Desperate Times

Wow, it has been a rough two days. I got “the bug” and have been stranded on the couch since yesterday morning. Things are starting to look up, but it’s gotten a little desperate around here.

On Saturday, I was out enjoying a beautiful day around Las Vegas. We were blessed with a visit by Keith’s Uncle Craig and then had a delicious dinner with friends at one of my favorite restaurants!

Now I’m couch-bound watching Mad Men and other Netflix favorites,

drooling over this month’s Food Network magazine and dreaming of having an appetite again,

and eating mostly toast with cinnamon sugar (you’ve got to add some kind of taste to GFree bread even if it’s toasted!).

Yesterday was the Fruit Punch flavor – today I’m diggin’ Lemon Lime – it reminds me of the weekend I was hospitalized with pneumonia in 1st grade and my parents bought me a 6 pack of Gateorade juice boxes. They also rented Super Mario Bros on the Nintendo – we’ve got the Wii version now and I’m pretty sure that the last 20 years have not improved my skills.

Rice pudding is keeping me alive right now. I love rice pudding. I love the man who made a mercy run for rice pudding after work yesterday even more.

At least it looks as if the worst has come and gone – I’d share with you the details of yesterday since it was a pretty hilarious start to the day, but it was pretty gross. If you’re curious I’ll tell you in private.

I hope all of you are fairing better and celebrating Pi Day (and Einstein’s birthday) in style :)

Miscellany Monday 9/26/11

The last Monday in September! How on earth did that happen?!

a. The Ball

I know most of you are waiting for ball pictures, so here are two of my favorites! It was a fabulous evening. The dinner was incredible and the comedian was so funny! I can’t remember his name, but he won Last Comic Standing.

At the most scrumptious dinner ever :)

At the Bellagio gardens - one of my favorite displays ever!

Sea Bass & Steak - it all melted on the plate before it even got to our mouths!

b. The Dancing Frog

My Etsy shop The Dancing Frog has had a lot of action lately! I have been working on several custom orders and am dreaming of more autumn and Christmas themed items to load up on. My friend recommended this crocheted Halloween costume for infants. I can’t wait to make it!

How cute is this little guy?!

c. Belly Issues

Thank you to everyone who has kept up on me and my belly issues. I spent last week going gluten free and saw a huge difference. At the ball I accidentally ate the bread (and didn’t realize it for at least 10 minutes!) and felt horrible through last night. I haven’t eaten any gluten since yesterday morning and am feeling infinitely better. To help get things back on track – or at least maintain until I see the GI doc – I’m taking this yummy stuff.

I keep trying to convince myself it's Tang - remember that stuff?!

d. Netflix

Have I ever told you how thankful I am for Netflix?! Not only has it provided me with unending Gordon Ramsay, but it gives me something to do while I can’t do much more than sit around and knit or crochet. Right now I’m watching Vanity Fair. It’s one of my favorite novels and I swear it has nothing to do with the fact that the heroine’s name is Becky (if you can call Becky Sharp a heroine).

Reese Witherspoon plays the coquettish Becky Sharp

e. And…they’re back…

We’re not a huge TV family (we don’t even have cable – imagine that!!), but there are a few shows that I care to indulge in as often as possible. I’ve got three favorites and one runner up!

Modern Family is always full of one liners that leave me guffawing and crying!

I don't know what is going to happen at Dunder Mifflin without Michael Scott!

I'm a physics teacher, of course I watch this show!!! Smart IS the new sexy :)

and my runner up…

My mom and I would rock this show. Just saying...

f. Brilliantly Sarcastic

I saw this link yesterday and it cracked me up. Here’s one of my favorites.

Beware The Crane, haha!

As always, it’s a party! Linking up to lowercase letters:

Miscellany Monday 9/19

Life has been so crazy that my blog has been neglected like a long forgotten friend! Miscellany Monday is always a good excuse to start writing again :)

a) Photography LEO

Once a month, the women’s of Keith’s residency (both wives and residents) get together to hang out (aka Ladies Evening Out). This week, we had the privilege of working with Amy Leavitt Photography and Cindergirl Photography, both of Las Vegas. We had a blast eating yummy snacks and learning to make the most of our cameras!

Lots of great tips to take home!

b) Pumpkin Hat

A friend commissioned a pumpkin hat for her infant and I think it turned out really well! I’m making all sorts of holiday and seasonal hats for infants to be listed with dolls and other handmade children’s toys at The Dancing Frog. Next I’ll be creating a Candy Corn Cap :)

Can't wait to see this on little Hannah B!

c) Jesus calling

I’ve been struggling with devotional time lately, but I have to share the book I’ve been using once again because it’s amazing! Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, is the most insightful, encouraging, scripture-based devotional I’ve ever read. It’s so good I got a copy for my Grandmother for Mother’s Day and my sister one for graduation. It turns out two of my uncles are reading it as well. It is encouraging to hear that so many people in my family are starting their day with God’s promises.

Available almost anywhere - go find it!!

d) Sickness

Still waiting on most of my test results. Meanwhile, I’ve acquired a sinus cold and am down for the count. I was completely exhausted after 2nd Period, so I’ve decided to take tomorrow off in order to rest up for the rest of the week.

This is brilliant. I will do this with my children one day. It also makes me thankful that nausea and vomitting are not part of my symptoms!

e) Etsy Updates

Being sick has kept me from keeping up with Dancing Willow Photography. I hope to get back to it soon!

If you haven't, please "like" the shop on Facebook and Etsy!

f) Air Force Ball

The Annual Las Vegas Air Force Ball is on Saturday! I am so excited since it means getting dressed up, having a once-in-a-lifetime experience going to a ball at the Bellagio, and enjoying time with our friends who we are going with.

Only 5 days to go!!

g) Serendipity Chic

Last, but certainly not least, is my new favorite Etsy shop! If you love fun little accessories, you’ve got to check out Serendipity Chic – it just opened this week by my good friend Ana (yes, from Ana’s Lifesense) and I’ve got my eye on quite a few of her pieces! Check her out and give her some business!

I have a feeling this one will end up in my wardrobe one of these days!

That’s all for now! Don’t forget that it’s a party – linking up to:

all images from google.com image search with the exception of the last two, which are from their respective shops/blogs.

Total Frustration

I’ve been ignoring the blog lately. Mostly because when I’m not at school I’m sleeping.

I’m still sick! I’m on day 27 of chronic diarrhea and feeling so discouraged. There are no immediate diagnosis in sight and I am completely exhausted from not absorbing any nutrients (let’s just say most things come out the way they went in).

If these details are too much for you, I apologize, but I feel like it’s time to start writing and processing what is going on with my health. We have ruled out thyroid issues and there doesn’t seem to be an infection or signs of a parasite.

That means that I am likely looking at Chron’s disease, some form of colitis, or celiac disease.

We’ve done thyroid labs, stool tests, other blood work, and a round of anti-biotics to no avail. We’re convinced it’s not the Zoloft since my symptoms would have started with the medication and not 4 weeks after plateauing at my dosage. I’m going to try cutting gluten from my diet for a bit and see if that helps.

Anyways, all this to say I’m discouraged and could really use prayers and encouragement while we’re trying to sort all this out. Looks like it will be awhile, so I need lots of strength each day just to be able to teach; you know it’s bad when I take a nap on my prep hour and one immediately after school before sleeping a full night.

Thanks for listening/reading and being faithful friends. I really appreciate all the little notes and comments over the last few months!

My New Diet

We’re now on day 19 of the mysterious stomach ailment and my diet has changed quite a bit!

Now I’m eating lots of meals out of this:

Yummm, sticky rice :)

And even though I love this:

I can't ever get enough!

Now I’m drinking this:

Powerade, Ensure, & Ginger Ale

So, here’s to hoping that my power-ginger-sure shake every day helps to rid my body of whatever is going on. Dr. Keith just brought home some antibiotics, so let’s hope that works, otherwise I’ll be doing malabsorption blood work and I’m not too excited about that!

Fit Friday 9/2/11: Running, Dancing, Painting, Fingers, & Ensure

Still no running for me; it’s now officially over two weeks of these stomach issues and I’m wiped out from the lack of calories.

Keith is such a good husband – he bought me a 6 pack of Ensure so that I have a chance of absorbing some nutrients even though I’m not eating much more than saltines, sticky rice, bananas, and apple sauce.

Since school has now started, I’ve started dancing more. I’m making the kids do cardio warm ups, lots of crunches and push ups, and ending class with yoga. It’s fun to do most of it with the kids and get in shape with them!

Painting is almost done! It’s been a huge project, but not so bad when I’ve done it a little bit at a time!

These green walls make me happy!

My finger is healing very well :) It’s still a bit tender and swollen, but no longer flapping in the breeze, haha!

A peek under the bandage...

Miscellany Monday 8/29/10

It’s another Miscellany Monday! There’s a lot swirling around in my head, so I can’t promise any of this is coherent :)

1.  FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Woot! Today was another first day of school. I worked through my bad attitude over the weekend and was so ready for today. It was really fun to check out my blog post from last year’s first day (my very first day ever as a teacher). If you check out these pictures, you might notice some differences between then and now.

End of First Day 2010-2011 School Year

End of First Day 2011-2012 School Year

2. PAINTING THE DANCE STUDIO

Some of you have followed the saga of painting the dance studio at school. Here’s the progress from today.

The wall I painted today...

The drop cloths two of my dance team boys put up so I can paint more this week!!

The kids have been so pleased with the results – one even exclaimed, “I feel so inspired!”. (Note: this kid’s hair looks just like Rufio in Hook, but he’s too young to get the reference, so it drives me CRAZY! I’ll have to do a side by side comparison one of these days).

3. THE FINGER

Thanks to everyone who has checked up on my finger. I still refuse to go the ER because it seems to be healing well. :)

(I now spare you the anguish of a picture of a chunk of my finger falling off, you’re welcome).

4. B.R.A.T.

Keith likes to call my an Air Force brat. What he really means is that I’m only eating

• B.ananas
• R.ice
• A.pplesauce
• T.oast

Oh yea, and lots of Powerade! Yay electrolytes :)

I won’t get into the details of my diet change (and you definitely don’t want a picture), but let’s just say I’ve been under the weather due to some poor food choices.

I now leave you with a picture of my favorite brat from fictional literature:

Eustace Scrubb from Voyage of The Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

image from narnia.wiki.com

5. BOOK

I’ve been reading this book lately. It’s really good. Can’t wait to share more with you when I’m done!

Captivating story telling always makes for a good read!

image from google.com search

6. GORDON RAMSEY

Remember when I confessed my undying guilty obsession with Kitchen Nightmares (was that really only a week ago?!)? Well, now Keith’s hooked too. I’m so proud!

7. END OF AUGUST, MEANS THE END OF 50% OFF!

Yup, I’m sad to say it, but there are only two days left in the 50% off sale at Dancing Willow Photography! Just use BIRTHDAY50 at checkout for your discount!

Did I mention there's a 50% discount in my shop for two more days?!

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It’s a party! Linking up to Miscellany Monday: