Breathing 101

For the last few years I have noticed that breathing through my nose has been getting worse with each successive year. I had a doctor tell me, I don't know, 10+ years ago I had a 'bit of a problem'. Well, in the last few months it has blossomed into a full problem.

I went to see a friend of my in-laws, go figure she's an ENT, Dr. Freeling. She said I was a deviant, no wait, erase that, go back. That I had an S curve in my septum, weak nasal valves (is this from Mom or Dad's side?) and, here's the kicker, a drooping tip that were all conspiring to make me wake up gasping and/or with a headache each morning. Nice. She said sitting up I am at 40% capacity, laying down with my head on a pillow with one side squashed into the pillow and the other collapsing (remember those weak valves?) I was barely breathing at all. The good news? No apnea. Whew.

So, she is going to fix me right up. I asked about fixing the valve issue - it involves harvesting (never a good term for surgical related issues) cartlidge from my ear (yeah, there's where I want to have scarring!) and rebuild the values and oh, by the way, your nose will be wider. "What do you mean wider?", I asked. "Think Michael Jackson the teenage years.", she says with one glove on. Yikes! So, I have opted for less wide but still breathing. She is going to straighten out my septum - no nose breaking here at all thank goodness! And, this is sort of funny, lift my tip. HUH? She is going to (turn away if you are squeamish) separate the skin from the bump in my nose and sew the skin from the inside up about 1/16th of an inch higher so I will have "more nostril" when I look in the mirror. By doing this it takes pressure off my weak valves allowing me to breath at about 90% capacity.

So now I am walking around pulling the skin from the bump in my nose up just a little bit and boy can I tell the difference. I am a little concerned about the bump though. With those stitches my bump will be about 1/64 higher for about three weeks until the stitches dissolve. No pics during that time..... ;-)

I am going in on December 9th for my nose job.... I don't think wishing me luck would be appropriate. How about sending a nice card to my ENT so she feels good about herself that day?

An Actively Sweet Musical Halloween

Well, we had quite the mix this year. Lauren wanted to be a candy corn while a friend of hers was a banana. I was going to make the costume but when I found it at Oriental Trading for $9.99 I bought it!

Connor wanted to be George Harrison from the cover of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club album - I think I did great! We borrowed the jacket and I embellished (a lot!) He is so cool.

Tylor is a member of the Mexican National Soccer Team. (Meaning he grabbed this at the 11th hour so I would let him go trick-or-treating.)

What is it about Bob?

What is it about Bob?
Many words help describe my in-law
Shrinking man in big pants

Here's to weight loss and buying new clothes. Please buy new clothes!

Working Widow

There are many things that I like about Jim's job; flexible, steady pay check, decent hours, not many night meetings, can meet me for lunch once in a while, he can bike to work, etc.. But the thing I don't like is being a working widow. He has been traveling quite a bit this year. The kids and I get into a routine while he is gone but things are harder. Being always 'on' is the hardest. Even if the kids are at school you have to be 'on' - available at any moment to rush off. Tylor ran away after school on Thursday and we had a blow-out. I had to call Jim to call Tylor to talk to him because I couldn't do it any more. Only 5 more days until he is home for 6 days and then he is off to China for 8 days. This working widow may be down a kid by then....

Trifecta

Seriously! What is it about my teeth that make them so darn rotten? I had to go in today and have not 1, not 2, but 3, count em, 3 crowns replaced! I floss - and boy am I tired of those drippy sweet hygenists that say, "You should floss.". As if I don't! I want to smack them! So, now I have one temporary (she figured they were all in a row why do three separate ones). It is long flat and ugly. I will be eating soup for the next two weeks.

What a Weekend!

You know what I love about sisters? Just about everything, especially mine. I loved what Mom used to say when someone was mad at you at home, "Well, go play with someone else!". Words to live by if you have enough siblings and, oh, wait, I do! And a few brothers too! Thanks to Jody (you might as well be a sister) and Brian too!

We all had a fabulous time surprising Deb (far left) for her 50th. "What? She's 50?", you ask in amazement. It's true.

We proceeded to have a great time shopping (Costco, not at a mall), antique-ing, eating, sewing, chatting and generally having a great time.

Let's do it again!

Happy Birthday!

I just wanted to give a shout out to those early October birthday people I know:

Debbie - Turning the big "5-0" and not complaining too much about the fact
she isn't spending it in London - I voted for London in Steve's poll, really....
Jim - It was a quiet and sort of languid birthday for our Jimmy boy. He mowed
we watched conference. He got a battery for his birthday and was really
happy about it. Odd in all ways.
Emma - She is working on having a great birthday in spite of some obstacles as
yet to be named!
Kelly - The 'Tall One' is moving in on 40 and a lot of gray hair. Maybe going
back to school would help!?!
Rhonda - Here's to my ex-sister-in-law. I wish we had kept her instead.
Tia - Okay, is the 19th or the 21st? Curses for being to close to Grandma Hanna's b-day!
Grandma Hanna - "No news is good news!" My favorite motto when I can't see
my kids, or hubbie. Used it today in fact!

I love you all and wish you the very best!