Approaching Glory

The Size of Things

I began sewing when I was fifth or sixth grade.  It probably had to do with wanting to earn a Girl Scout badge in sewing.  Unfortunately for me, my mother couldn't sew on a button.  Trust me on this - back when she was in high school it was a requirement that they sew their own graduation dress - Mom had the lady down her street do it.  I began my adventure on an old converted singer pedal machine that came from who knows where.  All the machine produced was a forward stitch.  But that was enough to send me on the adventure. Unfortunately, interpreting the pattern instructions was a whole world unto its self.

Remembering Columbine

The flower, Columbine, is both delicate and lovely.  But my memory connected to the word Columbine has to do with the horrendous activities that took place ten years ago at a high school of the same name.  Unfortunately, that day has its entry on a page of my life with other events that made a change in me forever.

We are now at the tenth anniversary of that occurrence. I have read some of the articles being written on this anniversary.  They all have their opinions, however, I think there are no real adequate words for any of it.  I wonder if the two boys who committed the crime could have imagined the profound effect they would have on so many.  Perhaps that was exactly what they had hoped.  Still, I don't believe their minds could have included a school teacher from Georgia - for that was who I was on that fatal day.

Stimulating

Dear Mr. President,
It's been awhile since I've written - so I thought I'd let you know how my stimulating life is going.  I know you want an inside scoop to our stimulating personal economies.

Me - Well, first let me tell you about the first stimulating news I got in January.  After a myriad of tests (colonoscopy, heart stress test, EGD, blood tests), I went to Jbird's doctor to see what he'd say about the whole picture.  I trust this doctor very much.  I figured if anyone could figure out the puzzle that he would be able to do so.  And - he did - quickly.  And after listening to the knockout punch results,  I am amazed and dazed that no other doctor had been able to diagnose the problem.  I am pre-diabetic.  Which totally explains the vision that was getting blurrier (that I was attributing to pollen and allergies), my blood pressure going up  so quickly, my inability to lose weight no matter what I tried ("There's no way you can lose weight - your system is pumping out six times the amount of insulin mine is."), the mood swings, the sudden increase in thirst, etc.  In fact, when I looked at the listing of symptoms on the American Diabetes Association - I had them all.  Since I'm adopted, I don't know the family history thing - but needless to say - genetically someone handed this one down to me.  As the Doc continued to ask me questions, it became apparent that I've been walking down this road for over ten years and no other doctors were picking up the on the big pictures that all the "little" symptoms were presenting.  He told me if we didn't halt my progress down this road that I'd probably have my thyroid kick out and be insulin dependent within three years.  I left with a diabetic diet for 1500 calories, a command to do some mild aerobic exercising, and a prescription of glucagen.  Where am I on this road now?  I've lost over thirty pounds, I'm working on being obedient to the exercise thing, and I'm amazed at how much your head can tell you that you need to munch on something.  Actually, I feel like I've done very well and I'm proud of my achievement - just need to keep on keeping on.

Jbird has had two major med changes since we've last talked.  I think we've gotten that straightened out (for now).  While we were in the Doc's office I told him how J had been feeling and he looked at J a little strangely and asked when J had last eaten.  They did a blood test on him - guess what?  His numbers were almost the the critical level - he's pre-diabetic!  Now, even though J is adopted - I do know that one of his grandparents has diabetes (cause I asked his birth mother to write down anything she thought would help with medical information).  So J left on the 1500 calorie diet and the same admonition to do aerobic exercises 3-5 times a week.  He didn't get the prescription like I did.  However, he is going in for a fasting test in a week (I have the feeling the Doc is a little more concerned in J's case due to the numbers and his age.  He mentioned that we might have to monitor J with a machine.  I hope we don't have to go down that road.  J has been doing very well with the diet changes and has done well with the "no sugar" commands.  The first few days off sugar he really suffered from headaches.

And talk about stimulating - I got my annual poison ivy from the dog again.  Knowing that I have severe reactions to the steroids we opted to try out a new product called Zanfel - which actually kept the stuff from spreading like it normally does.  It is really expensive though - but worth it to me.

Well sir - that's a mouthful for right now.  Let me just say that I don't know of a family around us that has been "stimulated".  One friend's husband lives day to day waiting to be handed a pink slip, another friend's small business is hanging in there by the tiniest of threads, they laid off over a hundred teachers in our county (thankfully Hubby wasn't one of them), there will be no traditional summer school for Hubby to teach this summer (and make some extra cash (this year any student who needs remediation will find themselves in front of a computer - how does that fit within best teaching practices?),my SIL was put in the "laid off" pool in her county - next year is supposed to be my nieces senior year - that whole situation is pretty much up in the air.... (BTW for your information my niece is an national honor's student who scored a 94 composite on the ACT exam - if her mom can't find a job in Georgia my niece will  lose the Hope scholarship in addition to spending her senior year with a group of people she doesn't know).  Oh - and after ten years of homeschooling my specials needs son - I expected to re-enter the teacher work force - right.  Over 2000 teachers showed up at the Gwinnett County job fair.  I applied for a job here in Hall County that I was overly qualified for - the principal sent me a very nice, long letter telling me that she would love to hire me - BUT - due to the economy she is being forced to hire from within the system  (um... that means teachers who either got laid off already or are going to be - ones who don't have the credentials for the job but are willing to go back to school whist teaching in order to be qualified - isn't that stimulating!)

Meanwhile - I could discuss the stimulating effects that have occurred on our gas and food prices - but I'm sure you've had enough to read already.

Best to you and the family.  Hope you are enjoying the stimulating garden work.