TOO RA LOO RA LOO RAL

Over in Killarney,
Many years ago,
My father sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In his good old Irish way,
And I'd give the world if he could sing
That song to me this day.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Hush, now don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
That's an Irish lullaby.



Yes it's St. Patrick's Day. The day my Daddy said he would come back and visit. Can I just say I haven't slept a St. Patrick's Day since he died. Kind of freaks me out that he said that. LOL. The kids were in the St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday on the Trinity Irish Dance float. They had a great time even though the weather was a bit chilly. By the end of the day they were WIPED out. Me too.

Hope everyone has a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!!!!

When Irish Eyes are Smiling!!!! :)

Irish Dance. I think Jack's photo is blurry but there is pretty good video. If you don't see MY videos in the sidebar could someone let me know. When I look at my own blog, I see someone elses videos sometimes WEIRD.

Busy at the OB house. Irish Dance, Basketball, Tae Kwan Do. Congrats to Jack on his yellow belt. I have no time to write lately.

Work is great. Fell on the ice two weeks ago so I am off until Wednesday. Still hurts like a bitch but I am not one to milk being on the medical. I once really needed it and won't ever abuse it.

We have a new Superintendent. So far I like him. He launched a few bosses, one which I laughed about because that boss was an idiot. LOL I am not mentioning any names because I don't need the payback.

I will update soon. I am too tired to continue. Was up past midnight last night. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH LOL. I know but I NEVER AM. Was up at 0600 on my own.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

McKenna at her Christmas Party. Jack at his Christmas Concert

They are what Christmas is for me. This year I am not into Christmas at all. I only went shopping a few days ago. I can't seem to get myself into the season. I know what Christmas means. I am trying to force myself to celebrate. It's just not working and today is Christmas. I am out of time. LOL

The kids went to bed without a peep last night. Knowing that the earlier they went, the sooner Santa would arrive. I told my good friend yesterday that I love that they believe in Santa.

So today for Christmas I got............The Stomach Flu. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee it's what I really wanted and hoped for. I have been up since 0400 waiting for the bodily fluid festivities to begin. You know how your stomach sounds like a monster is in there all pissed off? Well that's the phase I am still in. Any minute now things will kick off with what I am sure will be a wonderful day. It's not bad enough that I had a cold for my mom's Christmas party and nothing tasted the same. Now today, I might not be able to enjoy the day at all. :(

I often tell people my life is like Murphy's Law. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. LOL. I swear I always hope for better. But when the bad stuff happens. I can't say it's unexpected. At least I can laugh through it. I have NEVER lost my sense of humor. Even with cancer. That is what I am most proud of.

So Merry Christmas to all you readers,hope Santa left you something under the tree. Happy Holidays to those who celebrate something else. I can't wait to hear of all the great gifts that people got. I can't wait to see photos of the kids and their loot.

Love to all! Merry Christmas!

You Get the Best of Both Worlds

See the video bar up at the top because the stupid thing wouldn't load here.

I'm Free

Don't be afraid of your freedom
Freedom

I'm free to do what I want any old time
I said I'm free to do what I want any old time

I say love me, hold me
Love me, hold me
'Cause I'm free to do what I want any old time
And I'm free to be who I choose any old time

I say love me, hold me
Love me, hold me
'Cause I'm free to do what I want
To be what I want any old time
And I'm free to be who I choose
To get my booze any old time


LOL. I am back to my song posts.

I am happy, sad, nervous, excited, heartbroken all in one body.

I have worked out of the same station for 8 years. Made many friends. Laughed my ass off. Lost some friends there to cancer, suicide, old age, etc. I will miss everyone. Well, ok not the boss. Karma, he will get what he deserves someday.

So tomorrow is my first day. I know three people in the District. But I work by myself so I have to figure out where I am going on my own.

I am looking foward to a new beginning!!!!!

Cheers everyone. Things are looking up!

4-27

Nothing musical about that. It's what time I got my ass out of bed today. I woke up at 0400 but tried to go back to sleep. I only mention it because it's freaky that when I am usually looking at the clock at home, or work it's 427. Am or Pm doesn't matter. It's my birthday and I always find it strange that 99% of the time I look at the clock it's 427.

So I bid out of my district. I didn't want to do it. I love my 5 minute commute in rush hour but I hate my boss. 15 months until he retires and being on vacation made me realize how much I can't stand to be around him. Not another year. Can't do it.
I start my new district on December 6th. I am really nervous because it's really like starting a new job all over again. At least I know what I am doing. LOL. After 16 years I guess I should. I know I am pretty easy to get along with, so I am looking forward to making new friends. Hope I don't get lost. :)

Yesterday we got together with the family for a wonderful day of playing at Odyssey world in Naperville. We had a great time playing, had pizza, celebrated all the nieces and nephews and cousins Birthdays with cake. My Aunt and Uncle come in for Thankgiving every year and this gives them a chance to see everyone, play with them, and have a great time. I look forward to it all month long. Yesterday Litte Miss Trouble (how fitting that she was wearing a shirt that says Here Comes Trouble) climbed up on the frog hopper ride, and fell off. Not while it was moving, just while everyone was being seated. She complained of pain and asked for her Mommy. I was chatting with my SIL and Uncle in the party room so my hubby brought her to me. She put ice on her "wrist" for over an hour. McKenna is not an ice pack girl. She cries when she gets hurt, puts ice on it for a few minutes and then is off an running again. When she kept the ice on it for so long, I knew it was hurt. We left early (sorry everyone) dropped Tim and Jack at home and off to the ER we went. Luckily I know people there. Going there for work a few times a week pays off when the waiting room is filled with 75 people. There were people in the halls, people stuffed in the triage area, and people waiting outside. It was CRAZY. But for us. 1.5 hours from start to finish. Results: Broken elbow. Poor girl thought it was her wrist. Referred pain. So she has a half cast and a sling. She is currently snoring next to her father. I however was up 100 times overnight to check her and make sure she wasn't sleeping on it. She is usually a roll every 20 minutes sleeper but overnight she didn't move at all. Until 0400. Which is why I am here now. Once I am up, thats all. I am up. :( I am tired already so know I will be taking a nap this afternoon. I have to call the ped this morning and get their referral for an ortho. They have me one at the hospital but I really love my ped and trust their judgement. Guess I will have to run and get the films from the hospital.
So I have tried to attach a photo. It's been awhile but I think I still know what I am doing. :)

Hope everyone is well and had a great Thanksgiving. I didn't take a moment and review everything I am thankful for that day. Being a cancer survivor you do that every single day for the rest of your life. Every single day!

Breath In, Breathe Out, Move On

According to my watch the time is now
Past is dead and gone
Don't try to shake it just nod your head
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On

Don't try to shake it just bow your head
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On

I am so happy to be on vacation. Only 3.5 weeks but it's nice to get away from the boss. I know I have to stop letting him get under my skin but he does. Only 15 months to go and he's GONE!!!!

I am getting so much done around the house I am making myself very tired. The kids are in school all day so I have to do something to keep myself busy.

I went to Waupaca Wisconsin overnight on Saturday and I have to say it's a great little town. My friends and I went to a benefit for my other friends nephew. A great time was had by all. :)

We stopped several times on the way home to look for Wii's, and we were successful thank God.

Tomorrow I am going to a craft show. Just something meaningless to pass some time. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I won't buy a thing but I love to look.

We bid for straight watches at the end of the month and I should have enough time to get days all on my own. HA HA HA HA HA.

Christmas is coming and I am not in the mood this year. I don't know why. Bah Humbug! Maybe after Thanksgiving I will get in the spirit a little bit.

I have been Tagged!

The rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

7 Random Facts

1. I don't eat seafood. None. Hate it. Now before you lecture me I was in Boston and Maine for a family reunion and tried it all. Don't like it on the East Coast, won't like it anywhere.

2. I am a little shy walking into a room full of strangers. The old skinny me never cared what I looked like or who I knew. Now I am a little shy until I talk to a few people.

3. I come from a Police Family. Brother, Uncle, Aunt, Father. Yep, all stupid like me and took this thankless job that they don't pay me enough to do.

4. I don't have a middle name. Don't know why. LOL. Just don't.

5. My feet changed when I was pregnant. My shoe collection. Gone. Nothing fits.

6. I am a jewelry whore. Not now, but I worked for a Jewelry CO before I got on the job, I have more than anyone should ever own in their lifetime.

7. I am pretty lonely. While I have lots of friends and family. No one is really close geographically. The ones that are, are at different stages in their lives. Not married, no kids, kids way younger than me. Etc. It's pretty hard to find someone to hang out with since all my childhood and school friends are at the opposite end of the city at least 30 miles. In Chicago travel time that could be 40 minutes or 2 hours. Depends on the day and time. LOL My hubby works the opposite shift and I am alone all day in a squad car and then I am alone every night at home. Besides the kids I mean. How does one advertise for new friends at 39 and not come off as a total LOSER. LOL


Who I am tagging.

I don't know how to link them. I am a dork.

Martini - she is a newlywed and might not have the time to respond. WINK WINK


Alaine - because she is funny as heck and will play!



Steph - because it's her birthday



Radioactivegirl because she is my blog twin


Princess Pink Lady because she ROCKS!!!!

Chelle because I love her!

and Boobless Brigade Master because she inspires me. She also blessed me with one of the most wonderful acts of kindess years ago and I will never ever forget!

Everyday is Halloween!

LOL. Ministry? Anyone remember them? I mean besides me.

Happy Halloween to everyone. I ran around today from 8-4, McKenna's Halloween party at school, Jack's field trip to the Nursing Home to visit. I will keep today's post current and then post a few more later this week.

Someone told me to update my blog already. (Hi Tuesday!) When I looked I couldn't believe it's been that long. Shame on me. :)

The kids have been keeping me busy. Both were in soccer which is over. Hooray! McKenna is in Irish Dance, and they are both starting Tae Kwan Do this week. I have no idea when swimming starts but that is pretty soon too. Whew. I am exhausted thinking about all of that. On top of working, activities, dinner and baths, I run from sun up to sun down every single day except the weekend and sadly when they go to bed, so do I. But it's exciting. I am tired, but not complaining. Still happy to be alive every single day running around like a maniac. Glad that I am not sick. Other than tired. I feel pretty good. Happy in fact. Did I say that?
People who know me personally, wouldn't classify me as happy. I don't think. Funny. Definately. :)

So I am going to add some photos. The kids are great. Doing really well in school. Work.....that still blows. 16 months til my boss is forced to retire. Yes, I am counting the days!!!!!

I promise I will post more. Alot has been happening in 2 whole months!

Happy Birthday Steph!!!! Love you!

Where the heck have I been? LOL

Here but too lazy to blog. LOL. After 3 vacations. None which I could afford. (think tuition) I am back to work and busy as heck.

The kids started school last week. Jack is a big first grader, and McKenna junior K.
Full day all week for both of them. I have yet to enjoy the quiet because they had half days on my days off.

Next week, BOTH DAYS are MINE>>>>>>>ALL MINE>>>>>>> :insert evil laugh: LOL

I miss them when they are gone but look forward to uninterruped showers, tubs, laundry, housecleaning, and going to the bathroom. YIPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I am excited thinking about all the things I will be getting done without their help. LOL I don't know what to do first.

Anywho......back to reality. I am working 9-5 which really jacks with my body's schedule. I am used to working 7-3 or 8-4 now I am up at 6, work out and get ready for work. I then sit around for almost 2 hours waiting to go to work. I get home at 5:30 check homework, make dinner, do baths and then try to stay awake until my kids fall asleep.

Both kids are playing soccer again this year. So add soccer practice on Thursday and Soccer games on Saturdays. I am going to register McKenna for Irish Dance and that is Tues or Wed. I hope she can stay awake for dinner after practice.

Today we went to Ralph's World at Ravinia, and then to Medievel Times for the 4pm show. The kids had a ball but are really ready for bed now. :) Me too.

Off to tubby land and then to dreamland.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Will add some photos when I get the energy. :)

Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of RUM!

Vacation

Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Vacation

LOL. It's the GoGo's. But I am happy to report I am now a week away from VACATION. Off to South Haven Michigan for a week, home for Jimmy Buffett and then off again to Lake Ozark. I. Can't. Wait. LOL

The kids are excited too. Jack asked me yesterday when vacation was and I told him only a week away. He just about fell down because he thought it was a long time away. LOL. My mom got him a metal detector to use on the beach so he can't wait to find treasure. (he had a pirate birthday party) Hopefully my little pirate will find something.

I won't be blogging or emailing from Michigan. It's not that kind of vacation. No email, limited cell phone use. Etc. Really getting away from it all. :)

If I don't post before then, everyone have a great week. I know we will.

Speaking of Buffett

Let's see if this works. Just McKenna singing. She is ALWAYS singing something.

I have been MIA

Wow time flies when you have having rum. Just kidding

Summer is in full swing. We took a last minute trip to Sanibel, Florida and had a wonderful time. I am now back to work and boy am I TIRED. LOL

I only work for another week and then I am on VACATION for a month. We are off to South Haven Michigan for a week, then we will sneak in the Jimmy Buffett concert and then we will head off to Lake Ozark Missouri for another week.

Tim only makes half the Michigan trip and not the Missouri trip at all but that's ok. Work is important. The kids have fun anyway. I would rather go without him than not go at all.

South Haven is the beach everyday and blueberry picking and quality time with Grandma.

Missouri is Swimming everyday, a boatride or two from uncle Mike and looking out over the lake from the most amazing house I have ever been in. I am so glad my Aunt and Uncle bought a house there because when they lived in California I only saw them when someone died or got married usually. LOL My family is so small, that I enjoy every second with them. Especially since my Dad died.

My oldest will be 6 tomorrow. Either I have a great memory or it's the same with every mom. I think I remember every single day of his life. :) He is working on his loose tooth so that the tooth fairy can come. He had a great Pirate Party over the weekend and had such a good time. I am truly blessed with a good looking, creative, imaginative, funny, smart, caring little boy. I have told him every single morning " I missed you while you slept" and I have meant it. The kids keep me going and going and test my patients some of the time but when I am up early and the house is quiet, I can't wait for them to wake up and tell me " good morning mommy" It's the greatest feeling in the world.

Happy Monday to everyone. I hear someone creeping down the stairs now. I need to go claim my hug and kiss. :)

Happy Birthday Dad, I miss you!

Today is my Dad's Birthday. Just another day that I miss him more than anything!
It will be 7 years that he is gone this September and it still makes me sad.

I tried to dig out a photo of him but I don't have any on my computer. Perhaps I can ask my mom to scan one and I can edit this post later.

Happy Birthday Dad! Love you and miss you and know that you would be CRAZY for your Grandchildren.

XOXOX
Mar

S-U-C-C-E-S-S That's the way we spell success!

Ok, so it's not a song. It's a cheer. Heck 10 years of cheerleading, I am not surprised I remember most of the cheers.

Onward. Went to the Doc for a follow up yesterday. With the numbers being the way they are, he could actually say surgery was a SUCCESS!!!!!

My PTH after surgery was 33 and my Calcium 8.2. Follow up calcium yesterday was 9.0. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

They gave me copies of all the operative and pathology reports. YUCK. It sounds so nasty when you read it. He sent 4 things to path, in laymans terms it was parathyroid tissue from both sides, a few lymph nodes and a little thymus thrown in. LOL. I didn't know what thymus was until I looked it up. It produces hormones which help run your immune system. Hope they left some in me. :(

I am feeling good. Still tired but not tired like I was when I was hyperparathyroid so that's a good sign. Scar looks GREAT.

Photo attached!

Update (sorry I was really tired)

I have been trying to find the energy to update since I got home from the Hospital. What I have been doing instead. SLEEPING. Popping Tylenol #3's. LOL

I will try to make this a cliff notes version because it was so horrible, I could type for days.

I went in at 0800 for my shot. That was quick and painless. Then I had to go to the family waiting room, fill out some paperwork and wait for them to call me. What both my husband and I noticed there is the people waiting in that room really have no idea how to behave. Half the room was talking and laughing very loud. The other half was climbing behind couches and chairs in order to plug in their laptops so that they could do their "all important can't miss an hour of two of work no matter who is having surgery" work. LOL. I was more pissed about the noise level of the room. Patients are mixed in with the families people. When I am nervous, I don't want to hear 100 different personal conversations. I want peace and quiet. Shouldn't these people waiting here do so quietly while they are nervously waiting for news about their loved ones? I think it should be enforced by the ladies who run the room. Quiet talking, reading, watching TV. Not shouting, yelling, laughing really loud. (see how I went off there? lol)

So right when I asked how long it would be so Tim and I could take a walk and get away from the noise they called me in back.

A nursing student and a resident along with a nurse asked me the same questions that were on the paperwork that I just filled out. They started my IV and we waited for the anesthesiologist to come talk to me. We waited, and waited and waited. They paged him and paged him and paged him. Come to find out he was waiting in the hallway outside the operating room with a bunch of students and I would talk to him as I rolled past. At 10:30 I remember him asking me if I had any questions, I remember him saying they were giving me something to relax, and then ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ I don't remember anything until I woke up pissed off and in a lot of pain at 4:00. I was in recovery, and my nurse was a bitch. It was loud as hell in there with nurses and workers laughing and joking. I wonder if they realize how hard it is to wake up and concentrate when there is so much unnecessary noise in the background. Guess they don't. So here is where the story could get really long but I won't let it. I yelled at my nurse. Told her I wanted to talk to the Doc or my husband that they were treating me like crap. (waited an hour for the bedpan (twice) and got ice chips 2X's in 5 hours) Had no idea what happened in surgery, and wanted to know. They got my husband on the phone and I told him, make them take me to my room, or take me home. NOW. After I yelled at my nurse she ignored me for 2 hours. All total I was in recovery for 5 hours. They couldn't seem to find me my bed. Ya know the one I reserved 2 weeks prior? Man was I pissed. When you feel like crap you don't want to be in a room with 20 other people who feel like crap. You want your own room.
We got the nurses name and will be writing a nasty letter to the President of the hospital as soon as I feel better.

What happened during surgery? No idea. The doctor told Tim he took some tissue from the left side of my neck and my levels didn't go anywhere. Then he took some tissue from the right side and my TSH went down 50%. I guess there was a ton of scar tissue and it was pretty ugly in there. I don't know if I am down to 2 parathyroids or not. I guess I will find out at my re-check. The Doc said he wasn't happy with the results. He was hoping it would be a little more obvious where the problem was. I guess he mentioned something to Tim about if he had to go in again he would go thru my femoral arteries? Uh Hello? Those are in your legs? No way Jose!

So that's it. Yesterday was the first day I only took some pain pills late in the day. I thought it was a good idea to walk to school with McKenna to pick up Jack. It's only 3 blocks but it was 80 degrees and I guess not so smart after just having surgery. Even McKenna who wanted to walk decided that we should drive home once we got there. LOL. She was pissed when I told her that I didn't have a car there and we would have to walk home. We were all sweaty and tired once we got back home.

It's hard for me to sleep because I can't get comfortable. So I am awake most of the time but I am tired. Go figure. Eventually I will get tired enough that I will be able to sleep and comfort won't matter. LOL

I will be off work til the middle of June. I am going to DC for Police Week on Sunday if I feel well enough and will be back on the 16th.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there!!!!

See ya!

Marikay

Today's the day

Couldn't sleep too well. Really nervous. Up since 4:45am. A whole hour earlier than my alarm. Go figure. I am really looking forward to the DRUGS. I will update when I can, or I can explain to my husband how to do it. LOL

See ya!

Here it comes..........................

I haven't been musical in a little while. I guess I have been too tired. LOL

Here is today's song

You better stop, look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here comes your 19th nervous breakdown. I swear I am headed for one.

Surgery set for May 3rd. It's not twilight. It's not outpatient. It's not 40 minute surgery. It's GENERAL translated INTUBATION It's overnight stay and it's 3-4 hours long. Maybe longer. Since I have had surgery on my neck before, he has to dig thru lots of scar tissue. He doesn't know which gland is bad. So he has to dig around. The more time digging around increases the chances of damaging my nerves, vocal cords and or last 3 remaining parathyroids. If he can't find the bad gland, he is closing me up and will try again in 6 months. How fun does that sound?:
I am not happy :( Everything I thought it would be....it isn't. Hopefully he will find the bad gland and this will be my last next surgery. Everyone who looks at my neck can't even tell I had surgery. Guess that will all change now. :(

So I am trying to stay positive. I AM TIRED. REAL TIRED.

Today I had lidocane sprayed down my nose so the ENT could stick the big 10 inch little tube up my nose and down to see my vocal cords. That was fun. NOT. They look fine he said. It tasted like shit, LOL and made me numb for an hour. Not to mention that I went to my next 3 doctors appointments with snot running down my face. LOL

Had physical and check up at the surgeons office. Then off to anesthesia to discuss the game plan. I requested a private room. I don't like to see strangers when I am not feeling well. :)

SO that's it for now. I am nervous all over again. I hate GENERAL, I thought I could avoid it.

Happy Birthday to me this Friday. :)

Ok so I am stupid

I thought I wasn't nervous about today but I guess I am. I couldn't fall asleep last night, I had straaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaange dreams, and when I saw my clock said 4:50am I jumped out of bed to shut off the alarm before it went off. I tiptoed downstairs and took a shower. Contemplated leaving my hair wet because after reading email til 5:30 I thought I would never be ready in 30 minutes. ROFL. DUH. I thought until 5 minutes ago I had to leave at 0600. I don't. I have to leave at 0700. Damn, there goes an hour of my life I will never get back. LOL.
So I figured I would get back on the computer while my hot rollers cooled. Now what will I do with the next 40 minutes? It's hard to do anything when the whole house including the dog is sleeping. Not the first time I have done this either. Well I guess it's better to be EARLY.
Will update when I get home.

XOXOXOXO
Marikay