The breeze makes everything carefree

What a wonderful day it was today!  The weather was windy but great!  Slept a little in the morning and then went to help a friend paint her daughters room.  If I do say so myself I believe it turned out pretty darn good.  Did a different painting technique.  Pretty fun and it went fast.  After that went back home, had some lunch and them ran to the grocery store with the girls and Dan.  Now if that wasn’t a mistake.  Never take your husband to the grocery store with you.  You don’t get out as fast as if you would go without him.  I had to keep reminding him the budget was a tad low so our cart also had to be stay low.  Cayla and Brooke shopping are fun.  You never know what is going to happen with those two. 

The last few days I have never felt so “mellow”.  I have a ton to stress about and a ton to worry about but for some reason this weather just swishes it away.  I am able to just ist back and not stress about what has to be paid that I can’t or what I should be cleaning that I don’t want to or what homework I should be doing that I am not.  The weather is great, the breeze is my calming effect I guess.  (or is it the comfy chair Randy finally parted with and allowed it to take residency in my home)  Ah yes, life is good. 

Dan applied for another job this afternoon that was posted on the internet.  He already got a response from it stating that they hired someone for it but they will be having another one opening soon and at that time will contact him.  He also got work that FVTC will also be hiring again within the next few weeks.  I am figuring sometime at the end of the month to sometime in May for the next semester.  Wouldn’t hat be sweet if that one would work out! Dan would be an awesome teacher!  Keep us in your prayers.  I sure appreciate all we can get. 

Hugs to you all,

~T

What a beautiful day today.  Not only is the weather nice but it is also a nice calming, relaxing day.  So far at least.  It is a little after noon and I have accomplished nothing! Sitting back relaxing, listening to some music and watching outside.  Life is good!  All my responsibilities are so far from my mind with no guilt.  I am thinking about going outside to check on the growth of the flowers, making some visits or maybe giving Gracie a haircut.  Other than that I will enjoy this fabulous day as I start my long 5 night work week.

Enjoy the day as I will be, until next time,

~T

Dan’s update

I do believe in the update on the 8th Dan had a follow up with the new doctor and we had all decided on a game plan.  He had an injection that week in his groin for that area and as of today the pain in that area is gone.  He went today for his follow up from that injection.  Game plan for the other pain he has in his back/spine/hip area is for two more injections in his spine area.  This doctor sure sounds like he knows what he is doing.  He even can follow Dan when he tries to explain a sound or feeling he is trying to describe.  So Friday afternoon he will be getting the injections.  Hopefully this will be the end of the pain and onto the healing.

Will keep you updated….

~T

Looking forward to the green

Happy late Easter to all my web friends/family out there.  My family and I had a different one this year.  It also came to prove to me not to plan anything.  Plans never work out.  Since both of the girls had to work and Tyler was in Fort Atkinson to spend Easter with his girlfriends family I figured I would make a ham supper (the GOOD ham) for supper when everyone would be home.  Dan, Logan and I went out to Dan’s brothers for brunch and then stopped at my moms.  Of course Dan hadn’t gotten called into work all week and gets called in on Sunday evening.  Imagine that!  So I made the ham anyway with potatoes and beans.  When it was all done, nobody was home.  So I enjoyed it myself.  Most of the others enjoyed it Monday.

As I lay here (or as one of my deceased patients that was a professor at Lawrence would say….lie)  I can hear the rain and the little thunder in the background.  All I can think of is how green the grass will be and how I can almost hear the flowers pop from the ground.  As much as I don’t like rain I welcome it knowing what the outcome will be within a few short days/weeks.

I am happy to report that Dan’s uncle has been discharged from the rehab center and went back to his apartment.  I am so greatful that he is doing much better.  God has definitely heard prayers as they have been answered.

Cayla has purchased a vehicle a few days ago.  It is a 2001 Chevy Malibu.  She loves it and I am so happy for her.  I am always happy for my kids and excited for them but I think this is one time I will remember forever.  I could feel my joy for her from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.

Logan is eager to find a job.  The down fall is that nobody really hires 15 year olds.  The other day he had Tyler and Linzy run his around a few places so he could see where he could apply. He brought home a application home from Festival foods and filled out.  Brought it back and the person he handed it to told him that they have open interviews on Thursday.  He is eager to go and have an interview.  Now that should be interesting.  I pray that he might get a chance.  One never knows, that is all he might need to mature a little.

Tyler Signed with a football agent this past month.  We will see where that journey takes us and where it will take him.

Brooke is in the process of being trained for a manager at McDonalds.  She has been there for the past 5 years.

Dan is currently waiting to hear about a job from Mills transport (Mills Fleet Farm).  Hopeful they will choose within the next week.  One of Tyler’s instructors told him to tell Dan to keep his eyes open for a posting that will be posted within the next couple weeks.  (This would be for a teaching job in the transport area at the Tech) Dan would be an awesome teacher!   It will be Gods will right?  Right!

G’night all,

Hugs to you all,

~T

A fabulous weekend!

What a fantastic weekend.  Got everything done that I was going to get done this weekend yesterday and today was a do nothing day. Not that I didn’t have anything to do because there is a ton that I could have gotten done, but it is nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.  I am loving the cooler weather, being able to sleep with the windows open a tad and having the cool air whirl around the room while I am cuddled under the warm crisp quilts.

A few weeks ago I won tickets to the Passion play at Xavier.  Dan and I went last night. What a fabulous play.  I went into it thinking that it was put on by the high school kids to find out it was mostly adults mixed with kids of all ages.  It had a very powerful message.  It makes one feel just how loved they are by God to a point that your heart feels so full it is going to burst.

After seeing it my mind wandered (like it usually does).  God has blessed me with 4 awesome children, a wonderful husband, supportive family and friends, a roof over my head, health, happiness and flowers that are peeking a little above ground getting ready to share their beauty with me.  The thing is that it isn’t just a little of this and that, that he has provided us with more that we could ever imagine.  Yes, Life would be much easier if Dan had a job, if all of our cars were running the way they should be, if this and that…But God does indeed provide for what we need in some way.  it is amazing how things work out.  I believe that we all become stronger from our experiences in life.

As for the up coming week, I am going to make sure that it is as relaxing as this weekend.  At least up til Wednesday when my long 5 nights at work starts.  Logan is on spring break and man o man do I have a to do list for him and Dan! lol  Hoping the weather is good and we can spend most of it outside.

Have a fabulous holy week!

~T

The end of winter?

I do believe we have reached the end of winter.  At least I hope we are.  I love it when spring finally arrives, but the thing that I can’t stand is how everything looks so gross and filthy.  What snow is left on the ground is black in most places, there are puddles of water or mud.  The kids get spring fever and want to do summer stuff like paying basketball and of all places for them to chose to play, they chose our house.  Needless to say as of last evening our white garage now has muddy basketball marks on the garage and the garage door.  Looks gross!!!  We need rain!  And lots of it.  Logan also will be out there is a rag and soap washing those ball marks away.  Is it fall yet?! J

Dan went to the doctor today for a consult and to see what his plan of treatment for the pain will be.  Since I am in a different window typing this I can’t check back to my last update on Dan but since we have gotten a second opinion (which I am very glad we did! I love these doctors!) We have found out that he not only has that pinched nerve in his lower back but he also has bursitis in his hip and there is something with his SI Joint.  This new doctor will be treating his pain and with confidence he feels the appropriately plan of action is the following; Ibuprofen, oxycodone as needed for the pain, physical therapy, and Friday he will be getting two injections.  One in his hip and another one that will help the bursitis.  So we continue to pray that this will be the downfall of this pain for Dan.  You know the saying “If mama ain’t happy nobody is happy”?  Well, I do believe that it should say “If daddy is in pain, everyone walks on eggshells”.

Enjoy the fabulous weather!

~T

Muslim worshiper, a Catholic priest and a Rabbi

I came across this blog  at:

http://laurachiesa.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/stairway-to-heaven/

It shows this art picture:

The sculpture “Stairway to Heaven” is done by Eugenio Merino a Spanish artist.   It represents a Muslim worshiper with a bible, a Catholic priest  with a Torah, and a Rabbi with a Koran. The three of them are shown in the act of praying in their own way.  The Muslim bending, the Catholic kneeling and the Jew standing. With this piece comes controversy.    How should we read this piece? How do you?

D’s fustration

Since last update…..

I made the Dean’s list my first semester back to school.

Dan’s last injection was not effective, which leaves us disappointed. We called the doctor’s office to update them and asked them what the next step is. Dan isn’t scheduled to see the pain doctor until March 5th. I really don’t want to wait around til then. Life isn’t really all that fun when pain is involved. It affects everyone in the house! We got a call back and they wanted to get another MRI done but at this time they wanted it to be done at Encircled Health (or whatever that new place is called out by 41). Dan received a call back and said that they did find something on the MRI and scheduled an appointment with a neurosurgeon’s PA. We went, she explained it appears to be a pinched nerve and explained the procedure and alll to us and what to expect and such and then said let me go get the doctor so you can meet him before surgery. Doc came in and pretty much told us the opposite of what the PA told us and now he isn’t going to have surgery and the doctors recommendations is to go to therapy, take pain medication and ibruprophin and lose some weight. This doctor never asked Dan if he tried therapy for this, he never asked him what he tried for pain medications and how they worked….He did go to therapy and they did all they could and referred him back to his family doctor. The pain medication he was given does not touch the pain at all. When the doc made the comment about losing weight Dan’s comment was “I already lost 80 pounds!” The arrogant doctor said “Lose 80 more!” I was like Wow! nothing like manners and being a little compassionate. He was then going to leave the office and I had to ask him about the pain medication and tell him that what he is on isn’t working. HELLO! finish totally before you dismiss a patient. Then when he sent in his nurse I had to ask about the PT. She had no clue and had to go out and ask him about it. She came in, we have a choice, where you want it….UGH anytime we had to have a referral to therapy or whatever the set it all up and boom we were set to go. Not here. I was informed the order is in the computer for where ever it is he decides to go. My comment….”Dan, Let’s GO!” Up we left. Second opinion here we come! Dan has an appointment with Dr Wascher this coming Thursday. I have worked with his mom at flu clinics and he also has a great reputation. I am hoping for an awesome outcome so we can get this past us and we can start moving forward. I am sick of being in this flippin rut. I just want some part of my old (Pre- losing job) life back!

Will let you know what the outcome is after the appointment Thursday.

~T

He is here!

Baby Chase has arrived. If his arrival into this world is anything like what his personality is going to be like, well then he will be taking after his mama and his cousin Katy. Stubborn and doing things in his terms. Poor Kory was in labor for so long. He is just beautiful! Such a small bundle, oh and the smell and the warmth…

A few days ago I was thinking about Kory and the baby (wondering when the heck she was going to have him) and at the same time Dan’s uncle isn’t/wasn’t doing so good and needed to have surgery and he also has a second cousin in-law that is currently experiencing the end of his journey here on earth. Once again it comes down to the circle of life.  Sometimes people look forward to both stages at different times in their lives. In different ways but sometimes in the same way. Funny how life works.

Update on the Rawlings Family….
Cayla continues to progress with the classes she needs to do to continue with her major. Logan is still going to baseball practice, surviving in high school and still trying to decide weather or not he wants to play high school football. Brooke is in the process of being trained as a shift manager at McDonalds and continues her studies at ITT Tech. Tyler has about one semeters left until he is finished with school. Then it is off to find a job in the field that he went to school for. Yesterday Tyler and his girlfriend celebrated being together dating for 3 years. I am in my second semester of school and slowing trying to find my groove back into the swing of juggling school and work and home. Christmas break was a little to long. (I did not just admit that) Dan is still struggling to find a job that does not involve over the road. His unemployment transition from Michigan to Wisconsin went much better than what I anticipated it to go. He continues to have pain in his sa joint (or whatever joint it is). He had another injection in that joint area which was not effective. He called back to the office and after a office visit to a different doctor in the pain area he came to the conclussion after looking at his MRI that the area on the right side of his spine is narrowing which is causing the pain. The doctor also requested xrays of his hips. The outcome to that is that they are slowly detoriating and crumbling. How we ask, genetics. He was blessed with this from his mom 😦 This past Thursday Dan had an injection in his spine for the narrowing. It relieved the pain a little but not to where we had hoped for. Dan goes back in 3 weeks and we will see what the doctor has to say. Until then he continues to deal with the pain, and look for a job that is local. He is also keeping his eyes open for something different out of his field. He would really love to find something out of the truck but if that is all you really know for the last million years, what are yah gonna do.
Life goes on………

Oh I think I will enjoy the family the rest of this weekend and maybe even grab another visit to Chase before they go home. Oh heck I will even if they are at home. Life is good 🙂

Patiently waiting for Monday…

This post is actually from the weekend of the 25th of Jan.

What a long weekend at work. I think this was my toughest weekend I have had in the 8 years I have been here. It was both mentally and physically challenging. I felt like I was working on unit where everyone that was majorly anxious and combative got dumped. Here I thought we were a hospice unit. I am so grateful that we did not have someone actively dying or a grieving family here. With that said I can barely wait for Monday night! I can actually sleep in my bed at night and cozy up there for the whole night.
Today the girls and I went to a baby shower for my cousin/godchild. She is so beautiful when she is pregnant. Well she is when she isn’t either but , well I think you know what I am trying to say. She is also such an awesome mom! Just like her mama. On the way there Brooke pointed out some GREEN GRASS!! Yes, we saw green grass in the month of January here in Wisconsin. It was even pleasurable being outside for that fresh air. Hopefully it will continue onward.