateful we are on this journey together!
These are a couple of my favorite pictures of him from our family pictures last month. I love that he laughes with his eyes.
He has a great sense of humor, and he makes me laugh all the time. Sometimes he does it when I am really mad at him, which kind of ticks me off to be honest. But I love that he can make me laugh no matter what.
He is a hard worker and he does his best to provide for our family. He really does not like his job, but he goes everyday so we can have the things we need.
He loves to explore and see new places. I loved seeing his wonder and amazement when I took him to Idaho a few years ago. He had been to Utah plenty of times, but I think mainly he stayed in the city. To get him out into the wide open spaces of Idaho was an adventure.
He is inquisative. He loves to ask questions and learn more about things.
He is loyal and protective.
He loves simple things - chili dogs, sitting on the porch reading, blue jeans, spending time with his family.
He is a sports enthusiast... football and soccer are his favorites. Although, if hockey were on tv more he would watch a lot more if it.
He is very opinionated... I think that is standard issue for a Mayfield! :) And he can get very passionate about some of those opinions!
He is a wonderful father and husband. This month we also celebrate our 20th anniversary, and I am very thankful to have been his wife for these past 20 years. We haven't always had the most smooth waters to sail, but we have navigated them together, and grown a lot from the process.
I love you, Barry, and I'm grateful we are on this journey together!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Happy Birthday, Kaytibug!
This beautiful daughter of mine turned 19 yesterday.
I know what you are thinking... she can't possibly be 19 when I am only 25... heehee! ;)
She enjoyed a quiet birthday yesterday... she got to stay in her pj's all day, and enjoy a nice quiet house. She had her favorite meals all day... bacon and cheese omelette for breakfast, potato soup for lunch, and fajitas for dinner. Then she had her favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting and Blue Bell chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream when dad got home from his class.
I love this girl... and I don't know what I would do without her. She helps out with housework and laundry when she is not in school, helps me get meals on the table, gives the best back rubs, and helps keep her siblings in line.
This girl has plans! She will have her associates degree by the end of December, and by next fall she plans on being in Idaho. She wants to eventually be a writer, and support herself as a book editor while she is waiting to make her millions. She thinks she is going to someday live in New York City or Spokane, or some other far, far away city. I think Atlanta or Nashville would be a lot nicer! Although, I did tell her she could move to Savannah, Georgia and I could come visit her often!
She has worked hard in school... she started college two weeks after she graduated high school, and has been going non-stop. She made the Dean's List her first semester, and the President's List the next two.
I am proud of her and the choices she has made in life. I admire her strength in Spiritual matters. I push her a lot to get outside of her comfort zone, and while I know it is hard, I appreciate how she tries.
She is a fun girl, with a great laugh! She loves just hanging out with her family, and can be found usually with her siblings surrounding her.
She is a great example.
We have teased her that she has always been the "anti-teen". She hated talking on the phone or putting on make-up. She never really fussed over hair, or was dying to get out of the house and away from us. She has always been a little older than her years.
I'm thankful that she is my daughter! I can't believe it has been 19 years since she joined our family. We have loved every minute of it, and I can't wait to see what the next 19 years hold for her.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Redefining life... yet again.
I am blessed to know an incredibly strong and courageous woman. She and I do not share the same religious views, but she is a woman of great faith.
I met this lady when I started working at Liberty. She was the school secretary at the time, and her husband had just won a battle with cancer. Unfortunately, within 6 months, his cancer had returned, bigger and badder than before. They fought a long and hard battle together, but a few months later the cancer got the best of him, and he was called home. Sharon was left with a teen-age son to raise (her oldest son had already left home), and while it wasn't easy, she can now proudly say that he has just finished his first year of college at Alabama.
On April 27th, just after the first tornado moved through the area, Sharon got a call from a neighbor. There was some damage around their community, and as soon as we got out of school she raced home. Several more tornadoes moved through their community that day, and while I am not sure of the exact chain of events, her house was hit, and most of her neighborhood was wiped out. Her house is still standing, but not livable. Her son was still in Tuscaloosa that day, and while there was lots of damage all around him, he was on campus and safe.
In the days since, she has had to find a new place to live, salvage what she could out of her house, and deal with lots of insurance reps. Today she had two huge trees removed from her yard, and the kids and I helped her clear them. She had to board up one of her front windows that was blown out, and this is what it now looks like.
She wanted to put something on the board to make a statement. I think it is a pretty powerful one.
I hope that if I ever have to go through some of the things that she has, I can handle them with as much dignity and grace as she has. She is an inspiration to me, and I am blessed to call her my friend.
I met this lady when I started working at Liberty. She was the school secretary at the time, and her husband had just won a battle with cancer. Unfortunately, within 6 months, his cancer had returned, bigger and badder than before. They fought a long and hard battle together, but a few months later the cancer got the best of him, and he was called home. Sharon was left with a teen-age son to raise (her oldest son had already left home), and while it wasn't easy, she can now proudly say that he has just finished his first year of college at Alabama.
On April 27th, just after the first tornado moved through the area, Sharon got a call from a neighbor. There was some damage around their community, and as soon as we got out of school she raced home. Several more tornadoes moved through their community that day, and while I am not sure of the exact chain of events, her house was hit, and most of her neighborhood was wiped out. Her house is still standing, but not livable. Her son was still in Tuscaloosa that day, and while there was lots of damage all around him, he was on campus and safe.
In the days since, she has had to find a new place to live, salvage what she could out of her house, and deal with lots of insurance reps. Today she had two huge trees removed from her yard, and the kids and I helped her clear them. She had to board up one of her front windows that was blown out, and this is what it now looks like.
She wanted to put something on the board to make a statement. I think it is a pretty powerful one.
I hope that if I ever have to go through some of the things that she has, I can handle them with as much dignity and grace as she has. She is an inspiration to me, and I am blessed to call her my friend.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A few thoughts
The words "destroyed", "devistation", "wiped out", "destruction" have never had more meaning; but neither have the words, "safety", "blessed", "alive and well".
Our state was hit by severe weather on Wednesday. We've experienced severe weather before, but it has been a long time since we had anything this bad. In 1974 we have a night full of tornadoes... I was 4 years old and remember spending the night in our basement. I remember my parents getting on to missionaries who were out trying to take pictures of the storms. I remember hearing stories of families who survived the storms in their bathrooms. Being born and raised in the South, tornadoes are nothing new. But the storms that hit us on Wednesday were definitely record-breakers.
I won't bore you with details of our day... I am sure they are pretty much like everyone elses. We are blessed that we did not have any damage to our home, or any family member. We have some family with damage to their homes and property. We have some family that live in a neighborhood that was heavily damaged. Probably about 80% of the homes are gone, or so heavily damaged that they will have to be bull-dozed over. One person lost their life in this neighborhood. We were blessed with the opportunity to go there on Saturday and help with some of the clean-up. What a remarkable spirit that is alive in this neighborhood. So many people just thankful to be alive, and thankful to have any help they could get. Some of them were even more concerned about our safety than their property.
I am so thankful for this experience. I am sure that as time goes on, there will be bigger news stories, and the focus will shift to other things, but I know this has been an experience that my family and I will never forget. I don't know that words can actually describe my feelings. I have thanked my Heavenly Father over and over again for all my blessings. As I sit here tonight with my power back on, I feel even more gratitude... there are still so many without it. How blessed we are.
Our state was hit by severe weather on Wednesday. We've experienced severe weather before, but it has been a long time since we had anything this bad. In 1974 we have a night full of tornadoes... I was 4 years old and remember spending the night in our basement. I remember my parents getting on to missionaries who were out trying to take pictures of the storms. I remember hearing stories of families who survived the storms in their bathrooms. Being born and raised in the South, tornadoes are nothing new. But the storms that hit us on Wednesday were definitely record-breakers.
I won't bore you with details of our day... I am sure they are pretty much like everyone elses. We are blessed that we did not have any damage to our home, or any family member. We have some family with damage to their homes and property. We have some family that live in a neighborhood that was heavily damaged. Probably about 80% of the homes are gone, or so heavily damaged that they will have to be bull-dozed over. One person lost their life in this neighborhood. We were blessed with the opportunity to go there on Saturday and help with some of the clean-up. What a remarkable spirit that is alive in this neighborhood. So many people just thankful to be alive, and thankful to have any help they could get. Some of them were even more concerned about our safety than their property.
I am so thankful for this experience. I am sure that as time goes on, there will be bigger news stories, and the focus will shift to other things, but I know this has been an experience that my family and I will never forget. I don't know that words can actually describe my feelings. I have thanked my Heavenly Father over and over again for all my blessings. As I sit here tonight with my power back on, I feel even more gratitude... there are still so many without it. How blessed we are.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Another project weekend
We had lots of projects lined up for the weekend... some we planned for, and some we didn't.
We planned on working some more on the front flower bed. The boys did a great job!!
We decided to not try to extend the bed down the side of the house just yet. We are excited by how just the front bed looks now... we love it! Now it's time for me to go flower shopping!!
We also spent the weekend replacing a dead battery in one of the cars, running kids to different activities, shopping for Easter basket stuff, hitting the dollar movie (I am Number Four was awesome!!), and we even managed to sneak in a little bit of relaxing.
Hope you had a great weekend, and an enjoyable Easter Sunday!
We planned on working some more on the front flower bed. The boys did a great job!!
We decided to not try to extend the bed down the side of the house just yet. We are excited by how just the front bed looks now... we love it! Now it's time for me to go flower shopping!!
We also spent the weekend replacing a dead battery in one of the cars, running kids to different activities, shopping for Easter basket stuff, hitting the dollar movie (I am Number Four was awesome!!), and we even managed to sneak in a little bit of relaxing.
Hope you had a great weekend, and an enjoyable Easter Sunday!
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