ZERO is UNACCEPTABLE in Glass Half Full's House

Parenting is beautiful, it is fun and loving and everlasting if we are so blessed. Sometimes though. It can be frustrating. We have to go from the euphoria of loving our children as they turn into toddlers with minds of their own, tweens, teens and what I have yet to venture - ADULTS.

Lil'Gal, as anyone who follows me anywhere knows - has a MIND of her own. Before children,  I had life with a daughter all fantasized in my mind. But even though we have bows and cuddles and tells stories together (well, her at 11 and in middle school while I secretly check the list to be sure we are on the same front and take names of the students I want to keep a-watch-on) we still find ourselves on the same page quite often.

Farmer, Jr. pretty much just tows the rope = anything that will get him to his next fishing trip or hunting excursion. (I remind him often how lucky he is to have so many opportunities afforded to him thanks the the hard work of his parents [Me and Daddy], his grandparents and all the sharing and wonderful friends we have.)

Even considering his dysgraphic disability he makes fantastic grades. A) He works as hard as he can; B) Under 504 the school knows he is an over achiever but that he needs accommodations to demonstrated that. C) He is blessed to have parents who are very involved and teachers who work with the parents and students.

So, today. The last week of the third week grading period. BEFORE WE ARE OFF FOR A MONTH. I receive a notification email that he has…. wait… I must breathe…. Okay…. No… wait….

A ZERO on an Independent Reading Assignment. HE READS LIKE A GENOUS (the boy can't write or print or get a word on paper but he could interpret an entire three book series as a play written in millions of words.).

I emailed his teacher immediately and as soon as I got him to myself at school I inquired:

"Ahem. What about that Independent Reading Assignment. You received a zero."

FJ, "What? I don't know what you are talking about…. Um, wait. Maybe. Let me see if it is in my binder. *searching overly full binder* I think this is it. But I didn't understand it."

Me, [Reading. For him? The easiest FREEEKING assignment ever,  knowing him and his reading.]

Me, "WTHell?"

FJ, "Well, I didn't understand it and I didn't have a book to read."

Me, "Um, look at your bookshelf. You have hundreds of books there that you have read and I can ask you a question about any one of them and you could totally tell me the entire story in cliff notes."

FJ, "Well, its too late."

Me, "UM, NO. PICK A BOOK AND DO THE ASSIGNMENT."

FJ, *Huffing off.*

Like less than ten minutes later:

FJ, "Here it is. I picked my questions and wrote them on the sheet."

Me, [reviewing his answers], A) The assignment was to write the answers on a separate piece of paper and stapled to the assignment sheet. B) We can't read your answers (due to his dysgraphia) so you can dictate your answers and I will type them and we will attach both sheets.

FJ, "I am NOT going to rewrite the answers for such a small assignment (it is a minor grade and he currently has an A in his worst subject.)

Me, "UM. OH YES YOU WILL. *Pointing to Instructions* and you WILL dictate to me your answers. AND lucky for you I WILL type them up for you and print them and you will attach them to your assignment sheet."

FJ, "For such a minor grade?"

Me, "ZEROS are UNACCEPTABLE in THIS HOUSE."

Parenting is truly a joy. Not a right, but a beautiful gift and responsibility. My kids are awesome and great! But I raise them with the concept. Do you wanna' just do enough to get by? Or do you wanna' rule your world. In the end it is their decision. All we can do is direct them.

But little life lessons like the one tonight weigh out in the end. Things I taught my children and lessons I expressed and explained when they were five and six, they still bring to the table at 11 1/3 and weeks from 13. Every lesson counts. Every hug counts. Every atta'boy counts. And on the rare occasion the "that's all you feel like offering of yourself?" Makes a point too.

Happy parenting. It is by most… my favorite career ever.

ZERO is UNACCEPTABLE in Glass Half Full's House

BRAGGART ALERT: And then it got even better!

BRAGGART ALERT!

So today was my pre-op for my surgery next week. You know. The one I keep spamming Facebook, your text messages, your email in-box, and chat all to say, "GUESS WHAT NOW!"

Although, I do have to say and I'm hoping y'all have all realized, that I'm rarely whining about pain now because I am now on the downside hill of the wait. And I'm basically EXCITED about my hip replacement surgery now. I know right? EXCITED? Okay, well almost… I'm still a little leery and keeping my head somewhat focused on the 'after surgery' issues. And, as I said to Hubby this afternoon, "I'm still aware of the reality that 'after' surgery I will have severe pain. But it will be a healing pain… So, I'm okay with that. [Still not looking forward to the first time you wake from anesthesia and pain meds. But I'll suffer though with my sweet little button in my hand the first day that will deliver pain meds at my every need and want.]

Anyhoo, I had the typical lab work, an EKG, then a nasal swab and groin swab to be sure that I haven't been exposed to or am currently carrying any illness, infection, etc that might rear its ugly head between now and next week.

The staff was awesome. It is like a little family at this hospital facility. As previously mentioned, the physician groups in the building beside bought out the former birthing hospital and it has been modified into a fantastic surgical hospital.

My appointment went pretty fast. We left town at 8:15 and arrived early for my appointment. We were on our way out in about two and a half hours and were home by 7:30 this evening!

Anyhow, at my orientation and completing the final paperwork, etc., I was handed this little label with the following listed on it for my choosing:

Water Plain Yes, No                     Sparkling Yes, No
Chocolates Yes, No                      Mints Yes, No
Aroma therapy Yes, No (in the room! I selected just for my pillow since Hubby has allergies)
Audio therapy Yes, No (they can do that in a hospital suite?)

I was instructed that the aforementioned was at no addition expense to me or my insurance but it is just a service they like to provide to make their patients more comfortable. SAWEEEEET!

They don't have a hospital cafeteria. The have an on STAFF CHEF! So, I get to 'order' my meal preference from the 'cafe' and it will be delivered as specified to my room. For each meal.

So now all I have to do before surgery is:
- decide on prints and order photo invites for the Livestock show
- mail out 50 plus invites for LSS
- pick up Livestock show vouchers, and labels for entries
- CCD stuff
- all laundry in the house to at least get us through one week before I'm home and able to piddle around
- Finish the Christmas shopping
- Hair Appointment (to get me through the Holidays until I'm driving again)
- nail appointment (hey, I can't go four weeks looking puke during the holidays)
- decide with kids on recipes to work on during the holiday break for LSS since I'll be home bound
- weekend grocery shopping to fill our staples since I won't be able to drive for weeks*
- *[Hubby can do some grocery shopping; as Moms we all know we handle the staples in the house)
- Additional errands and extracurricular events handled before I am homebound
- Emails, phone calls, etc to get things lined out
- work out arrangements for getting our CA's (californian rabbits) in for the show
- more CCD stuff; auction and end of semester party; assign parts for the Christmas pageant since I will
  miss at least one Sunday class

I've got seven days max to get through all of this! But I know I can do it.

Oh, and as it is the first day of December and time to start counting down to Advent -

Happy Holidays!

BRAGGART ALERT: And then it got even better!

I'm on RANT! Give me my SOAPBOX!

As y'all know I'm typically a happy-go-lucky kinda' Gal. But with recent medical issues and law changes I'm finding myself quite frustrated.

First of all, our insurance decided it will only approve Farmer, Jr's prescription for his ADHD med with the name brand. The name brand is more expensive but I wouldn't mind if covered by insurance. However most if not all pharmacies, at least in our area, do not even carry the name brand. Generic only. So, now we have been in a battle regarding insurance coverage of FJ's medication.

We finally had to pay the entire amount of one month out of pocket as changing the medication type isn't a preferable option. I have spoken with numerous parents who have tried various ADHD meds and their children have had HORRID side affects. So, if it is working - risking change shouldn't be a consideration.

On another note, the laws have changed in the last two months regarding narcotics and prescription medications. I myself prefer not to take a pill unless I have to. Although, I have found myself on blood pressure medication, thyroid meds and the little happy pill for anxiety. But, I'm speaking primarily about pain medications. (I also prefer NOT to take an antibiotic unless I know I really need it. IMO my body's immune system needs to stay as strong on its own as possible.)

But over most of this past year I've developed severe chronic pain in my right hip. At first I thought it was my sciatica, then I thought it was popping hip syndrome which I had as a kid. Then I thought arthritis and lack of exercise (which is what exacerbated it in the first place. I go to the gym to get in SHAPE and I end up in PAIN and unable to exercise).

I went to my chiropractor, I went to my MD, I went to a personal trainer to work on my core and range of motion and mobility. Finally, I went to a hip and joint specialist. I tried a steroid injection but it only lasted two months instead of six. Turns out? My hip is degenerating.

The bone is not getting enough blood flow and thus it is dying. Apparently, as a child it grew in a more flattened shape rather than a well rounded ball. Which was cause of my issues as a child. So in the end after researching and finally meeting with a fantastic surgeon out of Austin, Texas, I have scheduled myself for a full hip replacement. I'm actually quite optimistic about it, knowing that come a few weeks and a few weeks of PT I will have relief from this constant chronic pain.

The RANT? Pain medication. I can't get it! Hardly. And I NEED IT. A few months ago the first specialist I saw that diagnosed me as needing a hip replacement. He prescribed me Hydrocodone. Normally, I wouldn't want that medication. I haven't taken in it years and years since I was having serious back issues when the kids were little. Even then I only took it at night.

The specialist prescribed me a months worth. When I finally returned because the shot had worn off and it was obvious that I wasn't going to be able to put off the surgery with injections twice a year like I had hoped, he was unable to prescribe that medication to me to get me through until my surgery.

Hardly anyone can. So, I have been prescribed Tramadol (which does nothing), and Tylenol-Codeine 3 (which I have to double up on for any relief). Even my surgeon has a letter to his patients understanding WHY these medications are now being so regulated but at the same time frustrated because patients like his who really need it can't get it. Those doctors who over prescribe and those patients who abuse medications leave those of us whom they were designed for still sitting in pain.

Awful, chronic pain. So, as requested by my surgeon I wrote our congressman. Hubby in fact, had a chance to meet with him last week regarding agricultural issues. And as I suggested, he brought up the issue about managing pain and the issues regarding prescribing it to those who truly need it.

It is SO frustrating that I and others are penalized and forced to suffer chronically because others are disrespectful and abusive and inconsiderate to those of us who actually need and deserve relief to function.

My dad is having the same issue. If my mom were to lose her pain medication she would die from the pain. I have a new understanding for those with chronic pain. Although I have always empathized, now in that same situation I have developed a new understanding.

So write your congressman. The deserving and in need shouldn't be penalized by the jack-@$$es who abuse their medications.

Off soap box…for now anyhow. On a side note, tomorrow is Thanksgiving! Find what you are thankful for. No matter how down and out things can seem, there is always a seed of hope if you just look for it. :-)

I'm on RANT! Give me my SOAPBOX!

See? I told you I'd be back!

Howdy~

See, told ya' I'd be back. Today I've been pretty lazy. This morning I just felt like I had no juice flowing. Morning came too early me thinks. Part of it is frustration from constantly feeling like I'm not whole.

I haven't even showered yet (bad FW, bad bad). Lil'Gal has an appointment with her urology office so I'll be jumping in pretty soon. I HATE having to get the kids out of school early though. With all the state mandated testing I just hate for the kids to miss any instruction. While I understand the purpose of State Mandated testing I really think they are taking it too far. Kids are doing math one to two grades ahead of their actual grade level. Which makes me wonder, what is the point of even having a 'grade level'?

Anyhoo, enough about school. Thanksgiving is coming!!! Who's ready!?

GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!!

Originally we were going to spend it with my brothers in Houston but things fell through. Poo. Not that I'll starve by any means. MIL makes a fantastic bounty of food. Well, we all pitch in a little here and there. This year I'm totally going to have to tighten my belt though. I've been doing pretty well about dropping some weight before my surgery date on the 10th of December. It takes a lot of restraint. And Thanksgiving will be a test of determination and will power. Especially, since I can't really do any type of cardio or exercise other than a few core routines.

I'm down an average of six - eight pounds and have another ten to go so that I won't be puffy faced and have this horrible ring around my waist. I have to say that I'm physically feeling better as I drop a pound here and there too. *pats self on back* A big part of this is having to give up my cheap koolaid. It's a sacrifice I'm willing (okay, begrudgingly) to make for the betterment of myself :-).

Okay. So, not much to put out here today. My wonderful blogging wit and humor that y'all have so fallen in love with are still a little rusty. But the important thing is - I'M HERE!

And it's only Monday… Make it a great week y'all!

See? I told you I'd be back!

Where I've been and where I'm going… And how I'm getting there.

Sorry I've been away, yet again, for so long. Although Facebook has been a wonderful 'in the moment' way to keep up with my friends, followers, family and bloggers I have come to find that I miss blogging. Because with FB my life, thoughts and stories are shared in bits and pieces.

So, I'm ending my hiatus and coming home. I think blogging is also good for my attitude.  I miss the interfacing I find here in my Optimistic world.

So, what's new you ask? Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Both my kids are in middle school now. I'm really proud of how well they have adapted to juggling 8 classes and extra curricular activities. Unfortunately, I haven't been ableo substitute so far this year for reasons listed further down in the post. :-(

Lil'Gal is in band. She plays the flute and she's actually pretty good! [She has the lips for it ;-) ] She's also in theater arts which, as y'all know she has dramatics cornered, and she LOVES IT! And she's a Junior now in Girl Scouts - be looking for her cookie sales pitch come mid January. ;-)

Farmer, Jr. has been pulling in great grades! Both of my kids are! I'm really proud of Farmer, Jr. because he has been working really hard to do his best in school and he isn't allowing his dysgraphia to hinder him. The school counselor and teachers are really great and work with him and myself. We are so lucky to be in a district that takes learning disabilities so seriously.

As for extracurricular with Farmer, Jr., hunting and fishing are his life. And of course driving the tractor or anything on the farm.

Both kids are still active in 4-H and preparing for this upcoming livestock show.

Which brings me to…… BUNNIES!!!

Midnight as a Junior Buck

I FINALLY got my BUNNY BARN! It is air conditioned so the bunnies aren't stressed by the summer and often even winter heat. I'll have to try and get a picture after the kids sweep and clean up in there. I just love it though! Hubby did AWESOME!

We currently have four polish, fancy show bunnies, one breeder buck and the of course the pets. Pepper and Paprika. (Pics to come in another post) We pick up our Californian meat pens on December 6th! Pretty soon we will  bunnies EVERYWHERE! 17 cute little noses and 34 cute little ears are just too irresistible!

THE BIG NEWS:

Those of you who follow me on Facebook know that I have had difficulty with my hip. It started in the spring when Hubby and I joined the gym. Well, actually I had a serious issue as a kid and off and on it would bother me here and there over the years. But never severe. 

Anyhow, it was time that both of us get back in shape. I was really kickin' it, or should I say spinning it, in spin class. I LUUUUUVED spin class! I also participated in the 'Muscles In Motion' class. I was finally feeling good about myself and dropping some of the excess weight that found its way around my waistline.

I started having severe issued with my hip. It rapidly went down hill to the point that driving was a painful issue, walking hurt, trying to sit down or trying to get back up. I literally found myself crawling to the restroom in the middle of the night. Which I refer to as the crawl of shame.

I  saw my chiropractor thinking it was caused by my sciatica. I met with personal trainer three times a week to work on my core and my range of motion. Finally I saw my regular practitioner who referred me to a joint specialist. After an x-ray it was determined that I have necrosis in my hip. Which means the bone is dying due to a poor blood supply and it is basically crumbling.

BONE on BONE = SEVERE PAIN

I have to say, I have a new understanding for people with chronic pain issues. I've always been empathic. But, being in this situation myself? Totally changed my perspective. Where I thought I was being supportive before I now realize no one has any idea of what chronic pain is until you experience it.

The specialist stated that I could try a steroid injection but that ultimately I am a candidate for and am going to need a hip replacement. I tried the injection. After about a week it kicked in and I was on top of the world! No more waking up in pain all night long. No more limping around. No more falling down. (I fell down a LOT. My body looked like Hubby had been beating me.) No more crawl of shame. I thought, "Hey! If I can get one of these every six months then I can put surgery off for a couple of years!) NO GO.

About two months later I started going down hill - fast. I was back to falling down, limping around, howling in pain when I tried to sit down, waking due to extreme chronic pain, and the crawl of shame.

The GOOD NEWS? I found a fantastic surgeon in Austin do to word of mouth from friends who have had similar issues. His surgical group is one of the best (if not THE best) in the nation! He's is state of the art in his field! I'll have my own SUITE in the hospital while I'm there. And, I've been told by former patients that the food is wonderful. Like a 5 star hotel!

So while I was somewhat depressed for months knowing that the inevitable was ahead of me, I'm now optimistic and excited to have this done. I'm schedule for surgery on December 7th! I should be healed in time for Christmas and the bonus is the kids will be on winter break so I don't have to worry about school, etc. The recovery is about three weeks with physical therapy.

So come mid December I will no longer be Glass Half Full Gal. I'll be BIONIC Glass Half Full Gal!

Happy Thursday and thanks for reading me!

Where I've been and where I'm going… And how I'm getting there.

I'M HERE! And I had the weirdest dream!!!

OMG, can you believe it? I'm embarrassed that I haven't been in my little online journal of things in life in SOOO long. A lot of that is due to FB, it's so easy to post little blurbs. But it isn't the same.

I've thought about blogging, daily. But when school was in session I just didn't have the time. Or when I had the time I found myself obsessing in a book or sleep when I could grab it. I remember when used to blog at 3:am, about being awake at 3:am, LOL!

Anyhow, I had the WEIRDEST DREAM (once I finally got some sleep; between 6:am and 7:am after Hubby left for the farm).

I don't even know if I can remember it well enough or all the details but I'm going to post it anyhow and y'all can tell me what you think it all means:

There was a group of us. MIL, FIL, the kids, and a cousin and his wife who don't exist in real life.

We were… somewhere.

Then a big storm came and it rained and started flooding and we had to evacuate the neighborhood (I don't know where we were, I think on a lake which makes sense since we will be at Lake Burton pretty soon).

So, we have two vehicles. FIL is with me and two other people (my kids I'm assuming). The swell comes and the water is deep across a low in the road. FIL tells me to put it in 4-W Drive (we are in my Big Mama who has already been backed into and had her bumper tore off and then I put her in a ditch after church IRL). I can hear Hubby in my head, "You CAN'T DRIVE THROUGH THAT, you'll ruin the engine!" Me, to FIL, "I CAN'T DRIVE THROUGH THAT! I'LL RUIN HER ENGINE. The water is too high."

Somehow we meet up with the others and everyone decides we need to go eat and wait for the water to go down. ??? MIL suggests Dairy Queen being time and cost efficient. The cousin's husband suggests some other place. We end up at a place I'd been curious about. An italian place, but they all decide to do family style appetizers. I wasn't thrilled and I knew FJ wouldn't eat a darned thing. BUT…

They made this bread? This french bread thing? At the table, sliced with butter in between the slices and then grilled and sprinkled with garlic and salt and I don't know but it was FABULOUS! I felt guilty about eating it because it was soooo unhealthy but it was so good I said to myself, Screw It! 

(Maybe I should practice something like this for the kids to enter into the Livestock show this coming year!)

Then there were these other things on skewers layered with meats and cheeses and warmed and sprinkled with mozzarella or something. YUM! I was impressed! I wanted red wine but for some reason I couldn't get a glass even though the others got some or a beer. Hmmm…

(Are you bored yet? The dream had me reeling but of course it is MY dream so.)

Then we get the bill. MIL says we will split it. $53.30 A PIECE!!! WTH? Seriously? And then the man at the register doesn't speak English so he's rattling off to me in Indian and I just hand him my tab and my credit card. Then he passes me a note that offers bottles of red wine on mark down because it's been discontinued. No Thank You. A little too late.

So we go back to get my SUV as the water has come down and FIL IS PUSHING IT BACK UP INTO THE WATER with the cousin guy! I'm like, WHAT are you doing?"

I finally get my SUV back and get through the water but now am lost in the neighborhood. So, I try to find a place to GPS my way home. But I end up in this dangerous looking place with lots of vehicle repairs and 'other stuff' going on. So, I leave and drive down the road to find a church parking lot (beautiful church, BTW) and enter my GPS to home.

THEEEENNNN?

I wake up. WTH???

Happy Hump-Day! I shall be back sooner than later; no more ignoring my favorite story telling place.

I'M HERE! And I had the weirdest dream!!!