I'm Happy! How About You?

Okay, I think I'm better now!

Wow, it's been a tough couple of weeks. I went to my doctor yesterday and while I'm not 100% I'll get there soon. Sinuses are a tough thing to get over and I hope that the infection is gone. I finished my antibiotics and will continue to use my nasal spray and start on cleaning out the allergens in my house that I can control. Unfortunately, Windsor has a terrible air quality thanks to being neighbour to Detroit. We get all the bad air from the coal burners that are there plus all the other nasty chemicals and pollutants that come from big cities. Oh well, I can't move so I just have to make the best of it.

Yesterday I went to the University to get my student card. Next week I have an orientation meeting followed by a few other meetings and the following week classes start. I have to say that it felt strange going back for that card 20 years later. Funny but I didn't feel 20 years older until I realized that the girl who took my photo could be my daughter! I'm really looking forward to seeing the makeup of the people in my class. I know most will be in their 20's so it should be fun. When I went for my master's a few years ago I was actually at the bottom of the age range because you tend to see a lot of professionals who are going back or just looking for a career change. In any case, if you ever have an opportunity to go back to school or take a couple of courses DO IT!

It's hard to believe that August is coming to an end and I'm a bit sorry that I think my monthly wrap-up won't be as successful as the last few. My exercise has been non-exisitent since I got sick so while I've lost a few pounds, I'm not sure about the inches. I hope that the rest of you have enjoyed your summer and that a few goals may have been met. Best wishes for September!

*Look at what just came in the mail! Thank you Pattie, it's lovely. The colours are vibrant, the patterns are fantastic and I'm so proud to have been given such proof of your handiwork. The card and bookmark were just as sweet and you've brought some sunshine into an overcast day!
"A Single Dream Can Launch the Journey of a Lifetime"

I Think I Feel Better? (I Spoke Too Soon)

Thanks for all the "get well" wishes. I'm not having pain that's as intense but it's still there. I'm so sick of just lying around though so I'm going to try to do a tiny bit more today.

The weather has been SOOO beautiful around here! I HATE not being able to get out there to go for a bike ride or putter around in my garden. I have just over a week until classes start and there is such a lot that needs to get done so please, wish me luck in my attempt to show my sinuses who's boss.

I hope that you're all having a great week and I'm going to try to visit you all throughout the day.

Thanks again!

*Well, it's Sunday and I still feel BLECCHH! I see my doctor on Wednesday and am hoping for some improvement.

I Thought I Was Dying!

Okay, maybe the title of this post is just a bit melodramatic but there were a few days when I thought it was true! Thursday afternoon I was out watering in the garden when I felt a slight throbbing begin behind my left eye. It steadily grew throughout the day into a sharp throbbing/stabbing behind the left eye and behind the brow. I didn't sleep a wink that night and went to the clinic Friday morning (my doctor was on vacation--of course!)

The doctor at the clinic didn't see anything unusual and prescribed (without my asking first--always ask so you don't waste your time!) ibuprofen. Now, I LOVE ibuprofen for muscle pain and for those special few days each month but it does NOTHING for my head. I met a friend for lunch and my head seemed to be a bit better. By Saturday it was brutal. I really should have gone to the ER but I was being a hero and thought I could suck it in until Monday. By Sunday I was in horrible pain and wanted nothing more than to rip off my head. It was as though someone were pushing my left eye from behind and he had a friend that was stabbing with glee at the brow!

I spoke to my cousin who has suffered from migraines for more than 20 years. She thought that I was describing classic symptoms of migraine (although my vision was fine, the light didn't bother it, etc.) She very forcefully made me promise her that I would go to the hospital if it stayed bad or got worse. My mother had bought Excedrin for migraines (only found in the States) and it helped much more than the Sudafed and I slept 5 hours Sunday night.

Oh, I forgot to mention that my mother is an armchair diagnoser (is that a word?) She has a binder with clippings and she had a section devoted to various kinds of headaches, what their symptoms are, treatment and so forth. Actually, it was good to see this because we could rule out certain things. "Probably not a tumour" she said after reading the scariest ones first. "It's not a tumour!" (remember that line from Arnold in "Kindergarten Cop"?) We settled on sinusitis, migraines, or cluster headaches. But, it also could be the precursor to an aneurysm. "What?!?!" My cousin, in telling me to go the hospital, reminded me of a girl from highschool who had complained of severe headaches, got a pat on the shoulder from her doctor and a prescription for Tylenol and was dead from an aneurysm 3 days later.

Okay, no fooling. My mother brought me to the ER (I couldn't get in to see my doctor until Tuesday at 1:00) There weren't very many people there and I don't think I waited more than a half hour before a nurse took me in and asked various questions. Based on what I told her, she was pretty sure it sounded like sinuses. The ER doctor ordered XRays to be sure and there was fluid at the brow, at the right sinus and in both ears. I was also running a small temperature.

So, long story short, I got a prescription for antibiotics, nasonex and will continue to use my OTC drugs for the pain. I feel so much better already. I didn't think I'd even be able to stare at the computer for a minute let alone post. If you're feeling something out of the ordinary DON'T WAIT--go get yourself checked out right away. This story has another good point to it. The nurse in admitting weighed me and I'm down 1.5 (later checked this at home and it was true!) Something good from being sick and not excercising at least eh?

THANKS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS ON LAST WEEK'S POST. I WILL GET TO EVERYONE THIS WEEK BUT RIGHT NOW, THE PAIN IS COMING ON JUST A WEE BIT. So, bear with me!

A Girl Can Change Her Mind!

I know, I know. Yesterday's post was all "I don't want to talk about numbers anymore", blah, blah, blah. Well, I didn't realize when I posted my 1 lb. loss for last week (oops, there's a number) that I had reached 25 lbs. gone (whoa, that's two!)



So, there's a blue ribbon to celebrate because I'm 2/3 of the way there. I'm actually adding 3 lbs. to my goal weight because that was the number I set with my leader at WW six years ago. I've got my lifetime badge--just needing to wipe the dust off of it!

Thanks ladies--for the positive comments and for reading!

A Change of Pace

This week I've been visiting some wonderful blogger's who aren't involved in HYC, counting points, scale-watching, etc. I have to confess that I've become rather bored with the whole thing. Not with reading up on all of you and your week's but rather with my own posts on that subject. I feel like every Tuesday has become rather repetitive and I want to mix things up a bit.

If you want to continue following my progress on the scale, the ticker will still be updated every week (for better or for worse!) and my exercise calendar will DEFINITELY not be ignored! I just don't want to write about it anymore unless there is something dramatic and exciting to report!

I think that part of it has to do with my anticipation about going back to school. I was there yesterday paying for the fall semester and being in those old, familiar buildings brought me back to my undergrad years. The halls looked exactly the same! The only thing that changed was the amount of tuition (almost quadrupled from my last semester before graduating!!!!!) The weather has also been phenomenal for this time of year and I can smell a change in the summer air.

So, I hope that you'll come back and read my posts--there just won't be any numbers. Instead, just thoughts or feelings, continued pics from my garden and the adventure of becoming a teacher!
NO, I'M NOT LEAVING BLOGGING. AT LEAST NOT WITHOUT THROWING A BON VOYAGE PARTY ;)

Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows

Actually, no lollipops but lots of sunshine today and a beautiful rainbow last night. My camera couldn't do the beauty of it too much justice but it didn't do too badly either.

I know that I said I'd only run Monday, Wednesday, Friday but I couldn't resist 3 miles early this morning. It was sunny and crisp and utterly irresistible. After church, I'm going to a picnic with friends and am looking forward to it. I hope that you all have a beautiful, blessed Sunday and are looking forward to another new week of possibilities!

The Weirdest Thing

"Oh where or where has my little dog gone"

Does anybody know what the "Bleep" happened to my post from Tuesday? I had about 8 comments on it too so I KNOW that there were other people who actually saw it. The little guy above was featured in it and now he's lost somewhere in bloggerville.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I think I need a break.

Cue the theme to the "Twilight Zone".